"Just Looking......"

Fiat Camper does not appear to have updated its website yet with the new engines. If you are not looking at new with Euro 6, you can still find your ideal engine:

https://www.fiatcamper.com/en/home

We run in the UK at just over 3400kgs with the 130bhp and Comfort-matic. It's no ball of fire and it wheezes on the steeper hills. However, its fine for the vast majority of running and if I felt the need for more power, I'd have it chipped or something which is a cheaper option followed by numerous motorhomers. The 150bhp would be a better bet if you can justify the extra spend and have a press on driving style or more than the occasional steep hill to climb. You should get marginally better fuel consumption on the motorway from the 150bhp but that won't justify the cost for many a year. The 3 litre was an even better engine!

There is a Fiat specialist on the free Motorhome Matters forum. He's Nick Fisher and posts under the name of Euroserv. Search against his login name and you'll learn a lot about the pros and cons of Fiats.

We gave the vans a miss, all except a lovely brand new Eriba. That just oozed quality. OH would have one like a shot, always been something he liked. 

I looked at one of those ten years ago - bought it then and there - and have never been to another show or showroom since. 

OK, thanks.  We would want the auto (Comfortmatic) gearbox.

Next question....insurance.

As we would be keeping our current towcar, at least meantime, there will be no NCD for a MH so a bit worried about the insurance cost.  I suppose we could always switch things around and start over on the Smartcar?

I'm almost 74, OH 67, and DD and husband are 31 and 32, all without previous claims, would we be able to get some idea on likely premiums even though we have not yet decided to purchase?

How does where the vehicle is kept affect the premium?  Ideally we would want it at home on the driveway, but might take it to our son's place in the country in the depths of winter as he has a large barn it could be kept in.  Is this likely to push up the premium?

Kjell, 7.5m van with seats for 4 (usually a belted half dinette) will be a tricky proposition even for the Hymer Exsis. belted seats mean weight (all that metal strenghtening underneath) and long vans (7.5m) also means weight.

the Hymer website that quotes XXXkg MIRO (and therefore the payload) will be on a basic van with no auto box, none of the manufacterers 'extras packs' (most of them 'mandatory') will be  included.

as an example, our van has around 325kg of paxks and extras fitted, but we are in a 4250kg chassis so still loads to spare.

add in two extra folk in thise travel seats and their 'stuff' and thats another 200+ kg.....

...and then there's the cop out 'manufacturers tolerance' of +/- 5%......

this is why it is VITALLY important to have the van actually weighed prior to signing as it may not be the weight on the chit...

im not trying to put you off buying a MH but merely to raise awareness of the potential for financial disaster if the van wont 'work' for you at your 3.5t limit.....

ill check some 'brochure weights' a bit later and give you a bit more info....

Thanks BB, yes I remember all you said about the weights and the MIRO before, hence why we are thinking 7m will be better than 7.5m, will also fit on the driveway more easily, as I would still like to be able to open the garage door.

Kjell, BB is giving you facts and figure but my gut instinct is that you are unlikely to achieve your ambition of getting everything you want at 3500kg. We did it with a decent payload but our van is only a 6.4m two berth. I fear you may need a rethink.

As for insurance, you'd probably be best to discuss it with an insurance company. We use NFU who are very helpful. The full NCD was transferred to the MH and it came out at almost the same price as our Shogun had been. That may give you some clues. Overnight parking has the same bearing on insuring our MH as it does a car. 

They need to be used on a regular basis as well Kjell, doesnt do them any good standing for weeks on end, so this is something else to consider. We always toured all four seasons with caravan, so for us, getting out and about all year wasnt an issue. It is just so much easier with the MH.

Engine will be a big factor for us as well when we change. Reliability, mileage, ability to cope with some big hills. Having had prior experience with Fiat, both dealerships and Fiat in Italy, we were not impressed. 

And although 4 belted seats, only 2 berth + 1 optional.

So not ideal.

We gave the vans a miss, all except a lovely brand new Eriba. That just oozed quality. OH would have one like a shot, always been something he liked. 

I looked at one of those ten years ago - bought it then and there - and have never been to another show or showroom since. 

They are nice, but even the largest pop top is too small for us with two big dogs.