The Caravan Owners Club

[duncan]

Hi
If you would like to buy in France and save money take a look at the site where you stay with a english family living in France and they take you to a large hobby dealer and help with your purchase.
www.normandy-property-online.com
Duncan

[Garry]

What a great idea

[Doc]

Garry, before you get carried away with the idea, you should realise that Hobbys are ~2000euros more expensive there, than in Germany. The imported price is higher and the VAT is higher.

French dealers also don't do a service and stamp the warranty booklet. The warranty booklet doesn't seem to operate there. I thought I might get the service (and warranty stamp) for my Hobby done whilst on Holiday in France, but but not one of 4 dealers, I asked, would do the warranty stamp. Didn't know what I was talking about! This may apply in Belgium (DeCuyper) as well.

So I'm going back to Joeressens for this year's warranty stamp and TUV check!

Cheers, Doc.

[Garry]

Hmm thanks for letting me know.

I've researched this long now and have decided to go with Joeressens too.

I was quoted £14750 yesterday from a Hobby dealer for a new 540 UK and on Joeressens web site they are quoting the same caravan for 12900 Euros (Can't find the symbol on my keyboard for Euros)! That equates to £8643 a saving of £6107 which cannot be ignored

Thanks for all the advice guys and I'll keep you updated with progress.

[John_C]

Well done Gary....we got ours from Joressens too just last month. You wont be disapointed

[Doc]

Garry

I've researched this long now and have decided to go with Joeressens too.

Good decision, you won't regret it.

That's what I did about 3 years ago Garry. Hunted on the net and sent loads of e-mails and faxes off for quotes. Whittled it down to three dealers and eventually chose Joeressens because he met the cheapest quote, AND responded to every e-mail and fax very rapidly and in English. Eventually got the courage to 'phone him (F-J) and found he spoke excellent English. I reckon he owes me loads of commission for the loads of Brits who've since bought from him.

Ask F-J for his 'best-price', and don't forget you may need to add in some options if you are used to UK style facilities, like showers, gas water heaters, 'van battery electrics and aerial masts etc.

You're getting close to the time when Hobby may finish taking 'build' orders and you may have to get one which Joeressens have in stock, or have put an order on. If the latter, it may still be possible to add in options as it's built. This is what I did on numerous occassions and F-J, and Hobby, were very accomodating in building them in.

Best of luck,

Cheers, Doc.

[Cavirac]

Hi there,

I live in France and looking to buy a Hobby because I have seen some in the dealers and have been very impressed with the quality of build and the fact that the ones I have seen are 2.25M wide.

I noticed the comments somebody made about buying in France. They are more expensive here than Germany but still cheaper than the UK. The reason for the difference between Germany and France are the (TVA)VAT (as already said) and the cost of registration. All breaked trailers (including vans) pulled by a French registered car MUST be tested (like a MOT) and registered with the equivilent of the UK DVLC. Also just a note you can't pull an English van with a French registered car because the door is on the wrong side which means it fails it's test.

Oh yes I am English and drive a UK registered car at present even though I live in France so I don't care if the Van is registered or not at this point of time but one day I will need to register it when I buy a new car here.

Unfortunatly second hand cars and vans don't depreciate so much here, about 1000€ per year on average but you can buy a UK van dirt cheap off those that bring them, live here and then register their car in France as they then can't tow the UK van.

We are currently looking for a 650 UMFe by the way. Best price so far is 16,300€.

One question, am I right in thinking that all end bathrooms have a shower?

[andrewsemple]

Hi There

I also live in France and have been going through the painful process of registering a 500KMFe bought at Joeressens at the end of April. I have nearly succeeded and has cost about €460 in stupid french procedure. Financially though I still think I am about €3000 up on the deal.
Its quite complicated but if you want to know how to it I can let you know - but you need patience and somebody who can argue well in French