Review of the incredible new A-class from Auto-Trail - the Grande Frontier GF 88 (2021)

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In this video we review in detail the incredible new A-class from Auto-Trail - the Grande Frontier GF 88 (2021) - the first British-built A-class to hit the market in years!
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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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Пікірлер: 80

@drivingthefrontier 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this video. I was surprised how many fixtures and fittings are so very similar to my Auto-trail Frontier Savannah (2014). So that's 7 years old. The gas locker cover and the side lift up locker with the leisure batteries, not to mention virtually all of the interior look. As Peter said in the review, it's a tried and tested layout. It is a shame they have not yet adopted the slot in post table and relying, in my view, on the somewhat old-fashioned table with flip-down legs. So much like the Comanche though, just en extended Frontier model. Thanks, Peter for these, I enjoy watching them every few weeks.

@fookdatchit4245 3 жыл бұрын

Looks like a lot of work went into making this video. Thank you, very enjoyable.

@peterv3642 3 жыл бұрын

We try to give you a detailed review, with all the good and bad points. Glad you enjoyed watching. Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on future reviews.

@EV-Diary 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, been waiting for this review love theses reasonable priced large tag axel motorhomes

@peterv3642 3 жыл бұрын

Hope you liked the review. Have you seen the Knaus Live I 900 LEG? - that's another well-priced tag-axle model

@beradogs922 3 жыл бұрын

Looks like a bad day at IKEA made into a motor home.

@philipellis7039 3 жыл бұрын

Nice review but not sure on the layout ( how many people in motorhomes are holding dinner parties all the time?) and I’d be looking for a double floor at this money. Probably want more garage space as well. Nice to see a British A Class but this isn’t working for me.

@peterv3642 3 жыл бұрын

Not so much dinner parties, perhaps, but for inviting friends in for a glass of vino in the evening. It'll appeal to owners club ralliers, etc. The HB version would give you a bigger garage (and higher bed)

@philipellis7039 3 жыл бұрын

@@peterv3642 yes, some people have motorhomes because they go to events rather than holidays, a friend of mine has a huge motorhome and they use it to attend bike scrambling. So, I can see if that’s how you use it you’d want a lot of internal space and not bothered about manoeuvrability. But for a couple or family touring around the U.K. and into Europe there are better layouts ( in my opinion). One of the things that puts me off A class is the driver’s door on the ‘wrong’ side so I like the idea of a U.K. built one. Although unless I find £100k down the back of the sofa it’s a fairly academic point at the moment!

@Anthonya54 3 жыл бұрын

Peter mentioned that the front seats don’t swivel 180 degrees but I’m sure they do. I have a 2019 Comanche and they do. You just have to move the seat back on its runners as you swivel it around. Also the seats height can be raised which brings them to almost the same height as the bench seat.

@peterv3642 3 жыл бұрын

I couldn't get the seats all the way round in the GF. As for raising the cab seats, then they would be too high too! I'd want the settees lower

@NeilLeSheepyEpstein 3 жыл бұрын

Great review. Shame about all the niggling negatives. If I had a 100k I would look elsewhere. They should bring you on board to help design these things.

@EV-Diary 3 жыл бұрын

I still think it’s good for the price as you get everything included as standard. If you go to a German van then everything is an option and would easily spend £120,000

@july99887766 2 жыл бұрын

Great review.. so many negatives.. space is so less for such a long motorhome..you will fall asleep by the time that windscreen comes down

@MotorhomeCampervan 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you. We always try to tell it how it is...

@edwardmarsland6774 3 жыл бұрын

too many negatives for the money

@jonm9501 3 жыл бұрын

There are two big square button type things on the side of each captains chair which allow them to heighten the seats to be level with the rest of the sofas. But I would much rather that, than have steps everywhere.

@peterv3642 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, you can - of course - raise the cab seats if you're extremely tall, but you can't lower the (a tad too high) sofas if you're average height. The settees could be lower without introducing any steps in the floor

@barryr2167 2 жыл бұрын

First off, an excellent review as usual Peter. But omg, I will be so surprised if they sell more than a handful. So many unforgivable design errors...the garage doors are a joke, the lounge looks like a desert wasteland, the toilet not being separated from the bedroom, the lack of headroom, the poor fit and finish generally, no double floor and on and on. Terribly disappointing and I am sure (from my experience in automotive product planning) that the bean counters have very little understanding of the concept of value vs cost.

@f.i.g.llc.3374 3 жыл бұрын

I have to say that you can't get that much motorhome on this side of the water for that small of a price. I would park that on 5 acres and call it home. Peter Vaughan reviews are legendary.

@peterv3642 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you. Glad you enjoy them

@Jan123. 3 жыл бұрын

Great review!

@glynfellowes 2 жыл бұрын

Typically British okay for a weekend away if you can afford it. If you can afford it buy a German tag axle you get more bang for your euro.

@dalefountain9269 3 жыл бұрын

Nice one Auto-Trail. An A class for the UK market. I say that because I would consider this motorhome. I don't think they will sell many in the EU.

@peterv3642 3 жыл бұрын

I don't think Auto-Trail is exporting currently but, with UK demand so high, the factory in Grimsby is employing more staff again. The Grande Frontier is very much designed to UK tastes and they're only building one a week (across the three models in the range), so I don't think they need export sales.

@dalefountain9269 3 жыл бұрын

@@peterv3642 I'm pleased to see a dedicated A class for us Brit's. Great idea from Auto Trail. Thanks Peter.

@Daz555Daz 2 жыл бұрын

I find it so odd when motorhomes like this get basic stuff wrong like the swivel seats (can't put your feet up) and the bed (can't sit up in bed). It's like the designers have never actually used a motorhome.

@peterv3642 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, a lot of motorhomes would be improved by the designers spending more time actually using them! The best designs often come from smaller brands where the boss is a keen motorhomer

@greenjacket66 3 жыл бұрын

its like frankistiens monster

@tony35842 3 жыл бұрын

No mention of heating? I'd expect it to be Alde for that price. That dining table is straight out of a '70s caravan.

@peterv3642 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, it's Alde. Thought I'd said that, apologies if not. There was a lot to cover on this 'van

@gealinga1994 2 жыл бұрын

That table 😂😂😂

@stirlingmotors 3 жыл бұрын

I hope its a lot better than the original,I had one from new the worst van I ever owned ,part exchanged afternoon 3 months.

@peterv3642 3 жыл бұрын

It's a lot better than the first Grande Frontier. I think that was a difficult lesson in A-classes for Auto-Trail but this time they have been able to piggyback the experience of other Trigano brands. Rather surprised that they used the GF name again, though.

@adamstokoe8966 3 жыл бұрын

This is the best uk motorhome ive seen and it has nothing on the us models

@michaelmorley6522 3 жыл бұрын

Well presented video, the motorhome as a possible purchase? No.

@greenjacket66 3 жыл бұрын

he gave to many negatives its not for me

@marcus577 Жыл бұрын

I am now entering a competition to win this on BOTB go tour Europe.

@MotorhomeCampervan Жыл бұрын

Fingers crossed!

@samphillips4124 2 жыл бұрын

Greetings from Portland Oregon, USA, is rhat 32 ir 34 ft?. .other that the right hand drive, we like it!

@peterv3642 2 жыл бұрын

Just under 29ft

@hotwheels100 3 жыл бұрын

seating for 10 but a kitchen for 1 🙄 a lot of wasted space imo

@thegrinch8161 9 ай бұрын

She is a beautiful home on wheels and she’d be perfect for my two ridgebacks and myself but eight people would be a definite no no for me

@johnlong3214 2 жыл бұрын

I live i hope that one day a manufacturer will make one for the taller person, can't help thinking that they are losing a lot of custom by only catering for Mr. average. Another good video👍

@jimholden3494 3 жыл бұрын

Great review but too much to pay for a low shower.

@douglashouston81 3 жыл бұрын

i like it but how many camp sites can i get to in it,not a,lot in cornwall i bet

@EV-Diary 3 жыл бұрын

Theses vans are designed to tour Europe not the tiny back roads of Cornwall, get a camper van for that

@douglashouston81 3 жыл бұрын

@@EV-Diary I know mate,just having a laugh 😊

@chuckstoll265 Жыл бұрын

Why can't we make motor homes over here in the states?

@kevinhornbuckle 3 жыл бұрын

Is the engine diesel?

@peterv3642 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, 2.3-litre Multijet diesel

@graemeroberts5730 3 жыл бұрын

Too cheap a build for over £100k.

@johnb307 3 жыл бұрын

Very poor quality for over 100k, will definitely not be considering this.

@walthamwalker 2 жыл бұрын

It's got a shed not a garage

@alistairmullay3683 2 жыл бұрын

We had a new Mohican in 2005. The build quality was appalling. I can't remember ever doing a trip without something going wrong.

@andrewmitchell8859 2 жыл бұрын

The old ones they made looked beautiful, unfortunately got a bad press 🤷🏼‍♂️

@MotorhomeCampervan 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, quite a few issues first time around

@JamesSmith-ui2hv 3 жыл бұрын

No , it sound like a empty delivery van while driving , it doesn't have any sound proofing , deadening or acoustic insulation to avoid most of the road sounds , it helps using air suspension for a smooth and quite ride , it doesn't have air levelers a new standard for an A class , the length of the chassis is too short for the length of the body , it looks odd and it will be scratching the back all the time when you go up in certain areas the dinning ''table'' no comment , they kept the window wipers from the original chassis model and change for a bigger wind screen they are very small , I like the door of the gas bottle, it should be standard for every door not handles no key locks, I like Island bed .100K? great reviewer , the vehicle ........

@fraserhardmetal7143 3 жыл бұрын

Tried and tested poor Autotrail quality - just more of it to go wrong. Still using the clunky Sargent electrics too. They need to up their game to compete with better European offerings. A lower initial cost is not always a sound long-term investment.

@jpofgwynedd3878 3 жыл бұрын

It's all very well, but if they want really impress, then they'll lop about 8 feet off the back and put a slide on it.

@peterv3642 3 жыл бұрын

European manufacturers have rarely gone for slide-outs because of the potential for them to leak

@derekt7606 3 жыл бұрын

No self levelling. Not four season. Bed poor. Garage poor.

@EV-Diary 3 жыл бұрын

It’s still a well priced van, I can’t see how it’s not a four season van

@LeonardoSummers 2 жыл бұрын

Good luck getting that into a site

@peterv3642 2 жыл бұрын

As with any large motorhome you'll need to check that the site can accommodate it but there are larger motorhomes than this. You'll be OK on most sites belonging to the Caravan and Motorhome Club

@pdxxtqhf 2 жыл бұрын

Just viewed some other videos, I am shocked at how many really good standard features he left out of the review.

@pengeran 2 жыл бұрын

I prefer manual blind curtain..it faster

@peterv3642 2 жыл бұрын

I think makers equate "electric" with "more upmarket"

@pdxxtqhf 2 жыл бұрын

If it had been manual the complaint would be that it should be electric 😡

@pengeran 2 жыл бұрын

@@pdxxtqhf that's why we called human🤣🤣🤣

@pdxxtqhf 2 жыл бұрын

@@pengeran I'm very sorry but I don't understand how your comment applies to this selective biased review.

@yukime76 3 жыл бұрын

The door too small

@peterv3642 3 жыл бұрын

Generally, only German makers seem to have gone for the wide entrance doors, although there are others

@spendingkidsinheritance1959 3 жыл бұрын

Would not buy another auto trial 3years old 60% damp in locker not acceptable

@Palacepayne1 2 жыл бұрын

No double floor...poor garage.. Next

@peterv3642 2 жыл бұрын

Plenty of German alternatives if you want a double floor and bigger garage, but they tend to cost more. Adria's Sonic 810 always looked good value but it's not in the 2022 range

@mihaelafilipescu5818 Жыл бұрын

To expensive and not practical at all. That the reason I prefer the German motorhome with double floors and better quality of the motorhome I am tolking about the "bürstner".

@gregchapman5556 2 жыл бұрын

Really don’t see why anyone would buy it. Space is totally wasted. I don’t want to eat at a wallpaper table. You just don’t get enough for your money.

@MotorhomeCampervan 2 жыл бұрын

A big part of the appeal will surely be to Auto-Trail Comanche owners who want an A-class?

@pdxxtqhf 2 жыл бұрын

Very disappointed with the review. He must have struggled to make those negative comments when writing that script. It's not the only 4 berth motorhome that separates the toilet from the front beds. He made a big thing of the captain seats being lower than the sofa, the captain seats will raise to be level. So many times my feet are on the floor but my wife's don't reach, we still bought the furniture. Why would anyone sit fully upright in bed? I cannot leave out the negative comments about driving an 8.79m motorhome and blind spots at roundabouts, if you can't drive it don't buy it. Another professional reviewer struggling to find negatives to appear clever. Very Very Disappointed 😡😡