161-163 long term test.indd
Transcription
161-163 long term test.indd
LONG TERM TEST STARRING ROLE? Marquis Majestic Starmist on Peugeot Boxer 2.8HDi ���� ���� � � � � � 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. MOTORCARAVAN MOTORHOME MONTHLY 161-163 long term test.indd 1 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 NOVEMBER 2005 I 161 4/10/05 11:49:10 am 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 162 I NOVEMBER 2005 161-163 long term test.indd 2 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 MOTORCARAVAN MOTORHOME MONTHLY 4/10/05 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) MOTORCARAVAN MOTORHOME MONTHLY 161-163 long term test.indd Towtal plate NOVEMBER 2005 I 163 4/10/05 11:49:42 am