Member Since: 23 Dec 2006
Location: SUTTON COLDFIELD, WEST MIDS
Posts: 213
Thanks for all the replies.
As you say I really like the space and layout on the Lunar but in the back of my mind is a nagging doubt.
Russell -thanks for the input.
Corn beef - I know what you mean. The lunar uses old school construction which means wall boards with seam tape. On my present coachman one of the faults is that all the seam tape needed replacing as it peeled at edges and wouldn’t stick back. Just unsightly and replaced when they had the van back to the factory to repair the damp leak.
I think I’m going for the elegance 650 if the part ex price stacks up.
Considered the 645 but the elegance is a couple of inches narrow than the coachman and I think it will be tight around the end of the bed. Had a centre washroom before in the crusader and liked it.
Everything’s a compromise.Currently 2015 D4 SE Tech, Corris Grey
RLD Protector, led interior lights, timed climate, towing equipment
Previously
2006 D3 S
2001 TD5
1996 Shogun LWB
1989 Range Rover TDVM
25th Mar 2018 4:07 pm
Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
The 645 is narrow round the bottom of the bed, but the bed does push up in the day leaving plenty of roomMY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
MY15 D4 HSE Kaikoura Stone
MY12 D4 HSE Nara Bronze Sold and gone
MY11 D4 HSE Stornaway Grey Sold and gone
D3 S spec Silver Sold and gone
Tow bar, full length roof bars, side steps, tow bar storage unit, surround camers.
D4 camera club
25th Mar 2018 4:19 pm
dunton10
Member Since: 23 Dec 2006
Location: SUTTON COLDFIELD, WEST MIDS
Posts: 213
I’m going over to look at a 2017 elegance 650 tomorrow at Couplands Caravans Louth.
Russell - you towed an elegance with a disco 4 I think, assuming I buy, will I need one of those Sargent boxes to get the led road lights to work and for the disco to recognise I’ve got a caravan attached? My vehicles is a 64 plate disco 2015 model year.Currently 2015 D4 SE Tech, Corris Grey
RLD Protector, led interior lights, timed climate, towing equipment
Previously
2006 D3 S
2001 TD5
1996 Shogun LWB
1989 Range Rover TDVM
26th Mar 2018 4:21 pm
stephenw46
Member Since: 22 Jun 2011
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 1218
Like your good self I have been caravanning a long time and I own a vip 560/4 coachman purchased in 2015 the best caravan I’ve owned previously I purchased a sterling Eccles ruby part of the swift group 5 years of stress and hell I could go on but never again would I buy anything made by swift , Bailey have also slipped as well so the coachman as had a minor issue but the quality and layout is great for us did look at the island bed but to much storage loss , Good luck
26th Mar 2018 7:07 pm
JackNorris
Member Since: 06 Jul 2012
Location: Beds/Bucks Border
Posts: 1879
dunton10 wrote:
I’m going over to look at a 2017 elegance 650 tomorrow at Couplands Caravans Louth.
Russell - you towed an elegance with a disco 4 I think, assuming I buy, will I need one of those Sargent boxes to get the led road lights to work and for the disco to recognise I’ve got a caravan attached? My vehicles is a 64 plate disco 2015 model year.
I have a 2016 Swift and needed a Sargent Box. If its got LED lights youll need one of the boxes MY2023 Discovery 5 R-Dynamic 3.0
MY2020 Discovery 5 Landmark 3.0 - SOLD
MY2005 Discovery 3 V8 4.4 HSE - SOLD
MY2019 Discovery 5 SE 3.0 - LR Replaced !
MY2005 Discovery 3 S 2.7 - SOLD
MY2016 Discovery 4 Graphite - SOLD
MY2015 Discovery 4 SE Tech - SOLD
Personally I wouldn't touch a new uk built mass produced van with a 20' barge pole made that mistake 10 years a go with a brand new Baily what a pile of . Sold it at 14 months old bought a what is now a 15 year old Vanmaster never let me down or gave me problems and look's like it's brand new unlike most vans that are knackered after 5 or so years .Land Rovers don't leak they just mark there spot
1973 Land Rover Series 3 110 safari Gone but not forgotten
1990 Discovery 200Tdi Gone thank god
1996 Discovery 300Tdi sadly missed (still going strong but not with me)
2003 Discovery TD5 Gone to LR heaven
2004 Discovery TD5 Gone to Aberdeen hope it likes it there
2005 RRS HSE Rimini Red (my Disco 3 in a posh frock)
Think I see a pattern here
26th Mar 2018 8:17 pm
pko
Member Since: 06 Apr 2006
Location: usually in the pub
Posts: 398
I have a2018 swift elegance, fitted with the new Swift Command system for controlling everything from your phone. Bit of a gimmick, but check out Swiftalk, & search "command" & "alarms". both have been a constant problem on 2017 /18 vans.never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly
current motor RRsport hse
prev. cars TD5
3 Ford Explorers
2 Ford Mavericks
Sierra 4x4
27th Mar 2018 11:07 am
dunton10
Member Since: 23 Dec 2006
Location: SUTTON COLDFIELD, WEST MIDS
Posts: 213
Thanks chaps.
I think i must have got a Friday coachman then because I've had more trouble with numerous items than I did with my last caravan which I had for 8 years, AND that was an Elldis!! Perhaps its just the later ones that are not built as well as they used to. Trading on their past reputation perhaps. First impressions were that it was well put together, tidy and built with quality materials. it just didn't perform.
Anyway I'm going to give the Elegance a go. Deposit paid. I think the layout will suit us better and it will be nice to get back to a bit of twin axle space. Hope I dont regret it. I know i'll still have bits to tighten and replace but lets hope its at least dry.
Re swift command and alarms - cant see me using swift command and alarms have always been a constant source of problems for me on whatever van Ive had, causing battery drain and false alarms. I don't know why they fit them. I stopped using them years ago.
Can I clarify a couple of points with existing elegance owners please.
the caravan I looked at has a twin wheel mover fitted. because of this the mud flaps have been removed which looking at things seems reasonable. but where is the spare located. Ive looked at two vans 1 was in the front locker although not very secure and one was under the bed. Can an under slung wheel carrier be fitted when you have a twin mover?
Ditto the jacking points were removed and in the front locker. Salesman said this was due to the twin mover being fitted . is this correct? if so I'll have to check how best to jack in case of need. Ive got a Kojak so when I get it Ill see if those jacking points fit and are accessible.
secondly, does the elegance have a water filter system/cartridge. The coachman had an Ultraflow cartridge just above the pump connector. no sign of this on the swift.
PS thanks for the heads up re the Sargent box. I checked and they said they have them in stock in case I need one when I pick up the van in a fortnight.
Fingers crossed.Currently 2015 D4 SE Tech, Corris Grey
RLD Protector, led interior lights, timed climate, towing equipment
Previously
2006 D3 S
2001 TD5
1996 Shogun LWB
1989 Range Rover TDVM
27th Mar 2018 5:33 pm
Cornbeef
Member Since: 09 Aug 2016
Location: Manchester
Posts: 22
We ordered a new 645 Elegance from the caravan show last year which is due for delivery in April. At the last show we saw that the spare wheel was under the bed although I have seen them in the under slung cradle so I asked our salesman.
Even though the Swift website states that the Alko carrier is on the Elegance "subject to model" our salesman told us that it would be a dealer fit extra. (About £160). We too are also having a four wheel motor mover and the cradle can be moved backwards quite easily with an additional bracket, the chassis is supposedly pre drilled for this. I have queried this and am awaiting a reply.
As for jacking points I was advised to get a decent bottle jack as the jacking points cannot be accessed once the movers are in place.
As for the water filter we will have one fitted on the 2018 model above the external water pick up point.
The dealers will connect an LED light test rig and tell you if you need VLM module. Ours is a D3 and defiantly needs one.
Hope this helps.
27th Mar 2018 5:55 pm
Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
dunton10 wrote:
I’m going over to look at a 2017 elegance 650 tomorrow at Couplands Caravans Louth.
Russell - you towed an elegance with a disco 4 I think, assuming I buy, will I need one of those Sargent boxes to get the led road lights to work and for the disco to recognise I’ve got a caravan attached? My vehicles is a 64 plate disco 2015 model year.
I needed a VLM box on the D4 and have left it in place with the D5 with no issues
The boxes are not expensive from memory £40 I have a spare one brand new never fitted it is a VLM 4 if it is of any use for a few beer tokensMY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
MY15 D4 HSE Kaikoura Stone
MY12 D4 HSE Nara Bronze Sold and gone
MY11 D4 HSE Stornaway Grey Sold and gone
D3 S spec Silver Sold and gone
Tow bar, full length roof bars, side steps, tow bar storage unit, surround camers.
D4 camera club
27th Mar 2018 7:00 pm
dunton10
Member Since: 23 Dec 2006
Location: SUTTON COLDFIELD, WEST MIDS
Posts: 213
Well the deed is done and I’m now the owner of a 2017 Swift Elegance 650. Just 11 months old.
Picked it up last Thursday and stayed over in Lincolnshire to give it a shake down for three nights.
Pleased to say that everything worked as it should and the dealer had done a first class job of preparing it and sorting the few niggles out that I noticed when I first looked at it.
Even turned the door round for us to the bathroom so it opens the other way, into the bathroom now instead of the lounge area. A common request on the 650 layout.
Just for info I did need a Sargent vim box fitted because of the led road lights. They fitted this FOC when I picked it up.
Only thing I’ve noticed is how loud the water pump is when running. Probably because it’s a high pressure one and fitted inboard with the inboard tank.
Russell have you noticed this on your 645? Any suggestions on quietening it? Oh, and there are so many light switches and different combinations inc switching on/off via the control panel that the first night I think my neighbors thought it was a mobile disco.
I know you guys are keen on photos so here is one taken on the first tow home.
[img]http://www.disco3.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/11948/normal_CF3AD5F5-24F0-4CF7-B32E-E8D34D32A256.jpeg[/imgCurrently 2015 D4 SE Tech, Corris Grey
RLD Protector, led interior lights, timed climate, towing equipment
Previously
2006 D3 S
2001 TD5
1996 Shogun LWB
1989 Range Rover TDVM
17th Apr 2018 7:13 am
dunton10
Member Since: 23 Dec 2006
Location: SUTTON COLDFIELD, WEST MIDS
Posts: 213
Currently 2015 D4 SE Tech, Corris Grey
RLD Protector, led interior lights, timed climate, towing equipment
Previously
2006 D3 S
2001 TD5
1996 Shogun LWB
1989 Range Rover TDVM
17th Apr 2018 7:18 am
Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
Nice and welcome to the Swift club. As for water pump no not noticed itMY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
MY15 D4 HSE Kaikoura Stone
MY12 D4 HSE Nara Bronze Sold and gone
MY11 D4 HSE Stornaway Grey Sold and gone
D3 S spec Silver Sold and gone
Tow bar, full length roof bars, side steps, tow bar storage unit, surround camers.
D4 camera club
17th Apr 2018 2:48 pm
MorganD379
Member Since: 29 Sep 2016
Location: SA62 3PP
Posts: 425
Very nice, I have a 2012 swift fairway 565... I did notice the noise difference between the onboard pump Vs my last caravan where it was in the barrel.
However had it over four years now without any issues
17th Apr 2018 3:44 pm
dunton10
Member Since: 23 Dec 2006
Location: SUTTON COLDFIELD, WEST MIDS
Posts: 213
Well my present run of Ill fortune continues.
I bring the new caravan home to load it for a week away on Sunday. Haven’t used it yet, really looking forward to trying it out.
Neighbour decides to cut lawn. Stone on grass and lawnmower and you can guess the rest.
At least she came round and owned up.
On closer inspection it’s cracked the gel coat - this van has GRP sides.
It’s difficult to tell from the photo but the damage is about the size of a thumb nail.
I sent an email to local scratch fix guy who also repairs caravans. He’s quoted £375 which seems really expensive given the size of the damage.
I don’t think it will be waterproof now so I’ll have to do something.
Insurance excess is only £50 but I’ll lose no claims discount.
I thought about a sticker/ decal over the top but will that be waterproof, and it’s only a year old so I’ll probably get a couple of quotes. Any8ne tried a diy repair and if so how successful
Hardly seems worth the hassle of dragging it to a body repair shop though.
Any suggestions.?Currently 2015 D4 SE Tech, Corris Grey
RLD Protector, led interior lights, timed climate, towing equipment
Previously
2006 D3 S
2001 TD5
1996 Shogun LWB
1989 Range Rover TDVM
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
. Sold it at 14 months old bought a what is now a 15 year old Vanmaster never let me down or gave me problems and look's like it's brand new unlike most vans that are knackered after 5 or so years .
