Hi Andy, yeah that's a great purchase for a family in the market for a new van. I wouldn't worry either about the year old factor, it's a a new van. I'm not a fan of that bare wall minimalistic look at the front windows, curtains would be a warmer finished look . I like the seating and the cabinetry does look modern and well put together. Great bunk beds for the kids and the very important dinette that works very well as a games table on wet days. For the money I think that's a great deal and a good honest review as usual Andy, well done !.

Just bought a 2020 xplore 554 . Over the moon with it

What a brilliant channel, and what a splendid fellow and gentleman you are Sir. I had just previously watched your marvellous Sprite 1972 video. Thankyou kindly.

Though positive perceptions and kindness of good folk as yourself signposting people to a type of Caravan, without nothing personally gained, the industry still has some way to go as the economy with employment is not looking good, sadly. But vote socialism, get socialism, so the people always get the government they deserve in a democracy. Anyway, point being, I would love to be more optimistic, but from friends in the industry, or who were in the industry, have all losses their jobs in the past 3 months. So perception versus reality, is often different. People buying now are bargain hunters and good on them for getting a great deal. That said, it amazes and even frustrates me in the modern world we live how people turn-up blind and without knowledge of what they want, want is available and all the other subjects involved when buying into this leisure genre. And to think some of these people manage other people!!!

Agree with all your points Andy & why personally, I could never go for this type of van layout with a fixed bed. Reason, UK weather with an average yearly 135 rain days (36% of a year) means the fixed bed takes over so much living space for those cold, wet, damp, frosty and even snow days if you like to go camping in all seasons like myself. It is why reportedly in UK (can you confirm this Andy?) I’m led to believe the UK most popular layout for Motorhome and CamperVan is a rear lounge, for this very UK weather issue and having space to live inside the space when not adventuring outdoors. My biggest gripe, is the low level electrics they put on CamperVans and motorhomes. So I’ve just purchased a Swift Carrera 132 2025 model and straight away having to get a company in the Midlands called BlueFix to upgrade the whole electrical system (£6000). This then allows me to live comfortably in the Van for a number of days without an electrical hook-up. This upgrade, along with a 360 degree reversing camera system, 5g WiFi system, TV + bracket will have caused me to spend £10,000 more on top of what I purchased the Van for. And that is just the start of my upgrades. But I would rather buy this level of CamperVan entry into the market, than a CamperVan at £140,000+, because at least I get to choose the upgrades I want at a better price than what these high-end CamperVan manufacturers ultimately charge you for the base vehicle. But I digress, my point being, the electrical systems added to Motorhomes and CamperVans from factory are shockingly poor with solar-panels not matching requirements to recharge the batteries in the UK weather. See why diesel heaters are becoming popular, but people are idiots if they buy Chinese models and hard to have empathy when they burn their vans down because they installed it into their CamperVans!

Informative Review Andy from an expert in his field. As a personal perspective, I cannot see how consumers can justify purchasing these individually knowing the depreciation is staggering, then add site costs, makes me question if anyone gets value from money other than a large hole in their pocket! Similar can be said for Motorhomes, CamperVans and Caravans when comparing price paid, site fees, depreciation and a consumers usage of the product(s), yet I still have a brand-new 2025 Swift Carrera 132, so I’m contradicting myself on the point I make If I was buying a product like this, it would have to be Swift’s S Pods (4 & 6 people types), as they are a far better modern twist on the Static, that though made to look modern inside, still have the feeling of the 1970’s holiday maker and the world has moved-on since then! Thanks Andy & have a great Xmas & New Year

Hi Andy, great reviewI enjoyed the look around the Swift holiday home. It has a touch of class to it and has a very modern apartment feel to it. I like the furniture and the cabinetry, all looks very contemporary with a quality finish. The main bedroom has everything and I do like the design. Something I like to dream about owning but the budget won't stretch to but no harm in dreaming 😂.

Hi Andy I have finally got my window sorted on my Coachman. It seems the manufacturer is aware of this problem which got me thinking why do caravan manufacturers take so long to react to inherent defects.you have bailey with the rotten floors swift with the cracked sunroofs and coachmam with the windows coming away from the caravan

Great Vlog as ever Andy.Sad news about Pennine ,with their demise and also Gobur no longer producing folding caravans, seems the niche producers are sadly disappearing. Anyway seasons greetings and looking forward tothe new books.

Hi Andy, great to see you back on the channel. Good to see a flow of interest in used caravans on the forecourt, maybe better days ahead and the market has bottomed out. You have a loyal following of subscribers and I hope that continues to grow for you. Always good honest reviews and advice to be had here, keep up the good work.

Love these videos Andy. A little tip for whilst using your camcorder/DSLR, switch the stabilizer off whilst on a tripod as the sensor is hunting for vibration all of the time, hence whilst viewing the footage is slightly jerky, this is the sensor moving about, even taking stills on a tripod the stabilizer will still hunt and make the picture not quite so sharp especially if using a long shutter speed. Superb channel mate. Rob.

brand new twin axle caravan under 25k. wow bargain

Hi Andy, nice to see forecourts picking up some business this time of year, promising for 2025, great info as always, was at Leisure Sales a couple of weeks ago looking at a sprite exclusive, very nice van. Think we are sticking with our Bolero motorhome for now, can't bring myself to get rid 😂 , we love it. All the best. Conrad.

We have some 2024 reduction @northwesterncaravans .

Are you doing anymore looking at old caravans people own and doing up or even how vans have changed over last 20 years.

Could hardly hear a word

Just been to my local coachman dealer where they have got a unsold 2024 acadia when compared to 2025 model coachman have obviously taken the spec down for this year it feels very budget without the budget price tag coachman are expecting you to pay nearly 30000 for a caravan that doesn't feel upmarket

Hi Andy, any plans to review the new Alpine 4? I'm very tempted as we're missing the fixed bed after going for an Apline 2 (2021). I took a detour to Swindon caravans to look at a Knaus S&F, but it all felt a bit dark and crampt. But what did we spot when we weren't looking for one - a new '25 Alpine 4 exclusive. I'm so tempted I almost wish I hadn't seen it now 😂. Interested to know your thoughts or if it's in the pipeline.

Elddis Xplore XC lite still use the notoriously bad ABS plastic front/rear panels that often stress-crack and can't be repaired. A new panel will set a customer back £5000 as Elddis do not warranty them for long. I personally would shun all caravans unless fully GRP as structural integrity is everything. Besides Elddis has an appalling reputation for reneging on sorting inherent issues and made a £11.3m loss last 2 yrs.

I can’t believe you were forcing the door the wrong way. You can tell it opens the other way by the shape of the catch. Clearly someone had done the same as you previously. Can’t blame the motorhome for that….

Love these reviews on caravans from times past, keep them coming Andy

Can't knock the Motorhome, it's the numpties who force doors open the wrong way,🤪. I think the extractors are fitted above the cooker, under cupboard, maybe the idiots who forced the door and worktop extension took it with them, people.😂. I would never knock a swift motorhome, all manufacturers have issues. Great short video Andy.😂👍

It wasn't just the door. The pop-up counter top wasn't level closest to the wall either. Someone obviously didn't take their time in fitting that correctly and is probably not level. The dealer should ideally return that to Swift upon it being delivered to them. It is very unfortunate to see such shoddy workmanship and an utter lack of quality control on what gets to leave their factory. Swift should be ashamed that something so expensive even got to get out of the factory gates unnoticed. Whilst most likely an oversight, it regretfully screams contempt for the customer. it also doesn't say much for the dealer that allowed you to review a van they should know to be not a prime example.

Swift poor build quality for the amount of money they are asking,no extractor

Think this a first for me you doing a motorhome :-) well done, 👍🏻 be good for you to look at coachman motorhomes, more expensive, but I think better quality.

Thanks Andy. Looking forward to new books they're a good read.

Hi Andy, great catch up video, i have seen some of your videos before where you mention folding campers, and you've been meaning to visit Pennine Outdoor Leisure to see their workshops etc,, have you heard they have now gone into administration so were not sure if they will be closing for good or a deal done to buy it out maybe, we have a 2011 conway crusader, basically a pathfinder, we have been to the factory and seen the workshops and collected parts a few times over last couple of years and they were fantastic, just hope it keeps going. cheers phil

Coupland's - reminds me of how dealers used to be back in the day when the Safari's, Carlight's and Royale's etc.would all be locked and it was accompanied viewing only!! Also looking forward to updates on the Eccles. Think your friend needs to open a museum or at least persuade somewhere like Beamish to put the collection on display.

Not interested in your wife car. I will be unsubscribing

Hi Andy, great to have you back with the channel. Glad the car selling and purchasing went so smoothly for you it's great when that happens. Best wishes with the new books and looking forward to you out and about on the forecourts soon.

I think Coachman need to step up their game. Wood is too dark, shower too small, front windows too small and the curtain fabrics are nasty. The control panel is tech from 1980s with no app connectivity. The fruit bowl sink looks nice but isn't practical, wet hands dribble all over the counter when turning the tap off. The light switches are in silly places and it's a guess which light every time you use them and the lighting is pretty poor too. Not sure why they've switched to the thetford fridges, personally I think the dometics were better and looked much nicer. Also, the rear panel design means that water drips off the brake light onto the ledge below and it's like chinese water torture through the night. All a bit dated and frumpy and lacking modern tech. Its a shame because the build quality is fantastic, just let down by poor design. I'm upgrading my 2021 845 and going for a Swift Elegance instead. It addresses all those issues and is a much nicer and more modern van. Catch up Coachman!

Coachman caravans are not as good as the reputation would have you think the abc bonding does not work my 4year old vip has had all the roof capping resaled because the sealant had started to split also two windows have fell of the body they are only bonded to the caravan all this on a caravan costing 33 thousand pounds

I am picking up a silverline nova princess, tomorrow Looks pretty much completely original, in good condition especially given its age.

We’ve just had our first year in our compact 2024, great little van and prefer the colours to the new one. First year back after the family have flown the nest. We have our tv down the front which frees up the work area over the fridge for food prep. It is a little tight when getting ready for bed but it’s in the title ‘compact’ 😁 we have a full awning and annexe, don’t always have the sleeping pod up so lots of room for our bits.

Caravan expert big head hence why I didn’t watch your video put off from the start.

Honest video Andrew. I have purchased 3 caravans in the past and Coachman always lost out due to the aluminium sides, those brown furniture pegs and the inside wall tape. Swift won my money each time. Now Elddis have improved their interior walls, that leaves Coachman as the last remaining UK manufacturers using tape (I believe). Everyone goes on about Coachman quality, but they are living on their laurels to some extent and may be left behind if they are not careful. Thanks again buddy

My parents in law 2007 Amara was bought from Whitfords Andy 😊

Just under 40k!

My mum and dad had the shorter wheelbase of this one Many happy holidays as a kid 😊

Using 1964 camera?

Great vlog as ever Andy. Also just wanted to thank you for placing my current caravan in number one in your recent Practical Caravan used top 25, N

Hi Andy, now we're talking, beautiful, solid,well made. End of. 😅😂 Conrad

Hi Andy, Great review, wow, certainly get your moneys worth with this van, lets hope the range extends. Conrad

Hi Andy, another good review, looked at buying one of these a few years back , but wasn't blown away with the van, just didn't do it for us, dissapointing really. Much prefer a swift! Conrad

Great Vlog Andy, nice to hear some positive vibes on the industry. Me and the missus, Julie are thinking about swapping from the motorhome to a challenger van, always loved the challengers. Conrad 👍

Great Vlog Andy, great to hear new sales are going well because without them the used market would get very expensive. Some very devious Park owners are pulling the upgrade card out for elderly people who have been many years on site which makes it next to impossible for them to upgrade. Quite sad really considering the amount of money they would have paid in site fees over the years. Good to see your books are being advertised and we wish you many thousands of sales. Keep up the videos, and reviews they give us much to look forward to next Spring.

I walked in the 860 version of this caravan and heard angels singing hallelujah, I'd finally found the perfect caravan. The colourways were nice, the layout was perfect, the shower was person size, it was beautiful, then I saw the cocktail cabinet 😢. Nevermind, you can't have it all and a bit of fablon could sort that out or a polite request to swift. Problem is I don't really want all the extra kit over an elegance and Couplands is too far from me. It's a shame the colourways in the elegance are way off. Anyways, I've bought the elegance and I'll be doing some minor reupholstery to headboards and window pads. I think at these prices though manufacturers should give more options. It's surprising that the only real difference in this year and last year is the corian worktops but it makes such a difference. I didn't really notice these vans a year ago. Puts my Coachman to shame!

Hi Andy. As more evidence, without naming the Dealership, in-process of buying a brand new Swift Carrera CamperVan 2025 model, so brand new, delivered before Xmas to Dealership, with nearly £5000 discounted, part NEC discounts, part Dealership discounts. Interesting times in this genre of leisure industry. What appears to be happening, perception based only as have no data, people like myself, are buying CamperVans they like, but not at the expensive real high end (£90,000 & above) & then adding a lot of aftermarket mods (Lithium battery upgrades, internet, full air suspension, self levelling, off-road wheels for look and practicality, diesel heaters, further winterisation above heated fresh and waste water tanks, with thermal rapping, so really can use in all weathers off grid, plus a host of other add-ons I will not list here. Then at least you get the CamperVan you want and not what a manufacturer, large or small believes it’s customer’s want. Plus ends-up a lot cheaper over-all. Informative video again, thank-you & looking forward to buying the book which I will order in the New Year on CamperVans.

Sorry but I can't see any difference from last few years model!!.❤️🇬🇧

Some great advice on statics having moved from tourers into one four years ago. Buy with your eyes open.