Pure Vantage March 2024 Vantage Motorhomes - Pure Vantage Welcome to the March issue of our customer newsletter Pure Vantage, keeping you, our customers and enthusiasts, updated on everything that's happening here at Vantage Motorhomes. February was very hectic with the NEC show and our Factory Open Days. Our thanks go to everyone who visited us, either in Birmingham or in Leeds, and we offer a warm welcome to our many new owners who’ve decided to join the Vantage Family. We are committed to building you a great motorhome or campervan and we will stay in touch throughout the process. We are here to answer any questions and to make sure you get the Vantage that is perfect for your needs. If you’re sitting at home wondering about your options - ‘Should I have gone for a fly screen or what about another solar panel?’ - have a chat with one of our team to talk it through. Or, you can talk to other Vantage owners for their personal experiences and views (info below on how to do that). At this time of year we’ve got owners who’ve headed south and are touring through Spain to enjoy some warm weather (we hear it’s been amazing), and others who have headed north for snow and skiing, as well as many who are still enjoying days out or mini breaks in the UK. For those of you who wait until spring before you venture out, well, it’s just around the corner! Michael Hardicker – Managing Director NEC Show 2024 Michael says, ‘I’d like to give a big thank you to our Vantage team, whether they were at the NEC, back in the factory staying on track with our build programme, or helping out at our Factory Open Days. Thanks to everyone! It was a very busy show. The interest in motorhomes and campervans - with all the benefits they bring from days away and mini-breaks, to holidays, not to mention some pretty great adventures - continues to grow. Our new campervan, the Vantage Motion R, got lots of attention You can read a review from the show by Practical Motorhome’s Peter Byrne. And, at the weekend following the show, we hosted our Factory Open Days… Dave points out all the wood finishes and colour options Want to visit us at our Leeds Factory Showroom? You don’t need to wait for our next Factory Open Day! Email us to arrange a visit. Spring is just around the corner The spring equinox is on 20th March this year and, of course, it’s closely followed by Easter at the end of the month. If you’ve had your van in mothballs over the winter it’s time to get ready for spring. We’re sure that you’ll have been planning some trips and outings, especially these past few weeks, and the great thing about your own motorhome or campervan is that you can be spontaneous – or plan to be! A break in the weather and you can be off in no time. You don’t need to go far to find yourself with a new view and some new spots for great walks, or a blast of sea air perhaps, to revive the senses. Thinking about your first motorhome or campervan? At Vantage Motorhomes we have a great range of panel van conversions and pop-top campervans. Starting at just 4.97m metres and going to 6.3 metres, we’ve options to suit the most discerning customer. If you have been dreaming of your own van and haven’t taken the plunge yet, we’ve got a great selection of new and pre-loved vehicles and could have you on the road in no time. You could be ready to enjoy the motorhoming lifestyle in just a couple of weeks and you’ll have the whole year ahead of you. Upsizing or downsizing? Thinking about trading in your existing motorhome or campervan? Whether going bigger or smaller, we can help. Your experience over the years has led you to this place. You know what you want, what you need and what works for you. You’ve decided that it’s time for a Vantage! Give us a call on 0113 244 4131 or come to see us. Use our website Check out the virtual tours on our website and consider your options. Picture yourself spending time in a Vantage. What’s important to you? You’re ready for a quality finish, a high level of comfort, carpentry that means drawers and cupboards that are a pleasure to use. Not just the big things, but the little things that mean time spent in your Vantage is everything you want it to be. Book a test drive Come and visit us at our factory showroom and take a test drive. Spend the day making sure you make the best choice for your needs. Email us, or call us on 0113 244 4131. Check out our awards Over the years we’ve won many awards and we’re still winning them. You’ll see them in our comfortable reception area. We are very proud that so many of our awards are voted for by customers sharing their experiences with Practical Motorhome in the respected annual Owner Satisfaction Awards. Speak to other Vantage owners Our new owners, or those thinking of joining the Vantage family, may prefer to speak to Vantage owners direct. You can request to join the friendly owners’ group on Facebook. Set up by NEO owners Linda and Karen, you’ll find lots of help and info on what options are recommended from first-hand experience. It’s a private and very friendly group where Vantage owners share their experiences, make recommendations based on their travels and generally help each other get the most out of their Vantages. It’s highly recommended. Take the next step Email us, or call us on 0113 244 4131. Manager’s Choice Just in! Dave says, ‘This 61 plate Vantage MED is just in and could be the perfect way to start your Vantage journey. It’s had two owners and is in very good condition. It has 61,395 miles on the clock and has a 6-speed manual transmission with cab air conditioning and cruise control. It was first registered in December 2011. At only 5.4m long this versatile van comes with a comfortable rear lounge with leather trimmed upholstery that converts into a double bed. The kitchen is well-equipped and there’s a fully appointed bathroom. It has been fitted with an external TV / satellite point. It doesn’t have a roof-mounted aerial but one could easily be fitted. Dave adds, ‘You can see more photos and get all the details here. Please give me a call on 0113 242 6611, or email me, to take a test drive.’ How to load your motorhome As it’s coming up to the start of the season this could be a handy reminder, or if you’re new to motorhoming, this is a very helpful article from Practical Motorhome. One of the many joys of owning a motorhome or campervan is being able to take a lot more of your clothes, belongings and accessories with you on your travels. Modern motorhomes are simply packed with brilliant storage options: there are overhead lockers, external hatches, and underseat and underbed spaces. In this guide, you’ll be talked through the process of how to load your motorhome. Read the full article here. Recent handovers We thought we’d get some of the factory team in on the act! How great that Ian and Jackie got to meet Steve, who is the Vantage team member who was responsible for the build of their EOS. Our first 24 Plate Van leaves the factory Ian & Jackie, along with Steve (centre) who built their van, collecting the first 24 plate van of the year The EOS is a favourite of owners who like a lot of boot space. Steve and Anna collecting their SOL are pictured with Ian from PDI Jamie (service & PDI) with Jane, David and Flossy the dog collecting their pre-loved MED this afternoon. Flossy was paying very close attention to Jamie but if she has any questions after handover day, the team is always around to answer and we’ve a few doggy tips below. Pets in your motorhome or campervan A special feature for Flossy A great benefit for many of our Vantage owners is the opportunity to take their beloved pets with them on trips and holidays. Rule 57 of The Highway Code states, “When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in [vehicles].” Travelling abroad with your dog(s) The requirements for travelling with your dog have changed since Brexit. If you are travelling to an EU or a non-EU country you’ll need to check the latest guidelines to make sure you know what is required before you travel. Currently when travelling to an EU country or Northern Ireland, your pet needs the following: a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, and an animal health certificate (unless you have a pet passport issued in an EU country or Northern Ireland). If you’re travelling directly to Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway or Malta, your dog will need a tapeworm treatment. Check out the latest UK Government info here. This also covers your cat. We don’t know of any of our owners who’ve taken their cat abroad with them – or indeed on trips closer to home - and we would love to see photos if anyone has. This info also covers taking your ferret with you too…well why not! There’s lots of info and it should answer all your questions, and some you’ve probably not even thought of. Owners’ Photos You may remember last month we had photos from Angela and Michael celebrating their 500th night in their EOS. Thanks to Angela for this magical sunset in the snow taken on that trip The couple are now on their way to 600! Thanks to Frances for sending us a collection of photos from 2023 which she tells us included trips to Port Patrick, Stranraer and other favourite spots in Scotland, as well as to the other end of the country with a run out to Saltash in Cornwall. Beautiful towns and medieval villages in France and a wonderful trip to Spain last February were also a part of a great 2023. A lunch with a view Beautiful rural France That’s certainly an interesting spot for the night! Frances says, ‘A rather intimidating pitch in Calp.’ And finally, thanks to Julie who says ‘ First trip away this year, close to home in Northumberland, it has felt like a long, wet winter. We are looking forward to better weather for more van adventures this year with our new co-driver and watch-dog Prince Bruno. If you look closely he’s at the window checking for intruders or in this case ducks and rabbits.’ We’d love to hear from YOU! If you’re planning a special trip, have recommendations for other Vantage owners, or some snaps from your travels, please do get in touch. Email us at hello@vantagemotorhomes.co.uk and you may feature in future editions of Pure Vantage or on our Social Media pages. Part Exchange Part exchange your current motorhome or caravan whatever the make or model against a new Vantage Motorhome! Don’t Forget......... We are able to offer you the opportunity to part exchange your current motorhome or caravan, whatever the make or model, against a new Vantage Motorhome. Tell your friends! If you would like to discuss any aspect of our part exchange scheme please contact a member of the Vantage Sales Team on 0113 244 4131. Vantage Used Stock Required! Due to the high level of enquiries we are receiving we are actively looking to buy used Vantage Motorhomes. If you are considering selling your Vantage Motorhome or indeed trading it in for a new Vantage, then don't delay - please contact a member of the Sales Team to discuss further. VISIT WWW.VANTAGEMOTORHOMES.CO.UK | 0113 242 6611 | EMAIL US |