Price difference.

Possibly because they cost more new on a like for like on size basis. Conversion is more difficult - they can’t put the furniture in and then plonk the body on top so it’s more labour intensive. The hab bodies can’t be mass produced and it all adds to cost.

PVCs are far less prone to damp problems or damage caused by our Cornish hedges. You pay for that privilege. Less is more.

Look on the bright side, the resale value will also be greater than a coach built. 

PS. Another thought - converters buy cab/chassis units by the thousands to built coachbuilt backs on so they’ll get them at a hefty discount. PVCs are converted from vans/minibuses and there’s likely to be less of them bought by converters at less of a discount. It reflects in the selling price to us.

Thanks Tinwheeler, some good points there.

I’ve just edited.

It’s always been the way, TJ. 

I doubt they leak as much as coach builds as well, a major plus!🤔

As TW alludes to I suspect it is the initial cost of the bare van that adds to the cost. They still have to be fitted out which is probably not as easy as a coachbuilt where most of the innards are added before the sides and roof. Many builders of coachbuilts will only buy the cab from the manufacturer and add the chassis themselves. 

David

Thanks to everyone. Now time to choose !!

What are you tending towards, TJ?

Have you checked out Eden at Scorrier? The current owner was a manager at Marquis and I’ve noticed he often has a fair stock of Autosleepers. Make of that what you will. 

Van conversions cost more because they are much more labour intensive to build.

Hymer built a complete motorhome on the production line in about 90 minutes (with lots of prefabrication having been done) whereas a Panel Van Conversion takes much longer.

However it is not by chance that self builders call coach built vans  "flimsies"  

I have little doubt van conversions have better residual values simply because buyers have a great deal more confidence in their integrity than the savvy have in coachbuilts.

If ?we ever decided to get another camper it would be an Autosleeper,as they are one of the very few manufacturers that the base vehicle is not just a normal panel van coversion, 

They have real hermetic?glass windows and they also  have a service centre at their factory