British and Euro Debate

[machighlander]

Hi,

it seems that no matter what forums or other caravan related websites you visit, there is always the topic of which of the above is best, respective owners giving their 2 cents worth about their own pride and joy and how it is the bee's knee's.

I don't get this part of the caravan life, being a biker for many years and at this moment owning and riding a Japanese bike doesn't make me ever want to criticise or patronise anyone who turns up at the Sunday meet with a motorcycle manufactured in any other country, they are all counted as fellow two wheeled riders. The biking community have a bond that is unique, so much so that when travelling down the road and another bike is approaching the other way, he/she will always give a wave or nod their head or flash their lights. These are people who do not know, and probably never will know each other, but we still do it as an act of acknowledgement, that's respect for each other.

So, why is it the same attitudes can't be applied by folks with caravans ?, instead of continual bashing of others choices.

cheers.

 

[hogrider56]

Its because of this...I think when one buys a caravan, proportionate to its cost, tolerance of other people and other things, is somehow removed from the purchaser

 

[machighlander]

well, if thats your standing on it then Phil, ye are one sad dude, maybe thats the problem.

 

[Olive1]

I totally agree with you and that you could apply that to everything, i do believe people are jealous when someone gets something that is newer than they have so they just criticise. I believe when you buy something you like(or love in the case of our recently bought 2nd hand caravan) you should be content and therefore do not covet what others have.

 

[Guest]

I think you're riding with a fogged up visor or need a trip to Specsavers Highlander.

" The biking community have a bond that is unique, so much so that when travelling down the road and another bike is approaching the other way, he/she will always give a wave or nod their head or flash their lights"

We're at the end of a marathon charity bike tour of India. A subject covered on a number of nights has been that the majority of UK bikers don't wave anymore, give thumbs up or flash lights! And also that there are numerous 'them and us' groups of bikers who only wave to like brands. ie Harley to Harley.

Earlier in the year we rode the Route Napoleon from home in France andin to Germany and Switzerland and back and only a few of the Brit bikes we saw bothered to acknowlege are thumbs up waves or continenetal 'boot out'.

I've rode my brothers bike when in the UK a few times in the past couple of years and very few bikers wave.

A couple of our group also mentioned that on their UK biker forum the subject of animosity towards various brands and style of bike is quite a regular subject.

Sorry highlander as bikers for 40 years we see a vast difference to biking of old, especially from British bikers and the present day trend of "born again" bikers are some of the worse!

 

[Parksy]

Most caravan forums that I know of contain complaints from owners about poor quality, shoddy workmanship and bad after sales service Highlander.

The UK vs European debate is normally one sided as far as caravan forums are concerned.

It is a common belief that European built caravans are far superior to those offered by British manufacturers in terms of build quality and resistance to water ingress.

To a large extent this has been true, awning rails are a common cause of water ingress and some European manufacturers used a superior design to that used by UK manufacturers.

Those who have bought European caravans have read of problems with damp, bits falling off and cracked end panels from owners of British caravans and understandably they have not been slow to point out on forums the superior construction methods used on the Continent, particularly in Germany and Scandinavia.

In the meantime British caravan manufacturers have raised the specifications on UK caravans so that some of them might be considered to resemble mobile gin palaces with full sized domestic cookers, microwave ovens, t.v points and wiring for dvd's into the stereo, fixed beds, end washrooms with walk in showers etc....

This sort of equipment level was never included in Continental caravans, I've seen some where a porta potti is standard so now some UK built caravan owners are wondering whether the caravans actually last longer of if it only feels that way because of the spartan interior specifications on offer in some continental models.

With poor exchange rates between Sterling and the Euro the continental models are no longer the bargain that they once were

although some European manufacturers, notably Adria produce excellent caravans with UK specifications as I noticed when we visited Sue (soozeeg)in her Adria a few weeks ago.

Whether a new or used caravan is discussed the age of the caravan is never an issue, it's just an exchange of ideas and information.

The debate is not 'bashing' the choices of others it's just a reasonably good natured forum debate about our favourite pastime (or hobby)

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

I don't think most newbies really bother about the origin of the van they choose as a first purchase. as layout, size and price are probably the most important. it is on the second and subsequent purchases where their preferences come to light based on experience and functionality.

Is there snobbery within the caravanning community of course there is but thats more to do with modern life than how you spend your ever reducing free time. whats the point in having the best most expensive car, caravan designer clothes ect if you are up to the eye balls in debt to pay for them.

it is a sad fact that the times of old when caravanners and bikers waved to each other are gone "I have been doing both for longer than most" and seen things change over the years luckily I am now at an age where it does not matter what anybody else thinks as my drawers are full of T shirts anyway.

I have read some of the debates regarding british V coninentail vans on many forums and one thing is clear there is no real benifit with either just a difference in approach to what the customer gets for their money better build quality or better trim with a few gadgets thrown in, "the choice as they say is yours".

colin

 

[machighlander]

Euro, no misting in my visor mate, and i can see the moon, so don't need for specsavers. the biker thing is still well and truly to the fore up around these parts, although as you correctly point out there are a few minority groups who decline to be seen as part of this, thats their perogative. The point i was making was that ever since i have scoured the caravan forums, i have noticed a predominately large amount of the subjects are related to my assessment.

I think it is a wee bit petty from some folk to have this green eyed monster attitude toward others, no matter what make or year their caravan is, also no matter if they are up to their eyeballs in debt, once again thats their perogative.

Might just be me being me, but as a newbie at this game i will treat all as i would like to be treared myself, if i come across any of the snob brigade who look down at others, then simple, i won't interact with them will probably feel sorry for the poor sad people they are.

Biking and caravanning ?, no comparision whatever between the communities, if you are the biker you make out to be then you should know that.