Peugeot Nuevo II
By Tim Saunders
When does a camper van become a motorhome?
That question puzzled me during my family holiday to the Peak District.
Our ‘home’ for two weeks was a compact four-berth Peugeot Nuevo II ES Auto-Sleeper conversion based on a short-wheel base Peugeot Boxer van.
“A camper van is a panel van conversion,” explained Julie Russell from Marquis Motorhomes, which supplied the vehicle. “We take a standard automotive manufacturer’s van (which may or may not have side windows) and fit a bespoke camping interior.”
She added: “A motorhome is built on a chassis cab, which is where we just purchase the cab and build our own sides, back and roof and fit it to the chassis cab. This creates more room as the coach-built body is usually wider than the cab and the straight walls allow a wider range of interior layouts.”
The Nuevo included sumptuous hardwearing Belgian fabrics, carpets and a wood finish reminiscent of expensive yachts and planes. The seats were easily transformed into a double bed. Two café style tables, stored in the wardrobe, could be easily put up as and when required.
Its kitchen at the rear included a gas cooker, sink and a sizeable rear window, the latter making washing up more bearable. The fridge could be powered by battery or gas.
Probably the cleverest use of space was in the shower room where the toilet turned for the optimum seating position while the sink swivelled to create a wall for the shower.
A neat touch was the fact that the handbrake was at the right of the driver’s seat rather than in the centre as is usually the way. This freed up more space to create a clear walkway throughout making it quicker and easier to get to our baby daughter Harriett when she needed attention – and she did!
The great thing about a motor home is that rather than being tied to campsites it’s possible to ‘wild camp’ wherever you like within reason. Therefore many road-sides became possible sites to park up. The advantages for us far outweighed the disadvantages, which were minimal: no mains electricity or water. So although the microwave and plug sockets didn’t work we could still enjoy hot food, hot showers and watch the TV!
The first night on the outskirts of Oxford was tough because Harriett was not going to sleep in her Moses basket or travel cot. On the second night, however, she slept in the captain’s bunk with its safety rail and curtain. Both my wife and her had their best night’s sleep in seven months!
It’s not often that you can say a vehicle created a truly memorable family holiday.
New price: £47,600
FACTS AT A GLANCE:
Accommodation: four-berth
Engine: 2.2-litre diesel
Power: 130bhp
Economy: 30mpg