The ULTIMATE luxury British campervan? Mercedes M-Star from Auto-Sleepers with rear lounge
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- Опубліковано 22 сер 2024
- Peter Vaughan gets an exclusive first test of Auto-Sleepers first Mercedes Sprinter campervan, the M-Star. With leather upholstery, Alde radiator heating and a separate shower, this £125,000 premium camper takes on the best in its class.
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◼️ REVIEWED BY: Peter Vaughan, Group Motorhome Road Test Editor for MMM magazine and What Motorhome magazine Editor. Peter has been writing about motorhomes since the age of 14, has a love of touring France and is mad about old Italian sports cars.
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Definitely a lot to love but I’d prefer to see a drop down bed in the back (my days of setting up the bed every night are over) and would like at least 2 of the windows to be openable 👍
I don't think that I would bother with cushion juggling at bed time. I'd just put a blanket over the seat and get my sleeping bag out. It would give both people easy access to the bathroom in the night without disturbing the other one.
🎉
@@tonysutton6559😂
😢
@@tonysutton6559and
Imagine taking this van (in a very dark colour and non-opening windows) to the Med in Summer !!!!! Yes, I know it has air con but that's not the real answer in my opinion; this van will bake. It would possibly be a slightly different story in a much lighter colour but as shown it would definitely be a no from me, thank you very much. Excellent review again Peter.
Other exterior colours are available, but I agree re trips to the Med
Thanks for the review, nicely done. Although not the Alde system the Westfalia Columbus and Sven Hedin (plus others in Europe) have had wet heating/radiators of their own design for many years, plus under floor heating throughout too and it's one of the main reasons we have gone for the Sven over any other MAN TGE / Sprinter option.
Would have liked to have seen fly screens for that one sunny day of the year, glad I have a C1 licence too.
It’s ok but for the price I think the kitchen and bathroom storage should be much better, a cheap plastic cutlery tray too, that should be a wooden one. I wouldn’t pay £115,000 for this without some of these things up graded.
The prices are all getting out of reach for even moderately successful people.
I don't think I have ever seen so much wasted space. It does not help that the layout is my most loathed. I just don't get it and yet I know it is popular with a lot of people.
Agree, that's pants, sorry but not the best use of a large van!
Not my favourite layout but lots of Brits love it!
However good the design is Auto sleepers do have issues with build quality control, and currently very serious issues with warranty administration.
Good video thank you, and a good review. Yes some tweaks needed, and agree with the cutlery drawer and others required. I wonder what the living area head height is? If you’re over 6’ tall it may be a squeeze, helped by the concave overhead lockers. Opening windows - definately required and dark tint - a less dark tint and privacy blinds for decent natural light in the living area would be good.
Glad it was helpful!
Peter, Love your reviews. This is a very desirable UK design. I’d love to so a 3 way head to head review between this, the RP Explorer 2 and the WildAx Altair, to see which you think is best value for money. I think it’s the RP but I’d love to hear what you think. Regards.
I love the more bespoke build of the RP, too, but their lead times are long, so don't delay on ordering if that's what you want
Good review Peter but too many compromises for me, needs a fixed bed and front dinette. Auto-Sleepers look great from the outside but the lack of opening windows is what has always put me off them. Cheers K.
Look out for my review of the Adria Twin Max, coming soon!
Why not put this on a larger 4.25 T chassis. I mean you would still need the same licence and you would get a much better payload. For an extra 350kg you have a lot of hassle retaining your C1 licence. As for a 70L water tank on a van like this, they’re having a laugh. For £115,000 I would be looking for something a lot better than this. I don’t even like the rear lounge layout, much prefer proper beds at the back. To be honest this van looks like auto sleeper just have not done their homework. The wildax Elara is the better option, but only if it was available with a larger payload. Thanks for the excellent review as usual Peter, but no thanks. I will be sticking with my new Rapido V68 when it arrives, and it’s £35,000 lighter on the savings. I was really looking forward to seeing this review, but it looks like back to the drawing board for auto sleepers.
I'm sure you'll enjoy your V68 - hope the wait hasn't been too long. You'll probably prefer the Adria Twin Max - video coming soon!
@@MotorhomeCampervan Many thanks Peter, much appreciated. I looked at various vans and the Adria was favourite for a while. But the Rapido V68 won it on price (£8000 cheaper), larger gas provision, Auto gas change over, and Air suspension. But I do like the Adria with its neater blinds, larger garage due to bed being higher, and available orange coloured van. Look forward to your review.
I'm not 100% convinced on the Sprinter as a base for a PVC, they need to make it wider.
Great review! Nice van! Lots of positives however, Forward thinking with some ideas and backward thinking in others! Sorry AS but We will stick with our Warwick XL thanks!!! 🤔😙
nice fan but could see the water tank being ripped off by a high british speed up.
Non opening windows total lack of thinking with the layout it could have so much better they will sell some and I bet you within in a year the customer will be changing but as always a great review
Thanks for your comments
Brilliant review just not sure weather could go down to van after us having motor home just all feels bit cramped already thinking of upgrading to A class in next couple of years when last 2 kids don’t want to come away with us anymore
We've reviewed quite a few A-classes recently, so keep watching! And check out windscreen wipers, driver visibility, rattles, etc, on any A-class before buying
@@MotorhomeCampervan thanks for that will have a watch of them ain’t all motor homes noisy when loaded?? Ours is we new to it only been owners few weeks bought our first one in June so very new to it thanks for reply
Jeff 👍🏽👍🏽
A perfect van for one person if they sacked the nearside bench seat and extended the kitchen top the full length of the van with storage drawers underneath.
I don't think that would have enough sales to warrant a production model but could work as a one-off or self-build
Great but I’d prefer to see a rear travel seat/ rock and roll front bed or travel seat with a front drop down bed like la Strada in such a long van, the fairford layout even in this longer van would be great
Hopefully, Auto-Sleepers will offer alternative layouts in the future.
A drop-down bed would be difficult in a Merc as it's so narrow at roof level compared with the Fiat/Peugeot
that dining table is a shocker - what were they thinking ?
With that price tag i guess owners go out dining and only use it to put their cappuccino or G&T on…
That water tank is going to get bashed and that black flexi connector and 2 wires looked very vulnerable 😮
Haha, I have two little dogs, woof, woof indeed. But they would sleep on the bed with me xx. I do like a proper wine glass, we camp in a tent but I always take a proper glass for evening (u’hum, daytime) drinks.
Its just a Warwick XL. Which is a wonderful thing. Not sure what this adds. AS need some imagination.
The extra width of a Warwick XL makes that van much more useable.
Hi Peter just thinking of what sort of coach built you could get for that amount of money. Over priced IMO for a panel van, although nice autosleeper finish
With the dark windows and the cupboards that seem to exacerbate the look of the way that the van body narrows the camper looks quite claustrophobic and the fact that the windows don't open doesn't help.
The opening back doors do make up for some of that on nice days but I think that they have missed a trick by not having a small rear awning that might allow you to keep the doors 1/2 open in a light shower or give a bit of shade on sunny days.
Our smaller dog would turn his nose up at that space and just get up on the seat/bed.
Hope your dog likes the leather then!
My dog wouldn't stay on the floor, either.
115 grand? Hmm, some of the A/S detail on the woodwork, back door liners, side door, cupboards and drawers looks very cottage-industry and amateurish to me. The choice of materials, the two silly tables, all look typical of where A/S is now and I think that they really need to take a hard look at that and start thinking in a more automotive way.
The narrowness of the Sprinter does compromise the spaces between the beds and the kitchen/shower areas and I think the whole thing might be better offered without air-con, solar panels etc. The ground clearance of the underside fittings also looks dubious to me.
No longer an owner, but I think a well specced Pimento XL is a far better bet.
Love the Pimento XL - see ua-cam.com/video/bfHBCKwgIrs/v-deo.html
It was one of our Campervan Awards winners last year - www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/motorhomes/information/campervan-awards-official-homepage
I’m not keen on that twin bench layout, I’d want fixed beds with external storage for this money. I don’t really want a huge gas oven in a van conversion especially as storage is a bit limited here. Not being able to open the windows is weird and that table is a bit pathetic. The new Wildax Altairs seem to be doing a better job of being a large van conversion (although Wildax can’t do a decent bathroom).
The Auto Sleeper seems to fall between two stools - those who want a comfy motorhome with home comforts for wet weekends in Wales and those who want a van with air con and off grid capacity for hitting the road across Europe - so I wonder who AutoSleeper are targeting this at.
There are some nice features but it’s not for me.
Trouble is that Sprinters aren't very wide across the rear so only 'short' people could sleep in an end fixed bed.
@@gasgas2689 it’s a long wheel based van so ‘German style’ fixed beds (like in our Malibu) could go in and this would create under bed storage accessible from outside for things like chairs and hook up cables. Admittedly it would lose any kind of lounge area (and there’s no half dinette in this van either) but I can’t say that two opposing benches really make the comfiest looking place to sit. Even a classic U shaped lounge would seem cosier. The Wildax Altair comes either German style or with a U lounge in a long wheel based (MAN) van with lots of extras, looks great and still under £100k.
The Auto Sleeper is a nice looking vehicle and extras like the air con seem impressive but that layout seems neither one thing or another. Maybe that’s fine in a relatively low budget vehicle but at £115k this is, well, meh.
@@philipellis7039 yes, when Peter was sitting on one side, his knees were more than half way across the centre aisle, so two people couldn't sit opposite each other without clashing knees. I have looked at the A/S kingham with what we call a French bed plus a washroom by its side. Going into the washroom means your elbows and shoulders are rubbing against the side walls, which is why I didn't buy one. Panel vans, all of them, are just too narrow for my liking. And the Alde heating is something I wouldn't want, more potential trouble with fluid leakage and annual maintenance costs.
Look out for my review of the Adria Twin Max, coming soon. Similar size, fixed beds, MAN chassis
@@MotorhomeCampervan I saw your short video on that, looks amazing. I’ve seen the Knaus equivalent which is great but maybe doesn’t have the wow factor that the Adria seems to have. I like quite a functional motorhome but at £100k (and more for the Adria at a guess) you want a bit of wow.
A couple of compromises for a premium price. If it's what you want I'm sure it makes a good buy. The lack of space between the seating areas to be able to eat comfortably is a big negative.
Peter, in your considered opinion - this Auto-Sleeper M-Star or the MAN TGE-based Dormobile Ballintraea - which represents better VFM and which is better to drive?
(btw, loving the humour in your reviews👍)
They are VERY different beasts, so hard to compare. However, the MAN (or VW Crafter) remains my favourite large van to drive
My only worry is the water tank under the van, it's extremely low and I'd have great concerns of damaging it. I know for a fact there are better places for it to be fixed, a longer and slimmer tank would be better and very possible.
An inboard tank is always better for winter camping, too
@@MotorhomeCampervan Keep bringing these great videos and reviews, I love them.
@@scoutfinch47 Thank you - we will!
Great review Peter.
Nice van, but too expensive for the numerous compromises and changes I would need.
RP Rebellion gets my vote every time.
To many compromises for me, and AS haven’t got a great reputation for build quality, think I would have the Grand California first
With you all the way on build quality (from personal experience). Also a really shameful guarantee. The electrical components are only covered for one year... definitely a cause for concern with the notorious Sargent electrics.
Far too many compromises for a 100k+ van. Can't rotate drivers seat with the table up, can't open windows, faffing around with cushions to make a bed, looks like very compromised storage too with that daft big oven unit and microwave... Great review though Peter!
Can we buy this Van in Europe (Netherland) left hand drive?
I'm not sure if a LHD version is planned - suggest you talk to your nearest A-S dealer or to the factory
I just saw the price in the description. I take it the customers for this van are minted retirees? I can't imagine a seasoned motorhomer would even think of spending this kind of money on what is essentially a converted van. The conversion looks like every other conversion so why the hefty price tag. I don't see anything premium on this van.
I think it’s a nice van…But the usual Auto Sleeper layout will never be for me….as in rear lounge and no fixed bed option. This 7 meter + van would be perfect for a transverse bed option.🤷🏻♂️👍
Sadly, the Merc is too narrow for a transverse bed
Making up the bed every night and sitting in the dark nit being able to open a window 😮 what are they thinking
Doesn’t seem to be much space inside given the length of it.
the way the underslung tanks empty look like a self build, not £115K
One word sums it up for me on a van costing £115,000….Disappointing
Nice Van revue Peter, but in your honest opinion how would this model compare to the RP motorhome Explorer model, seeing that they are based on the same MB chassis.
The Explorer would be much more expensive, I specced one earlier this year and it was £180000!
@@freeley34 But the Auto sleeper will be up there in that region when finally specs on options are priced in...my query wasn't on price but on quality of fitments and standard kit.
Love the RP, but I'd go for the Rebellion for extra storage (if I could afford one!)
@@MotorhomeCampervan They now do that rear-end storage on the Explorer range now.
Why would AC be standard on European RVs? The approaching Ice Age will render AC obsolete in northern climates. I can imagine people in the equatorial zones needing to use AC during the warmer months but we won't be needing AC for a long time.
"The approaching Ice Age" will be preceeded by the world catching fire. Don't hold your breath.
Surely to be a motorhome or camper would it need opening windows
I hope that this silly concept of non-opening windows is also, like the TV bracket, part of the "prototyping stage" of this costly van...
£115k for that.
AS have lost the plot.
No way in hell that’s worth 120k, we get completely ripped off in Europe and in particular England on all camper vans, the American spec campers make our campers look like Poundland campers
I'm sorry, but this channel is full of American viewers saying how much better European 'vans are. Campervans in the USA cannot generally match the build quality over here.
MMM = 333 & CCC = 333
Too long and they haven’t used that length well. I mean 7+ metres and you have to make the bed up at night.
Some buyers still want the BIG lounge, though
That table size is ridiculous.
Those waste fittings look cheap as chips.
😎🍷🚍⚓️🇬🇧👍
Hopeless design appalling 😢
Come on at around £115,000 with no opening windows and a waste tank to damage u must be Joking.
Not a very good layout, no opening windows, terrible positioning of the waste tank. Not very impressive! Plenty of better options at a much better price.
Not for me. Make bed at night no thanks.
Not too impressed. Van life builds do a much better vehicle for a lot less.
That bed sucks… a no go for 98% of the people
Use the singles then? - no work at all
Sorry but you talk to slow, even on 1.5 speed you pauses are to large. Great review thanks
Peter please do not change your style because of this comment.
He's not an auctioneer.
Very poor effort from Auto-Sleepers and ridiculously over priced at that.
Where do you keep an outside table and chairs, bbq, muddy boots etc. 4 burner hob, ha! Cook a feast and eat off your knee. Want to take a couple of bikes? How exactly. Two people cant sit facing each other in bench seat unless you interlock all legs together. Extortionate money for an extremely unpractical layout, badly designed van.
Outside gear would need to go under the rear seat, bikes on a rack at the back
Too expensive for that money I could buy a SWIFT KONTIKI 894 with a Tag Axle
Size and price aren't always directly linked. The Merc is a more expensive chassis for a start
😂😂😂😂😂 £115,000 😂😂😂😂😂😂
I dunno - adverts every 4 minutes - GIVE US A BREAK!!!
I gave up watching this after 12 minutes
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