Looking to buy our first caravan. Preferably 6 berth, single axle. A local dealer has a Bailey pageant 2007 for £10,300 with awning included and another has an Abbey Vogue 2007 for £10,275 but no awning. Both have fixed end bunk and side dinettes and both seem to be clean/ hardly used. The company Abbey no longer makes caravans... but it does feel like a more quality finish. Any opinions or advice greatfully received!
Bailey Pageant or Abbey Vogue
- Thread starter Ros_374464433
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Parksy
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- Nov 12, 2009
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Abbeys were made by Swift Group who are the UK's leading caravan manufacturer. Abbeys are identical to Swifts apart from the colour of the upholstery and the use of lighter coloured wood. Servicing and spares present no problem and Swift Group offer 1st class customer support as a glance around this and other caravan forums will show.
Why not try to negotiate a deal on the Abbey by asking the dealer to include an awning or to lower the price?
A couple of buying tips when viewing a caravan with a salesman are never to display enthusiasm for a caravan no matter how nice you might think that it is, don't be afraid to remain silent and force the salesman to speak.
He's not your bessie mate (although he will pretend to be if it clinches a sale) so make him work for the sale.
When he's going over the good points of a caravan don't smile broadly and agree wholeheartedly thus 'reinforcing' his position.
Appear unimpressed and he might be more amenable to discounting the price or adding 'extras' for free.
Don't just pay the 'screen price' without first exploring every possible avenue with a view to paying less, and don't worry about upsetting a salesman.
If you drive away with the caravan of your choice leaving the hapless salesman curled up in a corner shaking and crying my work is done!
Personally I'd go for the Abbey but I'm biased because we have an Abbey 620 which we chose because of the superior build quality in our opinion.
Good Luck
Why not try to negotiate a deal on the Abbey by asking the dealer to include an awning or to lower the price?
A couple of buying tips when viewing a caravan with a salesman are never to display enthusiasm for a caravan no matter how nice you might think that it is, don't be afraid to remain silent and force the salesman to speak.
He's not your bessie mate (although he will pretend to be if it clinches a sale) so make him work for the sale.
When he's going over the good points of a caravan don't smile broadly and agree wholeheartedly thus 'reinforcing' his position.
Appear unimpressed and he might be more amenable to discounting the price or adding 'extras' for free.
Don't just pay the 'screen price' without first exploring every possible avenue with a view to paying less, and don't worry about upsetting a salesman.
If you drive away with the caravan of your choice leaving the hapless salesman curled up in a corner shaking and crying my work is done!
Personally I'd go for the Abbey but I'm biased because we have an Abbey 620 which we chose because of the superior build quality in our opinion.
Good Luck
Ros,
We have the 6 berth Abbey Expression 2007. It is essentialy a Vogue but a dealer special (Michael Jordans).
All I can say is that apart from a blown water heater element (hardly Swifts fault) we have had no problems whatsoever with it in what will be 3 years next January, and would definately have another.
As far as the name Abbey goes, Jordans still offer the expession range, exactly the same vans made by Swift, but without the Abbey logo on them.
If you wanted the Vogue why not haggle in an awning as part of the deal.
Good luck.
We have the 6 berth Abbey Expression 2007. It is essentialy a Vogue but a dealer special (Michael Jordans).
All I can say is that apart from a blown water heater element (hardly Swifts fault) we have had no problems whatsoever with it in what will be 3 years next January, and would definately have another.
As far as the name Abbey goes, Jordans still offer the expession range, exactly the same vans made by Swift, but without the Abbey logo on them.
If you wanted the Vogue why not haggle in an awning as part of the deal.
Good luck.
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