It has been four months since the last build update. I haven’t posted until now as I really didn’t know how this was all going to end up. We have continued to enjoy being in South Africa. We have met new friends and enjoyed the culture. The build has unfortunately been slow and caused me periods of depression, frustration and confusion. There are two sides to every story and AC Motorhomes have multiple extenuating circumstances. I believe my circumstances to be mostly unique and AC have continued to produce quality motorhomes for other happy customers during what has been an ordeal for me and them.
We arrived back in South Africa in July and confirmed our suspicions that nothing had been done since we left. On our arrival back we weren’t even allowed in to see the vehicle. This caused us great anxiety. What do we do.
We contacted the Motor Industry Ombudsman who made some enquiries on our behalf however we realised over time that this was not getting very far very fast. We then contacted a solicitor to determine our position and our options. We decided that the fastest way to get our motorhome was still for AC Motorhomes to finish the build and so a final ultimatum was given. This did get a reaction from AC Motorhomes and building was re-commenced a couple of weeks later.
My build is complex and so progress was still slow. Sally realised that it was still not going to be finished any time soon and went home to catch up with family early September. I know that I can be on my own for three to four weeks before I start to really miss family. I was still optimistic that I would get to take the truck for a shake down trip of a week or two before I would need to go home.
AC put every resource they could on the truck to get it finished towards the end of September however some setbacks with design errors on my part requiring work arounds ultimately resulted in it not being finished. I was able to finally drive the truck and took it over the weekend. It hadn’t been checked and there are lots of teething issues to be sorted out, but it will be an amazing vehicle when it is finished.
I have now returned to Australia and am putting my faith in AC to get it all finished before we return to go on the first trip with my brother and his wife in November. I think they will get it done this time.
Neither I nor AC would do it again. AC can be proud they have produced a unique vehicle that does everything I imagined. I look forward to getting so much enjoyment from using it that it will make it all worthwhile.
