MCD wheel estate Southern Star 610 5-Star
MCD wheel estate Southern Star 610 5-Star
I
f I was asked the question “What single thing has most contributed to the improved quality of New Zealand RVs over the past five years?”, my reply would be “attention to detail”. Early in March, on yet another grey day that has been our lot this Auckland summer, I reviewed the Southern Star 610 5-Star. The 610 5-Star typifies attention to detail. The exterior sidewalls are a good example: ripple free with a mirror-like finish. Furthermore, all the fittings – rubbing strips, awning tracks, gutters, corner mouldings, towbar cover and hatches – are made unobtrusive by being colour-matched to the walls; the silver-grey window frames soften the transition from the pure-white walls to the dark windowpanes. And the window tops line up. These small details added together make a significant contribution to the pleasing appearance of the ’van. Inside, consistent treatment of the main components demonstrates the same attention to detail. All of the well-proportioned cabinetry is finished in warm honey-coloured timber veneer. The bench, all the shelves and the table are surfaced with the same charcoal marbled laminate, and the walls and ceiling are of an off-white self-patterned vinyl material. There are no bare edges to be seen inside or outside the cabinetry. Doors line up and gaps that are supposed to be there are evenly spaced. Otherwise everything is crisp and tight. It is most certainly a coherent package that is ready for the buyer to add a complimentary touch of colour and texture. Indeed, the team at RnRV, who supplied the caravan reviewed, had a big hand in arranging the interior colours and textures – cocoa-coloured carpet, silver-grey drapes, a woven-textured charcoal cushion fabric with striped backrests (charcoal, mid-grey, mustard and off-white) – creating a contemporary yet cosy interior that, most importantly, is designed to appeal to the majority of buyers. We have become accustomed to this standard of presentation in imported product and it is heartening to see it now in a robustly designed and built New Zealand caravan.
Attention to detail Words and photographs by Bill Savidan
Outside round up
Brought to yo u by With a GVW of 2500kg, the 610 5-Star is well within the towing capacity of large SUVs, and some medium-sized ones
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Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations
The padded vinyl front cover unzips so the boot lid can be raised to give access to the fully-lined boot, home for the 9kg LPG bottle. The steel chassis is hot-dip galvanised and is fitted with 83-litre fresh/90-litre grey water tanks. The freshwater filler is under lock and key and there is provision to hook the ’van up to mains pressure water. Those buyers Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations
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MCD wheel estate Southern Star 610 5-Star The warm honey-coloured interior is most inviting
wishing to freedom camp can be assured the ’van is capable of meeting self-contained requirements. Note, too, that the walls, roof and floor are fully insulated. The rear of the ’van is protected from day-to-day skirmishes by a full-width nudge bar, with the spare wheel mounted on it at the kerbside end. It has a place to attach a tow ball for mounting a bike rack, not for towing. There are four grab handles and four park legs fitted, one of each at each corner of the vehicle. I was surprised to find that, apart from the front boot, there are no external hatches accessing storage space under the queen bed or the front lounge seats. But they can be fitted as extras.
The inside story The large dinette at the front of the ’van seats six adults. It’s very comfortable: the cushions are a sensible height off the floor and are the right depth, with just enough rake on the backrests. The dinette table is freestanding on a stable five-legged base, making it suitable for al fresco dining. Under the centre rear cushion is a ply slide that pulls out to
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Specifications Length
6.1m (20ft)
Tare weight
1650kg
GVM
2500kg
Payload
850kg
Sleeps
4
Fresh water
83L
Grey water
90L
Price
$73,800 (as reviewed)
allow the dinette to be converted into a double bed – simplicity itself. Storage is available under the rear and kerbside dinette seats. The other side houses the hot water heater, water pump and gas heater. There are lockers on all three sides above the dinette. In the offside one are the 12-volt system control panels and water heater switches. The kitchen promises to be great to work in: everything you need falls readily to hand and is available in a compact space. Underbench drawers are on the left with the sink
above, and the oven on the right with the hobs above. Overhead lockers provide crockery storage and the drawer under the oven houses pots and pans. The large fridge/ freezer and microwave are to the right, while opposite the bench under the TV is the slide-out pantry. Keep the dishwashing gear in the cupboard under the sink. There is a window over the sink bench and a large hatch in the ceiling, so light and ventilation won’t be a problem and the kitchen window, like all the others in the ’van, is Dometic, double-glazed and includes a built-in blind and insect screen. Most of the interior lights are mounted under the overhead lockers, creating a cosy atmosphere, ideal for reading, that is enhanced by the strip lighting concealed above the lockers. The queen size bed was covered in a mass of cushions and pillows and it gave such a ‘come hither’ look (with the right company, I’d have been tempted to draw the curtains – dream on). The walk-around bed is easy to make and allows for less disturbance during night-time toilet trips. When sitting up
MCD wheel estate Southern Star 610 5-Star
in bed, the pillow rests against the window but at least there is a bedside shelf for a ‘cuppa’ and those other necessities. Each occupant has their own hanging locker, small set of drawers, an overhead locker and reading lamp. The inner-sprung mattress lifts for more storage underneath. There’s also a heated towel rail, speakers in the corners between the overhead lockers and pre-wiring for bedroom TV. At 800mm wide and 970mm long, the bathroom, with its compact Aqualine hand-basin tucked into the corner, is not large but it is adequate. The Thetford bench-style electric flush cassette toilet is easy to dry off after the shower has been used. A curtain can be fitted to keep the toilet dry or, alternatively, you could consider the larger optional bathroom with separate shower. Above the toilet is a cabinet with mirror doors and the bathroom also houses two less than common but very tidy features: an opening window with its own shower curtain and a welded vinyl shower tray.
Driving We went to an east coast bay, about 30km north of Silverdale, Rodney, for our photo shoot, travelling both on the motorway and Having its twin axles mounted under the hot-dip galvanised chassis gives it excellent ground clearance
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Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations
down a winding hilly road to the beach. At motorway speed, and on the winding road, the unladen 610 5-Star tracked straight and true behind the 4.2 turbo-diesel Toyota Land Cruiser. As reviewed (unladen) the ’van tow ball weight was 110kg, which also happens to be the recommended laden towball weight. So if the 610 5-Star load is distributed to maintain the 110kg ball weight, the ’van should continue to track evenly when loaded. Fitted with alloy wheels, the twin axles are attached to a self-equalising leaf spring set-up, equipped with electrically-activated drum brakes.
In summary The Southern Star 610 5-Star appeals as a well-finished caravan, with a great amount of attention paid to detail. It has a fresh, modern interior and classic kiwi exterior style and would make a fantastic companion on any RVer’s adventure.
RnRV supplied the review caravan. For more information, ph 09 426 7679 or visit rnrv.co.nz. For your nearest Southern Star dealer, visit southernstarcaravans.co.nz.
• Attention to detail • Wonderful interior cabinetry • Comfortable lounge cushions • Exterior hatch access to interior storage under double bed not standard
It has a fresh, modern interior and classic kiwi exterior style...