Lotus Caravan

Submitted: Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 18:06

ThreadID: 83386 Views:5790 Replies:7 FollowUps:8

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Where to Start

This non-biased article provides a practical outline of the major features to consider when contemplating buying a caravan (new or used) and should help you settle upon your main requirements before

Justwanderin

Happy New Year to all. I'm new to this website but after having a look at the postings I though I would ask for some feedback regarding our recently ordered Lotus Trooper (20 ft). The aim being to upgrade our current Jayco Pop top to allow us to get off the black stuff without things falling apart. So just wondering if anyone with a Lotus and can give me feedback on their experience with the van.

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Reply By: - mazcan - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 18:20

Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 18:20

hi justwandering
shouldn't you have asked this question prior to ordering your new lotus van
what will you do if negative feed back is received in quantity
cant help but curious about the ?? timing
happy new year to you too
cheers

AnswerID: 440481

Follow Up By: skulldug - Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 07:58

Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 07:58

Hi Mazcan. Your advice is a bit late isn't is? Am wondering why you gave it?
skull :)

FollowupID: 712451

Follow Up By: Gone Bush (WA) - Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 12:31

Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 12:31

Skull, shouldn't you be wondering why the OP asked the question AFTER he put his money down?

Mazcan's question/observation is spot on.

It seems that people asking these questions after already making the purchase are actually looking for confirmation that they have made a good decision.

My personal opinion, and I would have expanded on this if Iwas asked BEFORE purchase, is that both current owners asking about their Trakmaster and Lotus purchases have bought mediocre vans that will prove troublesome in the future.

In my opinion, and I agree that people are free to ignore it, if money is not an issue there are only TWO full off-road vans worth buying and they are Bushtracker and Spinifex. I will go further and say that inside 5 years Spinifex will be the top of the pile.

cheers

I'm glad I ain't too scared to be lazy
- Augustus McCrae (Lonesome Dove)

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FollowupID: 712472

Follow Up By: Gronk - Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 14:23

Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 14:23

Strange how the Gall brothers can drag a Kedron thru all sorts of extreme off road stuff and not get a mention ???

FollowupID: 712481

Reply By: Cruiser .- Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 18:32

Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 18:32

justwanderin,

I have a Lotus Sprint 2 which is 4 years old and to be honest, I have not had any real problems with it.

Sure there are problems with all vans, but mine have been minimal, so hopefully your experiences will be the same.

Cheers,

Cruiser

AnswerID: 440483

Reply By: OREJAP - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 19:48

Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 19:48

Hi There & happy new year to you. We have a Jayco Outback & think it is fantastic. Have driven carefully down some very rough tracks & nothing broke!!! Friends had a Lotus & sold it after about 8 mths...not happy with it at all things fell apart & decided to sell prior to anything further happening. I wonder why you no ask questions prior to looking at one & certainly before you buy anyway I suppose things just happen for a reason. Hope you have many splendid trips iwith your Lotus.

AnswerID: 440490

Reply By: Gone Bush (WA) - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 20:56

Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 20:56

That's two Threads today asking for opinions on vans that have already been ordered.

A search of the Forum would have revealed comments about both Trakmaster and Lotus that could possibly have caused you to ask for your deposits back (both brands).

Good luck.

I'm glad I ain't too scared to be lazy
- Augustus McCrae (Lonesome Dove)

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog Send Message

AnswerID: 440500

Follow Up By: Witi Repartee - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 22:06

Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 22:06

Frankly, if this site had a decent search function maybe it would make it easier for people to find subjects/threads. I did a search yesterday on Nissan Wheel studs which knew was on here and had to wade thru hundreds of largely irrelevant threads. Gave up in the end...found it easier on anotherforum.

FollowupID: 712429

Follow Up By: sassenach.girl - Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 15:19

Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 15:19

I agree, which is why I don't use the search function. Instead, I find more relevant information using google to search the EO website:

For example:

lotus caravan exploroz

OR

lotus caravan site:exploroz.com

FollowupID: 712488

Reply By: pojo - Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 10:46

Monday, Jan 03, 2011 at 10:46

Have just received our Lotus Trackvan waited 8 mths. for it to be built ,we are very satisified with the van as usual we had a few problems that have to be fixed ,our problems started when we went back to the dealer at the sunshine coast qld. they were not interested in helping us and told us we would have to deal with LOTUS direct to get these fixed. I found that once we had paid them our money they were not interested in helping us at all we would not recommend dealing with this dealer as it was him we paid the money to. Have now contacted Lotus and are in the process of having the problems rectifier in Coffs harbour My advice to anybody is to not pay or take receivership of their van until they are satisfied and DONOT trust dealers who say they will fix things later

AnswerID: 440552

Reply By: Justwanderin - Sunday, Jan 09, 2011 at 15:06

Sunday, Jan 09, 2011 at 15:06

Wow, as someone new to this forum I'm not sure I want to post any more questions. Thankyou to those who added responses that were helpful, from people who had Lotus vans! I don't thank thank those who seem to have a chip on their shoulder. Glad I didn't pay any money to become a member at this stage. Such a shame as there seems to be lots of good information here.

AnswerID: 441253

Follow Up By: Gone Bush (WA) - Sunday, Jan 09, 2011 at 17:08

Sunday, Jan 09, 2011 at 17:08

Justwanderin, petal....,

you are being a bit precious.

You should have told us that you only wanted answers that supported your decision.

A decision that was already made.

If you wanted your ego massaged it won't happen on ANY internet forum so don't pick on this one.

What did Jack Nicholson say in "A Few Good Men"?

I'm glad I ain't too scared to be lazy
- Augustus McCrae (Lonesome Dove)

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog Send Message

FollowupID: 713266

Follow Up By: 3GoBush - Sunday, Jan 09, 2011 at 23:43

Sunday, Jan 09, 2011 at 23:43

Justwanderin

Don't worry about Gone Bush as he is a serial pest, his comments don't justify his membership to be honest, he is probably just another small man with a small man syndrome.

Unfortunately there are a few on this site that would rather tare you down than give you a reasonably response, these people could never make the grade when it comes to responsible answerers, unfortunately most of the people that used to give a responsible response have either left or been banned.

There are plenty of other great sites out there that can and will help without the rubbish you have to put up with here, they may boast about being the biggest 4wd caravanning and camping site, but it most certainly is not the best.

FollowupID: 713336

Follow Up By: Gone Bush (WA) - Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 09:06

Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 09:06

At least I'm a paid up serial pest.

I'm glad I ain't too scared to be lazy
- Augustus McCrae (Lonesome Dove)

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog Send Message

FollowupID: 713349

Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Sunday, Jan 09, 2011 at 15:16

Sunday, Jan 09, 2011 at 15:16

I dont think that the members who answered have a chip on their shoulder at all.
As said it would be too bad if you spent your money and only got bad comments.
Some of those who answered probably have a lot of vanning experience and so offered their opinion which is what you asked for.

Maybe not about other makes but still sensible.

Its the timing and how you ask that gets the answers.

It also helps if you say how far off the blackstuff you want to go as some vans will do mild off road and some will do hardcore off road and some wont do it at all.

Personally I would ask first about the several makes you have perhaps looked at and ask for opinions on all of them, then spend my money.

There are dedicated Caravan forums as well with make specific threads.

You will always get those who differ from ones ideas and thats what a forum is about..

AnswerID: 441255