SIX APPEAL A six-berth motorhome for 30k sounds like a very good deal, especially as it boasts six belted seats

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1 On Test Compass Avantgarde 180 on LWB Peugeot Boxer 100 HDi SIX APPEAL A six-berth motorhome for 30k sounds like a very good deal, especially as it boasts six belted seats 1 2 W 1 Classic layout sees a front-end kitchen/diner 2 A centre washroom and wardrobe - with stylishly curved wall - give way to a cosy rear lounge Words & pictures by Dave Hurrell 128 I DECEMBER live-in test.indd 1 3 Four belted seats in the Pullman dinette help make a total of six hen County Durham-based manufacturer, The Explorer Group, decided to base two ranges of motorhomes on an historic Autohomes-like design, it struck gold. Value for money is the key here and seemingly reduced design and production costs mean Compass Avantgarde and Elddis Autoquest models can often see off even budget competition from Italy. Strong sales have been the result, as Brit-friendly traditional interiors and super value have proved to be a recipe for success. In addition, I ve a sneaking suspicion that tuggers turning to motorhoming find these vans attractive, as the styling is right and prices are closer to the cost of a new touring caravan. Also, some of the layouts and equipment installed are very definitely caravan-esque, with comfy lounges to the fore and water systems that are arranged to be easily topped up, making longer periods spent on-pitch easy. The seven-model ranges even include a couple of equally simple retro-styled low profiles (the rest are overcab coachbuilts), one of which (the Avantgarde 115) was overall MOTORCARAVAN MOTORHOME MONTHLY 1/11/07 3:22:34 pm

2 Live-in Test report Avantgarde s retro styling is one conse quence of its competitive price AT A GLANCE PRICE FROM: 31,090 OTR BERTHS: 6 BASE VEHICLE: Peugeot Boxe r long wheelbase chassis cab LAYOUT: Overcab double bed ahead of offside Pullman dinette and near side kitchen, offside washroom, near side wardrobe, rear U-shaped lounge ECONOMY: 26.4mpg overall This van is also shod with Bridgestone Light Truck tyres, rather than the more expensive - motorhome-specific - Camping Car rubber from the likes of Michelin. EXPLORING THE INTERIOR The 180 s layout is a tried-and-tested classic. Contained within a 7.21-metre (23ft 8in) overall length, the interior offers a front-end diner/ kitchen, centre washroom, and U-shaped rear lounge. Six berths are on the menu - double beds in luton, dinette and lounge doing duty. Crucially, this motorhome offers six, properly MOTORCARAVAN MOTORHOME MONTHLY live-in test.indd 2 3 winner in this year s prestigious Caravan Club Design and Drive competition. Latest-model Compass Avantgarde 180 (the Elddis Autoquest version is almost identical) is the biggest of the bunch, offering six berths and six three-point belted travel seats for just 29,995 (plus on the road charges). Externally, the rather dated look, if anything, appears even more old-fashioned now that it s mated to the latest, curvy Peugeot Boxer cab. One less-than-welcome external money-saving feature is a manually operated folding caravan entrance step. DECEMBER 2007 I 129 1/11/07 3:23:12 pm

3 On Test Compass Avantgarde 180 on LWB Peugeot Boxer 100 HDi Boxer cab offers lots of kit and a great drive 5 A great place to be, the rear lounge could be a good reason to buy 6 An ever ready Pullman dinette is comfortable for four at mealtimes 7 A freestanding table turns lounge into diner 8 The convenient TV/drinks table has dedicated storage for the dining tables in its base 9 Galley is quite well equipped, but bijou 10 Washroom boasts no separate shower, but works well enough 8 belted travel seats too: two in the cab and four in the dinette. If you re new to motorhoming, you may think this is surely the norm - the idea that any van may fall short in this respect seems plain daft. Unfortunately, there are many motorcaravans which lack belted travel seats for all who can sleep aboard and inclusion of a full complement of seatbelts makes the 180 remarkable at any price. QUEST FOR POWER A standard-fit 100bhp, 2.2-litre engine is the first obvious indication that this is a budget van. At this size you might expect a more powerful engine to be fitted and some of the competition will oblige - albeit at a higher price. Aside from the modest motor and the cheaper, and taller (when compared to an Al- Ko or Camper rear frame), standard chassis that underpins the 180, there s little else that smacks of budget base vehicle wise. Settle yourself in the cab and you discover ABS, driver s airbag, remote central locking and electric windows and mirrors. Heightadjustable seats and radio/cd with steering wheel-mounted controls complete the Boxer s impressive driving department line-up. The latest Sevel-built cab (Peugeot Boxer, Fiat Ducato, Citroen Relay) is a very I LIKED The price Well-equipped cab Willing engine Six seatbelts (including driver) Versatile layout Good quality soft furnishings Comfortable lounge Comprehensive lighting Simple electrics with external battery locker I WOULD HAVE LIKED A bigger fridge Larger water tanks An electrically operated external step An external locker door I DISLIKED The cab s head-bashing shelf The gloomy privacy windows comfortable place to be. All that I ve driven so far have proved to be superb on long journeys - there should be no leg and backache here. Excellent seats and spot-on ergonomics make this most popular of motorhome base vehicles a joy to drive. That said, the plastic overcab shelf specified by Explorer proved to be a bit of a pain. It s useful all right, but I bashed my head on it just about every time I entered or left the cab. Light steering, good brakes and progressive clutch are de-rigueur on this vehicle - the easy dash-mounted gearchange rounding things off nicely. There are only five forward gears on offer with this size of engine, but its ratios seemed spot-on with 70mph coming up at a reasonably lazy 2650rpm. This speed was easy to maintain on the level, but things got a little more difficult on long hills or against headwinds. From this you may draw the conclusion that the 180 feels slightly underpowered. However, the verve and enthusiasm demonstrated by the superb engine made it great fun to drive: at no time did I find myself yelling c mon! The dashboard s binnacle features - in addition to the usual instruments - a clever trip computer, providing data such as range, average speed and fuel consumption. A press of a button located on the end of the wiper control stalk scrolls through the displays. The most useful piece of information is probably the range figure, but I found it easy to get distracted by the fuel consumption readout. It struck me that this feature could help reduce your carbon footprint as I found myself driving more carefully - fascinated by any registered improvement in economy. In the rear, conversion noise was muted, with most rattles appearing to come from cooker and heater. The big rear lounge window also allowed easy and effective use of the interior rear view mirror. Unfortunately, the test vehicle had a tendency to lock itself with potentially disastrous consequences. I jumped out of the van to greet the warden at the Caravan Club s Mildenhall site, only to hear the central locking kick in while the keys were still in the ignition! Thankfully the driver s door window was open, so I could retrieve the keys. No matter, I have a spare key said the warden. He then - with a fiendish grin - produced a crowbar! The folks at Explorer promised to look in to what proved to be 130 I DECEMBER 2007 MOTORCARAVAN MOTORHOME MONTHLY

4 Live-in Test report 6 7 a fault, rather than the kind of self-locking security feature now fitted to some vans. SEARCH FOR A SOFA The test vehicle s traditionally styled interior featured green upholstery that proved to be durable and appeared to be well made. The furniture - while simply constructed - looked really good to my eye and I was particularly impressed by the stylishly curved, snagbusting wardrobe wall adjacent to the caravan door. That said, I was less impressed by the lack of positive locking on overhead locker doors. The light-coloured loose-lay carpets, too, proved to be less than dirt friendly. The rearlocated lounge is an inviting space and is likely to be one of the main reasons to buy this van. Its separate room status is reinforced by the presence of a side table with flip-up extension. This is perfect for drinks and nibbles, while adjacent sockets will serve a TV at the perfect height for comfortable viewing. Five of the potential residents can sit here - six will be a bit of a squeeze. Although there are three big windows in here they, like the rest of the caravan glazing, feature privacy tinting. Oh dear, these windows seem to be the latest fashion and I hate them with a passion. Rightly described in fashion terms as the new black, they look super stylish from the outside and will probably keep off the heat on a July Continental holiday. However, try living in this van during a bout of Great (Grey?) Britain s liquid sunshine and you may lose the will to motorcaravan, or worse! DISCOVERING THE GALLEY Like many in vans of this type, the kitchen has to occupy a small space, sandwiched between the cab and the caravan door. It may be compact, but it s quite well equipped, with oven/grill and a three-burner hob equipped with a high-speed ring that boiled my morning kettle in a trice. A drainer for the sink has been sacrificed to provide a decent slab of worktop and I d simply add a tray here as a receptacle for washed pots. The fridge, however, proved to be more disappointing as its wheelarch accommodating design (where no wheelarch exists) severely reduces capacity. Storage, too, is limited with just two lockers above and two below to accommodate pots, food and the rest. A small drawer emerges from one of the cupboards to take cutlery and utensils. Fortunately, there are three lockers above the dinette opposite and these will make a useful extension to kitchen storage. I found 9 10 this kitchen good to use during the test, but producing meals for six may prove more challenging. WONDERS OF THE WASHROOM Centrally located on the offside, the smallest room in the house is indeed a compact space. There are few surprises in here, with a plastic vanity unit offering good low-level storage and an adequately sized corner basin. No separate shower here (there s not enough room), but a shower tray floor, pullout basin tap head and nylon curtain provide facilities for the occasional sluice down. The fact that a wheelarch intrudes into the floor space makes things even tighter, but basin and loo proved OK to use. The toilet - a Thetford - features swivelling bowl and electric flushing, with a separate flush water tank that ll be more familiar to tuggers, as the type is just about ubiquitous in ADVENTUROUS DINING There s plenty of room for all to dine thanks to the fact that two tables are on offer. Emerging from a dedicated locker in the lounge, a goodsized freestanding table sets up between the sofas to offer plenty of space for four people. However, the generous size does mean that a bit of shuffling is required to gain your place at table. Upfront, the classic Pullman dinette provides instant-and-comfortable eating space for another four motorhomers. It s also worth mentioning that the two distinctive rooms in this van allows for other activities to take place: kids in the lounge while cooking takes place; or video games in the dinette while mum and dad watch telly in the lounge are ideas that spring to mind. MOTORCARAVAN MOTORHOME MONTHLY DECEMBER 2007 I 131

5 On Test Compass Avantgarde 180 on LWB Peugeot Boxer 100 HDi trailer caravans. Again, this type of toilet lends itself to longer periods spent on pitch, as topping up of the flush water is easy and this dedicated supply does not deplete the fresh water tank. Last, but by no means least, are a pair of good mirrors and an eminently sensible translucent window. RESTLESS NATIVES? In the race to bag a bedroom, the winners will get the lounge berth. Pullout slats (with an annoying tendency to fall out of their runners) deploy into the aisle and backrests drop in to easily form a domestic-sized transverse double bed. The adjacent TV unit makes a great night table and I slept like a log - this bed proving to be very, very, comfortable. Only the blinds fitted to this van threatened my slumbers, as they are the pull-down type, which let in light at the bottom. Although it s easy to imagine this bed as perfect for mum and dad, bedding the little darlings down here could prove good too. This is because the whole front of the van is then left free for the grown-ups to listen to music, cook and eat. Staying outside late also means mum and dad could come and go from the van without disturbing the kids slumbers. Moving forward, we find the classic dinette/luton bed dilemma. With the dinette bed made up as a double it extends into the aisle, impeding the kitchen and making it impossible to use the luton s access ladder. This situation is not the Avantgarde 180 s fault; it persists in many designs of this type and at any price. Make the dinette up as a single bed and the luton access ladder can be used. The luton bed base lowers on gas struts and benefits from a window and a quirky, drop-down (and less than successful) TV table with adjacent sockets at its foot. Downsides here include a thin mattress on a solid base and what is possibly the world s cheapest access ladder - a unit of light enough construction to bring dieting to my mind! In spite of all the downsides, it is possible to sleep four people upfront, as long as they re family or very good friends. ROOM FOR YOUR RUCKSACK Storage space for bulky kit exists under all the seats, but a lack of any external hatches compromises things a touch. There s also no room for bulky outdoor furniture, but some of the fold-to-a-stick type may well be accommodated. No external doors it s true, but Explorer fits internal flaps on all the seat box fronts. You may think this is an obvious thing to do, but many makers of much more expensive vans require you to wrestle cushions aside and delve into the top of the seat boxes. In addition to those already mentioned, there is a good range of overhead lockers in the lounge. All, however, lack shelves. There are a few useful cubbyholes dotted about the interior too. The wardrobe is simply huge and just hanging a few coats and such in here seems a waste of space. I d use some imagination and DIY skills to custom rig this space - some of the more bulky outdoor gear might be accommodated here, for instance. With lots of folk on board, bedding storage could become an issue, but space in the luton could probably accommodate duvets and pillows during the day. KITTED OUT FOR ADVENTURE As an entry level motorhome, the Avantgarde 180 still offers all the comforts of home, albeit without the frills. Underslung fresh and waste water tanks mean that - at the most - threeseason camping will be the norm. The tanks are small too, so the presence of a 12V socket next to the fresh water filler is very welcome. Equip yourself with a cheap submersible pump and you can plug in here to top up from a portable container and without moving the van off pitch. Converted tuggers will probably be tempted to carry an Aquaroll for this purpose, that is, till they discover there s nowhere to stow it. A flat 25-litre container and a folding trolley (also useful for transporting the toilet cassette) will be more suitable as they re easier to stash. Space heating is gas powered only and lacks blown-air, so it ll get a touch parky in the washroom unless you leave the door ajar to let in heat from the main living area. Alternatively, blown-air is a 275 option - something that s worth the money, if only to keep the washroom toasty on chilly mornings. It s not all bad news however, as the fitted space heater is Truma s magnificent Trumatic convector, which is easy to use and silently efficient. This is especially effective for a warm and peaceful night s sleep. Water is warmed courtesy of Truma s Ultrastore unit, which, thankfully, works on both gas and mains hook-up. The 12V control system is both simple and somewhat fragmented. A simple switch near the caravan door controls the 12V supply and possibly the most minimalist control panel ever seen, controls functions and lets you know battery condition and tank level. Although it s obviously built down to a price, this arrangement is somewhat refreshing to discover, especially in these days of ever more complicated motorhome control systems. Over the last few years I ve had more than one fancy microprocessor-controlled panel give up the ghost. The Explorer habit of fitting a trailer caravan-style leisure battery box is also worthy of note. This takes the form of an externally accessed, separate-from-theinterior locker that neatly contains the leisure battery where it is very easy to get at for removal or maintenance. The mains hookup input socket is located here too, in a weatherproof and lockable situation. Lighting is a particular feature, with a copious quantity of attractive fittings populating every area. Mains sockets, too, are domestic-style - not flashy, just simple and effective. I was very impressed by the good quality curtains. Full and fully lined, they worked a treat, especially in that crucial area around the cab. A fitted smoke alarm adds a sense of security - that is, until you make some toast! VALUE FOR MONEY I m a big fan of Explorer s range of entrylevel vans as they offer capable, unfussy motorcaravanning that s attractive to the British buyer and at very attractive prices. Indeed, this is in part the reason why a sibling of the 180 (the Autoquest 115) won this year s Caravan Club Design and Drive competition. I was pleased to be one of the judges and wholeheartedly agreed with the final verdict. The most obvious downside of this van is its dated exterior appearance. Inside, a warm feeling and welcoming interior is much easier to live with and very definitely does not appear downmarket. Good-looking upholstery, curtains and lighting are largely I DECEMBER 2007 MOTORCARAVAN MOTORHOME MONTHLY

6 Live-in Test report responsible for the interior ambience, but furniture construction seems superior to much of the entry level competition too. Indeed, it s the rather sparse and severe look of alternatives from across the water that ll rule them out for many folk. A proper lounge area is also something the Continentals often lack - here we find dedicated relaxing space that s just right for entertaining and/or when the weather s less than super. On the road - and in spite of its diminutive motor - the 180 performed with enthusiasm. Its comfortable, well-equipped cab conspired to make driving this van an enjoyable experience. The six seatbelts on offer here are a rarity even in much more expensive multi-berth vans and may be the main reason to buy. It may be a tad optimistic to think that six people could live aboard this van for long periods in bad weather, but when the sun shines and an outdoor lifestyle beckons, they could probably cohabit harmoniously. Bear in mind though, that travelling light and frequent shopping for fresh food to replenish the smallish fridge will be needed. This is, in part, because payload is a consideration, as the number of LAYOUT PLAN OVERALL LENGTH: 7.21 m (23ft 8in)* OVERALL WIDTH: 2.20m (7ft 2.5in)* people on board will reduce carrying capacity pro-rata. I recommend taking your fully loaded van to a public weighbridge to confirm you re safe and legal. Explorer has taken a winning formula and generated a good family-sized motorhome to add to the range. The separate room layout means that it ll also work well if there s just a couple on board - they ll just have lots of space and always-available facilities. This layout also offers the possibility to leave the lounge bed made up when the weather allows you to spend most of your relaxing time outdoors. Visitors and trips with grandkids, other family members and friends will also be easy to accommodate. One thing s for certain, the Compass Avantgarde 180 is a lot of motorhome for the money The lounge easily converts into a very comfy double bed 12 Overcab and dinette beds can accommodate four family members or close friends 13 External leisure battery/hook-up point locker is an excellent idea; the privacy windows are a homage to fad and fashion MOTORCARAVAN MOTORHOME MONTHLY DECEMBER 2007 I 133

7 On Test Compass Avantgarde 180 on LWB Peugeot Boxer 100 HDi WE STAYED AT Round Plantation Caravan Club Site, Brandon Road, Mildenhall, Suffolk, IP28 7JE (tel: ; web site: The Midsummer Music and Leisure Show, Lincolnshire Showground, Lincoln (this is a Warners show, taking place in July - details of the 2008 event will appear in MMM and at The 180 performed well at Lincoln s Midsummer Music Show VEHICLE SUPPLIED BY The Explorer Group Limited, Explorer House, Delves Lane, Consett, County Durham, DH8 7PE (tel: ; web site: LIVE-IN TEST DATA COMPASS AVANTGARDE 180 TYPE Overcab coachbuilt PRICE From: 31,090 OTR As tested: 31,565 OTR BASICS Vehicle: Peugeot Boxer long wheelbase chassis cab Berths: 6 Three-point belted seats: 6 (including driver) Warranty: 3 years base vehicle, 1 year conversion, 5 years water ingress CONSTRUCTION Alloy-clad sandwich construction coachbuilt, alloy skirts, GRP overcab moulding, plastic wheel arches/rear bumper DIMENSIONS (*manufacturer s figures) Length: 7.21 m (23ft 8in)* Width: 2.20m (7ft 2.5in)* Height: 2.89m (9ft 6in)* Wheelbase: 4.03m (13ft 3in) Rear overhang: 2.42m (7ft 11in) Maximum authorised weight: 3500kg* Payload: 628kg* (after the vehicle in running order) INSIDE STORY Overcab double bed ahead of offside Pullman dinette and nearside kitchen, offside washroom, nearside wardrobe, rear U-shaped lounge Insulation: Floor 24mm, walls 24mm, roof 22mm Interior height: 1.94m (6ft 4.5in) THE VEHICLE Engine: 2.2-litre turbo-diesel producing 74kW Transmission: Five-speed manual gearbox, front-wheel drive Fuel consumption: 26.4mpg overall Brakes: Servo-assisted discs all round Suspension: Front: independent. Rear: rigid axle Features: Driver s airbag, ABS, remote central-locking, electric windows and mirrors, trip computer, height-adjustable seats with single armrests, cab door pockets, central laptop bin, overhead storage shelf, flip-up map holder, radio/cd player with steering-wheelmounted controls, variable intermittent wipers LOUNGING & DINING Front: Four-seater Pullman dinette with wallhung single-leg table Rear: U-shaped lounge with free-standing table. Both tables stow in dedicated locker in lounge KITCHEN Nearside front location, with cubby and two unshelved lockers above. Two cupboards, one with internal cutlery drawer and shelf below Sink: Drainerless stainless steel unit with hinged glass lid and chrome mixer tap Cooker: Spinflo three-burner (one high-speed) hob with hinged glass lid. No ignition. Spinflo oven/grill with electronic ignition Fridge: Dometic RM7270 three-way. Capacity 77 litres WASHROOM Vanity basin with two cupboards below, two mirrors, toothbrush holder and soap dish above. Basin mixer tap head pulls out to attach to wall-mounted shower riser rail. Single outlet shower tray/floor enclosed by nylon curtain. Thetford electric-flush cassette toilet with separate flushing water tank BEDS Overcab double Length: 2.05m (6ft 8.5in) Width: 1.19m (3ft 11in) Headroom: 530mm (1ft 9in) Dinette double Length: 1.98m (6ft 6in) Width: 1.26m (4ft 1.5in) Lounge double Length: 2.07m (6ft 9.5in) Width: 1.37m (4ft 6in) STORAGE Dinette: Three overhead lockers, two cubbies, front-accessed space under both seats. Centrally located wardrobe with single door and side-to-side hanging rail. Lounge: Six overhead lockers, one fiddled shelf, one cubby, front-accessed space under all three seats LIFE SUPPORT Fresh water: Underslung. Capacity 45 litres (9.9 gallons) Waste water: Underslung. Capacity 45 litres (9.9 gallons) Water heater: Truma Ultrastore boiler, gas-mains operation Space heater: Truma Trumatic convector, gas-only operation Leisure battery: 85 amp hr Gas capacity: 2 x 7kg cylinders Lighting: Overcab: Single downlighter at offside. Kitchen-diner: Two halogen reading lights above table, fluorescent ceiling lamp, single fluorescent lamp above kitchen, fluorescent ceiling lamp next to wardrobe. Washroom: Single downlighter above basin. Lounge: Single fluorescent ceiling lamp, four adjustable halogen reading lamps above sofas Sockets: 230V: 3 (overcab, kitchen, lounge), 12V: 2 (overcab, lounge) Control panel: Mounted on aft end of kitchen unit displays vehicle/leisure battery voltages, fresh water level, warning light for waste tank full, battery selection switch, water pump switch, 12V master switch below Blinds/curtains: Pull-down blinds/flyscreens to all caravan windows, lined curtains to cab, dinette, lounge, pleated blind/flyscreen to over-kitchen-diner Heki rooflight, blind/ flyscreen to over-lounge roof vent Badged as NCC EN1646 compliant: Yes OPTIONAL EXTRAS Fitted to test vehicle Base: None Conversion: Flyscreen door ( 180), Heki II rooflight ( 295) Other options Base: Walnut-effect dashboard trim ( 125) Conversion: Roof rack and ladder ( 395), alarm ( 285), roof fan ( 245), TV aerial ( 160), blown-air heating ( 275) E&OE 134 I DECEMBER 2007 MOTORCARAVAN MOTORHOME MONTHLY