Don't buy if you expect aftercare
We had a very positive sales experience when purchasing our first motorhome from Preston Caravans & Motorhomes. The salesman was patient, helpful, and supportive while we sorted out the finance. Unfortunately, the after-sales service has been nothing short of disappointing. Upon delivery, we discovered several items were missing: the dining table, sink cover, garage shelf, and various external covers/plugs. We had specifically discussed these covers with the salesman around six weeks before collection. We were assured the parts would be ordered, with an expected lead time of 12–13 weeks as they were coming directly from the manufacturer. Three weeks after taking ownership, we reported a fault with the leisure battery display, which constantly showed one bar and never indicated charging. We were told this was likely a vehicle fault and advised to book it into a Ford dealership. While we understood they couldn’t work on the Ford systems themselves, we received no assistance in locating a suitable dealer capable of handling a motorhome of this size. Worse still, when we got to the Ford dealership, technicians immediately identified that the genuine Ford battery had been removed and replaced with a substandard aftermarket battery. They refused to inspect the vehicle further until the correct battery was fitted, warning that the warranty would be voided otherwise. We had to contact Preston ourselves and push repeatedly for them to resolve this. After a full day of chasing (spent sitting in a cold, wet industrial estate), we ended up buying the correct battery ourselves and later claiming the cost back. Ten months on, the battery display fault remains unresolved, and Preston does not accept it as a vehicle fault. The missing parts situation was equally frustrating. It required constant emails and phone calls on our part to get any progress. Communication was poor, we were usually the ones chasing them. The dining table and sink cover finally arrived after around six months. The garage shelf arrived after ten months… and was the wrong size. At this point, I’ve given up and will make one myself. However, the worst part of the entire experience was dealing with the Aftersales Manager. He initially came across as apologetic and polite, but his tone changed dramatically when we started questioning delays and providing our own records of dates and promises. He became noticeably rude and dismissive, at one point telling us to stop emailing him and that they would contact us when there was any update. He twice refused to provide the Managing Director’s contact details or escalate the matter himself. To their credit, communication improved in the final three months thanks to a helpful lady in the parts department who provided regular updates. However, this came far too late. We have now cut our losses with Preston Caravans & Motorhomes, even though two original issues remain unresolved. I would strongly caution anyone considering buying from this dealer to think very carefully about the after-sales support you may receive. Excellent sales team, extremely poor aftercare.








