Full review

SQUARELY aimed at families – or full-time motorhomers – and looking quite superb on its tag-axle Al-Ko chassis with double floor, this motorhome makes no apology for its size – all 8.85 metres of it.

Crucial to its family-friendly talents are the six fully belted seats within – four are fitted to the pullman dinette.

Curving luton and a stylish paint job add to the external appeal, while the new Ducato front end looks just right – the old model is rendered a distant-and-boxy memory.

Motorisation is courtesy of Fiat’s brand-new 160 Multijet Power engine that puts out only three less horsepower than its moniker implies and offers big torque for a relaxing drive.

An equally new six-cog transmission also offers the best choice of ratios you’re likely to find.

Storage provision is as massive as the 1.2-tonne payload, with hatches giving access to a double floor cavity almost big enough to be called a basement.

At the rear, a large garage will do the trick of swallowing all the family’s holiday transport and more besides. Make the considerable ascent to gain entry and you’re faced with a stylish, modern interior that’s not too Teutonic in character.

The cab plays no part in the living area, banished as it is behind a sliding door. Even so, there’s plenty of room for relaxation and eating as a long sofa joins the aforementioned dinette.

All this lacks is an infill at the cab end to create a giant L-shaped lounge – but the Reliner sofa is the ultimate in comfort. Further forward, the kid-swallowing luton looks nicely designed and spacious.

Amidships, the kitchen splits itself as the main unit offers an unusual-for-a-European-motorhome, but very welcome, full cooker opposite the kind of big fridge/freezer now considered essential in any ‘van bigger than a Volkswagen-sized camper.

The rear is home to the expected generous over-garage double bed served by an en-suite, created as the toilet room door swings across to block the aisle. Now enclosed are toilet, washbasin, separate shower and wardrobe, with plenty of room to use each.



Big all over, the latest incarnation of Bürstner’s jumbo looks good enough to eat and should perform with aplomb. The old model was a best-seller, so success for this new one is assured.

Summary:

Genuinely capable as a no-holds barred family motorhome, the Argos A747-2 is well built and superbly equipped.

Fact-file:

Make: Bürstner
Model: Argos A747-2
Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato Al-Ko, 157bhp
Price from: £54,750 on-the-road
Length: 8.85m (29ft 0.5in)
Width: 2.30m (7ft 6.5in)
Height: 3.15m (10ft 4in)
Gross vehicle weight: 5,000kg
Payload: 1,200kg
Berths: six
Travel seats: six, including driver

•    This review first appeared in the April 2007 issue of Which Motorcaravan. To subscribe to the magazine, click here.