Ownership Diary - Bürstner Argos 747-2G

Discussion in 'Others' started by Spuffington, Jan 22, 2025.

  1. Spuffington
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    Spuffington Staff Member Admin Site Supporter

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    Yup, it’s properly kitted out with a spec sheet I’d only dream of on other vans. A lot of it comes as standard but the extras like hydraulic levelling, habitation aircon and electric awning a very much nice to haves and worth ticking the box for. Aside from a rear bike rack, inverter and solar panel, it’s pretty much everything we could possibly want.

    It also comes with updated suspension to 5.4t so no need for the air suspension I was contemplating previously.

    It has a failsafe that you can’t drive off with them down.
     
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  2. Spuffington
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    Spuffington Staff Member Admin Site Supporter

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    So, a small update.

    We left home at 0900 yesterday, the whole family in tow, to make the 2hr15m drive from home to Stafford to visit the Erwin Hymer Centre (Travelworld) just off the M6. This is where “our” Dethleffs XL Family had been delivered on Wednesday and what we had paid the £1k to hold subject to viewing.

    https://www.motorhomes.co.uk/stock/dethleffs-xl-a-family-a-7872-2-4201/

    Whilst Wednesday had seen us really excited when it arrived, emotions had changed a little through Thursday as I got a huge flurry of interest in the Knaus which culminated in a deposit being paid to hold it for viewing next week and then our “dream” motorhome coming up on Autotrader as a private sale very near to us for “just” £25k more than the XL Family was for sale.

    The dream motorhome was a Dethleff’s Globetrotter XXLA on a Iveco Daily chassis, rated at 7.2t with all the trimmings (levelling, wet central heating, air suspension, etc) with a very similar layout to the XL Family but with single beds at the rear instead of transverse double, hence allowing exits during the night without disturbing your partner. Suddenly the cat was amongst the pigeons, not least because in getting a private sale for the Knaus and realising we could easily and cheaply pay for the van with a small remortgage, we were now free of dealer finance obligations……. Eek! And eek to budget creep too. Remember, we started out with a £90k budget, which was now looking like £165k for the dream one.

    Anyway, in good news Travelworld had a dream van in stock so we made it plain we’d like to compare “ours” with the “dream”.

    https://www.motorhomes.co.uk/stock/dethleffs-globetrotter-xxl-a-9000-2-eb-3979/

    We turned up just after 11am, reasonably easy run with all kids happy. A quick cup of coffee and intro to the Salesman I’d been dealing with and we were able to let the kids crawl around on the floor of the showroom particularly to entertain the youngest who, now he’s crawling, hates sitting still. Then it was off first to see “our” van.
    IMG_3633.jpeg IMG_3634.jpeg

    Given this is now my sixth leisure vehicle (fourth motorhome), I know pretty well what I’m looking for and likewise Mrs Spuff who lived and travelled with me extensively in my Concorde and in the Knaus, she knows her way around well. The next hour or so was letting the kids run riot whilst we sized up the van and all its features. It’s fair to say the XL Family is rather austere compared to what we want and the price-point, at least in my head. At £140k it’s comfortably a huge chunk of money for anyone and we were a little disappointed at how bland it looks when compared with other vans. That said, functionality wise, it was head and shoulders above others that we saw.

    In order to keep it relatively short, the summary of the whole day there (5.5hrs in total) was that a Dethleffs is a Dethleffs. It’s a mid-premium van segment but stops short of Hymer & Niesman & Bischoff levels of luxury and finish. Whether we go for our van or the dream van, the fixtures and fittings are the same. It’s more or less the finishes of the materials and aesthetics around lighting which are different. In all honesty, aside from the aesthetics and chassis, it’s difficult to see where the additional £100k goes for the dream van new versus ours. What really nailed it for us though was the fact that in having the longitudinal single beds at the rear and a more luxurious bathroom, this eats into the actual living & kitchen space such that the sofa bed we were going to use for our eldest boy doesn’t work to sleep on in the dream van and the lounge area feels hugely compromised compared to ours.

    We both like nice things and both feel that there should be a wow factor for £140k, but what a whole day of looking over vans has taught us and seeing kids being in them, is that space is the key with a family of our size and at the age they are. Simply things like having two wardrobes for coats and clothes. Having a huge area around the kitchen where a) it’s possible to pass eachother without having to squeeze up to do so, b) this leads to big kitchen units for food, plates, cutlery, pans etc and c) when not in use, it’s a perfect area for a travel cot or two boys playing on the floor with Lego for example.

    IMG_3635.jpeg

    We spent the whole of the 2.5hrs back home mulling over and flip-flopping between our and dream one, then went to sleep to have a clear view in the morning. We’ve both woken up today convinced that the XL Family is the sensible choice. It’s not wow in terms of aesthetics, but it is wow in terms of space. It uses the space very cleverly and allows for a huge amount of storage for clothes, toys, teddies, colouring books, torches, outdoor equipment and everything that you need when you’re carting around a family of 5 ranging between 0 and 12yrs old. Particular stand-out points were:

    - ability to get to the rear garage from inside the vehicle. Kids loved this new cave to play in, but it will be invaluable when skiing for being able to reach things when it’s -26C outside without leaving the van. But at other times, being able to put various bits of cushions from the seating area in there easily when making up beds without going outside at night or disturbing others with main hab door opening and closing;
    - wet central heating running all the way through the Ducato cab. Not only this, a “wet centrally heated” carpet mat over the cab floor to enhance the comfort and reduce cold bridging;
    - a heated over cab (Luton) bed area for extreme temperatures;
    - two wardrobes rather than one;
    - Toilet door opens to close off rear of the van to make a bathroom/dressing area outside the shower for privacy.

    So, with all that in mind, we’ve given the dealer a list of all the extras we’d like fitted:

    - 2kW inverter wired to all 240v sockets, 2x solar panels and DC-DC charger;
    - 4-bike Thule bike rack fitted to external rear wall to increase carrying capacity if garage is full of camping gear;
    - Engine pre-heat pump (there is already a heat exchanger to ensure Habitation area is heated by engine coolant in winter when driving, but with a heat pump, it can reverse the process to warm the engine circuit in extreme weathers);
    - Asked about fitting some soft, indirect lighting to bottom of cabinets and in bathroom as a nightlight for the kids.

    So there we have it. If they can come up with a keen price on the van with all the above, then we’ll pay out 10% advance and hopefully take delivery on or around 1st March for the new “25” plate.

    So whilst it’s not the wow we originally thought £140k would buy us, it seems to be exceptional value when compared against other £200k “family” vans and all of the £200k luxury vans which have 5belts and 5berths are really only designed for two people to living in absolutely luxury. So it’s a bit of a rare thing and we’ve decided that where we are with the kids; their needs and consequently our needs, this is the best possible solution, My wife is now dreaming up ways to “soften” it a bit and make it a bit more homely. Even some scatter cushions, matching curtains and some rechargeable lighting will make it more homely. Plus I’m sure that once we have coats hung up and a couple of the kids normal travel toys/teddies in situ, it’ll feel much more like home.

    A very excited household awaits and now just need to get Knaus fully sold (I’m confident on this, the Buyer seems like a really nice chap and knows his way around vans and what he wants) and remortgage completed. Oh and Travelworld to do me the necessary deal. Watch this space! :)
     
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    Last edited: Feb 2, 2025
  3. Spuffington
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    Spuffington Staff Member Admin Site Supporter

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    BTW - if anyone is curious and wants to have a good virtual nosey around, this is a super video John has done. His vans aren’t coming in until early summer but I’ve been chatting to him in the event this one doesn’t come off.

     
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  4. Wynne71
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    Wynne71 WARLORD Site Supporter

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    I’ve had to read the post twice to make sure I know which direction you are taking….more twists and turns than the B roads I was driving this morning…..
    Sounds as though the decision is the right one for the family, especially if you are going to use it for the long term.
    I need to go back a third time and follow the links to see the one you are aiming for.

    All this talk of campers has got me thinking now, not to buy one, but to rent one next year. All my annual leave is booked out for 2025, but I’m all but decided to go to Scotland in May 2026 and rent one for a week. The research has started!
     
  5. isleaiw
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    isleaiw

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    Sounds like a properly thought through decision... and you know the saying about wow being surface impression but what you really want is quality that runs deep.

    I just struggle with the fact they cost more than my first two houses added together... first 3 if you start heading to a £200k list!!

    Enjoy collection, and the upcoming trips...

    (£40k for a twin axle caravan and awning with a Cayenne Turbo or FFRR would be my choice for the same money, but it's good we are all catered for!)
     
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  6. isleaiw
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    isleaiw

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    The locals will love you! Also planning a trip to Scotland next year but in a Mini JCW convertible...
     
  7. Wynne71
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    Wynne71 WARLORD Site Supporter

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    The locals weren’t too keen on us back in 1995, and that was when we only had a tent….
     
  8. snrbrtsn
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    snrbrtsn WARLORD Site Supporter

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    Wow! what a journey Duncan
    Written with passion and desire and living your best life! Well done for finding that place!
    Whilst following I’m still confused, in that there’s compromising and uncertainty between the lines so fearful this shall not be a forever van

    Regardless Good health to enjoy and hoping you have many happy adventures in your new memory maker!
     
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  9. The CO
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    The CO Staff Member Admin

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    I'm confused now, what are you buying exactly? :confusedmore:
     
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  10. edthefed
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    edthefed WARLORD

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    Depends if you mean this month or next month:)
     
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  11. Spuffington
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    Spuffington Staff Member Admin Site Supporter

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    Haha - sorry guys, all a bit confusing.

    We’re set on the Family XL (the austere one) given it meets our needs very well overall. Just in the final throes of haggling out a deal with Travelworld (which is easier said than done).

    Currently travelling through Europe with work which is slowing things down but hope to land on a deal soon which will then be subject to selling the Knaus on Friday and raising the rest of the funds shortly thereafter.
     
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  12. The CO
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    :rofll:
     
  13. Spuffington
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    Spuffington Staff Member Admin Site Supporter

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    Deal done! A bit of a tweak required and not exactly the deal of the century but delighted to have secured it plus the extras we wanted.

    Just need to finalise sale of Knaus on Friday then we really get rocking and rolling.

    Looking like a mid March delivery!
     
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  14. Wynne71
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    Wynne71 WARLORD Site Supporter

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    Dare you tempt fate and change the title of this thread.......??
     
  15. Spuffington
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    Spuffington Staff Member Admin Site Supporter

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    Nope!

    Too many moving parts still. :unsure:
     
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