It’s vital to set a realistic budget before you start trawling the web and visiting dealer forecourts. Here, we look at typical examples of used buys from only £17k up to £60k…
Under £20k
If you’re spending less than £20k, you may find the occasional ’van at dealers specialising in lower-priced vehicles, but you might have to consider private purchases, too. The ’vans in this price range will probably be over 20 years old but, if well cared for, could still be an affordable way into the motorhome lifestyle. Just watch out for any issues with damp/water ingress, check for rust (especially underneath), and consider whether older engines (particularly diesels) will fall foul of low emission zones where you live or where you want to travel.
1999 Autocruise Starfire£18,995
Berths: 2 Travel seats: 2 Base vehicle: Peugeot Boxer
Engine: 1.9-litre turbo-diesel (92hp) Length: 5.51m
Dealer: Timberland Motorhomes, Chesterfield timberlandmotorhomes.com
They simply don’t make coachbuilt motorhomes this compact any more, so, if driving a long vehicle is putting you off, take a look at this little Autocruise. This brand (which was swallowed up by Swift) built a reputation for making small ’vans that didn’t feel small, not just with the Starfire but also its Vista and Valentine.
Thanks to the dealer’s winter sale, this one also has a smaller price – reduced by £4k to just £18,995. And yet it’s only done 49k miles and comes with a roomy front lounge, two-berth layout and plenty of kit. Included in that bargain basement price are an awning, solar panel, cycle rack, TV aerial and oven.
1995 Swift Royale 610 SE£16,995
Berths: 4 Travel seats: 2 Base vehicle: Peugeot Boxer Engine: 2.5-litre diesel (86hp)
Length: 6.25m Dealer: Timberland Motorhomes, Chesterfield timberlandmotorhomes.com
You won’t often find a motorhome at this price point at a mainstream dealer but we spotted this one at Timberland, where vehicles ranged from this up to a brand-new Bürstner A-class at £188k! Even more remarkable is the fact that it’s not from some brand you’ve never heard of (it’s a Swift, Britain’s biggest leisure vehicle brand), nor is its mileage (66k) intergalactic.
The layout is a perennial favourite of couples, too, with a spacious rear lounge – here with a chest of drawers under the back window. There are no rear travel seats but you’ve got a variety of sleeping options – single beds or a double at the back and an
