Buying a pre-owned ’van can be much cheaper than buying new and a great way to get your first campervan or motorhome. Here we look at what’s available at dealers at different price points… 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.
1995 SWIFT ROYALE 610 SE
Price: £16,995 Berths: 4 Travel seats: 2
Base vehicle: Peugeot Boxer Engine: 2.5-litre diesel (86hp) Length: 6.25m
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), 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 overcab double, too (which may be more useful for (lightweight) storage. It comes with 12 months’ MoT and a warranty.
DEALER Timberland Motorhomes, Chesterfield timberlandmotorhomes.com
1999 AUTOCRUISE STARFIRE
Price: £18,995 Berths: 2 Travel seats: 2
Base vehicle: Peugeot Boxer Engine: 1.9-litre turbo-diesel (92hp) Length: 5.51m
They simply don’t make coachbuilt motorhomes this compact any more (mostly because base vehicles have got bigger), so, if driving a long vehicle is putting you off buying a ’van, take a look at this little Autocruise. This brand (which was swallowed up by Swift) built a reputation for making small motorhomes that didn’t feel small, not just with the Starfire but also its Vista and Valentine models.
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
