Caravan and Motorhome Show at NEC

[wildebus]

We went to the NEC February 2022, never again.
We were seriously looking at the van we have since ordered and hope to collect before the end of the year. The place was heaving when we arrived around 1 on our first day. When we got to the Rapido stand we unable to get inside the van we wanted to buy. We asked the dealership who were selling the van if there was any chance we could get inside the next day before the show opened, only to be told that was not possible. We turned up half an hour before opening time next day only to find hundreds were there before us. We headed straight to the Rapido stand only to find the same issue. We eventually got inside but there were already another couple in and we were unable to see the whole van. When we asked for figures for a trade in the figures given were more of an insult than proper figures.

We wandered around the hall disappointed that after travelling over 300 miles, spending a night in a Travelodge and having to travel 300 miles back up the road we managed 3-4 minutes inside the van we wanted to buy. I did buy some accessories but left feeling what a waste of time and around £200 in costs.

In February at the Scottish show we managed to get inside the Adria equivalent of our new van the 640 SLB. Yes the entry costs were more expensive, and if you took a car the car parking was expensive. But our total outlay was £28. We used our bus passes to get to the show. We spent around 15 minutes twice inside the van. I think they allow to many inside the NEC we could hardly move when we were there. Every van had queues of people waiting to get inside, some others did not even allow access. Also if you are a serious buyer there should be some way of the sellers to give you unfettered access to the van(s) you are considering. Possibly allowing you to enter after or before closing.

To be fare it was the first show for 18 months due to covid, but that does not excuse the numbers that were allowed in. You could not buy tickets on the day as they were sold out.

Something that is bearing in mind for anyone wanting to go to the NEC Motorhome show ...
The February 'edition' IS quite different to the October show. The October show is a "MOTORHOME & CARAVAN" Show; The February show is a "CARAVAN, CAMPING & MOTORHOME" Show. That slight difference in name IS relevant.
Personally, I prefer the February show despite having a Motorhome as it is more Camping and accessory orientated. I just found it more interesting rather than lots and lots of virtually identical Motorhomes. I would say if someone is going to the show to look specifically at Motorhomes, the October show is a much better bet.

I think the issue with the Feb 2022 show would have been a combination of a large number of people wanting to go post-lockdown - but no more than the usual maximum allowed in - but combine that with a reduced number of motorhomes and campers being shown due to the stock issues and inevitably you will get more folk per van wanting to view.
I never went to the Feb 2022 show despite having a ticket due to combination of breaking my ankle and my campsite pitch being cancelled due to the weather , so I am making an assumption above. (as an aside, I am at the same site now and again my pitch is not usable due to weather so am on an overflow car park. I don't know that I will be using this campsite again )

I did think the prices for many of the vans and brands are just rediculous. Some may be regarded as 'luxury' and perceived to be superior to others, but is a panel van conversion really worth £130,000? That is just insane.
If I was looking for a new Motorhome, I saw a few that I would have certainly be interested enough to go for a second look, but none nowhere near close to £100,000.
(not saying there were no +£100k vans that appealed, but they sure were not panel vans! )

 

[Moped]

That’s the issue. The van we paid £66500 for less the part exchange 3.3 years ago would now be almost £1000000 for a similar specification from the same manufacturer. We can’t see that it is worth swapping for a new model for the small benefit we would get out of the minor feature upgrades. We don’t want leather seats or passenger seats that pop up from under the lounge seating but yes the upgrades to the Alde heating would be nice but not £30000 nice!

But somebody is paying £100000+ or else the U.K. manufacturers would not be producing those models.

And then you have Coachman, a relatively new entrant, with their £135000 job! Ok it’s on a Mercedes chassis not a Fiat/Alko but other than this and a bit of extra bling and maybe a better build quality and maybe a double skin floor and underfloor Alde heating is it worth £30000 over the top end models of the opposition?

I guess it is London property owners who are selling up cashing in and moving out or retiring top earning public sector employees using their gold plated pension lump sums. Basically we used our pension lump sums to fund things so others probably do also. Just a pity we cannot now maximise the vans use in warmer climates but that is another story.

 

[mark61]

Go a bit mad on the options list (not too mad mind) and it's not hard to get a new Sprinter panel van to over £70000.
So between £30000 and £60000 for conversion, blimey!

DIY conversion, I'm not sure what you'd have to do to get to £60000, carbon fibre board all round perhaps.

 

[marchie]

That’s the issue. The van we paid £66500 for less the part exchange 3.3 years ago would now be almost £1000000 for a similar specification from the same manufacturer. We can’t see that it is worth swapping for a new model for the small benefit we would get out of the minor feature upgrades. We don’t want leather seats or passenger seats that pop up from under the lounge seating but yes the upgrades to the Alde heating would be nice but not £30000 nice!

But somebody is paying £100000+ or else the U.K. manufacturers would not be producing those models.

And then you have Coachman, a relatively new entrant, with their £135000 job! Ok it’s on a Mercedes chassis not a Fiat/Alko but other than this and a bit of extra bling and maybe a better build quality and maybe a double skin floor and underfloor Alde heating is it worth £30000 over the top end models of the opposition?

I guess it is London property owners who are selling up cashing in and moving out or retiring top earning public sector employees using their gold plated pension lump sums. Basically we used our pension lump sums to fund things so others probably do also. Just a pity we cannot now maximise the vans use in warmer climates but that is another story.

What have public sector employees, who have contributory pension plans, rather than the mythical gold-plated version, go to do with motorhomes? Why not Hedge Fund Managers, Company Bosses and their greedflation practices, general tax evaders etc etc? Prejudice ...

Steve

 

[Moped]

Go a bit mad on the options list (not too mad mind) and it's not hard to get a new Sprinter panel van to over £70000.
So between £30000 and £60000 for conversion, blimey!

DIY conversion, I'm not sure what you'd have to do to get to £60000, carbon fibre board all round perhaps.

If you go to the show look at the difference between the basic vehicle price and the display vehicle price that has the extras loaded on to add show apeal.

The difference on some vehicles can sometimes be enough to buy a second motorhome!

 

[Fisherman]

T

If you go to the show look at the difference between the basic vehicle price and the display vehicle price that has the extras loaded on to add show apeal.

The difference on some vehicles can sometimes be enough to buy a second motorhome!

Particularly on German models, quite frankly what Carthago, Malibu, and Hymer refer to as optional extras, are sometimes basic necesities.
I looked at a Malibu Charming PVC, start price £66,000, when I finished adding what I wanted it was £87,000. Had I took everything on offer £102,000.
Rapido who are supplying our new PVC, are more realistic, I added £13,000 and got everything I wanted.

 

[Moped]

What have public sector employees, who have contributory pension plans, rather than the mythical gold-plated version, go to do with motorhomes? Why not Hedge Fund Managers, Company Bosses and their greedflation practices, general tax evaders etc etc? Prejudice ...

Steve

There are many more retired or approaching retirement public sector employees than in the other occupations mentioned. In fact Public sector employees (all 8,000,000 of them with say 220,000 retiring every year) are guaranteed a lump sum linked to salary on retirement as part of their contributory contract. Nothing wrong with calling this “gold plated” and as a result of this guarantee it is possible to browse and future plan with some certainty.

Don’t know where the prejudice comes in?

You are not going to fill the NEC show with Hedge Fund Managers are you? But yes they might be the ones seriously viewing Morello motorhomes.

 

[mark61]

If you go to the show look at the difference between the basic vehicle price and the display vehicle price that has the extras loaded on to add show apeal.

The difference on some vehicles can sometimes be enough to buy a second motorhome!

It's just taken me less than a minute to add over £100000 of options to a N+B Flair, which started at £200000 basic price.
And I never got to the end of the options list.
Just as well I don't want one.

 

[Moped]

It's just taken me less than a minute to add over £100000 of options to a N+B Flair, which started at £200000 basic price.
And I never got to the end of the options list.
Just as well I don't want one.

We had a look inside this as we wanted to see how our neighbours lived in their motorhome that was parked on the pitch next to us in Spain for several weeks. Must admit seemed a bit more claustrophobic than we had imagined and I guess that is an issue when you start filling large motorhomes with goodies.

 

[TJBi]

<snip> We travelled to the show by train to avoid the motorway road chaos at peak periods on the Birmingham orbital motorways and I noted the ban on escooters being permitted to be carried on trains. But not a ban on e-bikes which is good as I transport mine by train. Wonder why the difference?

<snip>

Perhaps because the escooters cannot legally be used to get to and from the stations?

 

[marchie]

There are many more retired or approaching retirement public sector employees than in the other occupations mentioned. In fact Public sector employees (all 8,000,000 of them with say 220,000 retiring every year) are guaranteed a lump sum linked to salary on retirement as part of their contributory contract. Nothing wrong with calling this “gold plated” and as a result of this guarantee it is possible to browse and future plan with some certainty.

Don’t know where the prejudice comes in?

You are not going to fill the NEC show with Hedge Fund Managers are you? But yes they might be the ones seriously viewing Morello motorhomes.

Many private sector employees are on final salary schemes, often non-contributory, but keep on digging ...

Steve

 

[Fisherman]

There are many more retired or approaching retirement public sector employees than in the other occupations mentioned. In fact Public sector employees (all 8,000,000 of them with say 220,000 retiring every year) are guaranteed a lump sum linked to salary on retirement as part of their contributory contract. Nothing wrong with calling this “gold plated” and as a result of this guarantee it is possible to browse and future plan with some certainty.

Don’t know where the prejudice comes in?

You are not going to fill the NEC show with Hedge Fund Managers are you? But yes they might be the ones seriously viewing Morello motorhomes.

My public sector pension is not “gold plated”.
And public sector pensions and incomes have been hammered since I retired in 2004.
Also we are steering towards politics here.
Best if we just respect each other on here.

 

[wildebus]

.....
In February at the Scottish show we managed to get inside the Adria equivalent of our new van the 640 SLB. Yes the entry costs were more expensive, and if you took a car the car parking was expensive. But our total outlay was £28. We used our bus passes to get to the show. We spent around 15 minutes twice inside the van. I think they allow to many inside the NEC we could hardly move when we were there. Every van had queues of people waiting to get inside, some others did not even allow access. Also if you are a serious buyer there should be some way of the sellers to give you unfettered access to the van(s) you are considering. Possibly allowing you to enter after or before closing.

To be fare it was the first show for 18 months due to covid, but that does not excuse the numbers that were allowed in. You could not buy tickets on the day as they were sold out.

I had a thought yesterday re number of visitors at the 2023 Oct show .....
I don't know if it is down to number of visitors or a change in the way the show has been laid out, but wandering around, there seemed to be a good number of places to stop and park yourself, which can be pretty unusual at these shows. (The Swift stand was particulary good in this respect ... loads of chairs and free drinks as well ).
Went on Thurs & Fri - Friday seemed busier

 

[Fisherman]

I had a thought yesterday re number of visitors at the 2023 Oct show .....
I don't know if it is down to number of visitors or a change in the way the show has been laid out, but wandering around, there seemed to be a good number of places to stop and park yourself, which can be pretty unusual at these shows. (The Swift stand was particulary good in this respect ... loads of chairs and free drinks as well ).
Went on Thurs & Fri - Friday seemed busier

David I have been twice. The first time was February 2019, were we bought our current van, and we enjoyed the show. We have good access to the van we even signed for it inside the van. But they allowed far too many in February 2022, plain and simple. We were crammed in. Trying to get a table for lunch was impossible, we finished up sitting on the floor with our food. We only managed one 3 minute visit to the van we have since ordered, and even that was with another couple in such a small place. The February 2022 show was the first for 18 months. But that does not excuse the numbers allowed in.

 

[Moped]

I had a thought yesterday re number of visitors at the 2023 Oct show .....
I don't know if it is down to number of visitors or a change in the way the show has been laid out, but wandering around, there seemed to be a good number of places to stop and park yourself, which can be pretty unusual at these shows. (The Swift stand was particulary good in this respect ... loads of chairs and free drinks as well ).
Went on Thurs & Fri - Friday seemed busier

Friday was CCC club day with discounted tickets for members. We originally booked tickets for Friday but due to unforeseen circumstances a week before the visit had to swap the tickets for Thursday which cost us the extra difference. Slightly annoyed at paying a second booking fee for this date change.

Thursday had easy access everywhere apart from the previously discussed Morello queue. Even managed to get free coffee twice on the CCC stand although the second visit was later when most of the staff were more relaxed at the end of their hectic shift.

Agree that of all the British manufacturers present Swift had the most visitor friendly stand format. Others seemed to cram caravans and motorhomes onto their stand with little regard for movement and requirements of stand visitors. It was very difficult to get an all around impression of a vehicle when you have 4 backing on to each other but I guess it’s what’s inside that matters.

Never been to a February show in recent years as usually in Spain or Portugal. Sadly this also means I miss out on the annual Stranglers tour in March but when the decision is Spain or the Stranglers, Spain always wins!

There are always YouTube Stranglers concert videos to watch. And plenty of show videos for those who can’t make it.

 

[wildebus]

Friday was CCC club day with discounted tickets for members. We originally booked tickets for Friday but due to unforeseen circumstances a week before the visit had to swap the tickets for Thursday which cost us the extra difference. Slightly annoyed at paying a second booking fee for this date change.

Thursday had easy access everywhere apart from the previously discussed Morello queue. Even managed to get free coffee twice on the CCC stand although the second visit was later when most of the staff were more relaxed at the end of their hectic shift.

Agree that of all the British manufacturers present Swift had the most visitor friendly stand format. Others seemed to cram caravans and motorhomes onto their stand with little regard for movement and requirements of stand visitors. It was very difficult to get an all around impression of a vehicle when you have 4 backing on to each other but I guess it’s what’s inside that matters.

Never been to a February show in recent years as usually in Spain or Portugal. Sadly this also means I miss out on the annual Stranglers tour in March but when the decision is Spain or the Stranglers, Spain always wins!

There are always YouTube Stranglers concert videos to watch. And plenty of show videos for those who can’t make it.

I saw the queue at the CCC stand for a free coffee. Long they were. Why queue so long just for that?

 

[Drover]

We went before covid, no queues to speak of so must have got the right day.
Payload at 3500kgs was the issue for us more than design...all salespeople lie. Ours was supposed to have 400kgs but with no fuel and 20trs of water and just a sat dsh for extras weighed in @3380 kgs giving 120kg payload....no one sat in a seat at the time either so by the time we both got in it had passed 3500kgs.

 

[Moped]

I saw the queue at the CCC stand for a free coffee. Long they were. Why queue so long just for that?

Like the Joda speak. Because it is the friendly club and the C&MC does not offer its members free coffee on its stand. A lot of queue chat (well around me anyway) was about why people are leaving or thinking of leaving the C&MC although one of the CCC staffers did admit to being a member. I guess free coffee is a better incentive than a prize draw as a member retention initiative.

The CCC was offering 2 free nights on one of its campsites for new member sign ups at the show which I thought was a good deal. No doubt new members signing up were also offered free coffee but possibly were treated like VIPs and didn’t have to queue.

Don’t recall seeing free coffee on the Morello stand so the queue there must have been for a different reason.

 

[wildebus]

Like the Joda speak. Because it is the friendly club and the C&MC does not offer its members free coffee on its stand. A lot of queue chat (well around me anyway) was about why people are leaving or thinking of leaving the C&MC although one of the CCC staffers did admit to being a member. I guess free coffee is a better incentive than a prize draw as a member retention initiative.

The CCC was offering 2 free nights on one of its campsites for new member sign ups at the show which I thought was a good deal. No doubt new members signing up were also offered free coffee but possibly were treated like VIPs and didn’t have to queue.

Don’t recall seeing free coffee on the Morello stand so the queue there must have been for a different reason.

I saw what I needed on the C&CC stand the day before and entered the C&CC competition then (and without the long queues for a dodgy cup of coffee - maybe the C&MC had free coffee another day? not a member so wouldn't know).
Cooking demo there and I do now know the minimal temp chicken needs to be cooked at - very handy as I NEVER cook chicken

Just realised you were not there on the Friday Club Day? So you would not have seen the long queues that day to get into the stand which is what I am referring to. There were no queues on the Thursday that I saw when I went in. (maybe I was one of those 'VIPs' you mentioned )

What the C&MC Stand DID have that was not evident on the C&CC stand was some interesting guides for european touring which could be useful whether a member or not. That kind of thing could have been good on the C&CC stand for their membership.

 

[Moped]

What the C&MC Stand DID have that was not evident on the C&CC stand was some interesting guides for european touring which could be useful whether a member or not. That kind of thing could have been good on the C&CC stand for their membership.

Didn’t spot anything on the CCC stand about European touring either which is a bit odd as if anything they offer a lot more for European tourers than the C&MC. Did note the C&MC guides in passing so definitely prominent and part of their membership drive.

We do our own thing anyway having over 40 years European touring experience (overall most of it done since retirement though as opposed to 2 to 4 weeks a year prior) but I do understand why newbies might want some hand holding on their initial European travels. To be honest we were not really looking out for European travel help and walked past all the stands promoting destinations. Already have ASCI, CampingCar Parks, and more Apps than we probably need.

Totally overlooked the Friday CCC club entry thing which would definitely explain queues of 30 or more. Had it been that long we wouldn’t have bothered either. Our queue on Thursday at around 12 noon was 3 couples including us. No queue after 16:30pm.