Hobby Toskana 690 GQSC

THIS HOBBY COULD BRING YOU A WAY OF LIFE

Words and photos by John Page

Twenty years after producing their first Motorhome there’s no doubt that Hobby have got the hang of it – they want their customers to experience a frisson of excitement when they first clap eyes on the machine: then when they walk inside, here again there is colour, shape and excitement to get the taste buds active. Cool customers may say “very nice” while those of us who know a good thing when we see it, might go so far as to say “here is one special machine.” This particular one came from the premises of Camper UK of Lincoln, whom you may remember supplied our test Burstner Aviano for the September 2009 issue of this esteemed journal. Under pressure we travelled to the far off territory of the Caravan Club’s superb campsite at Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire to be rewarded with three days of brilliant April sunshine and not a contrail to be seen. Motor Caravanners get their kicks without wings!Toskana Exclusive 690 has fully belted cab seats for two with air bags and another pair also fully belted on the forward facing dinette bench seat. Lounge, kitchen and washroom occupy the forward two-thirds of the interior, with the bedroom and its island bed in the rear section. An island bed is the ultimate fixed bed luxury and here Hobby has successfully melded it to the complete spacious habitation package. In essence 690 is a luxury two-berth Motorhome but with the facility of a third awkward to adapt berth when the table is lowered. Ubiquitous Fiat supplies the Maxi chassis and power chain on which Hobby build the profile body. Although the basic specification is indeed comprehensive, Camper UK have added a string of options to gild the lily including a three-litre 160 BHP TD motor, auto/manual transmission 3x bike rack, reversing camera and the red and gold paint job. Some package!
Construction Congratulations Hobby on being up front about the dimensions and type of material used for the body shell of this Motorhome. Makers who are shy on this point can lead the customer to wondering what they have to hide. Our 690 GQSC has an aluminium outer skin, plywood inner walls and polystyrene insulation within. Key details are the 34mm thickness of the roof and walls with an exceptional and highly effective floor thickness of 120mm! Not seen before is the highly efficient detail of running the waste water and heating hoses through the floor. In addition the external waste water tank is fully insulated and heated. Another pat on the back is due when we learn that a filter in the fresh water system is fitted in line between the pump and the kitchen sink faucet. That will please many who currently spend a fair chunk of money on bottled water. One key to operate the entrance door, the garage, gas locker, toilet cassette and fresh water access cap is of a rather special standard that together with the actual locks, opens and shuts positively and should certainly deter opportunist thieves.Sophistication of the lighting system includes no less than five different types of fitting to play with to suit the mood whether it’s drowsing. reading, writing, cooking or eating you’re concentrating on. The combination includes spotlights, clusters, indirect, diffused and inline spots.

On the Road

Several factors combine for a ride quality that is both smooth and stable. It is built on a long wheelbase Maxi chassis of rugged build with anti roll bars front and back – and critically all the heavy equipment including the waste water tank, kitchen and washroom are located within the wheelbase dimension.Indicative of the advance in suspension technology is that the ride quality is achieved with twin leaf springs at the rear – it used to be referred to as cart suspension but not any more. It’s also of course about shock absorber technology and air assist. Bear in mind though – the garage and how you load it can affect the road holding. Moderation is the words so if you must have a hunk of Harley Davidson, microlight or Jet Ski, tow it instead using the 1600kg braked trailer allowance. No apologies for reiterating the suggestion of using a weighbridge to check out your weight in full travel mode against the 3,500kg maximum for this Toskana 690.Motive power of 160bhp from the 2999cc, four cylinder turbo diesel motor drives the front wheels via what I refer to as the auto/manual six-speed gearbox and Fiat refer to as the comfort-matic  gearbox. Either way it’s a fine way to travel and simple to operate. Our shot of the gear lever knob shows the direction you push it for auto or manual, the plus or minus to change gear manually and the N and R for neutral and reverse. To quote Fiat, “Comfort-Matic has the performance and economy of a mechanical gearbox with the effortless use and comfort features of an automatic transmission”. Other characteristics are a creditable low noise level on the move, absolute silence from the equipment and furniture, the air con and the good quality of sound from the Blaupunkt Radio/ CD.
The Living Style

Red and gold graphics are the introduction to the 690 experience – striking without being flamboyant and a body shape that flows smoothly back from the cab. Differing shape windows are also part of the distinctive style. Look around the inside and here also the curved surfaces of doors and the bow fronted roof lockers are in a class of their own. All of them have a robust feel and workmanship that compels them to open and shut firmly. The same quality applies to the extending table and the seats, one of which is a cosy modern take on the traditional Wing chair.Two large roof lights and a skylight above the cab absolutely flooded the interior with light during the April sunshine and this was the first time in 2010 when a heater wasn’t necessary during the day. Soft furnishings in what could be warm brown or deep coral depending on the light were fine with a striated brown vinyl floor and acoustic foam ceiling covered with faux leather. Why acoustic you may ask? To reduce road noise or rain noise perhaps and certainly it will add something to the insulation qualities. A subtle touch for the 12v control/monitor system meant that it appeared to be inactive until one’s finger stayed on it for around twenty seconds. Presumably designed to deter a casual thief. Monitoring the fresh water state was fine but the waste water state only registered when virtually full. Thoroughly effective heating from the Combi boiler was sensitive enough to maintain a comfortable temperature on the lowest setting through two frosty nights and came the dawn there was only a trace of condensation on the windscreen. All about cold but with low humidityA neat seating arrangement for four worked well when our neighbours dropped in to give the Toskana the once over, and the neat swivel out table extension could also serve had they stayed for lunch. We didn’t discover a fire extinguisher but apparently one is part of the regular inventory.

Sleeping

There’s no doubt whether you are a fixed bed fan or not, this island bed example offers unparalleled shut-eye comfort.  A firmer but genuinely resilient mattress than the typical Motorhome example with a generous dimension of 1.9m by 1.50m (6’5” by 4’11”) is quite superior. Twin heater ducts at floor level supply even warmth for the bedroom and a sliding concertina door makes all snug.  Wardrobes at either side of the bed, two seriously deep drawers under it and a row of roof lockers ought to take care of the clothes storage for a week or two. And if not hooks on the bulkhead wall were ideal for bulky all-weather coats. Something of a Hobby trademark were the triple window array on the offside wall – welcome though with their flyscreens when the thermometer mercury moves upwards.

Kitchen

The galley pic gives a good idea of the advantages of a chef friendly angled kitchen. There’s elbow room, decent workspace and a fridge opening directly towards the prep’ area. I’ve never seen a better planned drawer assembly for the tools and the cooking pots, beneath which the wire basket drawer space for all the fresh perishable veg’ and fruit will be cool and dry. Deep wall lockers for packages, crocks and tins were within comfortable reach of those less tall, with scientific lighting above and below the wall cupboards. As ever pasta was popular, Greek yoghurt and blueberries for dessert and Shiraz Pinotage white from South Africa at £3.99 a bottle remarkable. Excepting the unfortunate oven placing high above the fridge, this is one of the best Motorhome galleys tested in recent times.
Washroom Two small gripes here: were a toilet seat of a height greater than might be thought normal.  And second a large circular roof light that rises slightly but is without a fly screen or blind.  We understand the former is addressed on subsequent 690 models. In general there is style here with a really good wash basin, ample locker space and numerous glass shelves for all the impedimenta that helps us to appear civilised. Two semi-circular segments adjust easily to form the shower cubicle with an opening to access the faucet and soaps etc. First class lighting and decent hooks for the towels emphasize the thorough design approach for the smallest room.

Stowage Facility

Overall stowage including the convenience of stashing the fresh water tank under the dinette double seat and the Combi heater under the single lounge seat, is good. The drain tap for the water tank is also reasonably easy to get at. Total stowage is better than good – in the garage, under the bed, in twelve roof lockers and subsidiary lockers. Locks and catches – interior and exterior are well engineered. No facilities for a waste bin or bag so you have to improvise.

Summary

There is no doubt that visually inside or out that this Toskana is a handsome machine. It also behaves in a well bred fashion for a beautiful smooth ride, with cruise control to help proceedings. Comprehensive of specification, the three litre motor mated to the automatic transmission is sheer luxury. There is about this Hobby an air of individuality – a sense of not following the pack. And the reason for this is, that Hobby is still a private company rather than part of a conglomerate. What competition does the 690 face? Perhaps Rapido, who oddly enough also happen to be an independent operation?

TECHNICAL DATA

Vehicle specification: Hobby Toskana Exclusive 690 GQSC three-berth profile Motorhome

Price of vehicle tested:  £71,639

Vehicle kindly loaned for testing by: Camper UK, Station Road, Hykeham, Lincoln, LN6 3QY, Tel: 01522 697070. WWW.Camperuk.co.uk

CONVERSION

Overall length: 7.46m

Overall width: 2.31m

Overall height: 2.87m

MPTLM: 3500kg

Payload: 314kg

Construction: Aluminium exterior, plywood inner walls and polystyrene insulation

Fresh water capacity: 100-litres

Waste water capacity: 92-litres

Gas storage capacity: two x 11kg cylinders

Auxiliary battery: 80Ah

Refrigerator: 150-litre Dometic fridge/freezer

Water heater: Truma Combi 4 space and water heater

Lighting:  generous mix of indirect, general and spot lighting

Upholstery: Sydney pattern of two-tone brown fabric

Other equipment fitted: cycle rack, reversing camera, steady jacks, cab climate control, exterior colour variant

BASE VEHICLE

Type: Fiat Maxi long wheelbase chassis cab

Power unit: 2999cc, four-cylinder turbo diesel Multijet engine

Maximum power: 157bhp @ 3600rpm

Maximum torque: 400Nm @ 1700-2500 rpm

Transmission: auto-manual six-speed gearbox

Steering: power assisted rack and pinion

Braking: servo assisted system to all disc wheels with ABS and ASR anti-slip regulation

PERFORMANCE

Fuel consumption: 24mpg estimated

Maximum speed: 80mph estimated

Comfortable cruising speed: 65-70mph