Test Report - Bailey of Bristol

Transcription

Test Report - Bailey of Bristol
>>LIVE-IN TEST BAILEY UNICORN II VALENCIA
>>LIVE-IN TEST BAILEY UNICORN II VALENCIA
Live-in Bailey
test , Unicorn II Valencia
Fresh thinking makes the new Unicorn II Valencia an appealing prospect for caravanners
seeking refinement. But with lots of competition on the market, can it stay at the top?
Where tested Brook Lodge Farm Camping
and Caravan Park, Bristol
When tested July 2012
£
£19,995
Berths
4
MiRO
Payload
MTPLM
Awning
size
1343kg
154kg
1497kg
1045cm
The skylight and deep front
shelf are the two stand-out
Making up the front double bed is a cinch thanks to these new sliding
innovations in the lounge
This month, we’re looking at the
end-washroom, rear fixed-bed
Valencia. In its 2012 guise, it was
the best-selling model in Bailey’s
best-selling range. But with
competition hotting up for the
new season, how will the latest
model fare in 2013? We towed
the van to the Brook Lodge Farm
campsite near Bristol to find out.
Lounging and dining
Pitching and setting up
As Bailey has reduced weights
across the Unicorn II range, the
new single-axle vans are all built
on 1500kg Al-Ko chassis with
button-assisted handbrakes. The
corner steadies are heavy-duty;
the front ones are easy to locate,
on the side of the van; the rear
ones are low down and tight to
the rear panel skirts.
Another innovation is the
relocated gas locker; it’s now on
the offside, near the axle. This is
to accommodate the new front
chest arrangement (see ‘Lounging
and dining’, below). With no
A-frame fairing to negotiate, the
new gas locker is easily accessed
and can accommodate two
13kg gas cylinders.
This may not appeal to less ablebodied caravanners, who could
find it hard to manipulate the
heavy cylinders at waist height
(the gas locker is 0.55m from the
ground) but this may be preferable
76 | OCTOBER 2012 | www.practicalcaravan.com
A hatch on the nearside allows items to be fed into the fixed bed’s storage
Heavy-duty corner steadies are fitted to the rear of the Valencia. The bolts
cavity RIGHT The midships gas locker takes two full-size 13kg cylinders
are located tight to the plastic skirt, though, so you’ll need to crouch
Viewed from outside, the Unicorn
II’s skylight divides opinion
– at first glance, it looks a bit
odd – but spend a few minutes in
the lounge and you’ll soon fall in
love with it. Essentially a supersized front window, the skylight
offers uninterrupted views so if
you’re pitched up on a site with
pleasant vistas, you won’t need
to turn the TV on.
A walnut surround frames the
window from the inside and
continues upwards to run around
the rooflight. Three LED spotlights
and an LED strip are built into
this surround to provide ambient
lighting for evenings.
Another change is the revamped
arrangement along the front of the
caravan. The centre chest has been
pushed forward into the space
vacated by the gas locker, so that it
doesn’t butt into the lounge. This
creates a deep shelf running across
the front wall, which would be
ideal for a TV or for somewhere
to put homely knick-knacks.
The centre chest features
a slide-out tabletop and three
drawers for storing everyday
items. To prepare the caravan for
mealtimes, use the folding leaf
table, which stows under the
fixed bed’s mattress.
Kitchen
Unicorn II kitchens have had
a significant makeover from the
original version. The main change
sees the introduction of a splitlevel worktop and circular sink,
two features designed to fit around
the offside gas locker cavity.
Aesthetically, the sink is a step
up from the one fitted to the firstgeneration Valencia, which was
shaped like a baking tray. In use,
the new one is deep enough to
cope with washing-up for two
people, although catering for up
to four will test drying-up space.
Caravan cooks will appreciate
the practical and well-equipped
kitchen. There’s a dual-fuel hob for
maximum flexibility, which sits
atop a separate oven and grill. The
dual-fuel fridge has a 103-litre
capacity and has a detachable
freezer compartment to increase
refrigerator space. An 800W
microwave oven sits at head
height, above the TV station on the
nearside. We would have preferred
to see this at chest height, to make
removing hot foods safer.
Another upmarket feature is
provided by a mirrored drinks
cabinet, which is above the sink
and has a see-through door.
Showroom>>Live-in test
to having to stoop low to lean into
a conventional front locker.
Access to the caravan is via
a two-piece door, and a redesigned
integrated control panel is located
on the left-hand side as you enter.
This controls the van’s lighting
and water pump systems, and
the Alde wet central and water
heating, from one place. The
mains consumer unit is under
the nearside seat bench.
PHOTOGRAPHY: TIM ANDREW
Showroom>>Live-in test
BAILEY’S PREMIUM UNICORN
range has been a runaway success
for the Bristol-based brand,
accounting for around 30% of its
current caravan sales. Now that it’s
two years old, though, the Unicorn
line-up is due for a refresh.
So in comes some fresh
thinking: GRP sidewalls and roof,
new front and rear panels, bolder
graphics and a skylight. The view
from inside the Unicorn will be
radically different for the new
season, as Bailey has now jumped
on the skylight bandwagon.
Coming to the party late has its
advantages as it takes a couple of
seasons for new ideas to bed in.
In 2010, Swift led the way
with a central skylight, but the
following season Coachman
unveiled a horizontal treatment
– both manufacturers enjoyed
sales uplifts as a result. For
Unicorn Series II, Bailey has its
own twist: extending the front
middle window right up to the
roof. As there’s no front ledge
across the front of the caravan,
the view from the lounge is
unimpeded. What’s more, you can
actually open the window, making
Bailey’s caravan skylight unique.
Elsewhere, there are
improvements across the range.
Weights have been reduced by up
to 100kg, there are new kitchens,
washrooms and soft furnishings.
slats. They pull out on a frame from under the offside seat bench
Sleeping
Rear fixed beds are the holy grail
for those who don’t want the
hassle of making up a bed every
night, and the dimensions of the
Valencia’s will certainly please
taller caravanners. It measures
1.9m x 1.32m and thanks to a deep
pocket-sprung mattress, is very
comfortable. The tapering of the
bed’s offside edge, to facilitate
access to the washroom, will force
the taller occupant to sleep on
the nearside, though. There
www.practicalcaravan.com | OCTOBER 2012 | 77
>>LIVE-IN TEST BAILEY UNICORN II VALENCIA
>>LIVE-IN TEST BAILEY UNICORN II VALENCIA
Live-in Bailey
test , Unicorn II Valencia
Fresh thinking makes the new Unicorn II Valencia an appealing prospect for caravanners
seeking refinement. But with lots of competition on the market, can it stay at the top?
Where tested Brook Lodge Farm Camping
and Caravan Park, Bristol
When tested July 2012
£
£19,995
Berths
4
MiRO
Payload
MTPLM
Awning
size
1343kg
154kg
1497kg
1045cm
The skylight and deep front
shelf are the two stand-out
Making up the front double bed is a cinch thanks to these new sliding
innovations in the lounge
This month, we’re looking at the
end-washroom, rear fixed-bed
Valencia. In its 2012 guise, it was
the best-selling model in Bailey’s
best-selling range. But with
competition hotting up for the
new season, how will the latest
model fare in 2013? We towed
the van to the Brook Lodge Farm
campsite near Bristol to find out.
Lounging and dining
Pitching and setting up
As Bailey has reduced weights
across the Unicorn II range, the
new single-axle vans are all built
on 1500kg Al-Ko chassis with
button-assisted handbrakes. The
corner steadies are heavy-duty;
the front ones are easy to locate,
on the side of the van; the rear
ones are low down and tight to
the rear panel skirts.
Another innovation is the
relocated gas locker; it’s now on
the offside, near the axle. This is
to accommodate the new front
chest arrangement (see ‘Lounging
and dining’, below). With no
A-frame fairing to negotiate, the
new gas locker is easily accessed
and can accommodate two
13kg gas cylinders.
This may not appeal to less ablebodied caravanners, who could
find it hard to manipulate the
heavy cylinders at waist height
(the gas locker is 0.55m from the
ground) but this may be preferable
76 | OCTOBER 2012 | www.practicalcaravan.com
A hatch on the nearside allows items to be fed into the fixed bed’s storage
Heavy-duty corner steadies are fitted to the rear of the Valencia. The bolts
cavity RIGHT The midships gas locker takes two full-size 13kg cylinders
are located tight to the plastic skirt, though, so you’ll need to crouch
Viewed from outside, the Unicorn
II’s skylight divides opinion
– at first glance, it looks a bit
odd – but spend a few minutes in
the lounge and you’ll soon fall in
love with it. Essentially a supersized front window, the skylight
offers uninterrupted views so if
you’re pitched up on a site with
pleasant vistas, you won’t need
to turn the TV on.
A walnut surround frames the
window from the inside and
continues upwards to run around
the rooflight. Three LED spotlights
and an LED strip are built into
this surround to provide ambient
lighting for evenings.
Another change is the revamped
arrangement along the front of the
caravan. The centre chest has been
pushed forward into the space
vacated by the gas locker, so that it
doesn’t butt into the lounge. This
creates a deep shelf running across
the front wall, which would be
ideal for a TV or for somewhere
to put homely knick-knacks.
The centre chest features
a slide-out tabletop and three
drawers for storing everyday
items. To prepare the caravan for
mealtimes, use the folding leaf
table, which stows under the
fixed bed’s mattress.
Kitchen
Unicorn II kitchens have had
a significant makeover from the
original version. The main change
sees the introduction of a splitlevel worktop and circular sink,
two features designed to fit around
the offside gas locker cavity.
Aesthetically, the sink is a step
up from the one fitted to the firstgeneration Valencia, which was
shaped like a baking tray. In use,
the new one is deep enough to
cope with washing-up for two
people, although catering for up
to four will test drying-up space.
Caravan cooks will appreciate
the practical and well-equipped
kitchen. There’s a dual-fuel hob for
maximum flexibility, which sits
atop a separate oven and grill. The
dual-fuel fridge has a 103-litre
capacity and has a detachable
freezer compartment to increase
refrigerator space. An 800W
microwave oven sits at head
height, above the TV station on the
nearside. We would have preferred
to see this at chest height, to make
removing hot foods safer.
Another upmarket feature is
provided by a mirrored drinks
cabinet, which is above the sink
and has a see-through door.
Showroom>>Live-in test
to having to stoop low to lean into
a conventional front locker.
Access to the caravan is via
a two-piece door, and a redesigned
integrated control panel is located
on the left-hand side as you enter.
This controls the van’s lighting
and water pump systems, and
the Alde wet central and water
heating, from one place. The
mains consumer unit is under
the nearside seat bench.
PHOTOGRAPHY: TIM ANDREW
Showroom>>Live-in test
BAILEY’S PREMIUM UNICORN
range has been a runaway success
for the Bristol-based brand,
accounting for around 30% of its
current caravan sales. Now that it’s
two years old, though, the Unicorn
line-up is due for a refresh.
So in comes some fresh
thinking: GRP sidewalls and roof,
new front and rear panels, bolder
graphics and a skylight. The view
from inside the Unicorn will be
radically different for the new
season, as Bailey has now jumped
on the skylight bandwagon.
Coming to the party late has its
advantages as it takes a couple of
seasons for new ideas to bed in.
In 2010, Swift led the way
with a central skylight, but the
following season Coachman
unveiled a horizontal treatment
– both manufacturers enjoyed
sales uplifts as a result. For
Unicorn Series II, Bailey has its
own twist: extending the front
middle window right up to the
roof. As there’s no front ledge
across the front of the caravan,
the view from the lounge is
unimpeded. What’s more, you can
actually open the window, making
Bailey’s caravan skylight unique.
Elsewhere, there are
improvements across the range.
Weights have been reduced by up
to 100kg, there are new kitchens,
washrooms and soft furnishings.
slats. They pull out on a frame from under the offside seat bench
Sleeping
Rear fixed beds are the holy grail
for those who don’t want the
hassle of making up a bed every
night, and the dimensions of the
Valencia’s will certainly please
taller caravanners. It measures
1.9m x 1.32m and thanks to a deep
pocket-sprung mattress, is very
comfortable. The tapering of the
bed’s offside edge, to facilitate
access to the washroom, will force
the taller occupant to sleep on
the nearside, though. There
www.practicalcaravan.com | OCTOBER 2012 | 77
>>LIVE-IN TEST BAILEY UNICORN II VALENCIA
>>LIVE-IN TEST BAILEY UNICORN II VALENCIA
The circular sink’s location lets you
access the fridge while someone
else does the washing-up
Control panels for heating and
Showroom>>Live-in test
The fixed bed, seen with standard
Mozart fabrics, measures 1.9m x 1.32m
and has a pocket-sprung mattress
are LED reading lights at each
corner of the headboard, where
you’ll also find a small shelf, and
a large rooflight above the bed.
In the lounge, a new sliding seat
frame will make assembling the
double bed a cinch. The offside
seat frame pulls across the
gangway to bridge the gap between
the bed boxes. Arranging the
seat cushions to fit is just as
straightforward. The result is a bed
measuring a respectable 2m x 1.4m
and the firm cushions create a very
supportive sleeping surface.
Thanks to LED spotlights at
either end of both seat benches,
there are reading lights available
wherever they’re required. At
1.4m long, the lounge seats can be
used as single beds for children,
including younger teenagers.
Washroom
End washrooms offer significant
convenience, but at this price
level, it’s reasonable to expect a
good standard of refinement, too.
For Unicorn Series II, Bailey
has made various improvements
to the washrooms. They were by
no means unsatisfactory in the
original version, but they lacked
the sparkle added here. For
example, the shower area has
had a makeover: there’s a circular
frosted entrance door and the
shower head attaches to a smart
grey plastic unit with built-in
storage for shampoo bottles.
There’s no moulded shower
cubicle, now that the caravan walls
are clad in GRP and can be in
contact with water without risk of
corrosion. Instead, water runs off
the walls into the moulded tray
below, which has two drain points
for maximum efficiency, or for
situations when the caravan
may not be completely level.
The Belfast basin featured in
the original Valencia has gone,
too, replaced with a circular one
housed in a rectangular moulding.
The Belfast sinks were certainly in
tune with contemporary domestic
tastes, but swallowed a lot of
water. The new basin will easily
hold enough water for shaving,
but there’s nowhere to prop a
mirror above it. The vanity unit
underneath offers two deep
shelves to house toiletries.
Above the sink there’s a clear
window at head height. It’s
a shame that it’s not frosted, but
a flyscreen can be pulled down
to obscure the view from outside.
78 | OCTOBER 2012 | www.practicalcaravan.com
boxes. There’s more storage
space under the sink, in a smart
circular unit that contains three
shelves (the top one has a plastic
tray for cutlery). The dresser
opposite the kitchen has three
drawers underneath its work
top and there’s another locker
above the microwave.
Four overhead lockers look
down on the fixed bed – two on the
end wall and two on the nearside
wall. They offer good storage for
folded clothes. Items that need to
be hung have plenty of space in the
wardrobe opposite.
The folding leaf lounge table stows securely inside the fixed bed’s frame
A cupboard and shelves in the
offside corner sit above the
Thetford swivel toilet.
A welcome touch is the four
hooks for bathrobes on the
washroom wall, above an Alde
heated towel rail. Other comfort
buttons are pushed with the
inclusion of a small laundry
basket, to the right of the sink.
Storage
The Valencia’s rear bed lifts easily
on gas struts, so essential items
can be top-loaded in the van, or
fed in from outside via a nearside
hatch. The bed box has generous
headroom so it will accommodate
plenty, from containers and boxes
to suitcases and folding chairs.
The storage picture at the front
of the caravan is good, too, as the
nearside seat bench is unimpeded
by any equipment so will easily
accept bedding. Up above, there
are two lockers on each side of the
lounge. These have a smart new
look, with chrome handles and
cream-coloured edging along
the bottom of the doors.
The overhead lockers in the
kitchen have part-frosted doors
and racking for crockery, and all
are tall enough to hold cereal
Our verdict
The original Unicorn Valencia
was a runaway success for Bailey,
quickly becoming the most
popular model in the brand’s bestselling range. It’s not surprising:
the fixed-bed, end-washroom floor
plan is the most supplied layout
to the volume UK market, and
Bailey’s Unicorn interpretation
of it was well built, well equipped
and excellent value for money.
But upmarket caravans offer
juicy margins for manufacturers,
A new circular shower door and moulded plastic shower unit (inset) add a
touch of class to the Valencia’s improved washroom. The sink is new, too
and with improved offerings from
other brands, competition in this
sector is going to be fierce in 2013.
Bailey will therefore be hoping
that Unicorn Series II will appeal
to buyers seeking comfort,
refinement and affordability.
We think the new Unicorn
Valencia hits the right notes. The
skylight is clearly the talking point,
and will draw a lot of comment
from the caravan-buying public at
the October NEC show. From the
front, it doesn’t make for the bestlooking caravan (children will love
the fact it does have eyebrows,
a nose and a mouth, though)
but it’s impossible to dislike
when you step inside and see
the view from the lounge.
Elsewhere in the Valencia,
the kitchen and washroom are
both improved from the original
van, and there are plenty of detail
refinements to keep the tourer
looking sharp for the next couple
of seasons, both inside and out.
One of the changes we like
most of all is the 4.34% drop in the
MTPLM to 1497kg, which makes
it a suitable match for a wider
variety of family cars.
The Unicorn Series II Valencia
will be an appealing upgrade for
both existing Bailey owners and
buyers from the wider market. Its
skylight, weight reduction, design
tweaks and equipment bumps will
ensure that it runs its rivals hard
in 2013. As a package, it’s hard to
come up with reasons not to buy
one: Bailey has taken weight out,
raised the spec and upped the wow
factor – all for a whisker under
£20,000. It doesn’t look like the
Unicorn Valencia is going to lose
its top spot anytime soon.
Showroom>>Live-in test
power system are neatly combined
Specifications and comparisons for this model on page 80 ››
www.practicalcaravan.com | OCTOBER 2012 | 79
>>LIVE-IN TEST BAILEY UNICORN II VALENCIA
>>LIVE-IN TEST BAILEY UNICORN II VALENCIA
The circular sink’s location lets you
access the fridge while someone
else does the washing-up
Control panels for heating and
Showroom>>Live-in test
The fixed bed, seen with standard
Mozart fabrics, measures 1.9m x 1.32m
and has a pocket-sprung mattress
are LED reading lights at each
corner of the headboard, where
you’ll also find a small shelf, and
a large rooflight above the bed.
In the lounge, a new sliding seat
frame will make assembling the
double bed a cinch. The offside
seat frame pulls across the
gangway to bridge the gap between
the bed boxes. Arranging the
seat cushions to fit is just as
straightforward. The result is a bed
measuring a respectable 2m x 1.4m
and the firm cushions create a very
supportive sleeping surface.
Thanks to LED spotlights at
either end of both seat benches,
there are reading lights available
wherever they’re required. At
1.4m long, the lounge seats can be
used as single beds for children,
including younger teenagers.
Washroom
End washrooms offer significant
convenience, but at this price
level, it’s reasonable to expect a
good standard of refinement, too.
For Unicorn Series II, Bailey
has made various improvements
to the washrooms. They were by
no means unsatisfactory in the
original version, but they lacked
the sparkle added here. For
example, the shower area has
had a makeover: there’s a circular
frosted entrance door and the
shower head attaches to a smart
grey plastic unit with built-in
storage for shampoo bottles.
There’s no moulded shower
cubicle, now that the caravan walls
are clad in GRP and can be in
contact with water without risk of
corrosion. Instead, water runs off
the walls into the moulded tray
below, which has two drain points
for maximum efficiency, or for
situations when the caravan
may not be completely level.
The Belfast basin featured in
the original Valencia has gone,
too, replaced with a circular one
housed in a rectangular moulding.
The Belfast sinks were certainly in
tune with contemporary domestic
tastes, but swallowed a lot of
water. The new basin will easily
hold enough water for shaving,
but there’s nowhere to prop a
mirror above it. The vanity unit
underneath offers two deep
shelves to house toiletries.
Above the sink there’s a clear
window at head height. It’s
a shame that it’s not frosted, but
a flyscreen can be pulled down
to obscure the view from outside.
78 | OCTOBER 2012 | www.practicalcaravan.com
boxes. There’s more storage
space under the sink, in a smart
circular unit that contains three
shelves (the top one has a plastic
tray for cutlery). The dresser
opposite the kitchen has three
drawers underneath its work
top and there’s another locker
above the microwave.
Four overhead lockers look
down on the fixed bed – two on the
end wall and two on the nearside
wall. They offer good storage for
folded clothes. Items that need to
be hung have plenty of space in the
wardrobe opposite.
The folding leaf lounge table stows securely inside the fixed bed’s frame
A cupboard and shelves in the
offside corner sit above the
Thetford swivel toilet.
A welcome touch is the four
hooks for bathrobes on the
washroom wall, above an Alde
heated towel rail. Other comfort
buttons are pushed with the
inclusion of a small laundry
basket, to the right of the sink.
Storage
The Valencia’s rear bed lifts easily
on gas struts, so essential items
can be top-loaded in the van, or
fed in from outside via a nearside
hatch. The bed box has generous
headroom so it will accommodate
plenty, from containers and boxes
to suitcases and folding chairs.
The storage picture at the front
of the caravan is good, too, as the
nearside seat bench is unimpeded
by any equipment so will easily
accept bedding. Up above, there
are two lockers on each side of the
lounge. These have a smart new
look, with chrome handles and
cream-coloured edging along
the bottom of the doors.
The overhead lockers in the
kitchen have part-frosted doors
and racking for crockery, and all
are tall enough to hold cereal
Our verdict
The original Unicorn Valencia
was a runaway success for Bailey,
quickly becoming the most
popular model in the brand’s bestselling range. It’s not surprising:
the fixed-bed, end-washroom floor
plan is the most supplied layout
to the volume UK market, and
Bailey’s Unicorn interpretation
of it was well built, well equipped
and excellent value for money.
But upmarket caravans offer
juicy margins for manufacturers,
A new circular shower door and moulded plastic shower unit (inset) add a
touch of class to the Valencia’s improved washroom. The sink is new, too
and with improved offerings from
other brands, competition in this
sector is going to be fierce in 2013.
Bailey will therefore be hoping
that Unicorn Series II will appeal
to buyers seeking comfort,
refinement and affordability.
We think the new Unicorn
Valencia hits the right notes. The
skylight is clearly the talking point,
and will draw a lot of comment
from the caravan-buying public at
the October NEC show. From the
front, it doesn’t make for the bestlooking caravan (children will love
the fact it does have eyebrows,
a nose and a mouth, though)
but it’s impossible to dislike
when you step inside and see
the view from the lounge.
Elsewhere in the Valencia,
the kitchen and washroom are
both improved from the original
van, and there are plenty of detail
refinements to keep the tourer
looking sharp for the next couple
of seasons, both inside and out.
One of the changes we like
most of all is the 4.34% drop in the
MTPLM to 1497kg, which makes
it a suitable match for a wider
variety of family cars.
The Unicorn Series II Valencia
will be an appealing upgrade for
both existing Bailey owners and
buyers from the wider market. Its
skylight, weight reduction, design
tweaks and equipment bumps will
ensure that it runs its rivals hard
in 2013. As a package, it’s hard to
come up with reasons not to buy
one: Bailey has taken weight out,
raised the spec and upped the wow
factor – all for a whisker under
£20,000. It doesn’t look like the
Unicorn Valencia is going to lose
its top spot anytime soon.
Showroom>>Live-in test
power system are neatly combined
Specifications and comparisons for this model on page 80 ››
www.practicalcaravan.com | OCTOBER 2012 | 79
>>LIVE-IN TEST BAILEY UNICORN II VALENCIA
Vital stats
Bailey Unicorn II Valencia
Standard
equipment
Plan
G
A
Showroom>>Live-in test
ILLUSTRATION: ALAN ELDRIDGE
B
H
F
D
C
E
A Front double bed 2.05 x 1.42m
E Body length 6.42m
B Interior length 5.68m C Door width 0.56m D Interior width 2.21m
F Rear fixed bed 1.9m x 1.32m G Toilet legroom 0.4m I Overall width 2.28m
Useful Perfect partner
info
For an 85% match you need a
towcar with a kerbweight of
Insurance
quote
1761kg
£280*
Gas locker height 0.55m Locker headroom 1.96m Shipping length 7.34m Tyres 185 R14 100R
Door height 1.73m Interior height 1.96m Overall height 2.59m
Web www.coastinsurance.co.uk
Freephone 0800 614 849
How do the rivals compare?
2012 Coachman VIP 560/4 2012 Lunar Clubman SE
2013 Sterling Elite Amber
Price
£21,595
£20,395
£21,395
MiRO
1490kg
1320kg
1516kg
Payload
155kg
155kg
154kg
MTPLM
1645kg
1475kg
1670kg
Verdict
It’s heavy and more expensive
Last year’s SE is virtually
It has put on the pounds, in both
than the Bailey, but the 2013
identical weight-wise. Styling
senses, for the new season but
version (details TBC) could
changes for 2013 will make
good looks both inside and out
close gap slightly on weight
Clubman more competitive
will keep attracting buyers
How the Bailey Unicorn II Valencia stacks up
1800kg
MTPLM
2013 Sterling Elite Amber
Bailey Unicorn II Valencia
1400kg
£17,000
2012 Coachman
VIP 560/4
2012 Lunar Clubman SE
£20,000
80 | OCTOBER 2012 | www.practicalcaravan.com
£23,000
The facts behind the figures
With some price and weight data
still to come in, this isn’t a perfect
comparison. The new Valencia will
fight its rivals hard, though, as
Bailey is a master at making vans
you want at a price you’ll pay. This
gives the Valencia the edge, but
the 2013 Lunar Clubman SE, with
low weight and added good looks,
provides some competition.
Construction
Sidewalls
Alu-Tech bodyshell housed in
interlocking aluminium framework
Roof
Bonded GRP sandwich
Front panel
Bonded GRP sandwich with
ABS mouldings
Rear panel
GRP panel with ABS mouldings
External equipment
Al-Ko chassis with buttonoperated handbrake. Al-Ko
stabiliser. Al-Ko ATC. Alloy wheels.
Heavy-duty rear steadies. Spare
wheel and carrier. External gas/
mains output.
Heating
Alde combined wet central and
water heating
Lounge
Flyscreens and blinds to all
windows. Drop-in carpets.
Directional TV aerial. Flat-screen
TV. Radio/CD/MP3 player with
iPod connectivity
Kitchen
Dometic 103-litre fridge with
separate freezer. Three-burner
gas hob with electric hotplate.
Combined grill and oven.
Recessed sink. Removable
drainer. Microwave oven
Washroom
Electric flush Thetford C-260
swivel cassette toilet. Separate
shower cubicle. Washbasin with
chrome mixer tap. Heating
system radiator
Security
CRiS identity number.
Concealed security data chip.
Al-Ko Secure wheel lock.
Tracker system and alarm
Warranty
3 years parts.
6 years water ingress
Dealer-fit options
Rossini fabrics change (£199).
Bespoke bed linen set (£203).
Wheel-arch cover (£41). Fouryear extension to standard sixyear bodyshell integrity warranty
(£189). Three-year extension to
standard parts warranty (£399)
*INSURANCE QUOTE DETAILS, PAGE 150
Price £19,995 Berths 4 MiRO 1343kg Payload 154kg MTPLM 1497kg Awning size 1045cm
Contact Bailey Address South Liberty Lane, Bristol BS3 2SS Tel 0117 305 2939 Web www.bailey-caravans.co.uk Dealers 75