Mel B Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 Having been at Lincoln show yesterday and speaking to friends who are considering changing to the new model Fiat the told us of one major concern ... the drop down 'map/laptop' holder in the lower centre of the cab has been replaced on some with 2 bl**dy great cup/bottle holders which jut out into the centre floor area by approximately 5 inches, so no more useful storage are but trip hazards! Looking at the Citroen and Fiat vans on offer (couldn't see a Peugeot) some had them, some didn't, it appeared that the one with the higher spec were the ones with the stupid cup holders but not always! So you need to check what's standard of your particular model and decide, if you have the option, whether you want the cup holders or the drop down storage. According to 'Fiatprofessional' vehicle configurator the cup holders are 'standard' and the storage is a £50 option! http://www.fiatprofessional.co.uk/uk/Models/Ducato_Conversion/Configurator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebeaches Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 Interesting! I'd seen photos of the cupholders and wondered if they'd get in the way. And was sorry the new model X290 has the useful storage locker removed. However, I didn't realise it was still possible to specify the locker as a £50 optional extra. Obviously, it might not in fact be an 'option' with many converters, you just have to accept what they've decided, but it is something worth checking. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will86 Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 If thats the same fixture in everyday delivery vans then I can see delivery drivers taking a hacksaw to it. The stand out fixture will be a hazard to drivers moving in and out the opposite door when delivering. It could also be a safety hazard by causing a driver to use the driver door in traffic conjested streets when the better and correct safety move would be to slide across. Will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 Hmmm...does does look like it obstructs free passage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 I noticed the lack of the map holder when wandering around the Lincoln Show. Also noticed they had replaced climate control buttons with old fashioned dials. The feel of the dash seemed cheaper than before. The dials in the binnacle seemed smaller - I thought the current ones were bad. I looked at budget ranges only. My son says that as a white van man, he'd much prefer the drinks holder and the dials rather than climate control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebeaches Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 Edited to remove duplicate post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Strachan Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 We are at a campsite in Gien France, guess what roled in yesterday a brand new Possl on the new Fiat it looks stunning in silver. Its the first new Fiat I have seen so went for a look see, the Dutch sisters living in it had only just picked it up, and were happy to show off their new toy. Have to agree Mel the drink holders are a bckward step. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 Whether an X290-based motorhome has the hinge-down storage compartment or the ‘cup/phone-holder’ thing will depend on what specification the motorhome manufacturer has chosen for the chassis. X290 Rapidos, for example, have the storage compartment (and there’s no option to specify the cup/phone-holder alternative instead). There is no difference between the controls used for climate-control systems on the new X290 and on the now-superseded X250. Both have the same rotating controls when a manual climate-control system is fitted, and both have the same push-button controls when an automatic climate-control system is fitted. I’m near certain that the X290’s instrument-cluster is no different size-wise from the X250’s, though the markings on the dials are different. I also don’t think the quality of the X290’s dashboard materials is worse than the X250’s - it’s just as cheap and nasty as before, and way below what’s used in the latest Ford Transit Mk 8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted September 28, 2014 Author Share Posted September 28, 2014 Whilst I've never been a fan of the look of the Fiat X250 (or the Citroen/Peugeot versions), I don't like the look of the new ones much either! The Fiat and Peugeot ones look like they're squinting ... whereas the old one was once described as "a boxer dog eating a wasp" but still 'friendly, this one looks like a nasty piece of work! As for the Citroen version, the large chrome 'bling' on it is awful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted September 29, 2014 Share Posted September 29, 2014 Plainly this is a matter of taste, but (as was the case with the old X250 vehicle) for an X290-based motorhome the frontal ‘look’ is heavily influenced by the vehicle’s colour-scheme. I loathed the frontal appearance of the X250 (particularly the Ducato version) so much so that, if I had bought a new motorhome based on it, I would have been prepared to pay the hefty surcharge motorhome manufacturers offering a revised ’nose’ were asking for that option. I’m much happier with the X290’s frontal treatment and it will be interesting to see if any motorhome converter bothers to offer an alternative. (Rapido, for example, have dropped their expensive optional ’smiley’ front for their 2015 collection.) The frontal changes are not purely cosmetic, though, with the multi-part bumper reducing repair costs and the different headlamps facilitating bulb changing and rationalising the daytime running lights. Supposedly the new ‘clamshell’ bonnet design addresses the water ingress problems that were so often complained about with X250. There’s a 2014 UK Ducato price-list here http://tinyurl.com/oweafl6 and it’s intriguing to note the differences between the cost of some options shown in that listing and the cost of the same options when they appear in motorhome manufacturers’ price-lists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamw Posted September 29, 2014 Share Posted September 29, 2014 Derek Uzzell - 2014-09-29 7:58 AM and it’s intriguing to note the differences between the cost of some options shown in that listing and the cost of the same options when they appear in motorhome manufacturers’ price-lists. Absolutely agree. Have noted how some PVC conversion specialists round up Fiat's prices to nearest whole £50 or £100. Also some who charge a retro-fit price for things like alloy wheels but know they will order them with the vehicle at a much reduced cost. If one looks at the profit made by some of our independent PVC converters on simply supplying a vehicle then it is far greater than the profit made on the conversion. They must be unique in the vehicle trade of being able to sell base vehicles at list price plus and claim that by selling direct they are cutting out the middleman. But if customers keep buying ........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowie Posted September 29, 2014 Share Posted September 29, 2014 Mel B - 2014-09-28 11:35 AM .. the drop down 'map/laptop' holder in the lower centre of the cab has been replaced on some with 2 bl**dy great cup/bottle holders which jut out into the centre floor area by approximately 5 inches, so no more useful storage are but trip hazards! That's interesting Mel; I just happen to have a brand new drop-down locker that I was going to offer free to anyone who needs one. I bought it just for the latch, as ours had been broken in the van's first life as a pvc window installer's van. Anyone needs one they can have it, collect or pay carriage. Not worth ebaying; I'd rather smash it to smitherines than go thro' the disappointment of listing it and getting silly bids. Please note this is not an advert!! Just a timely response to this thread!!! regards alan b..............................PM if of interest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 snowie You could try advertising your (presumably latch-less) locker here http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/Sell-My-Accessories At least you should get a wider audience... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.