Auto-Sleeper Sigma EL

A QUART IN A PINT POT

Words and photos by John Page

From the outside it seems impossible that this long machine is actually a mere 2.80m from prow to stern. The shape is a true wind cheating low profile design that looks good from any angle. Low wind noise is one of the positive benefits of getting the outline sorted and a little bit of duo-tone paint work with minimalist graphics suggest that this is a typical Gentleman’s carriage from Willersey. Mind you give it the boot and the performance can be way beyond decorous. However a great deal of thought has gone into the concept to make life straightforward when in motion and at rest whenever and wherever you adventure. Our own epic took us from Berkshire to Devon via Gloucester and Somerset. Six days was an unusual luxury – time to get to know Sigma in detail through through rain and shine.

Construction

A prime advantage of a dedicated two-berth floor plan is the simplicity of using all the gear as none of the equipment has to perform any sort of dual function. So Sigma has a crew of two, albeit with seating and a table to occasionally entertain two slim friends on site. Washroom and galley in the centre makes an ideal weight distribution towards good road holding, while the rear lounge has an undisputed benefit of maximum light and panoramic views of your neighbours and the countryside. A second diner up front using the cab with a swivel table and seats rotated is really useful for occasional snacks on the way or, on night time trips when the bed is left in place for a while.  The style of decor is modern but not garish with considerable emphasis on good solid workmanship for a genuine “ease in use” factor. The basic specification is comprehensive although not lavish , so that items such as alloy wheels, cab air con’ and an inboard fresh water tank are on the option list. Digital control and monitor panels are not on my wish list but this one was not only simple to manipulate  but also totally effective without referring to the five pages in the instruction manual. I think I’m converted. A conventional spare wheel rather than a newfangled repair kit is standard and the under bonnet access for routine attention is good. Central locking including the habitation door was a brilliant and welcome piece of kit, likewise the low height of the entrance step makes a slide out one superfluous. Insulation involving a combination of Thinsulate, polystyrene and Styrofoam was efficient enough for us to reserve the heater for the only two evenings when the temperature dipped. Six halogen spotlights were almost an embarrasment of riches but useful if you couldn’t make up your mind about which end of the bed to put the pillows at bedtime.

ON THE ROAD

At 3200mm between axles the medium wheelbase Peugeot chassis cab can turn on the proverbial sixpence (12.1m) when you’re in a tight spot. A modest width of just 2.32m was also useful when tucking in tight to the hedge on the steep and narrow gradients of the B3232 between Barnstaple and Torrington. Dramatic and panoramic but keep your eyes on the road or else! Performance wise the 120bhp of the 2198cc motor was hardly more than ticking over when the rev counter showed 2250rpm in sixth gear. Torque was no less impressive with a serious 320Nm reached at a low 2000rpm engine speed. A quiet and well-mannered motorhome, especially on new tramac surfaces where even tyre noise was subdued. And with a low winter sun I truly appreciated the way it was possible to get the height of the driver’s seat and the sun visor angle where  it was most effective to avoid glare. Driver and navigator are both spoilt with seats complete with twin  armrests, adjustable lumbar supports and easy to get at controls on the front of the seat squabs  to alter backrest angles.  Reflecting on the six-car pile up we passed on the A361 one morning, it could well have been due to the low semi-reclined seating position of so many new cars compared to our high viewpoint and proper protection of our sun visors? Our only beef throughout the enjoyable total journey milage of nearly 550 miles was the racket caused by the metal supports of the  supplementary kitchen work surfaces, an item due for rectification on subsequent production Sigmas. On the final day a check gave us a fuel consumption figure overall  of  28.5mpg and a total vehicle milage from first registration of  4,250 miles.

TAKING IT EASY

Make no mistake rear lounges score every time for putting the crew into a state of comfortable inertia. Feet up or slouch back is possible in three directions, while the speakers in  the ceiling will bring you the best of Radio programmes. In mid October we had 20oC outdoors to encourage roof vents open and sweaters left in the lockers.  An airlock in the plumbing system was a minor irritant when we first arrived on site, cured by draining the tank completely and refilling it to its full 78-litre capacity. And because we do the dishes at the nearest washroom the tank was still a quarter full after six days. Congratulations to the monitor designer for the accuracy of the guages for fresh and waste water contents. Another plus was the single key for all the exterior doors including the main entrance door.  Gear stowed, mains cable connected and gas turned on, it’s time for lunch. Driver concentrating on the serious business of  tuning to Classic FM, while Alison cooks some of Uncle Ben’s rice in three minutes flat.  The table is relatively lightweight but firm enough on its supports and generous in width for both of us to sit round it comfortably. A nice touch for back support at mealtimes are are the adjustments to rake the backrest cushions just so. There’s a plush look to the  tan and orange soft furnishings including soft foam cushions and thick, lined curtains that help to retain warmth at night. We had a  chance to use the heater one evening when the temperature dropped sudenly after some heavy rain but all it took was about fifteen minutes with the temperature control at halfway to convert to cosy. This time we were the only vistors on a quiet CL a few miles east of Torrington.

Sleeping

Auto-Sleeper have not been famous for the ease of converting a lounge to a bedroom, however Sigma could well be a benchmark in that regard. Remove the two corner cushions and the fill in before dropping the side back rests into the gaps created when the seat squabs are slid together, and you can now spread your duvet or king size sleeping bag. It’s a decent size double bed, firm and one of the most comfy. Brilliant halogen lights to read by and no sounds off from the charging unit tucked right away under the offside seat base. Only a faint green light from the fridge on mains electric because the 12v control panel switches to dim to conserve energy. Stowing the bed tackle during the day is fine in the deep locker over the cab. With very thick privacy curtains for the cab, curtains and blinds for the side windows heat loss is minimal but those cab curtains were a pain to pull into place or re-stow so we  would opt for the new pleated blind kits fitting directly to the windscreen and cab door windows.

THE FOOD MACHINERY

Few motorhomes excel  with their area of workspace and in some cases the only available space is the glass tops to the sink and hob. A/S though have been in the game a long time and therefore our Sigma has a proper sink with drainer, ample workspace including the slide out flaps, racks for the china and a cutlery drawer beneath the sink. The full size cooker is perhaps an overkill considering how few campers habitually use them and were there an option of a smaller cooker with perhaps a squaring off of the lounge space it could well prove a popular alternative. A Truma Ultrastore gas/electric water heater for the kitchen and washroom was reliable as ever although its drain tap under the offside bed locker was in a rather vulnerable position. A set of classy china in its designated roof locker above the galley puts most of the European imports to shame and very few could sport a comparable size sink with integral draining board to match this typically A/S approach to the food machinery. Neat and efficient lighting plus a mains socket at the forward end of the prep area also make a statement.

WASHROOM

Ignoring a certain paucity of locker and sink surround space, this excellent washroom has space to use all three appliances with ample elbow room and floor space. Our bird’s eye view shows the pedestal toilet and the towel well clear, with the clever swinging wall panel half open. Continue the traverse for a fair size independent shower cubicle or swing it back and there’s bags of room for the wash basin and toilet. The latter incedentally set higher than is comfortable. Two good circular ceiling lights with fiddlesome switches, a pair of coat hooks for wet clothes and the safety potential of the floor decking add up to a much brighter than the average motorhome washroom.

STOWAGE POTENTIAL

Much thought to this important topic has made Sigma a little gem when you start stashing your gear away. I liked the skirt locker to stow the sometimes wet power cable and levelling wedges in – both Gas cylinders were nicely accessible and secured firmly. Then inside with all three under seat lockers hinging up smoothly there was  all the space we needed to stow boots, rucksacs and other outdoor gear. Bed tackle in the large locker over the cab, clothes in roof lockers of the lounge and stacks of travel   documents, cameras and assorted personal gear in the various pockets and overhead rack of the cab. Not forgetting a generously wide wardrobe into which the free-standing table neatly clips in place. Loading and unloading Sigma was a lot easier than usual by virtue of the low floor and entrance step.

Summary

We will have pleasant memories of the Sigma for some time to come – the reason being the non-fuss approach of using it wherever we came to rest and at all times of the day. It was also a real pleasure to drive with a cab platform that puts you above the hurly burly of ordinary people hustling their way through the traffic throng rather than surveying it calmly from our Motorhome viewpoint. With the integral awning, 120bhp motor and six-speed gearbox this demonstrator Vehicle would be on the road at £41,676, competitve in its class and a value for money package.

TECHNICAL DATA

Vehicle specification: Auto-Sleeper Sigma EL, two-berth low profile Motorhome

Price of vehicle tested: £41,476

Vehicle kindly loaned for testing  by: Auto-Sleeper Ltd, Orchard Works, Willersey, Worcs, WR12 7PT. Tel: 01386 853338

CONVERSION

Overall length: 6.28m

Overall width; 2.32m excl mirrors

Overall height: 2.86m MPTLM: 3500kg Payload: 385kg

Construction: Steel cab with GRP coachbuilt body. Insulation of Thinsulate, polystyrene and Styrofoam

Fresh water capacity: 78-litres

Waste water capacity; 53-Litres

Gas storage: two 13kg propane cylinders

Auxiliary battery: 85Ah

Refrigerator. Dometic 86-litre gas/12v/240v

Water heating: Truma Ultrastore gas electric with 10-litre reservoir

Space heater: Truma convector with blown air system

Lighting: mix of strip lights, tungsten fittings and halogen spotlights Upholstery: fawn and orange abstract pattern fabrics with fawn carpet

Other equipment fitted: Radio/CD player with four speakers, flush fitting roll out awning.

BASE VEHICLE

Peugeot medium wheelbase chassis cab

Power unit: 2.2-litre, 16valve turbo diesel motor

Maximum power: 120bhp @ 3600rpm

Maximum torque: 320Nm @  2000rpm

Transmission: six-speed manual to front wheels

Steering: power assisted rack and pinion

Braking system: Servo assisted system to all wheel discs with ABS

PERFORMANCE

Fuel consumption: 28.5mpg overall

Maximum speed: 85mph estimated

Comfortable cruising speed: 65-70mph