Wirehaired Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Hi. Just joined the forum and look forward to contributing from time to time,at present I don't own a Motorhome but have been interested for a long time,good friend of mine has been fulltiming for about four years,i hope to start looking for a van later this year or early next,i will be looking for something about three or four years old,my use will be in the main short outings and later maybe one or two longer ones throughout the year,one thing I am undecided about at the moment is whether to go for a small coach built or a van conversion,two models on my list would be a 6m Autotrail Excel or a Swift mondial,same length but something like the mondial could be better for town use,but I believe the heating system is gas only,i look forward to acquiring knowledge and advice from experienced members. Cheers. B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Proper advice? :-S............ Start cheap and work your way up ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will86 Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Join in do, there's lots of information and assistance available for the asking and don't be put off with straight answers to any questions you pose. I don't have either model you mention but someone will have that's for sure. When choosing any vehicle take your time and ask and read as much as possible before jumping to buy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Welcome! Gas only is ok? especially if you fit a refillable LPG system. plus a panel van a smaller space to heat.....also site electrics costs can mount particulirly if metered and more are becoming so.... hardly worth worrying about . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Hi wirehaired & welcome to the forum. Don't know where you are located, but a trip to either the Manchester Show (today until Sunday) or the NEC Show in Birmingham will give you an opportunity to view current layouts. The 2 vans you mention are no longer available - Autotrail only produced the Excel models for a couple of years & the Swift Mondial was dropped & Panel Vans are now under their Autocruise banner. Good hunting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
candapack Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Welcome. I'm a relative newbie, and have had lots of good info and advice. The only thing to watch is that, on some issues - in your case whether to go for a coachbuilt or a van conversion - you're likely to get so much conflicting advice you'll end up more confused than when you started. :-D Plus, you'll find there are various long standing factions who favour, for example, coachbuilts or van conversions, or British or European makes. Very often, you'll ask a question and within 4 or 5 posts these factions will have hijacked the thread, and started another slanging match. It's all very entertaining :D But also, mostly, a very useful source of help. A general thanks to all who have responded to my posts so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Flicka.....WH is after a 3 - 4 year old van :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 JudgeMental - 2014-01-23 8:49 PM Flicka.....WH is after a 3 - 4 year old van :-D I realise that Judge, just that there will be very few (if any regarding the Autotrail) of the models quoted available, so a trip to a Show will give the biggest variety of what is out there. i.e. Swift Mondial, alternatives = the Autocruise badged PVC's, (+ many other converters) Autotrail Excel not so much choice of alternative in the way of layouts but likes of Elldis, Swift & others regarding length. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will86 Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 candapac. Depends what money the questioner has and probably most important what space does he have to keep his chosen van. And yes there are those who prefer different types, our Rapido was large but not practical for everyday shopping plus we were not long time away campers so we are now back to a small van. Some like to live in large spaces and lay out all their homely treasures and have pets, some like their van for its practical use and carry cycles on which to explore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wirehaired Posted January 23, 2014 Author Share Posted January 23, 2014 Many thanks for all the replies,i will be taking all on board and continue looking at the different alternatives,forgot to say I think the Adria twin seems to be rated among the van conversions,as it will be my everyday vehicle the conversion could be more practical. :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
candapack Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Wirehaired - 2014-01-23 9:27 PM Many thanks for all the replies,i will be taking all on board and continue looking at the different alternatives,forgot to say I think the Adria twin seems to be rated among the van conversions,as it will be my everyday vehicle the conversion could be more practical. :-D Something I didn't mention - always give as much info as possible. If it's also going to be your everyday vehicle, I would stick to looking at PVC's, within that category you'll find enough choice to have your head spinning. And there's at least one member on here who will endorse the Adria Twin. :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Symbol Owner Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Two, actually! Mine's a bit older than the Judge's, and on the earlier Ducato base, but a good van for carrying furniture, collecting stuff from the builder's merchant's, taking large items of rubbish to the recycling depot, etc.,etc. I can recommend it highly as a comfortable'van for two -- a bit 'light' in the cooking department, but that can be 'got round' with a bit of ingenuity! The heating system can be gas, or if you are on hook-up, electric. welcome to the Forum W.H.! Colin. P.S. I must find a way of changing my Forum name -- I haven't had the Symbol (another good van conversion) for six months or so! C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 The Adria a good choice and MMM panel van of the year in 2011. Nice to see you are open minded..... My well equiped 2011 model is on ebay at the moment..I think its sold but no depoit as yet, so get your skates on!lol As you don't see low mileage ones in immaculate condition with lots of extras that often :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigal Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Hi there WH, I am a fairly new member of this forum myself have been put off to some extent by some of the more "established" members in the past but it is a case of sorting the wheat from the chaff if you get my meaning! Having got that out of the way and in response to your question there are a number of well informed people on this forum who are a great help, they will know who they are. My own view from personal experience is that the panel van is the best choice and that the Adria Twin sounds ideal in fact I almost bought one myself for similar reasons to those you express however I finished up with a low profile coachbuilt on a Mercedes 316cdi chassis which suits me down to the ground! Good Luck in making your own choice! ;-) B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wirehaired Posted January 23, 2014 Author Share Posted January 23, 2014 Many thanks once again for all the comeback,will have a closer look at the Adria twin. cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Jones Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 bigal - 2014-01-23 10:36 PM Hi there WH, I am a fairly new member of this forum myself have been put off to some extent by some of the more "established" members in the past but it is a case of sorting the wheat from the chaff And of course, you can come and join us on the Practical MH forum as well. Fewer of us, so things move a bit slower, but no slanging matches. Stay on here too though - the greater numbers here mean that you'll sometimes get a quicker response to a specialised question. How's that for unbiased objectivity? (or is that a tautology?) :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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