First look: Coachman VIP 460
Clever design in this extended two-berth layout provides a spacious, airy interior
The new VIP 460 makes the most of its extended two-berth layout to provide a light, bright and spacious interior that promises both comfort and style, says Peter Baber
THE BIG NEWS with Coachman this season was twin-axle Lunars reverting to their own brand. But where does that leave the continuing VIP models? Do they still offer the luxury and comfort you’d expect from Coachman’s top-notch range for those who don’t want the expense and extra weight of a twin-axle? The VIP 460, an extended two-berth, is a good case in point.
Pitch and set-up
VIPS this season come with new smarter 3D decals, which look fetching alongside the alloy wheels. As this is an upmarket caravan, an AKS 3004 stabiliser and ATC trailer control system come as standard. Unlike some other supposedly upmarket vans, all four corner steadies are heavy-duty – which is good for added reassurance when you are setting down on an unlevel pitch. In common with all VIPS for the past couple of seasons, the 460 comes with double gas bottle lockers on the front, with doors that open smoothly and stay open on struts. So loading and turning on gas bottles is easy, even if you don’t get quite as much storage here as you might have done with one single locker. You do get an awning light and an offside services light, so plugging in after a late arrival shouldn’t be a problem – the hook-up connection is included in the wet locker on the offside. You also get external access to the nearside underseat area, which is completely clear, so removing outdoor furniture should also be easy. And as a final point of reassurance, the external barbecue point is fitted with a sliding cover – so you don’t need to worry about that cover flapping about on the road and perhaps being torn off.
Lounge
Even with the reduced bulkhead on newer VIPS, the front sill is still big enough for a standard lamp, with a cable (which could easily be hidden) to the socket next to the switch in the offside. There are two more switches on the nearside corner. That should add a little extra light at night to what is already a very elegant and comfortable lounge, which invites you to sit back and enjoy music from the corner speakers, or watch the TV on the sideboard halfway down on the nearside. This comes with the necessary TV sockets. During the day, you’re unlikely to need the lighting, because this lounge is flooded with natural light via three big windows and an unusually large sunroof right across the caravan’s front panel. A pull-out flap on the front chest is handy for quick snacks, or possibly more – the one minus point in this lounge is the fact that the foldaway table is stored all the way back in a cupboard in the rear washroom.
Kitchen
The size of the offside kitchen is one of many bonuses in an extended two-berth such as the 460. You get plenty of workspace, with two mains sockets to hand, a large rectangular sink and a four-burner dual-fuel hob. The two drawers under the sink and next to the separate oven and grill are large enough to look as though they wouldn’t be out of place in a domestic kitchen. The three lockers above are also sizeable, so storing dry food and kitchenware should