I've posted on the tent/camping part of this site before but first time here... so HELLO. After many wet camping trips and the arrival of second child now 3 months old were looking to get a van. I'm not completely new to this as I had holidays for years in a tourer with my parents and have had access to their static until only a few years ago but this is the first time I've had to buy my own.
I'm currently in the research phase, saving a deposit and plan to buy around September/October when a couple of loans I have finish.
So I've narrowed down the van layout similar to a Sprite Major 6 TD seems about perfect and there are a couple of other brands with similar/exactly the same layout.
So whats my question?
I've found a few advertised like this one (This particular dealer also seems to get reasonable review on Google):
http://www.stewartlongton.co.uk/caravans/northwest/lancashire/sprite-ace-viscount-ck0228eea
The van looks perfect for us and it appears the dealer has given it a good price but then they want £299 for service and Warranty. Would the Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) not basically cover checks to everything that would be serviced? And would I really be expected to pay for a 12 month warranty on something so new?
Some sites aren't asking for this and some are so I just want a little direction on this when buying a van. I only ever buy new cars so never have to haggle over service and warranty before buying. And would I expect to negotiate a few more quid off it?
Hi, I had a look at the 'van and it looks great and seems well-priced. I've found that some caravan dealers are stuck in a previous age and won't budge, though some are keen to haggle to clinch a sale.
My advice is, unless the sale price is very keen, to walk away from the former and haggle hard with the latter. I bought a new 'van in 2014, sticker price £18,500, and found a range of discounts from zero to £3,300! Guess who got the business.
The internet is the buyer's friend, and a bit of Googling will give you a load of comparison prices around the country for equivalent caravans, which you should take with you when shopping.
Some dealers won't service or do warranty work for 'vans they haven't sold themselves, but most do these days. In any case there are loads of accredited independents, many who will come to you and undercut main dealer prices.
On PDI, this is something of a sore point for many owners, especially on new 'vans. Some dealers seem to do the most cursory checks and wait for the owner to come back with a list of faults. Caravn dealers have a lot to learn from car dealerships I'm afraid, though my seller, Grantham Caravans, was excellent and spent two hours showing me every little detail on a fault-free 'van, then let me take all the time I wanted to look again independently.
So my advice would be to give the 'van you buy a thorough going over before signing, and again on delivery while still at the dealers.
Lastly, be careful of finance deals. Car and caravan dealers can make far more on expensive credit than they do on the actual sale, so check bank rates before you shop so that finance (if you're using it) can be another haggling point.
Good luck, and enjoy
------------- Camping Gear expands so as to fill the space available for its transportation.
Thanks thats really helpful, hope I manage as good a discount as you did. I've read quite a few post on this site stating that the Caravan dealers are behind car dealers on checklist/PDI so I'll double check everything when come to buy.
I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm but that is quite a large caravan so have you checked that your car and licence will allow you to tow it? It would be a shame to save up and buy a caravan and then find out that you can't tow it but similar stories do appear on this forum from time to time.
Thanks Rob, and a good question. The numbers are close but I have a new Tiguan Kirby weight 1865 which gives me an 85% of 1585 and the MTPM of that van is 1600 which makes it 15kg over. Do you thing that would be ok?
I’ve checked my licence it’s pre 97 and basically has half the letters of the alphabet on it. Checking on the DVLA site it states combined mass of both vehicles of 8250kgs which is well clear. Let me know what you think about being 15kg over I’m guessing by the time there are 2 kids a roof box and 2 adults in there the difference should be fine.
Yes the car sounds fine, roughly 86% match providing that the car's max tow weight would allow a 1600kg caravan. You should be able to check the max tow weight on the V5 or the vehicle weight plate.
Will your licence allow you to tow that? With that sort of weight you will need a B+E licence.
Rob
PS Autocorrect is a pain, it doesn't allow any of the useful abbreviations or acronyms.
I must be a slower typist than I realised. The 85% guideline is just a guideline designed to stop novices towing unsuitable outfits. 86% is not a problem, I am quite experienced in towing and I still go by the 85% guide to try to ensure a safe and stable outfit. Your licence sounds like you have B+E from the old days so that outfit sounds pretty good.
Thanks Rob you’ve been really helpful I didn’t even think about the cars towing limit. The book states 2320kg as maximum for the towed vehicle so we’ll clear there. And yes it’s an old style licence so has B+E. Sorted now I just need to keep looking on the run up the September I’ve got a log running of prices I’ve seen similar vans at along with age and spec so hopefully I’ll be able to negotiate a good price.
If your licence is pre-1997 then you can tow that caravan legally and it should be fine behind your Tiguan. The 85% ratio exists for guidance only and whilst that guidance is sensible in principle, it is very crude and the few kg required to make the difference between 84% and 86% is something that neither you nor your car will even feel.
With regard to the PDI, you need to get the dealer to detail exactly what is included in it. The Caravan and Motorhome Club website has a list of the points that a thorough inspection could include. Provided that you're happy with the level of inspection on offer, go for it but haggle to get it included in the price.
The level of quality control within the caravan industry is appalling right now and whilst the manufacturers do seem to be capable of excellence, they are dreadfully inconsistent. It will help you a lot for any problems with your van to be shown up before you tow it away.
------------- "Don't wait for the perfect moment. Take the moment and make it perfect."
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Topic: First Time buyer advice....
