'08 Adria Twin Forums

Steamdrivenandy

I understand where you're both coming from b6x and Shaun.

Given that most motorhomes aren't used as a daily driver they therefore normally have at least one passenger for the majority of miles, compared to your average white van which presumably usually just has a driver.

However airbags are available for these vans so you'd think that dealers would order them as a matter of course because they, of all people, should know that most of their customers travel in pairs.

Maybe it is down to the sticker price. It seems to me that Adria must've stripped the carpet out of the original spec to get the van below £30K for the UK market and get it established as a desired budget van. Now they've established it they can up the price above £30K and put back the carpet. Although why they've dropped the radio/CD I can't understand.

The other point is that if airbags and aircon are included as standard by dealers in their bought in stock then surely they can charge for it when it sells, although the odd punter might be put off by a slightly higher price or not like aircon, but it can work the other way around too.

Andy

Shark

I appreciate that the Twin is a budget van, but I feel there's enough of a price gap between it and the Timberlands etc, to include as standard a passenger airbag and, arguably, aircon. Yes, the price would go up a bit (£1,500 maximum for those two), but at least it would mean that every Twin which appeared at a dealer would fulfil a standard spec, without the need for an expensive retrofit. There are a lot of people out there who wouldn't buy a motorhome without passenger airbag, and there are also plenty who would walk away if there's no aircon.

Naturally, if Adria is just aiming to compete with the likes of Trigano, then fine. But, if it's looking to sell to those looking for more essential equipment as standard, then mucking about with a few hundred quid here and there for things like carpets, CD/radio and an airbag... well, I just feel that's losing the plot a bit.

When I looked at all the Adrias over in Europe, each and every one came with aircon, so it seems the European market pays is prepared to pay a bit more for a cool cab. Unfortunately, I don't know the German for 'passenger airbag', so I couldn't establish if safety is just as high a priority.

Shaun

Shark

About the 2008 payloads, I've just looked at Adria's literature and see that the various engines make a difference. The 3 litre has the highest payload of 640 kg, due to its higher maximum weight. The 2.2 has a 595 kg payload, with the 2.3 having less at 530 kg.

So, there's a small advantage for the smaller engine with its fewer gears.

Shaun

kevwright

Hi Shaun, yes it seems the van at £29k was a genuine mistake, and is now either genuinely sold or hidden up for a while.

I am really thinking of not buying Adria simply due to their **** take attitude to extra pricing, £2395 for the bigger engine FFS! Others are charging £950 for this upgrade, so they are making a killing.

For some reason he has not come up with a ffinalprice for a "nnew one to the same spec (2.3, AC), but has said it will be close to £29k

Just to confuse me more, the Global chap I spoke to at length today quoted me £32k for the White 2.3 with AC

I also spoke to a Tribby dealer about the 650, thinking I will take a look back at this, but he ****ed me off by slagging off the Adria...yep, you guessed he does not sell Adria......anyway, a 650, not till JanJanuaryough, £29k dead. He also told me AC is not available on the 650 which must be bollox surely?

If I wait till JanuJanuary will wait till March, and that opens up things like the Autocruise Tempo which I still love to look of.

Kev

ingram

Shark

Kev, a couple of thoughts... 32k for the 2.3 in white doesn't surprise me; that would be nearer 35k at the full retail 2008 price. It's the engine upgrade and the 6 speed box which are together adding up to well over two grand. I was so concerned at this price difference, I asked the Global guy what his opinion of the difference between the 2.2 and the 2.3. He had no incentive to sell one or the other because he has both amongst the six blue vans. He's driven both - indeed one after the other - and suggested that unless you're loaded to the hilt and driving up lots of steep hills, he found the 2.2 perfectly adequate. Now, I know on here others have commented similarly, though perhaps someone else who has driven both, might wish to give us a further comparison, or at least tell us what the 2.2 with 5 gears is like to live with, not just first impressions after a test drive.

Kev, given that price you've been quoted for a white van, it hardens my opinion that the blue ones are being sold cheaper due to less demand for that colour. Put another way, Global are knocking two grand off a white one, but three grand off the blue ones - all other things being equal.

I'm just about getting over the rip-off prices for Adria options and starting to see the bigger picture. I simply add everything that I need and not want - which frankly is only aircon and a passenger airbag - and then establish the retail price for that spec, as both a 2.2 a 2.3. It seems we're anywhere from 29k to 34k-ish, which still seems a lot cheaper than many of the other vans out there. That fixed bed and four belted seat arrangement is hard to find elsewhere at that sort of price. Devon come close, but they're too far away and supply is but a trickle. The Adria seems to be coming through in bigger numbers and I'm chuffed that I have a dealer 50 miles away with a good supply.

So, I'm still firmly in favour of the Twin. All that's putting me off at the moment is the paint job and the lack of passenger airbag. I'm not in a desperate hurry and would be prepared to pay a bit more for anything other than blue, plus the missing airbag.

Shaun

b6x · Last edited by b6x on Sun Oct 28, 2007 8:28 pm; edited 1 time in total

I've driven both, on the same day. I honestly can say there is a difference, but only a very very small one. I got out of the second drive (the 120) and thought "I don't know why, but I think I'll be happier buying the bigger one".

It's a costly upgrade if you later decide you may have chose the wrong one.

We took our 120 down to South of France earlier this month, and several of the hills down that way needed us to shift down a couple of gears... not sure how the 100 would have coped. But, whats the hurry? - if that doesn't bother you, then go for the 100. Hopefully you won't feel you've made a mistake 6 months into ownership. Thats what I was most afraid of I guess.

b6x

Shark

It's such a costly upgrade, I have to think very carefully. I've driven automatics for so long now, I'm rather dreading all that clutch and gear changing. I'd much rather pay the over two grand more for a proper auto box. Mind you, that would probably mean the 3 litre engine. Such is life.

So for the hilly stuff the 2.3, 120 bhp, six-geared setup, acquitted itself well. For the best comparison, we could now do with hearing from someone who tackles similar territory in the smaller engine.

Any offers?

Shaun