AUTO-SLEEPERS Topaz 2006

Words and photos by John Page

First introduced in 1994 on the long wheelbase Volkswagen T4, Topaz enjoys a unique corner of the Camper market for owners who like to combine a go anywhere capability with a washroom and kitchen to compare with what you might find in a coachbuilt motorhome. A tall order, given the relatively small 5.39m length and 1.90m width of Topaz in 2006. Of course Campers come in all shapes and sizes, based on every conceivable type of base vehicle be it Volkswagen, Ford, Fiat, Mercedes or Toyota. And great ingenuity is used to resolve the compromises necessary to fashion a design that will be safe and comfortable for travel, great to sprawl about in, fine at mealtimes and conducive to sleep. Auto-Sleepers have an edge though; they’ve been putting a quart into a pint pot for yonks. So in Topaz we found a no compromise galley capable of performing on ready-steady-cook, a single or double bed choice, and the sheer luxury of a genuine shower and flush toilet equipped washroom. Much more as well, it’s an up-together looking camper from all angles, with an interior of panache from the automotive mouldings and the furniture and fabric style.

Construction

Steel bodied with a GRP high-top roof, the basic Volkswagen T5 framework has with it a sophisticated construction formula for the long life and reliability of the base vehicle and its components. Three year whole vehicle warranty and three year roadside assistance underlines the point. For the conversion A/S apply a two-year warranty to the conversion and a third year if purchased from the supplying dealer at first registration. Insulation of the roof and side walls is by Thinsulate, an impossibly slim but efficient thermal and sound insulator, helping to keep the interior comfortable on site and maintain a low noise level on the move.

Space heating by diesel fuelled Eberspacher Airtronic gets my vote every time, on the basis of its simplicity of operation, non reliance on gas bottle supply and, the decently low noise level compared to some of its gas fired competition. A heat range from 8°C to 34°C is another plus. Fuel consumption depending on the heat setting, according to the data, will vary between 0.10 and 0.51 litres per hour. Water heating is by a Truma gas boiler with a 10-litre reservoir. It too is efficient and produces sufficient hot water for a shower within approximately 12 minutes. Single glazed glass windows are fitted to maintain the flush surface of the body, with sliding sections for ventilation. They proved to be stiff to operate and in need of attention. Acrylic double glazed windows on both sides of the roof functioned easily and effectively.

On the Road

This was going to be interesting, a demonstrator vehicle with a big mileage in a short time, used by Tom, Dick and Harry, with a gear lever missing its spring loading to prevent accidental engagement of reverse instead of first gear. Simple really, just manually push the collar down into place after using reverse and, no problem. And instead of the flying five cylinder, 2460cc, 130bhp in our last VW test, here was the standard Topaz four cylinder, 1896cc, 104bhp plodder. Not fair really for if I pushed it a bit to get the long stroke mill churning it was soon up to speed. Not only that, it did so quietly enough to listen to the radio while at the legal maximum speed. Moreover, while it was 90Nm down on torque compared to the bigger motor, our overall fuel consumption fully loaded and driven without kid gloves was 39mpg!

For ride quality, the new Fiat is pushing it hard in spite of retaining their rear leaf springs but VW’s trailing link independent set up is technically still the better bump absorber. There is also the car feel to the cab, the twin airbags, the all-revealing driver’s door mirror and decent hooter to wake things up. Some may consider the tape cassette player a trifle outmoded but there’s no denying tapes are easier to use on the move and stash anywhere. Really good seats go up and down via an easy to grasp lever, give firm support where it counts and have two good armrests per seat. ABS and ASR are standard whereas the good-looking alloys are a £587 option. Just why Volkswagen T5s feel so good to drive is not easy to define because it is a combination of what I’ve already mentioned plus what you feel through the seat of your pants, the hums instead of the humps and the sense of being in total, confident control.

At Ease and Eating

Getting comfortable after a small amount of hassle to reverse the driver’s chair was straightforward so that the crew of two have the front seats as recliners and the bench seats ideal at mealtimes. Achieving my favourite feet up, back to the bulkhead posture worked best when the long backrest was dumped in the washroom and a cushion propped against the end of the console containing the sink unit. Reflex foam filled cushions had just the right combination of firmness to resilience and while the fabric itself was in need of some freshening its texture and pattern were in fine shape. Were you a little late to duck when moving forward into the cab area the unyielding bulkhead will be a reminder to duck lower or maybe we can persuade the maker to apply some padding to soften the inevitable occasional contact? Both tables supplied were on the small side but they do give a choice – one each using the swivel bracket and the island leg as supports or sup with a little care on one between the bench seats. In typical A/S fashion both tables stash neatly after mealtimes. Fitted carpets and vinyl floors each have their advantages, so A/S supply both, the former for warmth in winter and the latter (our choice) when it’s dusty. Most of the time the August weather was brilliant, so tailgate, sliding door and Heki rooflight were open all day.

While there was no provision for a TV aerial twin 13amp mains sockets and one 12volt socket could supply the power close to one of the kitchen worktops. At night elliptical ceiling fittings supplied soft background lighting with an alternative pair of elegant strip lights to give all the illumination you could possibly want for the kitchen, lounge or bedtime reading.

Sleeping

Curtains have been dispensed with entirely in favour of pleated blinds for the window cassettes and stick-on screens for the cab side windows and windscreen. Both are effective for privacy as well as making a contribution to insulation. In seriously out of season conditions Topaz will obviously not be as inherently warm as a fully insulated coachbuilt motorhome body but not far behind as the cubic volume of air to be heated will be a lot less. Experimentally, we used the blown air diesel heater for a short while on the only slightly cool evening – for it to take the chill off within about ten minutes, blow quietly and switch off at the pre-set level. Cosy is a double bed at 1.81m long and 1.77m wide, so what it lacks in length is partly compensated for by the generous width. Sliding the bench seat sideways and dropping the backrest into the gap is simple enough, followed by using a fill-in piece for the space between the cab seats. Duvet or sleeping bags fit easily in the space under the couch.

Kitchen

Closer to the sort of galley found in a compact motorhome and superior to some with regard to the facilities. In two parts – sink unit on the offside and, grill and hob nearside. Spark ignition for the burners, a splendid sink and drainer and crockery for four in a dedicated rack, all help to make the food prep’ enjoyable and the likely results appetizing. We liked the slide out stowage rack, bottle rack, glass cabinet and a fridge door opening helpfully from right to left. Worktop area, once accepting that the glass sink top is useful and won’t break easily unless you slam a hot saucepan onto it, is really not too bad. One of the tables close by was also useful.  Total galley stowing space includes the large floor level lockers under the grill, space under the sink, roof lockers and the lipped shelves beneath and 55-litres of fridge space. Grilled fish, steamed vegetables, risotto and cous cous meals are part of our regular camping diet, none of which present a problem in the Topaz kitchen.

Washroom

Make no mistake the Topaz washroom makes all the difference to camping when your chosen site doesn’t boast all the mod cons. Here there is space to shower comparable or superior to any Camper of similar overall length. An integral wardrobe, flushing toilet and grown up wash basin are all fitted neatly with space to spare. Separate locker space and wide shelving takes care of all the tackle we all need in the bathroom, in addition to the wardrobe hanging space for coats, shirts and dresses. Worth imitating by makers whose shower cubicles have a potentially dangerous smooth GRP floor is the A/S grilled rubber duckboard that gives grip for bare feet while letting the water flow cleanly away. It is possible to easily exit the tailgate door from inside and enter the shower from outside when you’re smothered in sand. A great looking practical camper washroom. Just one point, before you accidentally flick the shower onto full power, make sure you haven’t left your camera bag on top of the toilet. Good job its waterproof.

Storage

Stowing campers is an art form, often because the necessity for it is left late in the design process. Not so here where the approach is scientific and practical. Therefore, before making the bed it’s simple to grab the bed linen from under the couch. There’s bags of room over the cab for Bulky tackle and valuables best kept out of sight. And the deep locker above the wardrobe and the wire basket below the single seat will take a stack of folded clothes. Kitchen storage is detailed elsewhere and if all this is still not enough then there are the map pockets on the back of the cab seats and numerous pockets etc in the cab.

Summary

By now you will have gathered the extent of my enthusiasm for the Topaz concept, even though some heavy handling had taken some of the gloss from this demonstrator. I will also add that Marquis Berkshire had but a very limited period to prepare the vehicle for us. Nevertheless it drove superbly at a low noise and vibration level, eating up the miles effortlessly while the pilot enjoyed the ride. Fuel consumption was miserly which is good news given the high price of diesel fuel. Camping on board there is minimal hassle and lots of enjoyment, plus that special quality of small vehicle size as an encouragement to exploring the less well travelled lanes that Britain has in plenty.

Location

Our thanks to Woodham Waters Caravan Site at Ancaster for their courtesy with the exterior shots. And the Caravan Club site at Bladon Chains from where we explored the magnificent grounds of Blenheim Palace.

Vehicle Data

Vehicle specification:  Auto-Sleepers Volkswagen Topaz, two-berth high-top Camper

Price of vehicle tested: 2006 registered demonstrator at £34,995 incl alloy wheels

Vehicle kindly loaned for testing by: Marquis Berkshire, Oxford Road, Chievley, Nr Newbury, Berkshire, RG20 8RU. Tel: 01635 248888

Conversion

Overall length: 5.39m

Overall width: 1.90m (mirrors folded)

Overall height: 2.55m

MTPLM: 3000kg

Payload: 322kg

Construction: steel body and GRP high-top roof

Fresh water capacity: 70-litres

Waste water capacity: 60-litres

Gas storage: two x 4.5kg cylinders

Auxiliary battery: 67ah

Refrigerator: 60-litre Dometic fridge

Water heating: Truma boiler with 10-litre reservoir

Space Heating: Eberspacher diesel fuelled blown air heater

Lighting: twin ceiling fittings and two large strip lights

Upholstery: Abstract pattern tapestry fabric in blue

Other equipment fitted: alloy wheels

Base Vehicle

Type: Volkswagen T5 Long wheelbase Transporter

Power unit: 1.9-litre turbo diesel

Maximum power: 104bhp @ 3500rpm

Maximum torque: 250Nm @ 2000rpm

Transmission: five-speed manual to front wheels

Steering: power assisted rack and pinion

Braking system: dual circuit servo assisted system to disc brakes with ABS

Performance

Fuel consumption: 39mpg

Maximum speed: estimated 96mph where the law permits

Comfortable cruising speed: 65-70mph