Avida Sapphire? Thoughts

[im2xtreem]

G'day camper guru's.

A mate has been looking around for a while now, for a van or camper big enough for both himself and his daughter to travel around Australia in for around 2 years comfortably. He is after something that can be taken along general dirt tracks and corrugations but not serious off-road terrain so maybe Oodnandada but not the Tele. He attended the Sydney 4wd show last weekend and after looking at everything there, thought that the Avida Sapphire fitted all his needs. He does have some concerns such as the vans overall size and its longevity with the types of tracks we have here in Oz.

I was hoping that there might possibly be an owner or some one on here would have some knowledge on either the Sapphire specifically or even Avida as a company and the quality of their product and service. The quality of the van looks good but I am not naive enough to know that builders can make anything LOOK good while still selling a sub-standard product...look at used car salesman! lol As such, ANY information you can give me to pass onto my friend would be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards
Shayne

[Bird]

http://www.avidarv.com.au/caravans/sapphire

this place?

[achjimmy]

This is the company that formally went by winabago in Australia. Before that they were freeway and made slide on campers. They should know how to build a van. I have only seen one near the factory getting tyres fitted. Looked a tad low to me. Jaycos are being taken around Australia everyday and across the GRR. Preped and driven sensibly and most vans will go most places but ground clearance is handy.

[ddr]

Get him to check the warranty, a lot of van manufacturers exclude any warranty work if you take it across corrugations.  Corrugations will kill a van quicker than serious offroad.  If he wants something to stand up to endless days of corrugations, buy something built for it.  It will cost more but you can see it in the build.

[Bird]

Jaycos are being taken around Australia everyday and across the GRR. Preped and driven sensibly and most vans will go most places but ground clearance is handy.

you may wanna check the warranty  on Jayco's too about offroad use.... I believe its been mentioned here before similar to DDR's post.

[dazzler]

. Looked a tad low to me. Jaycos are being taken around Australia everyday and across the GRR. Preped and driven sensibly and most vans will go most places but ground clearance is handy.

x 2

[im2xtreem]

G'day Guy's,
Sorry for the delay in replying all but I have been flat out at work lately. Thanks for all the great replies.

http://www.avidarv.com.au/caravans/sapphire

this place?

YES..That is the place.

Get him to check the warranty, a lot of van manufacturers exclude any warranty work if you take it across corrugations.  Corrugations will kill a van quicker than serious offroad.  If he wants something to stand up to endless days of corrugations, buy something built for it.  It will cost more but you can see it in the build.

 I asked my friend about the warranty on the Sapphire and he told me it was covered for 2 years and 1000000km's but I am not sure of the fine print. He said he spoke to the guy at the Sydney 4wd & Camping Show about it and was told that if they are designated off road then they are covered off-road BUT I would still want to read the fine print on that one!

This is the company that formally went by winabago in Australia. Before that they were freeway and made slide on campers. They should know how to build a van. I have only seen one near the factory getting tyres fitted. Looked a tad low to me. Jaycos are being taken around Australia everyday and across the GRR. Preped and driven sensibly and most vans will go most places but ground clearance is handy.

I completely agree with you about the clearance. It is definitely very important in an off road van and the more you have the better it is, as long as it doesn't impinge on stability too much.

I will tell him to look into the above points a lot closer and then reconsider to make sure it is DEFINITELY the right van for him.

CHEERS
Shayne

[ddr]

I asked my friend about the warranty on the Sapphire and he told me it was covered for 2 years and 1000000km's but I am not sure of the fine print. He said he spoke to the guy at the Sydney 4wd & Camping Show about it and was told that if they are designated off road then they are covered off-road BUT I would still want to read the fine print on that one!

There is "offroad" & corrugations, quite different things & some manufacturers list them differently in the warranty.  I bet the sales guy was happy to say it was covered "offroad"

[im2xtreem]

There is "offroad" & corrugations, quite different things & some manufacturers list them differently in the warranty.  I bet the sales guy was happy to say it was covered "offroad"

VERY good point! If you don't ask the right questions then you they can make anything sound good. I will pass that on to him.

 
Shayne