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RichardnGill

What was the Excel show like this year Question

I was planning to get there to try and get a good deal on my new M/H, But could not make it Crying or Very sad

. So I am hopping the dealers did not sell many M/H's because I am planning to visits some dealers this Friday and see if I can get a good deal Very Happy

Richard...

geraldandannie · Moderator

We enjoyed it. The fact that the tickers were free (thanks, Brisey!) and we cycled there, therefore incurring no parking or fuel charges, had nothing to do with it! Wink

In all honesty, we were going anyway. We enjoyed it. It was less busy than the NEC, and there seemed to be more room to move around. We were able to have good looks inside most of my fave vans (Rapido - drool), and we also looked at ih campers, which looked a good (if expensive) option for downsizing. Two new Trigano Tributes were being debuted.

It was all in one large hall, so navigation was easy. Br*wnhills were there, as were many other dealers. There weren't any second hand vans for sale, like you see at some outdoor events. There were a few RVs, and everything from tiny Romahomes up to enormous Cathargo things.

Everyone we spoke to at the show seemed to really enjoy it, and felt the show was what they wanted You didn't get the huge number of manufacturers that there was at the NEC.

Gerald

brisey

Hi Gerald

Glad you enjoyed the show, we went on Saturday and our thoughts on the show were much the same as yours. We probably drooled over the same Rapido as you. Overall the show was a great improvement on last years. Did notice a few order forms being signed and a couple of SOLD signs about, so I guess the dealers are happy as well.

Invicta

Just arrived home from Excel.

Great improvement from last year. I didn't go to look at motorhomes (had mine new this year !) but there was a good selection on show together with tents, trailer tens, boats, caravans. I was impressed with all the other stalls there and the variety of goods on sale.

I came away with a new lightweight 4 wheeled electric disabilty scooter that I managed to get £275 off the price displayed ! Also got 2 sets of melamine crockery for £7.95 a set of 24 items. I paid £24.99 for the same several years ago now from a local trader.

I have also got details of sides and front for my awning that I can get for show price of £450 as opposed to £525 if I order before Friday next.

The parking was much improved too. Huge under cover car park for cars with parking outside for larger vehicles. And the bonus for me? I too had free tickets to get it!

geraldandannie · Moderator

Hi, Invicta

Did you go to the 'meet', @ "Trucks R Us"? We were there at around 1, but I didn't know who to look out for. I know Nige (Highwayman), but I couldn't see him. Didn't want to loiter around the stand too much - after a few minutes, I got offered a massage by a young lady! I guess I'm not used to hanging around on corners Embarassed

Gerald

neverrememberit

But where did you all camp? Does the outside car park allow for overniting? My interest specifically relates to the Boat Show in January so a little advance information welcome.

geraldandannie · Moderator

Hi, John

There were loads of people who camped overnight right outside the entrance. They'd sectioned part of the car park off specifically. Someone we spoke to said thay came on Friday, and paid £42 for camping the whole weekend plus entrance to the show. Don't know what facilities they had.

Since we only live about 8 miles away, we cycled there Shocked

I would doubt whether they'd have the same facilities for a boat-only show. You'd have to contact the organisers.

Gerald

Invicta

Sorry to have missed you yesterday Gerald! I was a little late getting to the Trucks 'R' Us stand at lunchtime as I was very busy elsewhere negotiating the final price I paid for the Rascal Liteway 4 electic mobility scooter. I eventually got it for £700 with a spare battery pack.

Looking up the same model on the internet when I got home, the cheapest I found was £895 with no spare battery pack. It was very convenient having a similar RV model to mine, with the same sized door on the Trucks 'R' us stand, as we were able to see if the scooter fitted through the door-it did!. Also Casper was just a few stands away with his excellent Autobox so we were able to see if the scooter fitted in that OK as I have one on the RV-it did!

Sorry once again Gerald for missing you yesterday but will eventually meet up with you in Canterbury thiscoming weekend with several other fellow MCC (Mad Motor Caravanners!) I meet on this marvellous site!

oldun

I went to the NEC and Excel shows everyday as a helper on a stand and I can honestly say that the Excel was crap compared to the NEC. The NEC was far better organised had about 4 or 5 times the display area and had many more staff available to help and control the visitors. Where the Excel scored was in the greater availability of seating but that's about it.

I was very disappointed with the accessories at the Excel.

I am interested in campsites, with shower facilities, close to the Excel. Abbey Wood is not too far as the crow flies but takes well over an hour by train and involves three changes.

Still now that the other London show has been "postponed indefinitely" the Excel must be the best in London this year.

Invicta

As motorcaravanners my family and I were very satisfied with the accessories this year at EXCEL! We came away with several bargains including my Rascal Liteway 4 electric scooter that is going to be much easier to load into my RV than my previous one.

We found there to be plenty of EXCEL staff around to give information. If there was a shortage of staff on the various stands then that was down to the exhibitors. The parking was much improved this year. Cars were under cover in the car park that was immediately adjacent to the exhibition area.

I must admit it has been a few years since I have been to the NEC but my impression there was that it was too big. There were many products then that I would have expected to have seen at an Ideal Homes Exhibition, not a show concerned with camping and caravanning.

These two postings just show that we all