The Caravan Owners Club

[rds60h]

I have come across this German Hobby Dealer, who is close to the German/French Border. Don't know what they are like but it may give all you prospective importers another choice.
www.ernst-caravan.de
They state that they are Germany's Largest Official Hobby Dealer.
Should be worth a browse!!

Perhaps this post could be used to list any other Dealers used, how to contact them and what they were like.

[stan]

Hi Everyone,
We bought our Hobby 495 UFE last year from Ernst Caravans. They are a very large dealer and all speak very good English, Christian is the man to ask for. He is very happy to talk discount!. The only problem is the distance, you need to travel right across France to Strasbourg, then cross the Rhine and drive south for a short while to Ettenhiem, this drive is much more pleasant and relaxed than driving through Europes industrial north.

Good luck

Sue and Stan.

[Pat]

Why do you Brits go so far to buy a van? Are they that cheaper on the continent?
If they are, why not buy in France or Belgium? That's much closer to Britain, isn't it?

I'm a Belgian myself, and we looked for prices in Germany and Holland too. Besides our mistaking, we didn't find it interesting in buying it there. So we bought our 495 in Belgium.

[Roy Armstrong]

Hobby caravans are a lot less expensive in Germany than either France or Holland.......don't know about Belgium though.

Cheers,
Roy

[stan]

Hi All,
On a recent trip to Germany I went through Popperinghe in Belgium and passed a large Hobby dealer called Decuyper, as this is only a 1 hr drive from the ferry at Dunkirk it may be a good place to buy, or even getting an annual service. The ferry crossing from Dover to Dunkirk is operated by Norfolk line and I recently saved some £200 instead of going Dover to Calais with P&O. Norfolk Line staff also seem to be much more helpful than the other operaters. Give them a try for a quote.

Happy new year

Sue and Stan.

[Pat]

Right. For those interested: a couple of dealers in Belgium:

I bought my van at:

Ideal Caravan B.v.b.a.
Brusselse Steenweg 276
9232 Wetteren (Kwatrecht)
Belgium
Telephone: (+32) 09 - 3 69 27 37
Telefax: (+32) 09 - 3 68 13 21
eMail: service@ideal-caravans.be
Website: http://www.ideal-caravans.be

--> Wetteren is approximately 15 km east from Ghent, direction Brussels
Sorry, but I don't know yet if they have good service. My van is to be deliverd in may 2005. I haven't paid yet

Other address:

Decuyper N.V.
Beneluxlaan 2
8970 Poperinge
Belgium
Telephone: (+32) 057 - 33 37 77
Telefax: (+32) 057 - 33 77 79
eMail: luc@decuyper.com
Website: http://www.decuyper.com

Never been there in my life. Can't say if they're good or not.

I hope this might help someone?

Greetings,
Patrick.

[Doc]

Right folks,

before Christmas I went on a cheap (£10) day trip, via the Tunnel, to France and visited Decuyper to pick up some electrical bits which I couldn't get here.

It is a very large Caravan/Motorhome dealer on the ring road around Poperinge on the way to Ypres, about 45min from Calais on toll-free Autoroutes. It has many new and used models and a very extensive accessories section.

Note that it is closed Mondays (got caught out by that at the end of the summer holiday) and closed from 12:00 to 1:30 pm.

The prices seem higher than in Germany, probably due to higher VAT, but it's more accessible from UK, even for a day.

I spoke (in grotty French) to an old guy there, with customary flat cap even in the indoor showroom, who I think was the owner. Nice chap who knew full well of the inflated 'van prices in the UK and I got the impression he sold to quite a few Brits.

He gave me the 2005 Hobby catalogue (in Flemisch!!) and Hobby price list (options list, also) and his own ~200page catalogue, but I didn't get the price list to go with that

As an indication, a 460Ufe Prestige is listed at 15,714 Euros and the Autark 12V electrical option is listed at 733Euros.
Joeressens price is 13,500 Euros for the same 'van, while in the UK it'll cost £11,720 and up!!!!

Draw your own conclusions.

[Pat]

Hello dear Brits,

If somebody wants a text to be translated to English, I am willing to give it a try. That is, on condition that you forgive me my limited knowledge of English vocabulary and my many mistakes in grammar, for which I apologise.
My mothertongue is Dutch, I'm fluent in written and spoken French, my English is moderate and my German is rather poor. But if you filter my mistakes, maybe you can understand my tryouts more easily than the original language.
Don't send me novells, of course. But I'm willing to try and help you out with parts of a text, a leaflet or a brochure if you want.

I love the UK, what did you think? You've got a nice country, lovely and proud people and a great attitude in the world. Congratulations.

Pat.

[Chubbs]

Hi Pat,

I wish my other languages (French and Itallian) were as good as your English. Wow. Superb! You are an inspiration to us all.

Cheers

Keith McC

[jesse]

I may buy a Hobby caravan at a dealer only 15 minutes from the Dutch/German border. Visited them a couple of months ago. They are not too large but very helpfull and friendly. I spoke to Maurice, the owner (a guy from Holland!), whose english is also very good.

It will same a couple of K! So worthwile a trip. He even told me, that he also could arrange a transport to UK, if required. They do have a lot of experience as they used to trade a lot of Hymer motorhomes to UK in the past, before they acquired the Hobby dealer.

Have a look at: www.benen-lieven.de

Good luck, give him my regards,
Jesse

[Pearl]

Hi All,
On a recent trip to Germany I went through Popperinghe in Belgium and passed a large Hobby dealer called Decuyper, as this is only a 1 hr drive from the ferry at Dunkirk it may be a good place to buy, or even getting an annual service. The ferry crossing from Dover to Dunkirk is operated by Norfolk line and I recently saved some £200 instead of going Dover to Calais with P&O. Norfolk Line staff also seem to be much more helpful than the other operaters. Give them a try for a quote.

Happy new year

Sue and Stan.

Hi All,
Sue,Stan, you are right about Norfolkline great deals, we are going on 03/07/05 car caravan and upto 5 passengers costing £118 return.
Really please with this price
Regards Pearl.