Lounge

Abbey GTS Vogue 215 Buccaneer Elan 15

The Abbey is spacious, but the Buccaneer’s lounge offers a tad more space here. You also realise just how these two tourers differ.

The Buccaneer has a more old-fashioned ambience, with floral-patterned seating and scrolled wood surrounds to the locker doors.

The Abbey is more modern, with curved locker fronts and neutral soft furnishings.

The Buccaneer has four corner spotlights, with two front mains-operated lights plus a ceiling light. The Abbey has corner spotlights and two underside front corner mainsoperated lights. Both have a central chest of drawers, but the Abbey’s has an extra drawer plus base locker.

Access lockers in the front seat bases are larger in the Abbey, allowing bedding to be reached more easily than in the Buccaneer.

Both have two blown-air outlets in the lounge, a centrally mounted clock, Cd/radio and freestanding dining table seating up to four. Settees in both are comfortable, but the Buccaneer’s felt more supportive and the big corner bolster cushions added to this. The Abbey also had scatter cushions, which the Buccaneer lacked, but comfort levels in both were on a par. The Buccaneer has a neat folddown side flap for a TV, complete with mains socket; it also houses the electrics, alarm and control panel in one of the offside overhead lockers. This round was close, but the pair come up equal.

Beds

Abbey GTS Vogue 215 Buccaneer Elan 15

Here the Buccaneer gains some ground over the Abbey – its slightly longer settees make a larger double bed. Both use slats to bridge the gap, with the Buccaneer’s providing more support, and both offer the option of having two single beds rather than a double.

Kitchen

Abbey GTS Vogue 215 Buccaneer Elan 15

The kitchen is on the offside in both tourers, but the Buccaneer’s is the larger of the two, offering more worktop. It also has a worktop extension. Both have a full-size oven, fourburner hob and enamelled sink/drainer. The Abbey’s was in cracking order, as was the Buccaneer’s, although the finish on the sink had worn away over the years. The Abbey’s was like new, along with the gas hob.

Both kitchens include a fridge, while the Abbey has a retrofitted microwave and the Buccaneer, an extractor fan. A mains socket is fitted in both kitchens, but the lighting is better in the Abbey, with two downlighters as opposed to the Buccaneer’s striplight.

Storage in both is limited to two overhead lockers. The condition of the Abbey’s kitchen just pushes it ahead, but again, it was close.

Washroom

Abbey GTS Vogue 215 Buccaneer Elan 15

Both of these tourers offer a very good end washroom, with the Buccaneer’s being the larger. But does size matter?

The Buccaneer’s washroom was a real wow in its time. This one is very swish, with a posh curtain, gold-coloured taps and white/grey cupboard doors. The wardrobe offers good hanging and drawer space, too.

The corner handbasin is deep, with large mirrors above, while the separate shower cubicle is on the offside. An electric flush toilet (with upholstered seat) completes the Buccaneer’s washroom.

The Abbey has a circular shower cubicle and electric-flush toilet. This washroom is not as large as the Buccaneer’s – the Abbey’s wardrobe is smaller, although the corner handbasin has a twin-door cupboard below.

Both washrooms are in really excellent condition. The Abbey’s relies on 12V lighting, but this is sufficient to illuminate the washroom at night. However, the Buccaneer wins here because it has more storage and a larger floor area.

Storage

Abbey GTS Vogue 215 Buccaneer Elan 15

The Buccaneer offers excellent storage, with its deep overhead lockers and end washroom cupboard. Its side dresser is super-large, too, with cupboards and drawers, plus overhead lockers and shelves, and lots of worktop. A fold-down worktop adds even more space, while another cupboard by the door is meant for shoe storage.

The Abbey is no slacker – along with the chest of drawers in the lounge, it has good overhead locker storage. The kitchen is a bit more restricted – the Abbey’s side dresser offers a fair amount of worktop, drawer and overhead storage, but not as much as the Buccaneer’s. A drinks cabinet is fitted over the side dresser in the Abbey, while the Buccaneer’s drinks cabinet is above the kitchen. The Buccaneer comes out top here.

Verdict

Abbey GTS Vogue 215 Buccaneer Elan 15

The Buccaneer is the older and more costly of the two. It’s also more old-fashioned, or should we say it’s a classic? The Italian oak adds to its charm and its look tells you this is a tourer from the last days of handbuilt models. But the Abbey is also in very good condition and at the price, ideal as a starter two-berth. It doesn’t feel dated and has stood the test of time. We were very impressed with its kitchen, which looked like new.

The Buccaneer’s washroom is larger, but the Abbey’s is more modern and well laid out.

For space, charm and a distinctive look, the Buccaneer is tops, but if you’re after a lighter two-berth with a more modern appearance and interior, the Abbey is the winner. This was a difficult choice, but the Buccaneer, with its old-world charm and good spec, gets our vote this month.