RIP Bailey Senator 1988-2010

[DJGB]

The Seantor is dead - long live the Pegasus!

Just had a look at the Bailey website and the Senator is no more. To quote:-

"In line with the Bailey policy of responding to customer feedback and building what the market demands, the decision has therefore been taken to discontinue the production of Senator Series 6 with immediate effect. There are a few remaining models within the Retailer Network and anybody interested in acquiring one of these units should contact the Bailey Customer Helpline on either helpline@bailey-caravans.co.uk or 0117-3052939 for information on availability."

More info on the Bailey website

Cheers

David

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

According to our dealer the Senator is still in demand and some customers have instructed them to do their best to get a certain model. They were trying to get a Vermont that morning we were there.

 

[Oldsalt49]

Just checked out the news annoucement on the Bailey web site. It says the sale of Senators have diminished greatly since the introduction of the Pegasus range. Blimey, its only two months since the launch of the Pegasus, so that is a bit of a rapid assumption. Further down the announcement, it mentions the launch of the new Olympus range, using the new alu-tech system. It seems Bailey are using the same spin doctors as our political parties. Glad we didn't buy a Senator, they have effectively devalued them at a stroke of a pen.

 

[andyp1]

ironically , i bet they go up in value

Andy

 

[Mikey1]

I wonder if its anything to do with the alu tech vans are quicker to build?

Looks like the new names will be from Greek methology?

Bailey Zeus anyone????

 

[xtrailman]

We started looking for a new caravan last year, not in any rush.

Just glad we didn't buy another vermont, the pegasus has really set us back, so i doubt we will be changing this year.

Just waiting for feed back from pegasus owners, but over a season, not just a couple of outings.

Not convinced (along with bailey), that they have as yet get the construction right, or that the inside is good enough to replace a senator.

 

[forestgump]

may be thay should take as much pride with all there other vans .

 

[trucker]

According to our dealer the Senator is still in demand and some customers have instructed them to do their best to get a certain model. They were trying to get a Vermont that morning we were there.

LB theres one at Ashberton, Devon Reduced as it is a display modle if any good.

Kevin

 

[Dustydog]

According to Bailey only 10% of sales are for the Senator the remaining 90% are Pegasus.

Well we knew it was coming and hopefully over the next two years the level of interior refinement will gradually be brought up to Senator level.

I wait impatiently to see if the opposition follow Bailey's ingenuity and level of available warranty.

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[DeliDave]

We checked on our S6 Indiana in storage yesterday all fine,no damp or anything ,no midew,its been the best van we ever had once we sorted out the niggles,pump,heater etc,just means we'll have to keep it a long while instead of buying a new one,don't like the look of the Pegasus insides or the front locker either

 

[woodsieboy]

We will be keeping our Senator for a while longer then.We will wait and see how Pegasus goes, as others have said, at least for a year, it is a shame as our Senator has been very good so far.Not keen to go back to Swift, so it could be Coachman or Elddis next time.

 

[NigelHutson]

I can't help thinking that the Pegasus is a case of "Emporer's New Clothes". Personally, I would have a Senator any day over the hideously ugly Pegasus!

 

[AlanADS]

Hi Nigel et al

You have re-iterated exactly what I have said before.

We wanted to buy a new Senator Wyoming at the show but couldn't find anyone on the Bailey stand that could give us an honest answer about the Senator range - all they wanted to do was plug the Pegasus ! Because we wanted to move to a fixed bed end bathroom we looked around and found the Coachman range and have ordered a Pastiche 560/4 dealer special (brings it up to the VIP spec.)- it is one of the longest single axle vans with an end bathroom. We have p/x'd our 2007 Senator Arizona and it was such a shame to let it go. It was so good and well appointed for the money and to us it was a real luxury van - we wonder if we have done the right thing ! Not a sign of dampness and not a thing had gone wrong with it since we bought it new.

Unless Bailey can get something out soon that meets / exceeds the Senator range they will loose out to other manufacturers - for some reason they seem to have gone into this with their eyes closed unless they have a surprise for us up their sleeves !!

Regards

Alan

 

[machighlander]

alan s, out of curiousity here, me being a newbie and all that.

you say your previous van was brill, and never gave you any problems, so why trade it in, and then worry if youve done the right thing ?, and it was an 07 model, so hardly getting out of date.

cheers.

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

im not shocked i said the pegasus would replace the senators and i was right. i dont like the look of them there ugly i dont get the dark locker cupboard and my in laws have said that bailey have spent more on the outside than the inside and its not a patch on our wyoming.

anyone know anything about the olympus range?.

i dont think they know much about caravanning. why not right to us owners and ask for input.

if i was changing i would have an eldiss super sirocco if i won the lottery.

jo

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

ironically , i bet they go up in value

Andy

i agree with andy

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

We started looking for a new caravan last year, not in any rush.

Just glad we didn't buy another vermont, the pegasus has really set us back, so i doubt we will be changing this year.

Just waiting for feed back from pegasus owners, but over a season, not just a couple of outings.

Not convinced (along with bailey), that they have as yet get the construction right, or that the inside is good enough to replace a senator.

have a look at eldiss and lunar

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

We will be keeping our Senator for a while longer then.We will wait and see how Pegasus goes, as others have said, at least for a year, it is a shame as our Senator has been very good so far.Not keen to go back to Swift, so it could be Coachman or Elddis next time.

we will be keeping ours cant afford to change it love it anyway.

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

have they asked any of you lot for customer feeback?. they havent asked me

jo

 

[bigbilly]

Apparently sales and orders have confirmed Bailey customers view of the Pegasus but it will be interesting to hear longer term comments re the build construction and better insulation.

We liked the outside design as well as the internal decor and smooth light walls. We felt that it was the quality of the internal fixtutre and fittings that let it down.

It will be interesting to see the Olympus - presumably a Pageant replacement ?

Bill

 

[AlanADS]

Highlander

To answer your question - we have always had two berth caravans and when our grandchildren came along we thought it would be great to get a van where we could take them along and therefore we looked at fixed bed fourth berths but thought it would be better to by a van with long beds / made up double at the front and two side bunks, i.e. side dinette layout.

Well we don't take the grandchildren away that often (about twice a year)so, as we are about to retire, we thought why don't we buy the van that we would really like and when the grandchildren come with us we will have to make do with the space and put them to bed on the front bunks and we retire to the bedroom to watch televison or something. When they are older they can sleep in the awning or what ever.

We loved the Senator, especially the space, but could do without making the double bed up each night, however everything is a compromise. We looked at the Wyoming and thought this is the one - our only concern was a motor mover that would turn a reasonable turning circle as we have one fairly tight corner to turn at home.

As I said, Bailey or should I say their distributors were either in the dark at the show or being very careful with their words about the Senator range being phased out - only one thought they may be able to get us a Wyoming. So we looked at the Pegasus and what a pig's ear that was - we wonder how long the rear ABS light housings will last !

We looked around at all and everything - walked our feet off ! Almost got pressurised into buying a Coachman from certain distributors on the stands but due to not wanting to be rushed (it was about 5.30pm)we resisted. Anyway we went to Sussex Caravans to have a look and what lovely people - all the vans are locked up but they have a chat with you to understand what you want, hand over the keys to the vans you/they suggest. No pressure, you are left alone to make your minds up then negotiate. Can't speak too highly of the service so far - just waiting now for the van to arrive in April.

Regards

Alan

 

[ManofKent]

We saw the new Pegasus at the NEC in the crowds on the first day. Maybe it was just a bit too different to really fall for it on first sight. The result was because we realised it would be the end of the Senator we jumped in and bought the California from our local dealer who had only one Senator remaining in stock. I was going to buy that model this year anyway, it represented our ideal van on retirement after nearly 30 years of caravanning. We traded in a S6 Pageant Burgundy which had a great fixed bed but wasted too much space in the middle and had a pathetic toilet and shower. We are delighted with our new Senator and hopefully will get many trouble free years with it as we have with three previous new Baileys in the past twelve years.

The Pegasus is undoubtedly a big change in design and inevitably the hype surrounding it tends to imply previous vans to be inferior but of course that is not really true. I am quite relaxed about having a six year rather than a ten year warranty which is more to do with marketing hype than anything else.

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

Highlander

To answer your question - we have always had two berth caravans and when our grandchildren came along we thought it would be great to get a van where we could take them along and therefore we looked at fixed bed fourth berths but thought it would be better to by a van with long beds / made up double at the front and two side bunks, i.e. side dinette layout.

Well we don't take the grandchildren away that often (about twice a year)so, as we are about to retire, we thought why don't we buy the van that we would really like and when the grandchildren come with us we will have to make do with the space and put them to bed on the front bunks and we retire to the bedroom to watch televison or something. When they are older they can sleep in the awning or what ever.

We loved the Senator, especially the space, but could do without making the double bed up each night, however everything is a compromise. We looked at the Wyoming and thought this is the one - our only concern was a motor mover that would turn a reasonable turning circle as we have one fairly tight corner to turn at home.

As I said, Bailey or should I say their distributors were either in the dark at the show or being very careful with their words about the Senator range being phased out - only one thought they may be able to get us a Wyoming. So we looked at the Pegasus and what a pig's ear that was - we wonder how long the rear ABS light housings will last !

We looked around at all and everything - walked our feet off ! Almost got pressurised into buying a Coachman from certain distributors on the stands but due to not wanting to be rushed (it was about 5.30pm)we resisted. Anyway we went to Sussex Caravans to have a look and what lovely people - all the vans are locked up but they have a chat with you to understand what you want, hand over the keys to the vans you/they suggest. No pressure, you are left alone to make your minds up then negotiate. Can't speak too highly of the service so far - just waiting now for the van to arrive in April.

Regards

Alan

im in suspence so what did you buy in the end?.