Hello Fred

I see that you talked to Ian, so I hardly think your "wet behind the ears"
I presume you have read Mikes piece on buying secondhand.
My thoughts are that the big issues are: No tears in the PVC. Solid Floor. Less important suspension and brakes.
Beyond that its your feelings on the general condition. Then appliances: Does the underfloor heating work. What sort of job was done for the electric hookup?
What's a fair price for a 1990's Dart. Occasional ones go for £800 one or two manage £1700 or more. So your in the top 25% of price. That said if it was in perfect condition had gas struts and skirts it still might be good value.
Didn't follow your comment about being winterised. If it has white walls inside it is winterised.
I don't know the year of the switchover from glass to plastic windows or the perceived benefit
Did underfloor heaters make it to the end of the light blues? One of our correspondents has a propex fitted in a 2000's Dandy, still warm but needs a battery and isn't quiet.
My biggest question to you is why a Dart? The extra space of a Delta or a Designer/Discovery is always welcome and they're all easy to tow.
Best of luck with search.

Kevin.

Funnily enough the interior white walls wouldn't have helped us to tell if Minnie was winterised as her exterior walls are all white. She is as it happens because when the sun shines you can actually see the padding and the walls do feel thick.
I agree with the others Fred (based on my limited experience and a lot of window shopping since we bought Minnie) don't spend that much on a Dart unless it is winterised. There seems to be a lot of good Dandys around and if this one turns out not to be the one for you, I'm sure that the one that is will come along soon.
Good luck anyway, make sure you let us know how you get on

Hello Again Fred

I see in your second piece you wrote

.....& why a dandy?,

If that was in response to my question then my point wasn't clear.
I was asking "Why a Dart?" The Darts are about 4' across folded plus wheels. Deltas are about 4'10" plus wheels (Some bespoke Darts and Deltas have the wheels inboard) Now the next size up the Designer or Discovery (Same Size interior different) might be at or above your width requirements at 188cm. (Wheels inboard) Being short though they avoid the snaking issues of longer trailer tents. The extra width does make a big difference to the living space.
Your spending a lot of money, go through ebay, gumtree etc and go look at ones close to you so you can visualise the different sizes. If your near the North West go to Riva and have a browse. Any questions you find while looking there you would be sure of an honest and authoritative answer.
All Dandies are within the 750Kg license restriction for post 1997 licences.(the big Destiny one only just) I don't know if you have such a license or an older one where you can theoretically have a unit of up to 8.25 tonnes. Whichever you have I hate to see someones options limited by trepidation. Have you thought of a couple of B+E driving lessons?
1...2....3....4.....5 Right now you have counted to five none of that was meant in a Sid the sexist way giving Fred a hard time because we now know Fred is a Freda. No it may well be that you have talents or confidence you never would have believed. You don't need the licence so just a couple of lessons might fire you up. Conversely the Caravaning Club do courses on towing. I know you don't have the space for a caravan, but if the course is the right price why not? People have lot's of misconceptions about trailers. i.e. most non towers wouldn't understand, trailers get harder to reverse the shorter they get.
If any of that seems a little grumpy it's not meant to be. Everyone would love to see you in a Dandy and preferably the right one for you.

Kevin.

Fred

Sorry total brain fade on my part you said in your first post you had been to Riva and I even commented on it.

Re winterised status. If you only want it for summer it's not important, but if you have it you have more options.

Best of luck with your viewing.

Kevin.