I should add.
Happy to hear experiences of both Ducato and Mercedes owners on why they chose that particular chassis.
I chose Ducato because I can get it in 5.4M length. Mercedes, and Grand California's, start at 6m which would compromise my drive space which already has 3 cars and a caravan on it. I also wanted 5.4M as I can just about get it into a conventional car park space without two much overhanging.
I was apprehensive about ordering Ducato. I needn't have been. It's very much a van, not a van trying to be a limo but it works well. Forget things like carpets in the cab, however I can just wash clean the floor when I've got in with muddy shoes.Takes two minutes.
It's a shade noisier from the engine area. Stiffer suspension, which IMO is not a bad thing. It just feels all-round a cruder cab.
However, it works. I have a 9 speed auto which is lovely. I'm always at the right rev limit and changes are seamless. I can accelerate into and across roundabouts with no heart-stopping pauses. I have the biggest engine,, 180 PS and to cruise along at the legal limit is effortless, with or without caravan. I have all the driver info I need, driver aids which can be a pain (but can individually be turned off), the cruise control works but being FIAT can be quirky.THe driving position is perfect for me and my longest distance, 7 hours in the saddle, was comfortable and painless. The seats swivel at the pull of a lever without any adjustment, from the inside, doors closed.
12 months into ownership, nothing has gone wrong with either habitation or the mechanical bits. It just goes. No squeaks or rattles although with all that storage the ability to have something loose rattling around a cupboard is easy.
Yes, it's a big workhorse van with furniture in it. No frills. The best bit is I got it fully loaded ( non pop-top version) for £65k ( ordered 10/2020 - collected 07/2021). Pop top would be an extra £3.6k. I can also use it as a van, i.e. fold back the fixed bed and have a big long load space, something that appealed over other 5.4m offerings without a boot space.
Like every camper, a compromise. Some things work, some don't, some are unnecessary for me.
![Comfort Insurance](https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/shop/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/square20ad20image.jpg"")
