Called in at YC Leisure this afternoon and had a first look around the new Bailey Phoenix,their new "entry level" van,although I read somewhere they don't like to refer to it as that.
Bailey don't seem to have much long term success with their base van models.
They have had the Olympus,Orion and Pursuit none of which has set the world alight in what must be a difficult market as I imagine most starting out in caravanning buy a good second hand van to set them off to see if they like it.
If they do after a couple of years they may buy a new van but don't want a base model rather,as far as Bailey goes,a Pegasus or a Unicorn.
They didn't have a "Cadiz equivalent" in stock,only double fixed bed models and a two berth "make up bed every night" version.
It appears a perfectly competent van but it carries over from the Unicorn 4 the lack of a washroom window which does nothing for me,but at least it didn't have the awful salad-bowl bathroom sink.
Like the U4 it feels much flimsier than the U3,the locker doors feel much thinner.
One thing I have to say is that the front bench seat cushions feel much firmer than those abominations in the U3,how they will perform over time though may be another question.
I have difficulty in seeing how Bailey will fit the Pegasus into the line up as the Phoenix is not that much cheaper,and also in specification,from a Unicorn.
There is no ATC as standard and a value pack is available as a an extra comprising of cushions and bathroom carpet,I think.
Heating is Truma blown air rather than Alde.
All in all it appears a decent van,if rather expensive.
The one we looked at was just short of £20K.
Whether it will be around in three years time we will have to see.
Ian
Bailey don't seem to have much long term success with their base van models.
They have had the Olympus,Orion and Pursuit none of which has set the world alight in what must be a difficult market as I imagine most starting out in caravanning buy a good second hand van to set them off to see if they like it.
If they do after a couple of years they may buy a new van but don't want a base model rather,as far as Bailey goes,a Pegasus or a Unicorn.
They didn't have a "Cadiz equivalent" in stock,only double fixed bed models and a two berth "make up bed every night" version.
It appears a perfectly competent van but it carries over from the Unicorn 4 the lack of a washroom window which does nothing for me,but at least it didn't have the awful salad-bowl bathroom sink.
Like the U4 it feels much flimsier than the U3,the locker doors feel much thinner.
One thing I have to say is that the front bench seat cushions feel much firmer than those abominations in the U3,how they will perform over time though may be another question.
I have difficulty in seeing how Bailey will fit the Pegasus into the line up as the Phoenix is not that much cheaper,and also in specification,from a Unicorn.
There is no ATC as standard and a value pack is available as a an extra comprising of cushions and bathroom carpet,I think.
Heating is Truma blown air rather than Alde.
All in all it appears a decent van,if rather expensive.
The one we looked at was just short of £20K.
Whether it will be around in three years time we will have to see.
Ian
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