Motorhome of the year 2023.

[mark61]

I love tech mark, I am a salesman’s dream customer.
But some of the things I really don't get.
Keyless go, what’s the point. It’s a security hazard, I see hardly any advantage.
Another one an induction phone charger at £300. I do have a usb.
Automatic air con, I just turn the dial up and down, seems pointless particularly when the aircon is only sufficient for the cab and not the whole van.

But I have ordered, auto smart lights, auto wipers, lane assist, brake assist, blind spot assist, led front lights, directional fog lights, and more.

£300 for an induction phone charger, who dreams these prices up.
I'd also have ordered LED headlights, wasn't even an option on old Sprinter, so I added my own.
LED headlights and the fancy new optional wash/wipe system was the only thing that interested me on the new Sprinter, and I ain't getting a new van just for those items.

 

[Fisherman]

£300 for an induction phone charger, who dreams these prices up.
I'd also have ordered LED headlights, wasn't even an option on old Sprinter, so I added my own.
LED headlights and the fancy new optional wash/wipe system was the only thing that interested me on the new Sprinter, and I ain't getting a new van just for those items.

The new smart headlights can be used in full beam without blinding oncoming drivers. To be honest I’m a bit concerned about that. A bit like my car it parks itself, but I have never tried it out in over 5 years. I am looking forward to trying out the new auto box, and the power 1800 BHP engine.

 

[mark61]

Smart headlights are an amazing innovation, especially when you get to the top end ones like on an S class. Will be a while till that technology filters down to commercials though. You'll soon find out how good they are though. Sure they will be fine, well tried out technology by now.
1800 BHP sounds pretty impressive,

 

[RSD7a]

Yea, the McLaren Senna – 789bhp
had better watch out

 

[Nabsim]

The new smart headlights can be used in full beam without blinding oncoming drivers. To be honest I’m a bit concerned about that. A bit like my car it parks itself, but I have never tried it out in over 5 years. I am looking forward to trying out the new auto box, and the power 1800 BHP engine.

I had smart lights on the GTC I had, left on high beam once when I first got it but I was worried it wouldn’t work and blind the oncoming driver. It worked exactly as it should but I turned it off and never used again for peace of mind lol.

Other thing that car had was a real trick front end that allowed you to go round bends accelerating or braking without affecting it. Tried that once on a fairly sharp bend dropping down counteylanes to Millers Dale. Again worked as intended, car felt like it was on rails but I never had the bottle to try again lol

 

[wildebus]

I had smart lights on the GTC I had, left on high beam once when I first got it but I was worried it wouldn’t work and blind the oncoming driver. It worked exactly as it should but I turned it off and never used again for peace of mind lol.

Other thing that car had was a real trick front end that allowed you to go round bends accelerating or braking without affecting it. Tried that once on a fairly sharp bend dropping down counteylanes to Millers Dale. Again worked as intended, car felt like it was on rails but I never had the bottle to try again lol

The only downside of all these fancy systems is if you get too used to them and forget you don't have them when driving a plebomobile such as I have.

I wonder if there should be a category when taking a test, bit like the "automatic car only" one, where if you take a test in an Inspector Gadget car, you are only allowed to drive cars which have all these 'no thinking required' features?

 

[Moped]

The only downside of all these fancy systems is if you get too used to them and forget you don't have them when driving a plebomobile such as I have.

I wonder if there should be a category when taking a test, bit like the "automatic car only" one, where if you take a test in an Inspector Gadget car, you are only allowed to drive cars which have all these 'no thinking required' features?

There are learner drivers now being taught in electric cars. Assume they pass a test in an electric car where do they stand going forward if they wanted to drive this motorhome?

OK it’s automatic but as for the rest?

Fiat do produce a Ducatto electric van which has a premium of around £8000 over the top end ICE power version used in this conversion. Now the question is do Globe Traveller offer an electric version of the award winner?

 

[Robmac]

There are learner drivers now being taught in electric cars. Assume they pass a test in an electric car where do they stand going forward if they wanted to drive this motorhome?

OK it’s automatic but as for the rest?

Fiat do produce a Ducatto electric van which has a premium of around £8000 over the top end ICE power version used in this conversion. Now the question is do Globe Traveller offer an electric version of the award winner?

Apparently passing your test in an electric car is classed the same as passing in an automatic.

 

[Moped]

For those concerned about carrying 2 bikes because of the lift up hatch at the rear, there is a bike carrying option that sits under the longer single bed with a bike rack for 2 full size bikes that slides out. So the bikes are stored within the rear storage out of sight.

The reviewer did not mention this in the video and should have done as the ability to carry bikes or not could be a deal breaker.

I’m also assuming that because the roof has roof bars, longer stuff could be stored in transit on the roof subject to weight and payload limits.

As such if ever we need to downsize from our 4.25T job, Mrs Moped has indicated this could be an attractive option in the panel van 3.5T sector.

 

[mark61]

With a payload of 440KG +/- 5%, you are gonna be hard pushed for taking too many toys away with you.

 

[korky]

Interesting looking van.I didn't watch all of it as I'm happy with my Globecar PVC and not flush enough to replace it. Did the reviewer mention payload? MMM were notorious in the magazine for not mentioning this as many vans they reviewed were so close to the limit when they left the factory. That may have changed as I've not read it for ages.
As for travelling with 4 adults and their kit, you'd have to be very good friends. I travel two's up occasionally and that is plenty, although my van is only 6m.
Their website gives a mass in running order as 3060kg and maximum permissable as 3500/3820, ok for 2 but not 4 adults.

 

[Drover]

I am looking forward to trying out the new auto box, and the power 1800 BHP engine.

Wow, that's some engine in a motorhome

 

[trevskoda]

Wow, that's some engine in a motorhome

 

[barge1914]

What finally decided you to ditch the Pegaso?

 

[wildebus]

I love tech mark, I am a salesman’s dream customer.
But some of the things I really don't get.
Keyless go, what’s the point. It’s a security hazard, I see hardly any advantage.
Another one an induction phone charger at £300. I do have a usb.
Automatic air con, I just turn the dial up and down, seems pointless particularly when the aircon is only sufficient for the cab and not the whole van.

But I have ordered, auto smart lights, auto wipers, lane assist, brake assist, blind spot assist, led front lights, directional fog lights, the 1800 BHP engine,and more.

Of the list above .....
Keyless Go. I don't have that and don't greatly miss it, BUT when I have had a car with Keyless entry and Keyless go with a Start/Stop button I have really liked it. Any security issues out aside, I think it is really nifty. The last car I owned with Keyless Entry & Go was actually stolen, but I have no doubt it was driven away with the keys that were in the workshop along with the car.
Induction Phone Charger. Useful thing (I use an induction charger for my Smart Watch) but not sure if that useful in a car and certainly not for £300!
Auto Air Con. not sure what this does and if any real benefit over normal air-con? (never really seen any real-life benefit for the climate control systems over basic AC).
Auto-on lights. Very good Smart Lights? Are those auto-dimming things? I wonder if they really work as required? number of cars with LED headlights which constantly dazzle is massive and I bet some of those are fitted with supossed "smart lights". Dubious personally and if a cost-option I don't know if I would go those those.
Auto Wipers. Like
Brake Assist. Meant to be good. Is that an cost-option? should be fitted as standard surely if the vehicle has that feature in the design?
Blind Spot. Found that handy a few times
Directional Fog Lights. These would be where one light comes on when you turn the wheel a bit to that side to illuminate the corner a bit. Nice feature.

 

[mark61]

Smart lights, also known as adaptive beam headlights, do more than just auto dim. They put a dim spot over other cars, either coming towards you or going in same direction, allowing main beam to stay on, without (in theory) blinding other drivers.
The big difference between top end smart lights, like fitted on top beemers, Mercs and Audis is the accuracy of the dim spots and the number of dim spots a light can produce. The more dim spots the heftier the price, some of these lights are over £4000 a piece.

Van drivers will have to make do with the rather dim smart lights for a good few years yet.
Also a pointless option if you fit auxiliary lights.

 

[Fisherman]

Of the list above .....
Keyless Go. I don't have that and don't greatly miss it, BUT when I have had a car with Keyless entry and Keyless go with a Start/Stop button I have really liked it. Any security issues out aside, I think it is really nifty. The last car I owned with Keyless Entry & Go was actually stolen, but I have no doubt it was driven away with the keys that were in the workshop along with the car.
Induction Phone Charger. Useful thing (I use an induction charger for my Smart Watch) but not sure if that useful in a car and certainly not for £300!
Auto Air Con. not sure what this does and if any real benefit over normal air-con? (never really seen any real-life benefit for the climate control systems over basic AC).
Auto-on lights. Very good Smart Lights? Are those auto-dimming things? I wonder if they really work as required? number of cars with LED headlights which constantly dazzle is massive and I bet some of those are fitted with supossed "smart lights". Dubious personally and if a cost-option I don't know if I would go those those.
Auto Wipers. Like
Brake Assist. Meant to be good. Is that an cost-option? should be fitted as standard surely if the vehicle has that feature in the design?
Blind Spot. Found that handy a few times
Directional Fog Lights. These would be where one light comes on when you turn the wheel a bit to that side to illuminate the corner a bit. Nice feature.

I have driven courtesy cars with keyless go, and I see little advantage, for a massive hit on the vehicle security.
There are videos online showing thieves turning up and driving these cars away seconds later.
I could not be bothered having to put the keys into a faraday box all the time.

Auto air con allows you to set a temperature then the car will use the air con or heater to achieve what you have selected.
Again I see little use for this and at £400 plus, its not something I would spend all that money on, when turning a dial can get you the temperature you require.

The problem David is much on what you want comes in packs, you cannot buy many features individually.
You end up paying for things you don't want in order to get something you do.
Rapido have what they call a connect pack, which includes a 9inch display with built in sat nav.
The standard display being 7 inch, without the sat nav, but with car play.
But the pack also includes the induction phone charger, and the keyless go, and the pack comes in at £2200.
I can buy the Pioneer 9 inch unit for £670, and I reckon I can fit it myself. (If not I know were to go )
Then I could sell the 7 inch unit for around £300, its £600 new.

 

[wildebus]

The security side of things I cannot deny I tend to forget about as where I am, not a lot happens! Quite a few times I have provided "Keyless go" on the Motorhome by leaving it unlocked with the keys laying on the seat or even in the ignition, having forgotten to take out and lock up
If I lived in a less rural area I am sure I would have a different take on the matter! I really should anyway, I know!!

That £2200 pack does not sound like good value at all (on the flip side, the Pioneer head units are very nice generally. I bet you could get more than £300 for the "as-new" one as well).

 

[colinm]

I have a love/hate relationship with 'keyless' and auto A/C.
I love that once I've locked the house I can put the keys in my pocket and forget about them, but therein lies the problem, I get back home, and in winter might have several layers of clothes with many pockets, now which one did I put my keys in.
As for auto A/C, at first I hated it, then I learnt how to use it as 'semi auto', i.e. I can set the fan speed to what I want and not have it blasting away flat out and noisy when the temperature is far off what I've set it at.

 

[Fisherman]

The security side of things I cannot deny I tend to forget about as where I am, not a lot happens! Quite a few times I have provided "Keyless go" on the Motorhome by leaving it unlocked with the keys laying on the seat or even in the ignition, having forgotten to take out and lock up
If I lived in a less rural area I am sure I would have a different take on the matter! I really should anyway, I know!!

That £2200 pack does not sound like good value at all (on the flip side, the Pioneer head units are very nice generally. I bet you could get more than £300 for the "as-new" one as well).

Both units are pioneer David. The standard unit is 7inch with CarPlay but no sat nav. I am hoping that using Tom Tom Go with loaded maps will be ok on CarPlay. But if after a few weeks I find I don’t like it, I will buy the 9inch display with built in sat nav and fit it myself. What angers me about rapido is the van pack which is a must includes the 7 inch pioneer, but if you also buy the connect pack they supply you with the larger 9inch but charge the full price. This means you are paying for both units but only getting one. I have complained about this but to no avail. Hence why I am sticking with the smaller unit.