rolandrat Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 The annual Auto Trail Factory Rally takes place at Market Rasen Lincs from Thursday 15th April to Monday 19th April with a coach visit to the factory on Saturday. This is a very good weekend rally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bromleyxphil Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 Hi I have an Apache ... should I know about this or do I need to be a member of a club? Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Dwight Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 Phil, You need to be a member of ATOC. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bromleyxphil Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 Thanks David Sometimes the simple things pass me by....Thats why I love my van Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 rolandrat - 2010-03-01 1:55 PM The annual Auto Trail Factory Rally takes place at Market Rasen Lincs from Thursday 15th April to Monday 19th April with a coach visit to the factory on Saturday. This is a very good weekend rally. Hi RolandRat, We went last year and had a great time so we've booked again for this year. Big advantage this year is it falls at the end of the Easter break so we can go a few days earlier and see the surrounding area. See you all there, Keith. PS How about leaving a copy of MMM on the dash so we know who's a Forum member? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjmike Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 Do you get to see the motorhomes being built or is it a tour of an empty (of people) factory?. If it is the former try and spot the idiot with the silicone gun that smears silicone over every surface of the Auto Trail vans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo3090 Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 Booked and going! Can anyone who's been before tell me if buying bits there is cheaper than just buying them off the AT web site, or are they the same price? We are then going off to Pembrokeshire or The Outer Hebrides for 3 weeks. It depends whetehr we turn left or right when we leave the site! Isn't vanning great? :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 Hi Tomo, You need to pre-order spares for collection and payment on the day so give them a ring and get a price before ordering. Last year they also had a table of clearance bargains from their stores, I picked up a second battery lead for £3, worth that for the connector alone. As for seeing an empty factory they do get employees to come in and either give you a guided tour with an explanation of the build process or you're left to wander round and ask strategically placed helpers. We both found it fascinating to see the build process and are going again this year. Oh yes, the pig roast is also excellent! Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjmike Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 Keithl - 2010-03-01 8:25 PM they do get employees to come in and either give you a guided tour with an explanation of the build process or you're left to wander round and ask strategically placed helpers. Keith. No sign of the maniac with the sealant gun then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolandrat Posted March 2, 2010 Author Share Posted March 2, 2010 This is a rally not to be missed if you are an Auto Trail owner but you must be a club member. The rally field is situated on the race course and all the facilities are available including entertainment in the evening. Anyone who isn't a member can use the C&CC site next to the race course then drive to the factory where you will be made very welcome. It is a working factory and you will see work in progress and why Auto Trails are highly regarded for build quality. See you all there, Rolandrat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo3090 Posted March 2, 2010 Share Posted March 2, 2010 Thanks Keith, I have contacted them and they said just get one on the day, no need to order the item I need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted March 2, 2010 Share Posted March 2, 2010 Market Rasen racecourse is very nice and quiet - I assume you use one of the large function rooms too. We used it for a microcar rally a few years back and it was very popular. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolandrat Posted March 3, 2010 Author Share Posted March 3, 2010 Yes, the large function rooms are used, both upstairs and down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjmike Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 rolandrat - 2010-03-02 7:31 AM why Auto Trails are highly regarded for build quality. Rolandrat. May I ask in the most polite of ways possible. By whom? and by what benchmark? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo3090 Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Me for one! Oh! and the German guy I met in Italy who compared it to his Hymer and thought mine was better built. But of course that's only hearsay, but he did! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 As an aside, is anyone going to this rally who hails from my neck of the woods (Cottingham, near Hull), or is also going to the Peterborough show? If so, I have a favour to ask! :-> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolandrat Posted March 4, 2010 Author Share Posted March 4, 2010 fjmike, I don't know about you but in all the time I have been motorhoming I haven't come accross anyone who has had any serious issues with the build quality. The factory back up for support, advice and spare parts is second to none. If you buy a continental motorhome and have issues with it then apart from your UK supplying dealer all your contacts are in that particular country and could end up waiting for ages for problems to be resolved. Owners of other British makes have told me horror stories which quite frankly is down to poor build quality and the lack of support when asked for. Not to long ago a couple parked next to me in an Auto Trail, the man said that he had retired as a senior manager at a very large motorhome manufacturing company, I wont' mention the name, but he told me about water ingress prolems and that is the reason he would never buy one of them. In his opinion he had made the best choice choosing an Auto Trail. Quality standards have to be maintained, and service standards have to be improved, Auto Trail have a specialist workshop where owners can take their motohome if dealers aren't able to fix problems, all you have to do is ring up the factory and book an appointment. Product backup is a very important consideration when deciding to part with your hard earned brass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted March 6, 2010 Share Posted March 6, 2010 Mel B - 2010-03-03 7:56 PM As an aside, is anyone going to this rally who hails from my neck of the woods (Cottingham, near Hull), or is also going to the Peterborough show? If so, I have a favour to ask! :-> Anyone able to help ????? Pretty pleeeeeaaaaassssseeeeee! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjmike Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 rolandrat Nothing apart from hearsay and rumour then. Lets hear a few hard and fast facts. Not that I'm knocking Autotrail but I have seen nothing that makes them any better than other motorhomes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo3090 Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 I suppose the only way to get a definitive answer to the question then is to poll all motorhome owners, all dealers and all manufacturers to find out how many vans have had defects and warranty issues over the vans life. Never going to happen, so I suppose in truth it is a subjective view of our own vans and their performance. I just know I'm very happy with mine and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone. I have had a few issues but they have all been sorted to my satisfaction and without quibble by both my dealer, Spinney Motors, and Autotrail themselves. So that's why I have such a good impression of Autotrail stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjmike Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 A small test for Autotrail owners- On the drop down screen (telly) remove the rubber grommets and count how many screw are holding the unit up. On a good day there will be six, but Friday specials have been known to have just two Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolandrat Posted March 8, 2010 Author Share Posted March 8, 2010 Hi Tommo, I'm more than happy with mine as well, yes there have been a couple of minor issues that have been resolved by a very good dealer who I bought it off called Richard Baldwins. For me I regard them as how a dealership should look after their customers, simply the best. I own an Auto Trail EKS Tracker with the 3ltr engine which runs like a Rolls Royce,so smooth and powerfull. My previous one was an Auto Trail Cheyenne on a Merc chassis which I thought was bomb proof but I must admit that the 3ltr Fiat and its chassis has the edge as regards comfort and roadholding. Rolandrat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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