Ah well Sidney,
Everyone to their own. I'm happy with my British built caravan but have no doubt the German vans are as good as you say.
Cheers⇦br/>
Hi again, Alan
Sadly, German vans are not quite as good as they used to be - doubtless a combination of cost cutting and the increased use of migrant labour.
However, the fall-off in quality appears to be mainly reflected in the interior fit 'n' finish, their almost legendary resistance to water ingress is not really down to skill, rather to the use of better mastic and the different profile of the aluminium sealing strips (they cover the joints, while UK-type trims leave the joints exposed)
As long as they build them using that tried and tested method they should continue to hugely out-perform UK vans in the water ingress department (and they honestly do)
I *can* see the attraction of a UK van - they are, without doubt, much more stylish than German vans - head & shoulders above them in the looks department, no argument.
German vans certainly look a little bit old fashioned and the interiors can be a matter of taste (I'm very dour and puritanical, so they suit me
Their emphasis has always been on function, rather than form, and that (to me) is the most important consideration. Sure, it's nice to have a stylish van - but I don't see the point of all that style when the basic construction is flawed.
Interestingly, a number of 'standard' German features, such as sock absorbers, wider width, loose lay carpets, better door locks, that sort of thing, are now being implemented by some UK manufacturers - why oh, why, oh why, oh why don't they seal their vans properly - using the aluminium profile that common sense should dictate is best for the purpose?
That's a rhetorical question
- I've never had an answer to that one, and probably never will.
I know that it used to be claimed that UK vans were not as sturdily built because of the need to keep weights down. That argument must surely have gone out of the window as many UK vans are now as heavy (or even heavier) than their German equivalents thanks to the super abundance of knick-knacks that get stuffed into them year by year - knick-knacks that undoubtedly sell UK vans to punters, but which are (imo) rather wasted when installed into a caravan that is going to leak as surely as the sun is going to rise in the morning.
But they do sell - and will continue to sell as long as people value fripperies more than solid construction.
There is also no doubt in my mind that German vans are still regarded with suspicion by UK buyers - who seem to have the attitude displayed to imported cars in the 1960's & 70's, 'Furrin Rubbish', somehow not quite 'right' for Englishmen
which is ironic when one considers that nearly all the advances in caravan comforts and conveniences have come courtesy of 'them furriners' - people love their Alko chassis', they couldn't do without their Truma water heaters, or their Winterhoff hitches, but they want 'em installed in a 'real' British van!
I'm somewhat reminded of the first Asian immigrants in the 60's. They were certainly exotic
, and there was much derision poured on their culinary endeavours - fragrant spices and the delicious smell of *authentic* curries that wafted from the Birmingham kitchens of these new arrivals were greeted with scorn by local residents, who dismissed their meals as more 'furrin muck' - while tucking into their own plates of soggy greasy chips accompanied by sausages oozing saturated fat by the quart!
Not everything 'furrin' is bad! - sometimes (heaven forfend!) it#s even better than John Bull's home grown alternative
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