advice

[mackemade]

hi
we are looking to buy our first motohome but we are on a budget of between 7-10k.
we have seen a fiat mirage , it is old on a 1994 reg but has only done 50k and has no advisories on the mot, FSH , and cambelt change, everthing works well , what other things should we look for .

TIA
adrian

 

[Canarycity]

Damp is your main concern, you could always buy a cheap meter and check.

 

[Hobbyt600]

This discussion on another forum related to younger Mirage motorhomes, but some of the information will still be relevant to older models

https://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/Mercedes-Mirage-6000/48323/
You need to appreciate that the UK’s MOT test will only apply to the Fiat base-vehicle and not to the Mirage’s ‘habitation’ part. And even then certain factors (eg. the age of the vehicle’s tyres) will not have been checked as part of the MOT test.

Mirage-specific parts will no longer be obtainable (though that will be true of many 25-years-old motorhomes). As Canarycity has advised, a thorough damp-check should be carried out and make sure all the expensive appliances (heater, fridge, etc.) are in proper working order.

Your reference to “50k” suggests that the motorhome is left-hand-drive. 50k equates to a 1200-odd annual mileage which - if genuine - would be startlingly low - though I guess the vehicle may have remained largely unused in recent years.

Be careful - this could be an excellent budget buy or a money-pit...