Would you choose a.......or a........?

[Jujubeans]

I have restricted choice in buying a used 4 berth van because of weight limit.

For quality and brand reliability would you choose a 2 year old Lunar Venus or a two year old Eldiss Explore 304? I don't know if one is 'better' than the other?

Thank you.

 

[Damian]

They are both caravans.
They are both UK made.
They both can have problems.
The best one is the one that suits your requirements best.

 

[Grahamh]

The Elddis will have the remainder of a 5 year water ingress warranty; will the Lunar?

 

[Jujubeans]

Thanks Graham, that is really helpful. I will check it out.

 

[Parksy]

Brand reliability doesn't really exist for caravans, every manufacturer has produced new caravans that have had problems at one time or another although I'd like to hope that things are improving.
Caravan related internet forums contain many complaints about every caravan manufacturer when things go wrong with one brand or another but we seldom see posts which state that a caravan is of high quaity and is screwed together really well.
For a two year old caravan with complete service history as Damian mentioned it all boils down to personal choice.
Compile a list of desireable fixtures and fittings, such as amount of worktop, size of shower cubicle and likelihood of splashes from it, room in wardrobe, lockers etc.
Until caravan manufacturers really focus on Quality Assurance before each and every one of their products are allowed to leave the factory no one brand could be said to be better than another.
Unfortunately the Sale of Goods Act places the responsibility for faults with the supplying dealership so perhaps the integrity and reputation of and your relationship with the supplying dealer should determine which model to buy?
Please let us know which model you decide to buy and more importantly, why?

 

[MichaelE]

Thanks Graham, that is really helpful. I will check it out.

As already pointed out a service history is important as if a 2 year caravan hasnt been serviced then the warranty is invalid, you would be surprised the amount of people who don't get their caravan serviced as they only use for a couple of weeks a year.

 

[Raywood]

If the magazines reliability survey is correct then the Lunar is consistently wining on reliability although it is by no means perfect. Against that the Eldiss should have a 10 year water ingress warranty and the Lunar six.
Provided everything is right about both I would be likely to choose on which you like best and seems to meet your criteria.
Do make sure you have evidence of the servicing to preserve the warranty but also that if you buy the Lunar it has been registered. Not sure if Eldiss need it registered but certainly Lunar do.
If you are buying privately get an HPI check to make sure it is not on HP and a CRIS check to confirm ownership and that not is not stolen.

 

[Grahamh]

Just to point out that the Elddis water ingress warranty is 10yrs for the first owner but only 5 for the second and subsequent owners. Don't know about the Lunar.

 

[pensioner]

I have to agree with Parksy especially in regards to quality before leaving the factory,,there just doesn't seem to be any quality control or checks. We bought new and our list of "faults" all be it minor ones, was still rediculous and no one seemed bothered.

 

[Parksy]

The sales staff are always your 'new best friends' when you are buying but sadly, quite often the service staff at many dealerships including our supplying dealer treat their customers with ill disguised contempt after the customer has bought a caravan costing many thousands of pounds.
We had to insist most forcefully that dirty fingermarks etc were cleaned on the day that we took delivery and then had to wait around as they 'found someone' to do what should already have been done before we even arrived. hmy: The relationship between us and the service / reception staff continued to head downhill from then on because I always checked everything before we left their premises after servicing even when they claimed 'shortage of space' to get me to clear off, and I always insisted on having the work and inspections that I'd paid for being carried out to my satisfaction.
I always use an approved mobile service engineer now, he's always polite and respectful, half the price and twice as good

 

[Raywood]

Lunar is a straight six years. May be Eldiss work on the theory people do not keep their caravan ten years usually no more than five, o so the ten year warranty is meaningless. To show real confidence it should be transferable so I would go for the Lunar all other things being equal.

 

[Dustydog]

Private or Dealer purchase?
The dealer may offer you an extended warranty .
As said before it's your personal choice.
Check their respective construction methods too to be sure you are not getting yesterday's model.

 

[SamandRose]

2 years ago was about when we looked at new caravans at the NEC for the first time to see which layouts we liked. I remember being shocked at how flimsy the Xplore felt inside. The entire wall to the end washroom would move if you leaned on it. Yes it may have a longer water ingress warranty but it's questionable what good that will be if your children trash the inside after the first week.

The Lunar Venus and Quasar felt much more robust and are what we would go for on the basis of that experience.