Swift Conqueror 530

[LouisePretty]

Hi - still looking for our 1st caravan. Narrowed it down to either the Swift Challenger 490 5 berth at £13,100 or the Swift Conqueror 530 4 berth at £12,790. Obviously the Conqueror is higher spec and better price. Both are not ex-demo but new factory models. Any thoughts from anybody or should I just take the plunge?

Car can tow either and either layout suits our needs. Oh and one dealer told me today Swift are increasing prices by 5% on next years Conquerors and withdrawing the TV!

 

[weejock]

Louise I am asuming that you have these prices the right way round and in light of this I would bite the guys hand off for the Conqueror.

I have one of these and got no where near the deal you are being offered. This is at least 2k off.

Only thing to say is don't expect too much of the tv. Look on it as something you got free and you will be happy.

 

[LouisePretty]

Thanks slowcoach and yes I have got the prices the right way round and I know it a really good deal! I have been told that Swift had some end of production run vans and some dealers took them even thought they didn't have customer orders. Obviously we have stumbled across one of these. My problem is my local dealer is offering the Challenger but the dealer with the Conqueror is 150 miles from me. Swift said I can have the van serviced locally and it won't affect the warranty but any warranty work would have to be done at the selling dealer so that's a 300 miles round trip with the van if anything goes wrong! Having read a lot of the forum it seems most vans need some warranty work. I know its a higher spec van but just wondering whether the extra's on it are worth the possible travelling with any problems?

 

[weejock]

Louise it is up to you to decide if the round trip is okay but more importantly which is the best dealer.

I don't mean the charming smile, great coffe or comfy nice showroom but who is going to help you if you have a problem. Who will be all bluster and no action.

In the past any problem I have had with my caravans has been to me minor. Not because of the size of the problems but due to the effortless way my dealer has always dealt with them. I once had a fridge breakdown before going on holiday and he stuck a temp in until the warranty replacement arrived.

While non of us buy's a van looking for problems it would be niave to think that they will never happen and your dealer will ultimatley make your ownership experience good or bad.

With this in mind I normally forsake about

 

[LouisePretty]

Hear what you're saying and my gut instinct is to stay local. I like the dealer, I've been in there a couple of times and discreetly watched a handover from the carpark yesterday. Just happended to be there at the right time. They had the van connected to everything in their handover bay and were showing the purchasers how everything worked. They have also offered to book us onto a site 2 miles away so we can use the van as soon as we collect it. I know its a bit more money for a lower spec van but I'm looking at this as a potential long-term relationship. Dealer is Broad Lane, Alcester so anybody please speak now or forever hold your peace!!!

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

broad lane i dont know much about the alcester branch but the kenilworth branch i wouldnt use there not what they used to be. i just got

 

[Hamer_5041128]

Louise,

For the past 25 plus years our dealer, Golden Castle Caravans at Staverton airport have been 180 miles from were we live. We have purchased our last 8 consecutive caravans from them. Servicing and warranty work has never been a problem. We book our servicing at least 3 months in advance and it is done usually when we are on our way out or returning from a tour, as in 2 weeks time.

If urgent warranty work is required it is worth a special journey due to the quality of their service. If not urgent i report the problem and it is fixed when we are next passing the dealers.

Both urgent problems, both with Bailey Senators were fixed asap.

Thankfully in its first 19 months my Swift Conqueror has been trouble free.

However with such an excellent dealer as Golden Castle i can caravan without worries.

Distance can be a problem for some people but we have found, irrespective of distance, a good dealer and having a good relationship with that dealer is worth its weight in gold.

Hamer

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Louise

I'm with Hamer on this one.

One of the most important factors is a good honest dedicated decent dealer. Anything less and you will become bery upset and disillusioned.

My long serving dealer , Chipping Sodbury Caravans is a 90 mile round trip, but worth every penny. I've been lucky in only going there twice a year on average, servicing and a bit of minor warranty work. We make a day of it. Dump the Senator with them 8.00am and explore the area, Morisons breakfast is great value!! Usually all is ready by lunchtime.

Where do you live ? I am sure there are members on here who can give you a steer with the dealers you have in mind.

Cheers

Alan

 

[LouisePretty]

Thanks everyone. We live in Tewkesury, Gloucestershire and luckily haven't spent the last year living in a caravan as we were not affected by the floods!

Dealers in our area are Golden Castle which we have visited and like but they haven't much stock at the moment. Broad Lane, Alcester who have offered us the Challenger. Discover, Evesham who I haven't visited but will match the Alcester price over the phone! And then the not local dealer is Campbells Caravans in Lancashire. Again I have only dealt with them over the phone.

And then to complicate everything further just popped out to get new magazine and now wondering should I wait until all the new models are out in case I miss something really good????

Having not done much camping due to weather this season I do like the idea of having a van now though as we could use it until at least October half term with the kids and maybe longer if we have a mild winter!

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Louise

Take a drive down the M5 to Chipping Sodbury Caravans and see the Baileys they have on offer.

You may be pleasantly surprised, just like Jo-anne was!!

Cheers

Alan