Bailey vs Abbey - best buy?

[Touring1]

We are contemplating a purchase of a new 4 berth caravan. We've narrowed it down to a Bailey or an Abbey. What advice would you suggest we take into account about the merits of ownership of either of these? Will one wear better than another with general use? What is the comparative standard of dealerships like? Which might hold its value better?

Also, is it worth buying at the NEC show next week? Beneath all the hype, do you actualy get a better deal than haggling with the local dealer?

 

[RogerL]

Don't forget that Abbey have almost identical twins in the Ace, Sterling and Swift ranges as they're all built in the same factory by Swift.

From bitter experience, dealer standards vary enormously - good ones are excellent, bad ones are dangerously incompetent.

 

[Ian_5040589]

My opinion for what its worth Graham:

We have had two Baileys and are now on our 1st Swift.

The quality of the Swift (ours is a Challenger but there are similar models under the Abbey banner) is much better than the Bailey. It feels more solid. Doors close properly, handles don't drop off etc.

Its also important to consider customer service. We had bitter experience with Bailey who's stock response to mounting warranty problems was "you have a contract with your dealer - see him".

We have had our Swift two months and had one minor problem with it for which it was returned to the dealer for warranty work. This was completed in double quick time.

Last week Swift rang me to check that I was happy with the standard of work and happy with the quality of the van and that there were no problems with it.

For me its a Swift group van everytime, but everyone will have their own opinion. In addition Swift take an interest in this forum and will respond to any queries raised.

You need to think about how supportive your local dealer will be if you buy at the NEC from a dealer far from home. You don't want to be making lengthy trips to the selling dealer for warranty work. We bought from our local Bailey dealer but it was still a 50 mile round trip for warranty work. Times this by 6 warranty visits and you will understand why I was asking Bailey for a contribution to fuel costs (which they refused - presumably 6 trips for repair on a 3 month old van is deemed acceptable by them?)

Any caravan dealer will appear first class when they sell you a van, the proof in the pudding comes when you take delivery and there are any warranty issues.

It might be worth asking any caravanners you know for their experiences locally, alternatively post your (rough) location on the forum and I'm sure that people will chip in with their recommendations.

I'm not convinced you'd get a better deal at the NEC. Like the motor trade it all depends on what the dealer has in stock, what kind of months trade he's had etc etc.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Dustydog]

Graham

My last two caravans have been Bailey.

You will see from earlier postings we very nearly went for the Swift Conqueror but for various reasons shied away. I just couldn't justify the extra

 

[Hamer_5041128]

Graham,

You will hear good and bad reports about all makes and models.I would say buying from a good dealer is more important than the make of caravan. we have had 10 consecutive new caravans all from the same dealer Golden Castle Caravans at Staverton Airport. Excellent service with all caravans. We had 3 consecutive Bailey Senators,each for 3 years. All used regulary with only a couple of minor problems non of which were of Bailey's making. We then bought our present caravan a 2007 Swift Conqueror. On our first trip a wardrobe door fell off and damaged the shower door. The new shower door is being fitted in 2 weeks time. We did not notice the shower door was damaged as we do not use the shower, prefer to use site facilities. The damage was noticed by our dealer at the caravan's first service, and a new door ordered immediatly. The reason we changed to Swift was because of the layout Knowing that if we had any problems our dealer would put things right without any problem. The reason the door fell off was because the wrong size screws had been used. On examination the other two wardrobe doors also had the wrong size screws. Friends of ours with a Swift Challenger 2007 also had the wrong screws.

We like the Swift but would have bought another Bailey if they had done the layout.

Hamer

 

[Mike_5041144]

Hi Graham

We are on our second Abbey in 4 years - Aventura first then GTS Vogue 418 [fixed end bed] van sides are GRP which we wanted. Both vans have been trouble free and no warranty work was required [to date] on either van. Everything still works just fine!!!!!!!!

 

[DeliDave]

we had a sterling jewel,the old style which had a new floor at the factory,it was never the same,half the screws to blinds and fittings left out bed creaked,bedroom door fell off as again short screws used,bought it from dealer 90 miles away at a show who to be fair did everything we asked but it was a load of hassle,we have since had two from Golden Castle who have been excellent ordered bits received within two weeks,its still 60 miles each way but we have been happy.Had Swift treated us well with the repair we would probably still been with them.

 

[DeliDave]

Sorry meant we had two Bailey Indianas,series 5 and 6.No edit on this ### site

 

[MrsMothy]

Hi Graham

We had a Bailey Pageant Monarch which was well made and trouble free...absolutely nothing dropped off and nothing failed. We decided we wanted a fixed bed without changing the car so bought an 05 Abbey Adventura 317. Bits dropped off; things weren't lined up properly, bed slats had to be replaced (no not a weight issue as our joint weight is less than 17 stone) and the windows weren't sealed properly so the first service threw up serious damp around the windows. Needless to say, we have now gone back to Bailey and bought a Senator Viginia even though we needed a new car as well. Guess what. Its perfect. Everything works, nothing has dropped off and the workmanship is first class.

Hope you find your perfect 'van.

Regards

Denise

 

[Touring1]

Hi Graham

We had a Bailey Pageant Monarch which was well made and trouble free...absolutely nothing dropped off and nothing failed. We decided we wanted a fixed bed without changing the car so bought an 05 Abbey Adventura 317. Bits dropped off; things weren't lined up properly, bed slats had to be replaced (no not a weight issue as our joint weight is less than 17 stone) and the windows weren't sealed properly so the first service threw up serious damp around the windows. Needless to say, we have now gone back to Bailey and bought a Senator Viginia even though we needed a new car as well. Guess what. Its perfect. Everything works, nothing has dropped off and the workmanship is first class.

Hope you find your perfect 'van.

Regards

Denise

Thanks all - plenty to think about. Since posting have just read about Baileys transient warranty scheme. Looks like this gives more choice for servicing/warranty repairs if the supplying dealer is a way off. Does this work in practice?

 

[Touring1]

Hi Graham

We had a Bailey Pageant Monarch which was well made and trouble free...absolutely nothing dropped off and nothing failed. We decided we wanted a fixed bed without changing the car so bought an 05 Abbey Adventura 317. Bits dropped off; things weren't lined up properly, bed slats had to be replaced (no not a weight issue as our joint weight is less than 17 stone) and the windows weren't sealed properly so the first service threw up serious damp around the windows. Needless to say, we have now gone back to Bailey and bought a Senator Viginia even though we needed a new car as well. Guess what. Its perfect. Everything works, nothing has dropped off and the workmanship is first class.

Hope you find your perfect 'van.

Regards

Denise

Thanks all - sorry if this message is duplicated, thought I'd posted it already but it's disappeared!

Just noticed that Bailey have a Transient Warranty status for seriving/repairs. If I've understood it correctly, this would be a way of getting servicing and warranty repairs done if you have bought a van from a dealer some distance away (or have moved since you purchased from what was your local dealer). Do you think this interpretation is right, and has anyone used such a repairer?

 

[Touring1]

Thanks all - sorry but being new to the forum, I'd wrongly posted this to 'comments', and then as I couldn't see it I thought for some reason I hadn't successfully posted anything......!!

Just noticed that Bailey have a Transient Warranty status for seriving/repairs. If I've understood it correctly, this would be a way of getting servicing and warranty repairs done if you have bought a van from a dealer some distance away (or have moved since you purchased from what was your local dealer). Do you think this interpretation is right, and has anyone used such a repairer?

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Check in Yellow Pages and see if you have a Mobile Service Engineer locally then find out if he his accredited by the N.C.C. and also C.O.R.G.I. registered to carry out warranty/servicing. That will save you a long haul. It saved us a round trip of 104 miles each time and was a lot cheaper for the service.

 

[Damian]

As has been said, any NCC Approved Workshop, or Approved Mobile Workshop can carry out routine servicing to maintain you rwarranty.

It is NOT essential that the engineers is CORGI registered, but being part of the Approved Workshop scheme does mean he will be ACoPS or UKAS certified to work on LPG

 

[JasonR_374341560]

Bailey first choice. We've had caravans from Swift and stay with Bailey now.

Bailey help is very good, and as far as we can see and have found Bailey hold there prices better. Last year we helped friends buying a used van and looked at many of varying ages. Bailey survived the test of time better than others we saw.

(maybe Bailey owners care more) Swift group vans seemed to have bits falling off that dealers would fix, it seemed a strange way to do business. Fix first before selling I would have thought.

 

[Litespeed]

In short and in my opinion (for what its worth)

Bailey is your Ford / Vauxhall car while Abbey (Swift) is your Honda / Toyota.

 

[mealsonwheels]

Graham, go to www.caravantalk.org.uk

Scroll down to 'Tourers & Motorhomes'

Click on 'Bailey Caravans'

Scroll down to 'Bailey & the Forum' "What do you think"

After you've finished reading that, click on Swift caravans.

Interesting reading - I think it will help you make your mind up!

 

[RogerL]

In short and in my opinion (for what its worth)

Bailey is your Ford / Vauxhall car while Abbey (Swift) is your Honda / Toyota.

Ford & Vauxhall support their customers much better than Bailey, from my ownership experience of 15 years Ford, 22 years Vauxhall and 7 years Bailey. Once the warranty ends you become invisible.

 

[Gavin1974]

Oh my god, for someone who's just paid a

 

[Hamer_5041128]

Gavin,

Don't worry. Look forward to getting your new Swift. Most problems people experience are minor and are put right by a good dealer. Most minor problems can wait untill the first service. It is a fact of life that you hear far more bad news from the small minority who have problems , than good news from the majority who have none or very few minor problems.

I find this is especially true with caravaneers.

Enjoy your new Swift as i do mine.

Hamer

 

[Mr C]

We brought our Abbey freestyle dealer special at last years NEC show, we were told there were no deals , but there were , in fact we had not planned to buy for a couple of months but got such a good deal (last day of the show, told that can make a difference)we could not turn it down and have not regretted it. That saving was on the plus side, on the down side we have to take it to reading for it's warranty work and servicing to keep the guarantee up.

 

[Gavin1974]

Hi MR C - we think we got a pretty good deal

 

[Mr C]

We got

 

[Gavin1974]

oh ******! Thanks for getting back to me....although I wished you'd lied!

Oh well, its a done deal now and the dealer is just 15 minutes down the road.

 

[Mr C]

oh ******! Thanks for getting back to me....although I wished you'd lied!

Oh well, its a done deal now and the dealer is just 15 minutes down the road.

I do have to say when I caught up with my wife who was chatting to the lady from Lowdhams, I thought she was chatting to an old friend they were getting on so well, not my wifes normal way (it is OK she does not read this !) Maybe that and the fact we were were really not planning to buy, we had not even sorted out anywhere to store the thing ! It was such a great deal it would have been rude to say no, when I tried to deal at the Caravan show in Oct before, there was nothing being offered, we had put the whole caravan thing on hold , well 'She Who MUST Be Obeyed' had, as I said we only planned to look, not buy, and she had to do some hard selling, my Wife likes a deal even more than I do !