13th October 2023
After over 2 years of waiting, our new motorhome was finally ready to pick up from the dealership (TMD Motorhomes) on the 13th October 2023. Whilst it has seemed like a very long time since we placed the order, we had the benefit of the continued use of the Bailey while we waited, so it really was no hardship. Even though there was a significant time period between deal and delivery, TMD Motorhomes and Burstner honoured the original deal. This despite a 15% increase in the price of the Burstner during that period.
So, on the 13th October I drove the old Bailey to Redditch and we did the swap over. The Bailey was given a thorough check, especially for damp, before I was then introduced to the Burstner Lyseo Harmony 744. It differs in a number of ways to the Bailey but keeps the rear lounge layout we like:
| Burstner Lyseo Harmony 744 [2023] | Bailey Autograph 79-6 [2019] |
| 140BHP Deisel with Automatic gearbox | 160BHP Deisel with manual gearbox |
| 7.5m long and 3850 Kgs | 7.96m long and 4250 kgs |
| Electric drop-down kingsize bed | Kingsize bed made from rear seats |
| Single level insulated floor | |
| Fiat Cab | Peugeot Cab |
| Truama heating | Alde heating |
| European opening habitation door (right) | UK opening habitation door (left) |
I gingerly drove it home, trying to figure out the cab controls as I went. Initial impressions were good – less clatter and rattle, a higher driving position and that new vehicle smell. Having arrived home safely I soon realised that I had to reverse it onto my hardstanding because the habitation door was on the other side. That’s a test of the nerves on the first day, but the large reversing camera made the event thankfully uneventful.
I then spent the next few days finding places for everything that we had accumulated in the Burstner over 4 years. Surprisingly almost all of it found a home, at least temporarily whilst we get to know it a little better. Now to plan the first trip.