161-163 long term test.indd

LONG TERM TEST
STARRING ROLE?
Marquis Majestic Starmist on Peugeot Boxer 2.8HDi
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Marquis Starmist, Bantam trailer, and Triumph Tiger
900cc motorcycle make a great trio!
Part three: A ‘mist in action - our long-term test motorhome gets
the once-over as Jonathan Lloyd looks at towing, ‘toilet’, and ‘toe
toasting’, but not all at the same time...
AN OVERVIEW
For those readers who have just joined us, a brief
resume. MMM is this motorhome’s custodian
for six months. A variety of folks are giving their
opinions as to its qualities, or otherwise. Several
visitors to the ‘van (and some testers) complained
about the lounge being too small or the kitchen
being too big, or that they would have no use for
the large external locker.
Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion,
of course, though perhaps such criticism is a
bit unfair, as it is what it is... a motorhome that
gives priority to the kitchen and external storage!
Autocruise (which builds the Starmist for Marquis)
ain’t short of different layouts, and Marquis has a
similarly large selection of dealer specials available
for purchasers to choose from. Different folk will
have different priorities.
After several nights away we’ve formed our
own opinion on the Starmist and give a summary
later in this review following a closer look at...
Starmist’s smooth and competent 2.8-litre
motor was more than up to the job of hauling
along those extra kilograms - and quite a bit more,
I’d wager. Fifth (top) gear is quite tall (2500rpm @
70mph, 2100rpm @ 60mph). On the plus side, this
offered quiet and effortless high-speed motorway
cruising, but on the minus side, a change to fourth
gear was required quite frequently when towing on
A-roads.
True, it’s illogical, but I did seek the reassurance
of a glance in the internal rear view mirror... just to
check that the trailer was still there!
Unfortunately, I couldn’t because there is no
through view. For this reason, plus the obvious
safety benefits when reversing, I would recommend
the fitting of a rear vision camera and monitor to
this ‘van.
TOWING
It is envisaged that purchasers may well want
to tow a speedboat, motorcycle or whatever.
The Starmist is pictured towing a Bantam trailer
on which we placed a wonderful Triumph Tiger
motorcycle owned by MMM reader Mike Jones
from Aylesbury. The trailer was actually purposebuilt to take a Smart car, though Bantam offers a
range of trailers. In addition, I towed our touring
caravan (ballasted to 600kg total weight, and with
a nose weight of 50kg).
Chassis upgrade includes fitting of air-operated
suspension aids, which are inflated via this valve just
inside the offside rear belly locker door.
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Pulling away on an incline on a less-thanperfect road surface did result in some front
wheel scrabble on occasions, but nothing too
tragic.
Starmist had received a chassis upgrade from
SvTech. By fitting air-operated suspension aids
and adjusting the load apportioning valve in the
brake system, a useful increase in GVW (Gross
Vehicle Weight), also known as MTPLM (Maximum
Technically Permitted Laden Mass) and MGW
(Maximum Gross Weight) had been achieved.
See ‘weighty matters’ for further details. Such an
upgrade is standard equipment on all Starmists
and is, therefore, included in the price.
WELL CONNECTED?
Definitely! Towing specialist Towtal, designed,
manufactured and fitted the towbar which doubles
as a rear nudge bar. It is one of the most substantial
I’ve seen, correctly attached to the chassis, and
with sufficient inbuilt bracing to haul a far greater
weight than its plated maximum. Great, there is no
such thing as too big a safety margin.
Two suggestions for future consideration:
Firstly, there was no visual or audible warning
for the trailer indicators, as required by law.
Secondly, the actual weight of the towbar isn’t
given, which would have been useful to know
when attempting to calculate how much vehicle
payload remains.
Marquis can arrange for your new vehicle to be
taken to have such a bar fitted (where the vehicle
is suitable for such a modification). Price is on
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ON TEST: MARQUIS MAJESTIC STARMIST ON PEUGEOT 2.8HDI
The substantial Towtal towbar also doubles as a nudge bar.
The towbar is correctly and strongly mounted to the Starmist’s chassis.
application, and it depends on the motorcaravan
in question, but budget for around £700.
Thetford cassette loo, should not stain, and the
seat is far more comfortable for those luxuriously
upholstered on the derriere!
The seat is around 360mm (1ft 2in) from the
floor, so it is lower than a standard domestic
equivalent.
Disadvantages are that it uses more water each
flush than the swivel bowl/bench type cassette
loo (so it has to be emptied more frequently) and
that the pump is noisy. The latter is only really a
problem at night, - but by jingo it seems to go on
forever and may well disturb those sleeping under
canvas in the vicinity. Actually, it lasts for just 30
seconds!
Further, the rigid piping and seals all have to
be above suspicion, as an escape of poo under
pressure doesn’t bear thinking about.
Does the vacuum toilet represent the future
of coachbuilt motorhome lavatorial technology?
Flora and I rather think it might do, providing that
pump can be silenced!
WEIGHTY MATTERS
The SvTech chassis upgrade isn’t all joy, as,
according to the revised VIN plate, the modifications
seem to have resulted in a decrease in the Gross
Train Weight. This figure is the allowable total
weight of motorcaravan and trailer. Must be a
misprint, surely?
Also, the upgrade means that those with a
3500kg limit on their driving licence will be unable
to drive it, and the vehicle will be subject to some
quite low speed restrictions through Europe. A
close inspection of the vehicle’s excise licence
showed it to have been taxed as Private Light
Goods, whereas at 3700kg, I’m pretty sure that it
should have been taxed as Private Heavy Goods. I
wondered if the DVLA had been notified about the
change of GVW.
The already firm Ducato leaf spring/telescopic
damper rear suspension set-up meant that
we didn’t need to inflate the standard-fit air
assisters, even when towing, though those
putting a lightweight motorbike on a rack would
be grateful for this option. The inflation valve and
pressure gauge is just inside the offside door to
the full-width belly locker. Use a garage airline or a
portable 12V pump to adjust the amount of spring
assistance required.
TOE TOASTING
Dometic vacuum toilet looks like a domestic one. Pedal
on left side of bowl controls flushing.
TOILET
Before you all write in to inform me that one cannot
‘go’ to the toilet (one ‘attends’ to one’s toilet, but
goes to the lavatory), Dometic calls the loo ‘a
toilet’, so I’m going to as well. So there!
Anybody who has travelled by aeroplane
will probably be familiar with the vacuum toilet.
Dometic has designed a version for motorcaravans.
Basically it operates by using a pump to create a
vacuum in the cassette holding tank. When the
toilet is ‘flushed’ (by operating a foot pedal) a valve
opens and the waste products are sucked into the
cassette holding tank. Operating the flush causes
the cycle to begin again, and so the pump runs to
create another vacuum.
A display panel mounted on the wall uses three
LEDs to inform the user if it is ready for use, if the
pump is running, or whether the holding tank is full
or the battery voltage too low.
Flushing water is drawn from the main fresh
water tank, while the only precaution required for
winter storage is to open the inlet valve and drain
any residual water. The valve is under the foot
pedal and is easily accessed.
There are many advantages to such a system,
principally that the holding tank can be mounted
remotely from the toilet bowl, the flush is more
powerful, and that no chemicals are required in
the holding tank. The ceramic bowl feels more
domestic than the plastic one on the ubiquitous
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The unusual-looking cassette waste tank is emptied in
the usual way by carrying it to the disposal point.
For the benefit of greenhorns, I’d better just explain
that most motorcaravans are heated using propane
or butane gas. Recently though, manufacturers
have been fitting more diesel-powered heaters, of
which the Eberspächer has proved to be among
the most popular.
The latest Eberspächer Combitronic diesel-fired
combined space and water heater is becoming
an increasingly familiar sight. It has an electronic
control module, which allows selection of hot water
only, heating and hot water, economy operation,
room temperature, and time programming. The
control panel indicates the mode selected as well
as showing the time and date and providing an
alarm clock function.
Space heating is by means of blown-air,
distributed by a 12V fan through vents in the main
salon and washroom. Extra cost add-on modules
provide remote operation. Some models (sadly not
‘ours’) have a 230V option. Diesel fuel to power the
unit is drawn from the base vehicle’s fuel tank.
Early models of diesel-fuelled heater were
incredibly noisy to the exterior when in use. (This
was frequently due to the pump pulsing all the
time and the ignition unit operating even when the
flame was lit.) Current models are much improved,
but when they are running at ‘full chat’, they are
still a tad antisocial to other campers close by.
STARMIST... OUR VIEW
Control panel for Eberspächer diesel-fired heater didn’t
require a pilot’s licence to operate it. We found the
instructions clear and straightforward.
Overall, it is our considered opinion that the
Starmist works very well as a compact-ish
motorhome for two. Apart from the too-high seat
squabs, there were no serious shortcomings in
the interior layout, and generally the build quality
was good. We found that the Boxer’s engine ran
well and economically. This Marquis dealer special
addition offered some desirable specification
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11:49:25 am
LONG TERM TEST
upgrades over the standard Autocruise version
and we thought it represented very good value
for money. (Price as tested £40,005 on the road –
includes bike rack, awning and towbar.) Autocruise
residuals (what they are worth when they are
traded in) are very buoyant, and this company’s
range is a much sought after by purchasers in the
pre-owned market. Summertime indeed proved
that the ‘living was easy’. (Apologies to George
and Ira Gershwin.)
The transverse double bed was easily made
and plenty big enough. The kitchen proved
practical in use. The washroom, complete with its
movable shower wall, also proved its worth. We
both would have preferred separate taps for the
basin instead of having to use the shower head...
difficult to arrange with a moving basin, but not
impossible. We both found the lounge settee
squabs far too high off the floor for comfortable
seating - and I remain worried over the safety of
the seat swivels, which tend to come unlatched.
See my review of the Autocruise Starlet (MMM
September 2005, p145).
General view forward shows twin inward-facing settees and swivelled cab seats.
A ROUSING THREE CHEERS
FOR...
• Thoughtful conversion
• Value for money
• Well equipped user-friendly kitchen
• A modern take on traditional upholstery
fabrics
• Pushing forward toilet technology
• Varied shape to practical external-access
lockers
• Easy retrieval of spare wheel relocated in
external locker
• Relaxed motorway cruising
• Proven 2.8-litre HDi motor
• Standard suspension upgrade
• Useful payload
• The recognition of the fact that many folk
with a coachbuilt might want to tow a
trailer or put a motorbike on a rack
THE SILENCE OF ONE HAND
CLAPPING FOR...
• Worryingly insecure seat swivel locking
mechanisms
• Wiring not checked thoroughly before
release (outside step retracted when water
pump switched to external)
• Too high settee seat squabs
• No separate faucet for the washbasin
• Underwhelming radio (poor reception plus
shut-off after 20mins)
CONTACTS
Autocruise Tel: 01709 571 411 (Mexborough)
Web site: www.autocruise.co.uk
Bantam Trailers Tel: 01296 483 861
(Aylesbury)
Web site: www.bantamtrailers.co.uk
Marquis Motorhomes Tel: 08000 267 777
(Freephone)
Web site: www.marquismotorhomes.co.uk
Towtal Tel: 01782 333 422 (Stoke-on-Trent)
Web site: www.towtal.co.uk
Grateful thanks to Marquis, to Bantam
Trailers, and to Mike Jones for their assistance
with this review
General view rearward shows amidships kitchen and door to rear washroom.
WEIGHTY MATTERS
Peugeot SvTech
VIN plate VIN plate
GVW:
3400kg
GTW:
5400kg
4700kg (-700kg)
Front axle:
1750kg
1750kg (same)
Rear axle:
1900kg
2050kg (+150kg)
3
3700kg (+300kg)
Tow limit
(unbraked trailer): 750kg
750kg
750kg
Tow limit assuming
fully laden ‘van
and braked trailer): 2000kg
1000kg
1200kg
(max
draw
weight)
Max nose weight: not stated
not stated
65kg
NB Just to confuse matters further, the Peugeot
handbook gives another set of figures, GTW: 4900kg,
Towing Limit: 1600kg (providing it is within the GTW)
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Towtal
plate
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