Hi,
We picked up our 2010 542dt in March from South Lincs Caravans (Great service; recommended). Absolutely love it to bits and people we have met on sites have commented how much they like it too.
This is our first caravan, but already we have done a week in Devon, week in Cornwall, 2 weeks south of France, week in Switzerland not to mention many weekends at various locations.
Overall we cannot fault it for our needs (2 of us adults and 2 children aged 6 and 3). A great bathroom good comfortable beds, very open and 'airey' feel and lots of seating areas.
If I think really hard, I can find only a couple of things that would need a slight improvement:
- Bathroom door is a tiny bit awkward when open not leaving a great deal of room to get past; you have to either close it or push back against the hinges to get past the dinette seats. Could be improved if the door would open just slightly further
- Blown air heating is gas only (at least it is on 2010 model), ensure you have some other means of portable electric heating if using the van in cold weather
- Middle bunk doesn't have a protection side panel like the top bunk; I am making one to fit as we did actually experience my youngest falling through the gap between the wall and the ladder one night. She was fine but lots of tears at 03:00 and a bit of a shock to us all! Good job it wasn't the top one!
- Just watch the noseweight; apparently the factory weight is 92kg; we have spare in the front locker and 2 gas bottles and with everything else in the van it keeps at around 95kg but this was way heavy for our car (Toyota Verso). We now also have a Jeep Cherokee which we mainly use as towcar which obviously has no problems.
Apart from that the build quality is superb, it is good to tow, has many mod-cons and in general looks the part. I believe that from 2009 the changes were a frosted bathroom window and a wider door. Looking at the 2011 models on the net I think all that has changed is darker wood effect, carpets may be included now? change to the upolstery and thats it.
Extras we have fitted are:
- Microwave fitted in top locker above cooker
- Powertouch motor mover
- Additional elec socket on side of fridge (for kettle)
- External elec socket
- heki large sunroof in lounge area
- Alloy wheels
- Additional cushion in longe area (under small fold down table)
- Spare wheel
- Alko stabiliser
- tv aerial
So, all in all would most certainly buy this caravan again. Even with all these extras it has worked out at least 3 or 4K cheaper that comparable vans too. Advice would be buy 2010 if a good deal is available; wait for 2011 models if you really prefer dark wood and carpets enough to warrant the extra. Apart from that there is such a minor difference.
Hope this helps
Regards,
Andy