Which base vehicle?

Without a doubt the Mercedes auto is the top Base vehicle.   It is expensive though, so most volume Motor home builders go for the cheap option, the Fiat ducato.  The ducato is OK though. 

K 

Sorry, slip of the tongue/stylus. I do indeed mean the 3L Fiat on which the Bessacarr was built and, during the time we had it, and the immediate years following, I am not aware of any fix being offered. They fixed the smaller sized engine versions but not the 3L. Incidentally, the judder is still present in our 2017 Peugeot but is not nearly so noticeable. Maybe until a different make has been experienced, the issue isn’t obvious.

I think Fiat have endeared thenselves to the MH market by offering the purpose built chassis versions and doubtless supply them to the manufacturers at favourable prices. 

Err, yes I’d be willing to give Renault a try. Why not? And if we’re talking PVC, then it’s unlikely a Lunar would be leaky. Are Lunar no longer producing the Merc based PVCs? They were still on forecourts only a matter of months ago. 

Lunar PVCs, yes they could be, but they are Huge.....but confess I haven't seen one for a few months......

I think the idea there is that the cachet of the Merc base would dispel doubts over the conversion....

I realise this may not apply to PVCs but any converter that can build a van (lunar) without a single external storage opening would demonstrate they don't understand that MHs sometimes have wet/dirty kit to find a home for.....yes, their caravans might not need it as there will be a tow car.....yet, the caravans generally have lockers.. 

the rear washroom one seemed a good idea but the lounge is so long, presumably for a single bed configuration.....but it's an almighty PVC for two......if it had Yodel on the side it might look OK....

most PVC makers need to have a good long look at Westfalia to see how good the conversion needs to be to be called top class....

anyway, Renault..?....don't think I could.....that interior/dash is just horrendous.

more upmarket MHs are now replacing original dashboards with bespoke ones to allow a change in (say) seat position to enhance space etc, but retain the Fiat/Merc/Iveco underpinnings...

still plenty to choose from, more if your purchase is further up the price scale....but for the mid market, or a PVC I'd be more than happy with a Ducato (I'm really pleased with this one, a 150)  

The Lunar PVCs at 7m were an immediate no-no for us despite the Merc base vehicle. 

It’s good you’re really pleased with you Ducato. We’re happy enough with the 2L 160 Peugeot but would be happier still if it was the smooth quiet Sprinter. Such is life😀

 I'm now on my third Ducato and they've been faultless (so far), but given the choice I'm sure everyone would go Merc, I would.

I could have gone Iveco but only on larger vans...for our small ish van, the Ducato was the only option....but with three engine choices...

I'm on my fourth and I agree with HBW, that the Ducato is still a damn fine vehicle although ours gets a fairly gentle life compared to its raison d'être...

of course, the Merc is a fine van, too, but it make those vans thus supported (lunar, AS) mightily expensive for their market position.

The Lunar Landstar (Merc Sprinter) is both too long and too narrow for us as we would find it totally impractical.  No, I wouldn't buy a Lunar having had a poor experience with their caravans.  

The motorhome we want is the Auto-Sleeper Bourton (Merc) or Broadway EK TB LP (Peugeot).  We would love the Merc/Sprinter but I think it hard to justify the additional cost for the Sprinter for a vehicle which may not cover more than 4,000 miles annually.

I think there may be a delay in the new Sprinter finding its way into the motorhome market.  I read somewhere that Mercedes are going to release a few models to motorhome builders for prototype testing in September.  My guess is that availability may not be until 2020 in which case we will opt for the Peugeot but with the Fiat auto option fitted.

I think I am right in saying that Renault models are more or less identical to Nissan.  We are on our third Nissan and each one has been excellent.

Personally I’d opt for the Merc as I consider it worth every extra penny but it’s your choice, Q.

I thought the AS auto option consisted of having the Fiat base vehicle rather than the Peugeot. I understood the Peugeot wasn’t available in any sort of auto version - hence the option to have the Fiat instead🤔. Have things changed recently?

It's my understanding that the Renault, Nissan and Vauxhall vans are the same animal.

You are probably right about Fiat option form Auto-Sleeper.  The information on their web site is not very clear and I have not asked a dealer to explain.  I think I prefer a Fiat to a Peugeot.

I almost chose a Fiat car to replace our last Nissan but we found the seats too hard.  Apart from that I liked the Fiat engineering so hope a Ducato will work well.  

It's all a minefield as some people say the the Merc is useless and the Fiat brilliant and vice versa.

In terms of MHs, you have to consider how many people have experience of both base vehicles so they are able to compare. 

As for Peugeot v Fiat, leaving our past disastrous experience of Fiat aside, all I can say is that we found the 2L 160 Peugeot to be smoother and a better performer than the 2.2 150 Fiat.

I’d not be swayed by any experience of cars when it comes to choosing a MH base as, for the most part, the commercial vehicles tend not to share DNA with their domestic counterparts.