End game. AS the largest motorhome dealer network in the UK, Marquis Majestic 195. Star test

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1 Marquis Majestic 195 Words & pictures Steve Rowe End game New in the Elddis Autoquestbased Majestic line-up from dealer group, Marquis, the 195 features an end lounge with long settees, as well as a halfdinette up front AT A GLANCE PRICE FROM 44,229 BERTHS/TRAVEL SEATS 4/4 AS the largest motorhome dealer network in the UK, Marquis has more clout than most when it comes to marketing its own dealer specials. For those who have never heard this term before, it s common practice for motorhome dealers to get together with manufacturers with whom they hold franchises and commission special versions of existing models. Dealer specials usually have more equipment (and often different décor fabrics, etc) than the standard version, but with customers still paying less for the entire package than they would if they bought the manufacturer s standard vehicle and upgraded the specification themselves. This is certainly the case with the Marquis Majestic models, which are based on the popular, entry-level Autoquest range from Elddis. Here we have the Majestic 195, an all-new 2014 model (based on an equally new Autoquest) featuring an end lounge layout with two 6ft-long inward-facing settees on either side of a central chest of drawers. In effect, this is like the front end of most touring caravans, but placed in the rear of a motorhome (hanging out beyond the back wheels). It s a design classic and rear lounges are no strangers to the Autoquest/Majestic line-up with the 140, 145 and 180 already sporting seating at the very rear. Like the 140, the new 195 is a lowline model and like the 145 it has a half-dinette up front to allow a pair of rear passengers to be carried. But the 195 is much longer than either the 140 or 145 at 7.20m it joins the fixed bed 155 and 165, the end washroom 175 and the six-berth 180 as the longest of its breed. So it remixes existing ingredients to come up with a new flavour of motorhome one that offers single beds, four travel seats and a sleeker shape than the overcab models. 74 motorhome MARCH

2 Marquis Majestic 195 C FOR Overcab sunroof Five three-pin mains sockets SoLiD construction with 10-year water ingress guarantee Choice of singles or double bed at the rear Large kitchen Value-for-money D AGAINST Cheaper type of blinds and flyscreens Pull-out step a bit wobbly Some halogen spotlights (instead of LEDs) No automatic option Cramped shower space Large rear overhang with no rear corner steadies The side galley features a high-level microwave oven WHAT S NEW? The 195 is an all-new model in the Marquis Majestic line-up for the 2014 season, running alongside nine other models including two derived from the compact, narrow-bodied Accordo. The Majestic 180 is its closest relative it has a similar (but smaller) rear lounge while up front is a pullman dinette with four seatbelts, and there s an overcab bed too. As well as the six-metre compact Majestic 105 and 125, also new this season is the Majestic 155 with its French bed layout. Unusually, the 155 has a side settee lounge but under the conventional benches hide a pair of pop-up Aguti individual travel seats for rear passengers. Clever stuff! QUALITY COUNTS Go back a few years and Autoquests offered superb value, as well as reasonable build quality, but they lacked any design flair and the specification definitely reflected the price tag. For instance, tiny 45-litre fresh and waste water tanks were always going to annoy some buyers. Perhaps spurred on by old caravan rival, Bailey, with its Alu-Tech construction and an audacious launch into the motorhome market a couple of years ago, Elddis has recently introduced its own special construction system, called SoLiD. Elddis has devised a special biscuit joint to hold the outer wall, floor and roof panels together, using a tough, flexible glue. This all means that screws are no longer needed to hold the body panels together (other than just a few during production while the glue dries) and this lack of screws should also mean much less scope for water ingress in the future water sometimes gets past loose or rusted screws. ROYAL PROGRESS On the road, the standard 130bhp 2.2-litre Peugeot diesel engine does a fair job of pulling the 195 along via the standard six-speed manual gearbox and I recorded a commendable average fuel economy figure of 28.5mpg. I noticed a slight amount of noise from the overcab moulding at speed on motorways, but there s very little interior din, apart from the usual rattle of the grill pan and glass hob cover, which can be solved by careful application of a kitchen towel. All Elddis coachbuilt motorhomes are now built using the company s SoLiD construction system, an acronym which stands for Strong, Light, Dry. Basically it s a process which uses glue and special biscuit joints in the woodwork to join the walls to the floor and roof. This cuts out the need for screws to hold the bodyshell together, other than a few used while the glue dries, so there s less chance for future water ingress through screw holes. Fully bonding the shell in this way also makes it very rigid, and I noticed none of the extra noise that sometimes comes from a motorhome body flexing slightly as you drive along. In addition, the bodyshell is bolted and glued to the standard steel Peugeot chassis, with rear chassis extensions bolted on to support the lengthy overhang. Elddis even covers the whole of the underside with a waterproof GRP lining, which should prevent the floor becoming damp when you re driving in wintry conditions. Continuing underneath, the underslung fresh and waste water tanks are both fairly close to the rear axle (one either side), which should be good for stability. Both of these are insulated for winter use and the spare wheel is also mounted on the underside, just to the rear of the waste tank, so it should be reasonably easy to drop down when needed. Perhaps the only negative here is the large rear overhang. At low speeds, such as when you re manoeuvring in a supermarket car park, you have to be very careful not to bash another vehicle as you turn out of your space. Once you re driving along it s not really a problem, though. The Peugeot cab is well appointed, but there is no automatic option available Light floods in thanks to the large overcab rooflight 77

3 Marquis Majestic 195 TIME TO DINE Once you get to your chosen campsite, you ve got two options for dining or lounging at either end of the vehicle. At the front, the cab seats can be swivelled to face a pair of forward-facing dinette seats, both of which feature three-point seatbelts. There s also a small seat on the nearside, and all the seats face a clip-on table with a slide-out section of tabletop, so that anyone sitting in the swivelled passenger seat, or the offside single seat, has access to the table for dining. I found it a bit awkward to get into the forwardfacing half-dinette since the table leg has two columns which restrict access for your legs you have to kick one leg over and then sit down and lift in the other! Perhaps the best place to sit, certainly for lounging, is in one of the swivelled cab seats. However, if you sit here you ll find it hard to see a flatscreen TV fitted to the supplied wall bracket, which mainly faces rearward. However, the TV bracket at the rear swings out into the central aisle, so you could watch Eastenders here instead. The front lounge is a very bright place to sit, with a large, opening overcab sunroof, plus a large opening Heki rooflight immediately above the dinette seating. There are also small opening windows on either side and, at night, the central concealed roof lighting is supplemented by halogen spotlamps, two on either side, under the roof lockers. These give a nice warm light but I would have preferred the use of low-energy LED spotlamps throughout some LEDs are used in the kitchen though. Your second option for lounging or dining is the rear seating area. Here you ll find inward-facing settees along each side, with a central chest that can be removed if you prefer to have a U-shape. With the chest taken out, up to The extendable table means all occupants can easily reach their grub when seated FACT FILE PRICE FROM 42,495 PRICE AS TESTED 42,495 (Marquis special offer); 44,229 usual price EXTRAS FITTED None TYPE APPROVAL European Whole Vehicle BERTHS 4 TRAVEL SEATS (INC DRIVER) 4 DIMENSIONS 7.20m L, 2.20m W, 3.01m H INTERIOR HEIGHT 1.95m MAXIMUM WEIGHT 3,500kg PAYLOAD 450kg BEDS Front double 2.07m x 1.18m tapering to 0.79m, offside rear single 1.83m x 0.73m, nearside rear single 1.84m x 0.73m, rear transverse double 2.06m x 1.83m (with central chest removed) FRESH WATER 90 litres (underslung) WASTE WATER 70 litres (underslung) GAS 2 x 7kg cylinders LEISURE BATTERY 100Ah MAINS SOCKETS 5 BASE VEHICLE PEUGEOT BOXER 335 LWB ENGINE 2.2-litre, 130bhp, front-wheel drive, six-speed manual MPG ON TEST 28.5 COOKING/HEATING COOKING Three-burner hob with one electric hotplate, Thetford gas oven and separate grill, high-level microwave FRIDGE Dometic 8-Series 95-litre three-way with removable freezer compartment HEATING Whale blown-air with gas/ mains operation BOILER Whale gas/mains Electric hotplate, three gas burners, extendable worktop, full oven, separate grill and microwave all feature in the galley 78 motorhome MARCH 2014 WHERE CAN I BUY A MAJESTIC? The Marquis network now covers most areas of England, nd, and is the UK s biggest dealer network, although there are no branches in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. However, the Marquis Durham branch may be near enough for Scottish customers, while those in north Wales could head for Marquis Lancashire and those in south Wales to Marquis Gloucestershire or possibly even Marquis Devon. Wherever you are, the Marquis website will give you an idea of what stock is available across the network and a quick or phone call will get you a direct response from a sales person. Marquis sales hotline: Website: sales@marquismotorhomes.co.uk 79

4 The rear lounge can be made into two single beds or a large double bed and comes with a free-standing table for meal-times seven people could probably sit here, though the freestanding table which clips to the kitchen unit when not needed is only large enough for four people to dine. Again, this is a bright place to sit, with windows on both sides and at the rear, plus a small rooflight and halogen spotlamps under the lockers. Incidentally, the rear window also gives some through-visibility in the rear view mirror when you re driving. Storage is also good, with plenty of roof lockers plus drop-down fronts to the storage boxes under the settees. On the nearside some of this space is taken up by the gas locker, but the offside offers more space and has an exterior access hatch. The rear lounge is a great place to relax and the scatter cushions and rearmost seat back enable you to put your feet up, chaise longue-style. In the rear lounge there s also another wall-mounted bracket for a flatscreen TV, with the wiring and an Avtex omni-directional aerial as standard (as with the front TV point). You ll have to fit your own telly, though, or get your local Marquis dealership to include one in the deal. ELECTRIC DREAMS The central kitchen, mounted along the nearside wall, is well placed for serving either the front or rear dinette. The design theme in the kitchen combines a light wood finish with black appliances and a beige patterned worktop. The hob and sink come in a matching black enamel finish and the hob boasts one electric hotplate as well as three gas burners. There s also a gas oven with separate grill and a three-way fridge with removable freezer compartment useful if you re travelling as a family and need to maximise fridge space, at the expense of those frozen fish fingers! The finishing touch is a microwave oven, but this is mounted quite high up in the roof lockers above the kitchen, so not good for shorter chefs. One aspect I really liked is the twin mains socket in the kitchen, meaning that you can plug in your kettle and toaster at the same time (campsite amperage permitting!). It sounds like a small detail, but motorhome manufacturers are notoriously mean with their mains sockets, so to find an abundance of them in a relatively budget-priced motorhome, is a real surprise. I counted no less than five three-pin sockets in this vehicle, all in very convenient positions. BEDS FOR FOUR The Majestic 195 has a very flexible layout when it comes to sleeping, with the front dinette converting WHO IS MARQUIS? Long-established motorhome dealership group, Marquis, has expanded over the years, to the extent that it now has branches all over England. As well as its branch network, Marquis is also part of the same group as Auto-Sleepers, the Cotswold-based manufacturer of traditional, upmarket motorhomes. This merger led to an increased line-up of special Marquis versions of Auto- Sleepers, but Marquis has remained loyal to the other manufacturers that also build dealer special models for it. Hence the Marquis Majestic, basically Elddis Autoquests built to Marquis own specification and similarly the Escapebased Marquis Lifestyle range from the Swift Group. Bearing in mind that Autoquests are good value anyway, the Majestic models are top sellers. It s no surprise that you see a lot of them on the road your tester even randomly pitched up next to another Majestic when testing this new 195 with a standard Autoquest on the other side! 80 motorhome MARCH 2014

5 Marquis Majestic 195 BEFORE YOU BUY CONSIDER THESE... FROM 36,565 The washroom has good storage but no window and it looks dated Escape 644 BASED ON Fiat Ducato NOTES Part of the entry-level Escape range from the Swift Group, the 644 features a similar end lounge layout with central kitchen and washroom, plus a pair of forward-facing seats up front. However, the U-shaped seating area at the rear has shorter side settees than the Majestic 195, meaning that there s no scope to use these as single beds. Reflected in its cheaper price tag, the Escape isn t as well equipped as the Majestic, but you do get the 130bhp Fiat Multijet engine as standard (and an auto option). The Escape should be a bit easier to manoeuvre thanks to its shorter length of 6.6m but its overcab bed may make it less stable in crosswinds. READ THE ROAD TEST March 2013 FROM 47,450 Bailey Approach Autograph 765 BASED ON Peugeot Boxer Al-Ko NOTES The Autograph 765 features a large rear U-shaped lounge, but without the Majestic s central chest of drawers. As with the Majestic, the kitchen and washroom (here with separate shower) are in the centre, but there s a full pullmanstyle dinette up front in the Bailey, with belted seats for four passengers. Plus an electrically lowering double bed takes sleeping capacity up to six. Power is provided by the 2.2-litre 130bhp Peugeot engine, as used in the Majestic. It s our Family Motorhome of the Year 2014 and the only true low-profile here. READ THE ROAD TEST Aug 2013 (MMM) FROM 46,145 into a small transverse double bed and the rear forming a larger double. In addition, the rear settees are long enough, at around 6ft each, to be used as single beds by anyone around 5ft 10in tall or less. At 6ft 2in tall, I couldn t use these single beds myself, but they would be a real bonus if you do fit, since you wouldn t have to make up the double bed each night and access to the loo in the small hours would be so much easier. When it comes to making the rear transverse double, the easiest way is just to pull out the bed slats, which fill the central aisle, then juggle the seat cushions to make your bed. If you want a really massive bed, you can remove the central chest of drawers, but this is a bit fiddly to do, so it s more a case of leaving the chest at home if this is your preferred bedtime layout. Even with the chest in place, the double bed is still generously sized, using the full width of the vehicle for its length. My only real niggle with the rear bed was the cheaper type of blinds and flyscreens used. These feel flimsy to use and let in a little light at their lower edge. The curtains help a little, but they don t drop very far either. The cab windows are screened off with a set of curtains that go round behind the swivelled cab seats, which is a nice touch, meaning that you can still sit in the cab when they are closed. However, less impressive is the actual front bed. This makes up from a jigsaw of cushions, and uses the lowered tabletop and the squab of the half-dinette to make the head of the bed, with the narrow seat on the nearside forming the narrower foot to this transverse bed. I found it hard to make a level bed base here, but if you put one duvet under you, as well as one on top, this would help to make the base more comfortable. However, this is very much a spare bed and is probably best suited to grandchildren who only come away with you occasionally. It s not really suited to regular family use. Swift Esprit 496 BASED ON Fiat Ducato Al-Ko NOTES Part of Swift s new Esprit range, the 496 has a large rear U-shaped lounge, plus a dinette at the front and a big overcab bed. All four seats are belted, meaning six can travel and sleep. The rear settees have differing lengths, with only one acting as a full 6ft single berth. Fiat s 130bhp Multijet engine is standard, with the Comfort-Matic semi-automatic gearbox available as an option. External access to one rear underseat locker Hook-up and leisure battery are located caravan-style 83

6 The view towards the rear shows fully- belted travel seats to the left and a large rear lounge beyond the galley IF YOU CAN T AFFORD NEW......here are some used rear lounge coachbuilts on dealer forecourts 37, Swift Voyager 695EL NOTES This has a similar layout to the Majestic 195, but from a range that s pitched more upmarket. It has a double bed in the overcab area plus the rear U-shaped seating can convert into a large transverse double bed, or the two settees can be used as single beds. There s also a half-dinette up front with two belted seats, meaning that four people can travel. The good specification includes an upgraded chassis with a 4,005kg gross weight figure, plus the mileage is a meagre 14,798. DEALER Marquis Motorhomes. 23,995 KEEP CLEAN When it comes to your regular ablutions, the Majestic 195 has a central cubicle with a swivel cassette toilet, plus a moulded plastic wall unit that contains a washbasin with mixer tap, as well as the separate showerhead. There s a good amount of storage here, in the plastic lockers under the basin and in a narrow mirror-fronted wall locker above the toilet. There s no window, but a small opening roof vent helps to remove some of the steam from the shower. When it comes to showering, a fold-out plastic screen shields the toilet from splashes, but water still cascades onto the back of the washroom door and over the basin. When you open the door after a shower, the chances are you ll leave drips of water on the carpet in the central aisle, unless you wipe down the door before exiting. Water also splashes over the mirrors above the basin, so you ll need to have a good wipe down here as well. Space in the shower tray is also limited, due to the wheelarch intrusion. FINAL THOUGHTS When Elddis first launched its Autoquest motorhomes a good many years ago, I loved the low price tags, but was less impressed with the quality. With the advent of SoLiD technology, and a greater focus on interior practicality (such as the number of electrical sockets), these models have improved greatly, yet still offer great value-for-money. The Majestic 195 only adds to the Elddis recipe, with extra kit, in addition to decent build quality. The level of equipment, including items such as the large front sunroof, is very good at this price level. My very few negative thoughts surround fairly minor complaints, such as the gas bottle locker with its rather awkward narrow and high opening, and the cheaper type of blinds and flyscreens that have neen used but, that said, savings do have to made somewhere otherwise the 195 s attractive price tag would not have been possible Elddis Sunseeker NOTES This example features Peugeot s 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine with just 21,114 miles on the clock. The interior features a rear U-shaped lounge, with central kitchen and washroom, plus a double pullman-style dinette at the front, with belted seating for four. Extras include reversing camera, awning and back box. DEALER Highbridge Caravan Centre, 32,995 Second table is stored by the habitation door when not in use The rear double is a great size; singles are OK if you re not tall 2008 Bessacarr E495 NOTES This Bessacarr represents a chance to step up to the next level of luxury by buying used. Its well-equipped interior features a four-seat dinette up front next to a side kitchen. There s a central washroom, then a large rear lounge. Six people can travel, with berths for all thanks to an overcab double, front dinette-derived double, plus a rear dinette-derived double. The rear settees can also make two singles. Fiat s 130bhp Multijet provides the power and has done just 18,216 miles. DEALER Chelston Motorhomes, motorhomesays A lot of motorhome for the money, with the bonus of a rear lounge that converts into single beds or a double, but more suited to occasional four-up travel than family use. 84 motorhome MARCH 2014