Team SDA are about to get a new van , but very sadly it's not an Eriba

In my defence I'll outline what it is and why we're getting it.

It's a https://www.leisuresales.co.uk/caravans/...y-compact-2022/, a dealer special version of the new Swift Sprite Compact model, launched for 2022MY to fill the gap left by Lunar going bust and their Ariva model no longer being on the market.

As it happens its internal length is exactly the same as the Familia's at 3.66m and the layout is the same except the door is nearside and the internals are swapped back to front.

What sold it to us however is that despite the internal length being the same, the lounge benches are 1.8m long, allowing them to be used as single beds, whilst the Familia's are just 1.4m long meaning you have to make a double bed and sleep across the van. In such a small van keeping the gangway clear for dog sleeping space is important.

As for other things that the Eriba has not, the Sprite has a central chest, an oven, microwave and AM/FM radio.

To spec. up a Familia to the same as the Sprite would take its base price of £21,550 to nearly £28,210 and you'd still be short of the three items mentioned above. The Sprite is costing £22,600 with battery, mover, Aquaroll and Wastemaster thrown in. We could've gone for a Triton 420 instead, in order to get 6ft 3ins benches and single bed capability but that is 18ins longer and would push the price differential to getting on for £8,000, which can't be sneezed at.

Another factor is weight. The Sprite has a MIRO of 995kg, the Familia 320 780kg, add in a battery to the Sprite and a battery and charger to the 320 and you're up to 1020kg and 810kg respectively. Add a mover and those figures become 1050kg and 840kg. Meaning on their standard MTPLM the Sprite has 59kg left and the Familia 60kg. The Sprite can be upgraded by 91kg, leaving 146kg available and the Familia by 150kg leaving 210kg and that upgrade is free from Swift, but costs £350 from Hymer. That's not the end, because, to bring the Familia up to nearly the same equipment levels as the Sprite means adding 146kg of extras and that reduces the available payload to 64kg. So after all the shenanigans the Sprite has around 50% more payload to utilise than the Eriba.

Now I dearly love Eribas but trying to find one that suits is a pain and paying a third more for a van with less inside doesn't seem sensible.

Well I can certainly understand your dilemma and solid reasoning for your selection. I’ve always thought that an Eriba touring is a heart decision backed up by a low cost of ownership despite the premium price tag. All that said, things change and whilst there is certainly a huge renaissance in Eribas and caravans more generally which is great, unfortunately lifetime ownership of current builds is probably optimistic and therefore cost of ownership changes. I always had a plan, just before retirement I’d buy a new fully spec’d Troll and that would last me 25 years all through retirement. Trouble is, current builds are not what they were and I don’t want to be always fixing the thing. I want to be enjoying it. Therefore it’s forced a rethink, what suits me right now, what is affordable, and how easy will my ownership be. I’m sure you’ve made a wise decision albeit a difficult one to reconcile with that big Eriba heart you’ve carried for many years. I hope it’s everything you need and gives you many great memories

There's always the second-hand market where you'll get good build quality. I'm always amazed at the really old Eribas you see in France - I posted a link to the French forum page where you can see all the old vans circulating here, but no-one was interested. Shame.

That's is a lovely van Andy, it has a lot of kit for the money I can see your logic. When I bought my 2012 Familia 320 GT it was £14,000 ( it was a special offer and should have been £16000) from Leisure Vehicles/Automotive Leisure . Late 2015 I bought another Familia 320 GT as it had a better toilet layout and in silver, this cost me £17,000 from Lowdhams ( I got £11,000 trade in for my 2012 Familia). To buy a Familia 320 today it will cost me £26,000 65% increase from my 2015 ( not including a motormover). You certainly don't buy an Eriba with your head especially as the new and second-hand prices for Eribas are now getting silly. For me the Eriba is part of the holiday rather than a means to have a holiday, however I couldn't afford a new one now. I wouldn't be able to have a normal height caravan as my neighbours would complain. I get away with having the Eriba on my drive as they think it's small and cute and it doesn't block out the light to their windows.


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We were due to pick up the Compact this morning, however Mrs SDA tested positive for covid last Friday and I trailed in behind her getting the second bar last Sunday. The collection has been rearranged for a week tomorrow and we hope we'll be all clear by then.

So meanwhile I watch the Swift video of the standard Compact, whilst our own has different fabrics and options as part of the dealer special passage. https://www.swiftgroup.co.uk/caravans/pr...sprite-compact/ Doesn't she look cute on those drone shots along the valley.

Looks very nice Andy, what is the gap for behind the seats ?
Steve

They're what I think are called bedboards or something similar Steve. Most, if not all UK built vans have them. I think the boards have a number of functions, one being to allow air movement from the air vents under the bed locker up and around the van, so an aid to avoiding still air. Another use is to keep the upholstery from resting on the interior walls which might suffer condensation dampness in the cold winter months.

Also in vans with Alde wet central heating, the gaps allow warm air from the radiators in the under bench locker to circulate into the van interior..

How is the new Swift compact Andy?

It would be interesting to see a switch to a clamshell GRP construction (like those ones almost produced in the USA). I am sure most people are not bothered about the industrial steel frame and aluminium panels that ripple. With the angled sides and a clamshell construction it would be as strong and save an awful lot of weight.
As things stand I can only see the prices continuing to increase until they can't sell them at all. Sorry if this is a great heresy though.

Quote: Poptop320 wrote in post #9

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How is the new Swift compact Andy?

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Pity you are having some teething problems. Hope it hasnt taken the shine off too much. Is the fridge one of those that open both ways. Seems like the door could come off completely if everything isnt right.

It's not one of the fridges that can open either way, though you can swap which side it hinges on by moving bits about. It appears to hinge on a small stub at the bottom of the fridge frame and I suspect that if jolted enough the door might rise just enough to clear the stub.

Just check the wheel balancing Andy, we’ve had all sorts falling off in the past; oven doors hob covers, gas fire fronts…

I was wondering about wheel balancing too M'sieur Gadget. The other thought was lack of ammortisseurs.