Bag an end-of-season bargain

We sent Andy Jenkinson to scour forecourts across the UK for last-minute deals on 2018 vans, as retailers restock for next year

We check out the great discounts on offer

WITH RUMOURS of surplus unsold new 2018 stock being available in abundance on dealers’ forecourts, it’s good news for bargain hunters as we check out the savings that can be had across the country. (All prices and stock data were correct at the time of writing.) We all love the thought of buying our first new caravan, but as with all big purchases, it really pays to shop around. With some dealers having what we might best describe as ample stocks of last season’s models on the forecourts, they will be getting rather keen to shift some of these models, to make way for 2019 vans. In many cases, 2019 models haven’t been altered much over their 2018 counterparts, but of course, when you do buy an outgoing ‘new’ 2018 tourer, it is already classed as a year old in model year terms, so you must remember that this will play a part when it eventually comes to trading-in time. Many canny caravanners like to use the end of the season to buy their next new tourer, but it really is worth doing your research before you buy. So armed with notebook and pencil, we decided to check out what’s being discounted and where the big savings can be found around the UK. Checking forecourt prices and other incentives on offer from the dealers (movers being a very popular addition), we wanted to see what the keen bargain hunter could come up with. But another reminder here – if you buy from a dealer miles from your home, you must remember that any problems with the van will need to be sorted out there. So do make

Many canny caravanners like to use the end of the season to buy their next new tourer, but do your research beforehand

sure your calculations include sums to cover you for any trips back to the dealer if warranty work has to be carried out. Our selections are from dealers that we thought were offering good prices, but do take a look at their websites to see what is available.

Tempting prices

So, pencil duly sharpened, we went off in search of that bargain of the year. We checked out plenty of dealerships, from north to south. Starting out with Perthshire Caravans in Scotland, we found some tempting prices straight away. For example, we looked at models from Bailey, Swift, Elddis – and Sterling. Hang on, you say, Sterling ceased being a standalone range in 2017. That’s right, but at Perthshire, we found some unsold new 2017 stock still standing, just waiting for an owner. So what had they got?

2017 Sterling Eccles 590

Six-berth, was £22,460 now £21,450 Saving £1010

2017 Swift Conqueror 580

Four-berth, was £27,400 now £25,950 Saving £1450

2017 Swift Challenger 590

Six-berth, was £22,460 now £21,450 Saving £1010

2018 Sprite Major 4 SB SR

Four-berth, was £18,840 now £17,850 Saving £990

2018 Swift Elegance 565

Four-berth, was £29,185 now £27,450 Saving £1735

2018 Bailey Pursuit 430/4

Four-berth, was £16,369 now £15,650 Saving £719

2018 Elddis Affinity 554

Four-berth, was £22,599 now £21,250 Saving £1349

2018 Elddis Crusader Super Cyclone

Four-berth, was £28,049 now £26,450 Saving £1599 Perthshire Caravans also has more new discounts on remaining models, so we would advise you to check out its website for any extra deals to be had, especially on a few of those unused 2017 vans.

Special offers

Duncan Caravans at Wishaw, in Lanarkshire, was offering a mover on every new 2018 Bailey Unicorn, but you will need to give them a call to find out about keen pricing on its remaining Baileys and Swifts. Marquis Leisure, importers of the Caravelair brand, is clearing out 2018 models of this French tourer, while Al-ko Secure wheel locks are part of the deal for buyers of the new Venus range and movers are fitted on Lunar Quasars and above. We found these Caravelairs at knock-down prices, making already low-priced models even better value. As before, keep an eye on the Marquis website.

2018 Caravelair Antarès 335 Two-berth, was £15,697 now £15,495 Saving £202

2018 Caravelair Antarès 406 Four-berth, was £16,695 now £15,495 Saving £1200

2018 Caravelair Antarès 455 Four-berth, was £17,696 now £16,495 Saving £1201

2018 Caravelair Antarès 496 Four-berth, was £19,200 now £17,995 Saving £1205

2018 Caravelair Antarès 480 Four-berth, was £20,201 now £18,995 Saving £1206

Bag a dealer special

Family dealership Kimberley Caravans was offering some really mouth-watering deals at its branches in Darlington and Nottingham. Focusing on Compass, Swift, Coachman and Xplore, the firm had some good savings on offer, including two dealer specials. So what caught our eye? This is just a small sample, so make sure to check out Kimberley’s website for more bargains.

2018 Compass Kensington 586 (dealer special)

Six-berth, was £21,490 now £18,995 Saving £2495

2018 Compass Capiro

Two-berth, was £20,894 now £18,990 Saving £1904

2018 Coachman Kimberley Vision 545 (dealer special)

Four-berth, was £21,995 now £19,990 Saving £2005

2018 Coachman Pastiche 565 Four-berth, was £23,500 now £22,500 Saving £1000

2018 Swift Conqueror 570

Four-berth, was £27,265 now £23,990 Saving £3275

2018 Swift Challenger 590

Four-berth, was £23,350 now £20,965 Saving £2385

Ex-demo models

Stewart Longton Caravans, in Chorley, was offering great prices on ex-demonstration models from Adria, Sprite and Swift. Longton’s has a very impressive reputation for discount pricing.

2018 Adria Adora 612 DL Rhine Six-berth, was £22,395 now £19,995 Saving £2400

2018 Adria Adora

613 UT Thames

Four-berth, was £22,495 now £19,995 Saving £2500

2018 Adria Altea 542 DK

Six-berth, was £16,695 now £14,995 Saving £1700

2018 Swift Eccles 580

Four-berth, was £22,585 now £19,963 Saving £2622

2018 Swift Eccles 530

Four-berth, was £21,875 now £19,463 Saving £2412

2018 Sprite Alpine

Two-berth, was £17,130 now £15,463 Saving £1667

2018 Swift Elegance 650

Four-berth, was £31,930 now £26,999 Saving £4931

Big savings

At Yorkshire Coast Caravans, near Bridlington, sales began in early July, and stocks of 2018 models are now vanishing fast. With only a few models left, particularly in the Coachman range, buyers were snapping up bargain-priced tourers, and with a mover fitted, too, what a steal these 2018 vans were.

2018 Bailey Pursuit 550/4

Four-berth, was £17,264 now £15,995 Saving £1269

2018 Bailey Unicorn Cartagena

Four-berth, was £26,564 now £24,564 Saving £2000

2018 Bailey Unicorn Barcelona

Four-berth, was £26,564 now £25,064 Saving £1500

2018 Bailey Pegasus GT70 Verona

Four-berth, was £20,364 now £18,995 Saving £1369

2018 Sprite Quattro EB

Four-berth, was £20,895 now £19,495 Saving £1400

2018 Swift Elegance 480

Two-berth, was £26,380 now £23,380 Saving £3000

2018 Coachman VIP 565

Four-berth, was £26,500 now £24,500 Saving £2000

Luxury models

In Sandbach, Cheshire, Leisure Sales had some very tempting deals on Bailey, Swift, Venus, Alaria and Lunar. Its dealer special, the Spritebased Leisure Home range, was offering savings of £1600, while Alaria/delta ex-demonstration models were reduced by more than £4000.

2018 Alaria TS

Four-berth, was £34,124 now £29,995 Saving £4129

2018 Alaria RI

Four-berth, was £34,124 now £29,995 Saving £4129

2018 Venus 620/6

Six-berth, was £19,023 now £16,995 Saving £2028

2018 Venus 540/4

Four-berth, was £17,323 now £15,695 Saving £1628

2018 Lunar Delta TR

Four-berth, was £29,224 now £24,995 Saving £4229

2018 Bailey Unicorn Pamplona

Four-berth, was £26,789 now £23,695 Saving £3094

2018 Bailey Unicorn Barcelona

Four-berth, was £26,564 now £23,695 Saving £2869

2018 Bailey Pursuit 400/2

Two-berth, was £15,664 now £13,995 Saving £1669

2018 Swift Eccles 635

Four-berth, was £24,275 now £21,995 Saving £2280

2018 Swift Conqueror 480 Two-berth, was £24,280 now £21,432 Saving £2848

Generous discounts

The last stop on our nationwide bargain hunt was Swindon Caravan Centre. With a big selection of tourers from Bailey, Swift, Lunar and Sprite, plus its own dealer special Vogues, based on the Sprite range, we were greeted here by some generously discounted window stickers. As with all of our selections, these are just a few examples to whet your appetite. But we were particularly impressed by savings of nearly £5000 on its top-of-the-range models.

2018 Swift Vogue 560 EB

Four-berth, was £21,765 now £19,265 Saving £2500

2018 Sprite Major 6 TD

Six-berth, was £19,005 now £17,195 Saving £1810

2018 Sprite Alpine 2

Two-berth, was £16,935 now £15,395 Saving £1540

2018 Bailey Unicorn Seville

Two-berth, was £23,189 now £19,995 Saving £3194

2018 Venus 550/4

Four-berth, was £17,523 now £15,395 Saving £2128

2018 Lunar Clubman CK

Two-berth, was £24,024 now £20,895 Saving £3129

2018 Lunar Delta TR

Four-berth was £29,225 now £24,295 Saving £4930

2018 Bailey Pegasus GT70 Palermo

Five-berth, was £22,164 now £19,895 Saving £2269

2018 Lunar Ariva

Two-berth, was £17,324 now £14,595 Saving £2729

2018 Swift Elegance 580

Four-berth, was £29,080 now £24,995 Saving £4085

Rarer bargains

So what a great bargain hunt this exercise was – we found some superb savings out there. However, one brand that was hard to spot with cash discounts was Buccaneer. We saw very few of these and discounts were definitely a rarity. We did manage to find one Barracuda, at Wandahome in Knottingley, reduced from £34,879 to £31,995, but the main Buccaneer dealers had sold out. So get out there now, we say, and grab a bargain, because last season’s models seem to be disappearing very quickly.

1 All 2018 models are proving popular, so head to your dealership to see what it has to offer 2 Forecourt sales began back in July – this was the lineup at Leisure Sales, but stocks were going fast 3 Leisure Sales had this Delta TR on display for £4229 below its normal window price 4 These Bailey Pursuits are currently being offered at good discounts of more than £1700 in most cases, but you’ll need to grab one fast 5 There were still a few Alarias remaining, with over £4000 to be saved on these luxury models 6 This Swift Elegance 480 is available for £3000 off the list price, at Yorkshire Coast

Caravan historian ANDY JENKINSON also has a keen eye for a wise buy

7 The latest Bailey Unicorns are going for some great reduced prices; this Cartagena at Yorkshire Coast also came with a free mover as a bonus 8 Coachmans are a little more difficult to find, but we spotted this VIP 565 with a £2000 saving 9 Always great value, but this six-berth Sprite is a steal at just £17,195 10 Swindon Caravan Centre had great prices on its Lunars, such as this Clubman CK two-berth, reduced by more than £3000 11 Swindon’s dealer special Sprite-based Vogue models were being offered with excellent savings of up to £2500 12 Stocks of 2018 tourers are thinning out around the country, so best get your skates on

13 Also on the forecourt at Swindon Caravan Centre was this Swift Elegance 580, a fixed-bed model, at more than £4000 below list price 14 This Bailey Unicorn Cartagena was on offer at £23,780 – a saving of £2714 15 A Bailey Pegasus GT70 Palermo at Swindon Caravan Centre was priced at £19,895 – a saving of £2269 16 Check window prices to find out about other ways to pay for your new caravan, as there may be alternatives to a cash deal