TEST REPORT EXTRA I 153

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1 FAMILY FAVOURITE Elddis Autoquest 600 on MWB 2.2HDi Peugeot Boxer The latest offering from the Explorer Group promises full-blown family motorhoming at a bargain price. Dave Hurrell tried it for size Conversations I have with people who are not motorcaravanners, but very interested in the hobby, go really well until price is mentioned. At this point, sharp intakes of breath and the unmistakable sound of jaws hitting the ground is almost always the reaction. Once normal breathing is achieved and lower mandibles have returned, the first two words uttered are, without fail, how much? Yep, new motorhomes ain t cheap, and this is even more offputting for young families, who are subject to many financial pressures as they bring up the kids. Enter the Autoquest 600, a van aiming to get families motorhoming at an affordable price. The other four models in the Autoquest range have proved very popular, providing bargain Brit-friendly style in a more comfortable way than some of the more austere, budget, foreign competition. COACH CLASS One look at the exterior betrays the 600 s budget credentials. All alloy-clad construction allows none of the intricate features present on more expensive models with big areas of sculpted GRP. Instead, there s a simple shape with square, old-fashioned lines and traditional caravan-style body seams. Nonetheless, this latest Autoquest model looks simple and capable and, in spite of its boxy look, marries well with the curvy Peugeot Boxer that gives it motive power. PEUGEOT S PUNCH Pick up a manufacturer s brochure, turn to the pages featuring bargain basement vans and you ll find many offer overcab coachbuilts on the Sevel-built chassis (Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer) fitted with the 2-litre engine - the smallest on offer. Hit the motorway in some of these and you ll find headwinds and long inclines will ultimately limit progress and reduce speed considerably. It pleased me greatly, therefore, to see that Elddis has had the good sense to fit the more powerful 2.2-litre engine in the 600 as standard. This motor is free revving and refined. It also boasts some 16 extra horses over its 2-litre subordinate - something that will be very welcome when loaded up and on your way to the sun. This Peugeot version of the most common base vehicle boasts all the good points, and some of the bad, of this chassis. Light controls make driving easy, while excellent steering, brakes and clutch inspire confidence. Right-hand located handbrake and dash-mounted gearlever allow trouble-free movement to and from the living area. Also, the lack of a height-boosting seat swivel on the driver s seat means the Autoquest s helmsman has a better view of the road from the legendarily high driving position. A budget van this may be, but I was very pleased to see the inclusion of not only electric windows and mirrors, but also remote central locking. One disappointment was the lack of airbags and their absence from the options list. I look forward to the day when these important safety features are included in most motorhomes as standard. On the road, performance was very good, with the willing engine propelling at traffic-friendly velocities through a set of well-chosen gear ratios that allowed fifth gear to be comfortably used between 40mph and 50mph. I had no opportunity to test the 600 in windy conditions but, in spite of its high stance, handling was predictable and the van felt safe on the road. Meanwhile, in the rear, conversion noise was restricted to cooker rattles and a few creaks. MOTORCARAVAN MOTORHOME MONTHLY JANUARY 2006 I 153

2 ON TEST: ELDDIS AUTOQUEST 600 ON MWB 2.2HDI PEUGEOT BOXER The front end features an overcab with double bed, while optional swivelling passenger seat adds to limited possibilities for lounging. Four belted seats in the rear (two forward and two rear-facing) offers travel for six. The optional passenger seat swivel fitted to the test van displayed some mechanical problems. IT S A BELTER! Star of the travelling department is very definitely the presence of four travel seats in the rear. The caravan door is on the nearside, just to the rear of the cab, and entry sees a layout dominated by an offside Pullman dinette. There s a double berth in the overcab and a nearside located galley. The rear houses wardrobe and offside corner washroom, while opposite are a pair of kid-friendly, lengthways bunks. Anyway, back to those travel seats. I ve lost count of the number of times I ve seen multiberth motorhomes with only two seatbelts - those in the cab. This situation is so common it s accepted as the norm - as we blithely prattle on about the ability to accommodate guests. The reality, however, is a tad different. Show someone new to our hobby a six-berth motorhome with only two seatbelts and I think they d be dumbfounded - horrified even. Nuff said. In spite of its budget status, this Elddis has four seatbelts in the rear. The dinette is equipped with proper three-point restraints on strong steel frames on both forward and rearward-facing seats. Thus, this six-berth van can transport its six residents in relative safety and call itself a proper family motorcaravan. A round of applause for the maker then? Yes, indeed, but a hand-clapping session that s tempered by the suspicion that forthcoming EC legislation will require all rear seat passengers to be safely belted up - and manufacturers are gonna have to provide enough restraints. These Eurocrats really are a pain aren t they? First they force us to have more meat in our sausages, now they re making us travel more safely! Seriously though, the sooner we have the same standards of safety in our motorhomes as most of us do in our cars the better for everyone involved in our hobby. THE FAMILY ROOM Lounging and dining is taken care of, for better or worse, by the dinette. Remember, this van s only a bit over six metres long and its family layout (with those belted seats) leaves no space for 154 I JANUARY 2006 MOTORCARAVAN MOTORHOME MONTHLY

3 traditional lounging. Nevertheless, the table will stash in the wardrobe and this opens up the space a bit for four people to sit comfortably, if a bit upright. The test van was fitted with the optional passenger seat swivel ( 165) and this provides extra lounging space for one, albeit somewhat out of it in the cab. One disconcerting thing to crop up here was the seat s tendency to swivel without warning - as its latch mechanism freed itself when in the forward-facing position. This was less of a problem for lounging, but more so when using the cab seat for travel. As it was not the first time I d come across this phenomenon with this type of swivel, I suspected that a bad batch may be the reason as some of this type seem to be OK while others are not. At mealtimes, an accommodation shortage also arises dining-wise, as the four-seater dinette leaves two campers without an eating surface. The table s a bit on the short side too, for some strange reason, making it more suitable for four kids to dine at anyway. Again, the size of this van and its interior design precludes any other solution to the problem of feeding six. I m no parent, but if I was, I think I d install the sprogs first, and get em fed and out playing (or in bed). Then my partner and I could use the dinette for a civilised meal. This six-berth van only provides dining for four at a time, with a strangely short table to make things worse. 600 COOKS Practical but bijou best describes the galley, as it provides some very good features in a relatively small space. Star of its show is the full-sized cooker. This opportunity to be at home on the range is, it has to be said, another optional extra. However, for a seemingly measly 260 quid, what was three burners and a grill becomes four with separate grill and oven in a domestic-style slot-in cooker. I may not be a parent but I m no stranger to the galley - with five other mouths to feed there d be mutiny on the Elddis if I didn t get myself the oh-so-useful extra burner and oven that this option provides. Next to the cooker is a practical sink/drainer with cover (that even has a safe travel stowage slot below). There s a small slab of worktop to the sink s right, but the inset cover and hinged glass lid over the cooker will definitely be needed when you prepare family-sized meals. The fridge s 70-litre capacity may mean shopping more often and its budget pushbutton ignition may have you swearing a bit as you strain to see the gas flame through the little internal porthole. Apart from these niggles, this kitchen s pretty good, although two overhead lockers and The view to the rear shows a family-friendly layout in a relatively small space. Lounge/diner is followed by wardrobe and corner washroom, while the side kitchen sits ahead of a pair of longitudinal bunks. MOTORCARAVAN MOTORHOME MONTHLY JANUARY 2006 I 155

4 ON TEST: ELDDIS AUTOQUEST 600 ON MWB 2.2HDI PEUGEOT BOXER a slim cupboard with two small internal drawers will probably see you searching elsewhere in the van for dry goods storage. FAMILY WASHLOAD The washroom, if you ll pardon the pun, is bog standard. Bog-standard maybe, but it s adequate nonetheless. A traditional offside rear corner location makes for easy entry here through a wide-opening door that has little competition for its space from the bunks opposite. The vanity unit/washbasin holds few surprises but provides a good slab of surface for cosmetics - something that s often lacking. There are cupboards below big enough for the family s wash bags, while a couple of decent mirrors should keep vain teens smiling. No separate shower compartment in this space, so the shower tray floor, pullout faucetcum-showerhead, and nylon shower curtain, will probably see little use. This is especially likely when you discover that the 600 has rather small tanks - just 76 litres of fresh water capacity means family abluting sessions could necessitate regular trips to the tap. The presence of an electric flush loo in here is all the more welcome when you discover that it s an integral flush tank model. Fill it with water and additive and you get sweet-smelling flushes without depleting the fresh water tank. One good thing about this washroom is its location. Even with all the beds deployed, or folks cooking, lounging or eating, access to the smallest room remains unimpeded - important when there s a vanful of family and even more important for nocturnal trips to the loo. THE BUNKHOUSE It has to be said that bedtime in this modestly sized motorhome is gonna be fun with six on board! The bunks are really the unique feature and the best sleeping solution I know for families with kids. For a start they ll love em, giving you a big The full-sized cooker fitted to the test van is an extracost option but well worth the cash. advantage when the time comes for the battle of bedtime. Although I appear to be hurtling towards my dotage with ever-increasing speed, even I can remember what it would be like to be nine and have your own bunk - your own personal space - on holiday. So, once Daisy and Tarquin have decided The electric-flush loo includes its own flush water supply. The galley is bijou but capable with sink and drainer plus small amount of permanent worktop. Ever-ready bunks in the rear are a kid s dream, and the answer to a parent s prayer. 156 I JANUARY 2006 MOTORCARAVAN MOTORHOME MONTHLY

5 Low-level kitchen storage includes this slim cupboard with two internal drawers. To the left, there s simple but safe storage for the sink cover. No surprises in the washroom, but the vanity unit includes a sensible amount of countertop for pampering product placement. The overcab bed is a bit tight on headroom but it s a full double. who gets the top berth, they ll have they re own little sleeping den as each gets a window, reading light and privacy curtain. There s even a top bunk access ladder built in (just a series of cutout treads at the foot that are ever ready for use). These beds are six feet long and two feet wide - perfect for kids but only really suitable for smaller adults. At the other end, the overcab offers a full double bed, albeit with restricted headroom. Two adults could sleep here but the headroom and the thinner mattress make this bed more suitable for smaller versions. Downstairs, the dinette easily converts into a generous single or decent double bed. The table is stowed and pullout slats bridge the gap between the seats. Cushions fill the gap and you have a big single bed that does not impede the overcab bed access ladder. Pull out side sections and add more cushions, and the big single becomes a good double bed. The thick cushions make a comfy mattress even though there s plenty of joins. With mum and dad downstairs and kids over the cab and in the bunks this van ll work well with six. Doing it this way means you can put the kids to bed first before you make your own bed up downstairs. My ideal arrangement would be with a family of four on board. Kids in the bunks, mum and dad in the luton, and the rest of the living area always ready for action. PACK IT IN! Versatility is the name of the game with any motorhome and, if anything, this is more important with a family van. Storage provision is about space but it s also about payload too, as plenty of the former is useless without sensible amounts of the latter. A total maximum payload of 783kg should leave sufficient capacity aboard the 600 for family holiday kit even with six people on board (if MOTORCARAVAN MOTORHOME MONTHLY JANUARY 2006 I 157

6 ON TEST: ELDDIS AUTOQUEST 600 ON MWB 2.2HDI PEUGEOT BOXER to carry a container (and maybe a small folding trolley to shift) it for top-ups. Outside, there s a gas locker for two 7kg cylinders and one of my favourite Explorer Group features, a leisure battery locker. Usually seen on trailer caravans, this locker is a great idea. It is easy to get at, houses the leisure battery for easy maintenance, and also includes the mains hook-up input plug in a weatherproof, tamper-proof situation. The dinette makes into a generous single or full double bed. There s a jigsaw of cushions but its comfy nonetheless. in doubt always have your van weighed at your local public weighbridge when loaded). As with many of the type, the bunk area is a multi-function space - bedroom at night and storage area when on the road. A large, external locker door hinges up on gas struts and the bottom bunk within lifts to provide a space big enough for lots of holiday kit including cycles. Kids hate to be parted from their bikes when on holiday, and here some of them can be carried - even if you need a bike rack on the rear to deal with the rest, it ll not need to be too big. The only shot in the foot with this area is the manufacturer s decision to top-hinge the locker door. A side-hinged version would prevent you having to stoop as you approach with potentially heavy, bulky gear. With outdoor kit taken care of, domestic gear and clothes for a family will have to find room in the rest of the interior. One of the bulkiest things, bedding, should not be a problem here as the bunks can be left made up while the luton can accommodate its bedding and that for the dinette bed too. Clothing storage will be a bit more challenging as just four overhead lockers outside the galley, and a wardrobe, will have to accommodate the family s apparel. There s a small, low-level cupboard at the rear, but the fact is that travelling light will be the order of the day for mum, dad and the kids. Last, and by no means least storage-wise, there s a decent amount of space under the dinette seating. This, thankfully, should provide some overflow capacity - plus space for tools, leads, hoses and the like. LIFE SUPPORT A laughably simple control panel is the antidote to the current crop of microprocessor-controlled management hubs seen on many new upmarket motorhomes these days. A simple, analogue meter gives news of water and battery levels, while switches - equally simple - control essential functions. To the left is another simple switch that gives news that the 600 is fitted with mains electric water heating, while the control for the gas-fired part of the Truma boiler is above, completing this easyto-use set of life-support controls. Obviously, mains water heating will help to keep gas consumption down and make the most of paid-for hook-up, but it also has an added advantage. Both energy sources can be used together and, with the family on board, faster heating of the water could be a very welcome feature if there s a queue at the washroom door. Truma also supplies the space heater in the form of the trusty Trumatic. This is a gas-only convector fitted in the traditional position below the wardrobe. These units are simple and effective, providing lots of near-silent heat that s especially good on cold nights when they can be left on a low setting to keep the chill off. Only problem is there s no blown-air attached, so the washroom will stay cold unless you prop its door open to let some heat inside. However, the options list offers blownair to add to this heater so, if you must have your washroom toasty, then 255 will make it so. Small water tanks are an unfortunate feature of this motorcaravan and, with a family on board, you could find driving to the nearest tap becomes a regular, annoying task. The answer is simply FAMILY VAN CAN? These days, the motorcaravan industry is looking for new markets and one area targeted is family motorcaravanning. This sounds great: mum, dad and the kids will, of course, love getting away in a motorhome with all the advantages it offers over the more traditional family favourite of tent or trailer caravan. It s just so much easier to get away at a moment s notice - and most pre Kevin the teenager kids will love it. Of course, family holidays can be very expensive anyway, and a motorhome will provide for the big annual trip plus loads of opportunity for quality leisure time for most of the rest of the year. I really liked this van, it kinda does what it says on the tin and most compromises are down to budget qualifications and physical size - rather than bad design and execution. It s gonna be a tad crowded with six on board, and my ideal family in here would consist of mum, dad, and a couple of sprogs. However, that round of applause for those six belted seats is well deserved, as it is possible to accommodate six (both for travel and living). As a family motorhomer I d add a drive-away awning, for longer holidays with more people, to create space and allow all the family to eat and relax together. The Elddis Autoquest 600, while not cheap in wider world terms, goes a long way towards making motorhoming for young families a reality. It s well designed, reasonably well screwed together, and sensibly priced. I know one thing - if I was nine or ten years old again, I d rush home from school every Friday and say: where are we going this weekend dad? Life support controls are the antidote to technology - simple to look at and operate. At the back there s a small cupboard with a handy surface above. Informal storage space hides under the dinette seating. 158 I JANUARY 2006 MOTORCARAVAN MOTORHOME MONTHLY

7 This large outside hatch lifts to allow access to the bunk area. Lift the lower berth and you create a locker big enough for a bike or two. IN BRIEF Base vehicle: Peugeot Boxer MWB chassis cab Engine type: 2.2-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged common-rail diesel Output: 74Kw (100bhp) Gearbox and drive: Five-speed manual gearbox, front-wheel drive Make and model: Elddis Autoquest 600 Body type and construction: Overcab coachbuilt, alloy-clad sandwich sidewalls, alloy-clad roof and rear panel, GRP moulding between cab and body Conversion NCC badged as EN1646 compliant: Yes Electrical equipment: 230V hook-up feeds RCD, MCBs, leisure battery charger, fridge, water heater, three 13A sockets Lighting: Filament lamp in luton, twin eyeball spots above dinette, two circular fluorescent lamps in living area, one in washroom, strip fluorescent lamp above kitchen Cooking facilities: Spinflo Country Leisure cooker with four burners, grill and oven, no spark ignition Refrigerator: Dometic RM4230S three-way, manual ignition, capacity 70 litres Water heater: Truma Ultrastore, gas and mains electric operation, capacity 10 litres (2.2 gallons) Space heater: Truma Trumatic convector, gas-only operation Fresh water tank: 76 litres (16.71 gallons) underfloor Waste water tank: 40 litres (8.8 gallons) underfloor Gas locker capacity: Two 6kg/7kg cylinders Rear restraints: Four three-point inertia-reel seatbelts, two on forward-facing dinette seat, two on rearward-facing dinette seat Additional features: Remote central locking of cab doors, electrically-operated windows and mirrors, single CD player/radio, passenger seat swivel, smoke alarm, big Heki rooflight, chopping board sink cover with dedicated stowage, cassette toilet with separate flush water tank, flyscreen door, external locker door and lift-up lower bunk create large storage locker DIMENSIONS (*data supplied by manufacturer) Overall length: 6.2m (20ft 4.5in)* Overall width: 2.20m (7ft 2.5in)* Overall height: 2.89m (9ft 6in)* Interior height: 1.95m (6ft 5in) Bed dimensions: Luton double: 2.06m x 1.17m (6ft 9in x 3ft 10in) available headroom 524mm (1ft 9in); dinette double 1.98m x 1.24m (6ft 6in x 4ft 1in); two bunks both 1.83m x 610mm (6ft 0in x 2ft 0in) Max authorised weight: 3400kg* Load capacity: 783kg* PRICE (all prices include VAT) Standard model: 27,990 (on the road) As tested: 28,865 (on the road) Overall width 2.20m (7ft 2.5in)* Warranty: Three years base vehicle and conversion, five years water ingress OPTIONAL EXTRAS (*fitted to test vehicle) Base vehicle options: Colour coded front bumper ( 135), faux walnut dash trim ( 125) Caravan options: Full cooker ( 260)*, 12V roof fan ( 225), large Heki rooflight ( 285)*, caravan alarm ( 285), flyscreen door ( 165)*, Status TV aerial ( 160), passenger seat swivel ( 165)*, blown-air heating ( 255), loose-lay carpet ( 200), roof rack and ladder ( 375) Elddis Autoquest 600 kindly supplied for evaluation by: Elddis Motorhomes, The Explorer Group, Explorer House, Delves Lane, Consett, County Durham DH8 7PE (tel: ; web site: Overall length 6.2m (20ft 4.5in)* E&OE MOTORCARAVAN MOTORHOME MONTHLY JANUARY 2006 I 159