Full review

RE-INTRODUCED to the UK for 2007, Italian-built Roller Team motorhomes (sister brand to Ci) aim to offer value for money in well specified vehicles tailored to British buyers – and all are Ford Transit-based.

The 600’s Ford Transit chassis offers a big payload (785kg), 140bhp engine with twin rear wheels, rear-wheel drive and a  six-speed gearbox.

In the cab there’s plenty of good kit on offer as twin airbags, ABS and cruise control all come as standard.

Central-locking and electric windows are present too, but you’ll need to specify your own sound system – no bad thing in these days of DVD, MP3 and iPod.

Aside from an excellent driving position, the latest Tranny also now has its gearlever mounted on the dash.

This makes it much easier to move from cab to living area as you no longer tangle your legs around the old floor-mounted cog stirrer. The cab roof is cutaway too – the slatted, alloy framed luton bed base rising to let you past.

Behind the driving department there’s a layout designed to appeal to families – the upfront pullman dinette offering four belted seats, although the rearward-facers have only lap straps.

In the rear there’s a U-shaped lounge equipped with a heavy and bulky second table that makes sure all the family can sit to eat, but gets in the way of laid back lounging.

At night, six berths in three double beds are created in the overcab, the dinette and the lounge, but don’t think you can junk that heavy table to give more room as it kneels to help make the lounge bed.

The midships area sees offside kitchen offering that essential big fridge/freezer and a mini oven/grill in addition to the three-burner hob. Storing and cooking food for the family should work well, but be aware that general kitchen storage is compromised – the Truma Combi heater steals space as it fills the kitchen’s biggest cupboard.

Opposite the galley, the washroom is all-plastic, easy to clean and family-friendly with good storage and a useful separate shower.

In the scheme of things, the 600 is a useful addition to budget family motorcaravanning, especially as it sits on the tough and much improved Ford Transit.

Its sister model, the Auto-Roller 700 bunk bed 'van, impressed us greatly in our February issue Comparison Test and this is another big Ford coachbuilt for not a lot of cash.

Summary:

Although it’s an unsurprising Itaian coachbuilt, the 600 offers a good specification at a keen price – and the tough Tranny makes it a serious contender.

Fact-file:

Make: Roller Team
Model: Auto-Roller 600
Base vehicle: Ford Transit chassis-cab, 140bhp
Price from: £31,995 on-the-road
Length: 7.24m (23ft 9in)
Width: 2.30m (7ft 6.5in)
Height: 2.95m (9ft 8in)
Gross vehicle weight: 3,850kg
Payload: 785kg
Berths: 6
Travel seats: 6, including driver (2 rear-facing with lap belts)


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