Hello all, is there anyone with some sound advice on what in their opinion would be the better buy, out of a Bailey Pageant Bretagne & Swift Charisma 565, I currently have a Bailey and no real problems at all. I have researched both of these but still cant decide, many thanks Kim.
Buying new, Pageant Bretagne or Charisma 565
- Thread starter hollypop1
- Start date
I also have been looking at these models but have yet to see the Charisma in the flesh. I like the Bailey but the TV fold down shelf is in a very weird place which folds down over the seating area which means you lose seating that side and if sat that side you would be very close to tv. Any owners got advice on that?
Also the new Sprite Major 6 2010 model is the tripple bunk which you might also want to have a look at, I expect the price will be closer to the Bailey.
Also the new Sprite Major 6 2010 model is the tripple bunk which you might also want to have a look at, I expect the price will be closer to the Bailey.
why dont you both ring chipping sodbury caravans and see if you can get a better deal on the bailey. i bought my 2008 wyoming from them. i phoned every bailey dealer in the country and no one could beat there price. i just kept knocking them down. i also got discount on my twin axel motor mover, i got them to fit a free satalite socket outside, i asked for the bailey wheel arch wind cover which they threw in worth
just a thought if you leave the tv where it is could the kids area not have a tv point then they would have there own tv and you could put your feet up on the seat. if you save money from buying it at chipping sodbury you could buy a 2nd tv for the kids area.
jo
jo
I have the Bretagne and with my 4 kids the layout is great. As regards the tv point , there is another point in kids room so you could put one in there but for us the front lounge has proved big enough. The problem with some similar vans is that they put the tv point on the front locker so you can't use the fold over table without moving tv first.
More important issues are which washroom do you prefer cos the Bretagnes is small, some say it's the main weak point but again for us it's perfect as we always use the site showers - last thing I want is my 4 daughters wanting to shower in the van !!!
There will almost always be a compromise somewhere with whatever van you choose so just have a good look around. NEC show is ideal for that purpose.
I would also recomend chipping Sodbury caravans asi got a hefty discount there myself. Happy hunting .
More important issues are which washroom do you prefer cos the Bretagnes is small, some say it's the main weak point but again for us it's perfect as we always use the site showers - last thing I want is my 4 daughters wanting to shower in the van !!!
There will almost always be a compromise somewhere with whatever van you choose so just have a good look around. NEC show is ideal for that purpose.
I would also recomend chipping Sodbury caravans asi got a hefty discount there myself. Happy hunting .
We have a Bretagne and we find that as the front seats are quite long that we can still fit 4 round the table even with the shelf down.
There is also a TV point (240v/12v with aerial point) in the rear bedroom.
We love the van and in our opinion the only downside is the small side washroom and the tap that is too long for the washbasin.
There is also a TV point (240v/12v with aerial point) in the rear bedroom.
We love the van and in our opinion the only downside is the small side washroom and the tap that is too long for the washbasin.
I looked at both those models (And the Lunar copy) before deciding to go with the Bailey. I already had a Swift & wanted another but several things put me off the new model:-
1) The TV on top of the front drawers rendered the fold out table useless. It also meant having to unplug the telly everytime you want to make up the front double as the socket is below the bed slats.
2) The rear bedroom has a concertina blind & we wanted a proper wooden door to keep light & sound out of the kids room. (My kids are light sleepers)!
3) The bathroom furnishings looked very cheap & nasty, especially the moulded cabinet tray which in the display model we looked at was held together with nasty blobs of glue & was already breaking apart.
For the above reasons we went with the Pageant & I dont regret it. We love the van & the layout. Only the small bathroom & the tap which is too long for the sink dissapoints but we use site facilities for showers anyway.
1) The TV on top of the front drawers rendered the fold out table useless. It also meant having to unplug the telly everytime you want to make up the front double as the socket is below the bed slats.
2) The rear bedroom has a concertina blind & we wanted a proper wooden door to keep light & sound out of the kids room. (My kids are light sleepers)!
3) The bathroom furnishings looked very cheap & nasty, especially the moulded cabinet tray which in the display model we looked at was held together with nasty blobs of glue & was already breaking apart.
For the above reasons we went with the Pageant & I dont regret it. We love the van & the layout. Only the small bathroom & the tap which is too long for the sink dissapoints but we use site facilities for showers anyway.
Kim with vans as closely matched as these appear to be (the Swift was not out when we bought so I cannot directly comment), it could be that which dealer you prefer / most convenient for servicing could swing the vote.
Hello All, I have not made a decision yet, went and looked at a Lunar Quasar 616, quite impressed any suggestions on this, thanks all, Kim.
Hi Kim,
We bought the Charisma 565 .
We love it.
What would you like to know about it?
We have two kids- 8 and 4 they think the bunks are great and you can partition them off at night so it's like a wee room for them.
The adults then have all the front part.
We bought the Charisma 565 .
We love it.
What would you like to know about it?
We have two kids- 8 and 4 they think the bunks are great and you can partition them off at night so it's like a wee room for them.
The adults then have all the front part.
Thanks for all your replies, have now bought a Bailey Ranger GT60 540/6 such a good deal could not refuse, thanks again, Kim.
Hi Kim
I have recently bought a swift charisma 565 but we opted for the 2009 model brand new instead of the 2010 model as we didn't like the speckled basin or the push up windows in the roof at the back of the van/above kitchen.
Great for the kids with the bunks along with a table for them to sit without crowding in one area with you.
If you think this van is for you - you can still shop about and get a 2009 model for
I have recently bought a swift charisma 565 but we opted for the 2009 model brand new instead of the 2010 model as we didn't like the speckled basin or the push up windows in the roof at the back of the van/above kitchen.
Great for the kids with the bunks along with a table for them to sit without crowding in one area with you.
If you think this van is for you - you can still shop about and get a 2009 model for
Hi
We had the same dilema and when we heard they may be stopping production of the Bretagne we turned up at the local dealer to buy one. However, after going in both the Bretagne and 565 (which they had next to each other) we felt the Bailey had more room and felt more airy, but was also more basic. we felt the 565 was better built and plumpt for that one. but its horses for courses, we prefered the solid wood door and the tv position on the Bailey, but we feel we could modify the 565 slightly to fix these preferences of ours but we couldnt modify the bailey to equal the build quality of the swift. My advice would be to go with your heart and not someone elses review as every family has different needs but I would highly recommend going to a dealer with both caravans in and feeling the caravan for yourself. also look for limited additions of the charisma, even if you dont wont one, you can use as a great bargaining tool, we got an extra
We had the same dilema and when we heard they may be stopping production of the Bretagne we turned up at the local dealer to buy one. However, after going in both the Bretagne and 565 (which they had next to each other) we felt the Bailey had more room and felt more airy, but was also more basic. we felt the 565 was better built and plumpt for that one. but its horses for courses, we prefered the solid wood door and the tv position on the Bailey, but we feel we could modify the 565 slightly to fix these preferences of ours but we couldnt modify the bailey to equal the build quality of the swift. My advice would be to go with your heart and not someone elses review as every family has different needs but I would highly recommend going to a dealer with both caravans in and feeling the caravan for yourself. also look for limited additions of the charisma, even if you dont wont one, you can use as a great bargaining tool, we got an extra
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