BRITAIN’S MOTORHOME OWNERS have had their say in record numbers to compile the results of the Practical Motorhome Owner Satisfaction Awards 2013.

Coast_Insurance_Practical_Motorhome_Awards

 

The awards, conducted in partnership with specialist leisure insurance company Coast,

seek to reward manufacturers and dealers who go the extra mile

 

 


We invited readers who had bought either a new or pre-owned motorhome since January 2010 to rate their motorhome and their supplying dealer. Our full report is in the March 2013 issue of Practical Motorhome

 

But which motorhome manufacturers impressed you enough to win one of our coveted Gold or Silver Awards?

 

MEET THE OVERALL WINNERS:

 

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BAILEY OF BRISTOL – BEST HIGH VOLUME PRODUCER

Simon Howard

What sets your company apart?
Our family-owned business has a team culture that encourages employee participation, which gives us an edge. Also, we use our own Alu-Tech construction technology; we think it’s a better way to manufacture caravans and motorhomes. Our crash-testing also makes us different.

What’s your company history?
With 65 years experience in caravan production and design, Bailey is the UK’s longest-established leisure vehicle manufacturer. A year ago, the company looked to transfer that expertise into the motorhome market with the introduction of the Approach SE range.

 

What feedback do you get?

We have enthusiastic owners who show a keen interest in 
the performance and design of our vehicles. As a result, we are never short of customer comment, and the challenge is how to channel it constructively into the development of future products. This survey is extremely useful: it provides the in-depth quantitative feedback that we’d rarely get.

What problems crop up?
There’s too much choice for clients. We needed to make our proposition simple, hence the single range, single cab and single chassis type. This makes finding the right model much easier and improves delivery times.
Describe your service to buyers.
We believe we have the best parts supply service in the industry. We can usually send a replacement part out within 48 hours. This minimises off-the-road time. 

 
Any developments this year?
The biggest step forward was the pioneering crash-test research we carried out at the Millbrook Proving Ground prior to the Approach SE range launch.

What are your plans?
We’re customer-focused and develop ranges to meet market demands, not on a fixed annual date. With the Approach SE selling well, we’re not changing it. We have exciting plans for future Bailey motorhome ranges: an increasingly important part of our business.

 

What makes you proud?
The Queen rode in an Approach SE 760 during her recent visit — she has yet to confirm her order! Both Bailey caravanners and motorhome owners are buying our models, and what people like about our caravans they also like about our motorhomes. For 65 years, we have manufactured leisure vehicles in which thousands of people have enjoyed seeing more of the world.

Bailey of Bristol


Tel 01173 052 939 


Web www.baileyapproach.co.uk

 

 

 

Scot Naylor of Vantage Motorhomes collects his award from our Rob Ganley

 

VANTAGE MOTORHOMES – BEST SMALL VOLUME MANUFACTURER

Scot Naylor


What sets your company apart?
We’re experienced: I’ve stopped counting how many motorhomes we’ve owned or hired. I started Vantage, determined to offer a product and aftersales service that was better than we’d had.

What’s your company history?
I started Vantage in 2006. We’ve worked hard to get the details right, specialising in luxury two-berth rear-lounge conversions. Our seven-model line-up is based on the Ducato and Sprinter. It’s been a successful formula for us: in 2012 we expanded. Now we have a large showroom, increased production, better habitation servicing and an accessory shop. We need it to keep pace with the increased demand.

Describe your service to buyers.
We make buying unhurried and objective. We won’t sell clients a ’van they’re not entirely happy with. Many people downsized from coachbuilts to our ’vans and love the comfort, greater drivability and fuel economy.

What feedback do you get?
Our customers like buying directly from us: we deal with their warranty and after-sales service promptly and efficiently. We keep them informed during the build process and spend a day handing over. They spend the first night near us, so that we’re on hand.

What makes you proud?
In 2012, as well as the factory move, we launched KOS, a cracking Ducato conversion with a large lounge and twin beds. We were also one of the first van converters to get full European Type Approval from the VCA. When owners ring, they can speak to the people who built their ’van.

Vantage Motorhomes

Tel 01132 426 611 


Web www.vantage
motorhomes.co.uk

 


2013 AWARDS FOR MANUFACTURERS OF NEW MOTORHOMES

GOLD AWARD WINNERS   
    Vantage     98%
    Bailey    97%
    Niesmann + Bischoff    97%
    Chausson     96%
    Bentley    93%
    Shire Conversions    93%
    Horizons Unlimited    93%
    Wheelhome    93%
    Swift    91%
    Auto-Trail    88%
    Roller Team/CI    87%
    NU Venture Motorhomes    87%
    Romahome    86%
    Tribute (CB)    86%
    Auto-Sleepers     85%

SILVER AWARD WINNERS

    Wildax    79%
    Autocruise     77%
    Bürstner    75%
    Elddis    75%
    Rapido    72%
    Bessacarr    71%

Roll of honour
The following manufacturers received exceptionally high scores but an insufficient number of responses:
EuraMobil, Dethleffs, Murvi, Pilote, Hymer, Timberland, 
Karmann Mobil, East Neuk, VW, Itineo, Geist

 

PAST WINNERS

2011 GOLD AWARD WINNERS
Vantage

Roller Team

MURVI

Elddis

Bessacarr

Auto-Trail

Rapido

Bürstner

Auto-Sleepers

Romahome

 

2011 SILVER AWARD WINNERS

Autocruise

Swift

Chausson 

 

2010 GOLD AWARD WINNERS

RS Motorhomes

Rapido

Auto-Trail (+Excel)

Bürstner

Elddis/Compass

Hobby

Swift Group
 

 

2010 SILVER AWARD WINNERS

Auto-Sleepers

Chausson 

 

The

Awards are now in their ninth year, and don’t forget, it’s the UK’s

most in-depth motorcaravan satisfaction survey and the only one to

feature pre-owned motorhomes.

 

Read more:

Coast Insurance reports in full here

Meet Britain’s best motorhome dealers here

Direct motorhome sales winners