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I suppose you can have too much of a good thing but I felt that, even though we had visited the Peterborough Show just the other week, taking another look at our choice of vans while the research carried out at Peterborough was still fresh in our minds, would help us reduce the shortlist even further, so off we went to Newbury last Saturday. Despite the intermittent showers I was very glad we made the effort, as seeing some of the vans for a second time made me look at their individual features more closely. We also saw vans we had missed before.
Those of you who read my previous post about our visit to Peterborough may remember my tale about the husband who, being just a little less enthusiastic than me about buying a motorhome, told one of the dealers to shut the door of his van and drive me away! Well, this dealer was also at Newbury and still finding the episode hilarious, much to my embarrassment. As I have been bullying the husband about buying a van for the past year I suppose it is nothing less than I deserve. However, the fact I am now hobbling around on crutches has nothing to do with any retaliation by the husband, I fell down a rabbit hole in the week while trying to photograph a robot, yes, honestly! No, I didn’t have nearly as much fun as Alice and climbing up and down van steps at Newbury made slippery by the rain was very tricky!
I originally had a shortlist of around eight vans and the Monte Carlo, made by Devon Conversions Ltd. has risen to the top. Those of you who are interested in a similar specification but who cannot easily get to one of the shows may be interested in how I reached my decision.
We are looking for a compact vehicle with a fixed bed. The husband in particular prefers the more spacious feel of the Rapido 707/709 and the Hobby Siesta T555 with their longitudal beds and generously sized bathrooms but the cost of that extra space is a wider, higher van, although I think the Hobby comes out slightly better than the Rapido. We also want something that can be driven easily down country lanes and that we can park in Tesco’s without causing a spectacle of ourselves. The interior of the Monte Carlo achieves an open feel despite its slimmer and lower dimensions and looks more like a regular vehicle, without the clumsy appearance of some camper vans.
The Horizons Unlimited Innovation 4/5 with its very flexible sleeping arrangements, and the IH Tio R were also both contenders but the former has no shower and the latter has only two belted seats. I cannot see the sense of paying all that money when you cannot even take a couple of pals out for a jaunt!
The Monte Carlo has one of the most flexible sleeping arrangements we have seen in a van of its kind. The rear lounge seats can be left as a fixed double bed as the swivel cab seats and two belted passenger seats make a dining cum lounge area in the front of the vehicle. These seats also make up into two single beds if required. I like this option as I plan to travel with two artist friends on painting trips and we will be able to have a bed each. After all, even in a two berth, you may not always be travelling with someone you want to share a bed with!
The Adria Twin, although only three berth, was also a favourite. What the ground plan does not reveal though is the claustrophobic effect of the cupboard placed behind the passenger seat, which contains the fridge. We met a couple for whom the restricted leg-room caused by the position of this cupboard was a serious problem, as the seat cannot be pushed back very far. They are however replacing their van with another Adria Twin, as the newer version has apparently repositioned the cupboard.
The Monte Carlo has got a small fridge, which you need to bend down to open and I know my bags of rocket salad are going to get mashed by the husband’s cans of beer. He will also bump about in the small bathroom and we need to make sure he won’t put his bum through the bathroom door while he is cooking. The wardrobe area is also extremely narrow but these drawbacks are compromises we accept. Well, we are planning to hire one for a weekend soon, to make sure we can co-exist in the space and layout.
We have still not had the opportunity yet to step inside another van on our list, the La Strada Avanti L.
Newbury did produce a wild card. Wingham’s Microshad the best kitchen work surface we saw in a compact van and despite our determination to have a fixed bed, the pull-down double housed in this van was impressive and extremely easy to operate (albeit accessed via a ladder). I was keen to retain an open mind but, nonetheless, the Monte Carlo still won the day.
There is a very good review of this van by an owner that can be accessed via the Internet by typing in the model name. I have returned to it several times.
I don’t think we can afford a brand new vehicle yet, so if anyone out there is thinking of selling their Devon Monte Carlo, please get in touch
I think that the Monte Carlo is a good choice, and it has been around for some time, so there should be some good ones around.
I was seduced by the Trigano Tribute, mainly it must be said, on the grounds of sheer good looks and value for money.
I had made an appointment to go to Elite Motorhomes of Banbury to look at the Monte Carlo (they have two on their hire fleet), but my Tribute which had been on order for 5 months turned up in the nick of time.
If only they could make the Monte Carlo look a bit better it would be a great van.
I too saw the Wingamm Micro at Newbury and thought it was a really great little van, if above my price point.
Good luck with hubby.
I can't fault your logic and the Devon is a fine make.
I only wanted to point out to you, if it wasn't already obvious, that the choice of motorhome at best is a difficult compromise, but with your requirements of compact, narrow vehicle with fixed bed and able to sleep 3 adults all in different beds, well I'm not surpised you end up with just the Devon Monte Carlo. I'm not aware of anything else that could do that!
So, the only thing for you to guard against is whether the tail is wagging the dog. Which of these requirements is mandatory, and which nice-to-have but perhaps of lesser benefit? Have you subjectively chosen a vehicle you like, then converted the opportunities it presents into "requirements"?
For example, if a compact, narrow vehicle is the most important, but fixed bed is really "I need to be able to make up the bed in under 20 seconds", then you can have other choices which may make the lounge more spacious for hubby, without ending up with a van of a width you might not like driving down narrow roads.
Yes, oldenstar, the Wingham is pricey. Somehow I wasn't expecting it to be but the Husband, who takes notice of these things, was very eager to point it out. Why do you think the Monte Carlo is not a good looking van? Oh dear, they do say true love is blind!
However, Dave, yes you have made some very valid points. I have pondered them all. The possibility of the four berths did somehow convince me that this is what I want although, they may only be used as such once a year, if that - hardly a good reason for limiting my choices. I also think there has been a temptation to impose limitations to restrict the bewildering task of reaching any decision at all!
Anyway, although heartened that the Monte Carlo has been around a while - didn't know that - so we may get one within our price range, I am trying to be a little more flexible. The front lounge, fixed rear bed (we don't like fighting with lumps of foam) and the four belted seats are paramount. Otherwise, well, any ideas?
Have you thought about a B+ Class RV?? The Concord is 96" wide (narrower than a lot of Hymers) has a double end bedroom and a dbl fold out couch and dbl fold down dinette as well as slides and all the other stuff you get with an RV.
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