By Malcolm Street
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Paradise Motor Homes is well known for its innovative and carefully engineered motorhomes. That includes its slide-out designs such as the Liberation and well appointed van-converted models, such as the Oasis. 
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Of course all of that comes at a price and for some people who desire a Paradise motorhome, these models blow the budget. Well, the proprietor of Paradise, Colin MacLean, has given the matter some careful consideration. 
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Enter the Advantage, a van conversion that is priced at around $100,000, depending on options.
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Our Advantage was based on a Mercedes Sprinter 313 CDI van but it is also available with either a Renault Master or Trafic van base. Given all this, it’s a motorhome that is sure to generate some interest. 
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The Sprinter 313 comes with either a five-speed manual transmission or the optional six-speed auto Sprintshift, which our review motorhome had. However, that will change with the advent of the new Sprinter range coming from Mercedes-Benz, as will the price (we suspect) because the automated manual Sprintshift has gone, to be replaced with a full automatic five-speed. 
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A bonus for many will be the fact that Mercedes has priced the auto very sharply at just over $2000.
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From the outside, much of the Sprinter van look has been retained. However, items like the Seitz hopper windows, standard Paradise external light and Fiamma F45 awning give the game away. The windows are both double glazed and tinted. 
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There are three external lockers, at the nearside rear is the gas locker with two 4kg cylinders. On the opposite side is an empty bin, which in our case held the optional 2kVA generator. Behind the sliding door is the Thetford cassette door, which means a little care must be taken not to open the van sliding door when also removing or replacing the cassette.
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Inside the rear doors, the lined under bed storage area is easily accessible and conveniently lit by a low-drain LED light.
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The internal layout is the reverse of what many designers do, having an offside kitchen and nearside bathroom. Across the rear is a double bed, and up front both driver and passenger seats swivel around, with a table and third seat positioned behind the driver’s seat.
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The interior of the Advantage is quite striking with leather seats, fully lined walls and ceiling; glossy laminate is used on the table and benchtops, which also have moulded timber edges and the polished look which features in all Paradise motorhomes. The windows have integrated blinds and screens: the rear window has a venetian blind and the front window makes use of a removable reflective screen. 
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A feature CW particularly liked about the Advantage was the front dinette/seating arrangement. Both driver and passenger seats turn fully using the Paradise-designed swivel which is one of the better ones we have seen. Instead of the third seat just being a plain foam seat, it has been designed to match the cab seats. 
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The fire extinguisher is located at the rear of the base of the passenger seat – a handy location whether you are inside or outside. An option is a two-person leather lounge, which can also fold out into a bed. Between the driver and rear seats is a table best for two people. Lighting consists of ceiling downlights plus one halogen reading light for the driver’s seat. 
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Space aplenty
In the catering department, the kitchen bench is fitted with a three-burner cooktop and stainless steel sink combo unit, without a grill or drainer. A disadvantage of the combo unit here is that the washing-up cannot be done from side to side, ie, dirties on one side, clean on the other, unless there’s a large tray or similar on the bed.
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Under the bench is a Vitrifrigo 11L 12V fridge, and alongside that are four drawers plus a two-door cupboard. Along the roof line are overhead lockers as well. It has to be said that for a motorhome of this size, the benchtop area plus storage space is quite generous. Powerpoints are located at either end of the bench and specific illumination is supplied by two halogen reading lights, one of which is shared by the bed.
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Further bench area and cupboard space and a microwave is available on the opposite side of the motorhome in a cabinet that is partly in front of the sliding door. Alongside this cabinet is a full height, reasonably sized wardrobe, on the side of which is a flatscreen TV that can easily be seen from the front seats and, with a little more difficulty, from the bed in the rear. 
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One of the surprises in the Advantage is the size of the bathroom. It features one of Paradise’s patented innovations which takes advantage of the unused air space above the end of the bed and has a wash basin and shaving cabinet. Naturally, there is also a flexible hose shower and swivelling seat Thetford cassette loo, and a useful extra is the towel rack and clothes airer. Outside the bathroom, the piano-hinged door is fully mirrored, so there is no excuse for not looking your best. 
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At the rear, the fixed double bed sits across the motorhome. The rear doors have been partitioned off, with the ‘window’ being similar in size to the side windows. It’s probably just as well this is a permanent bed (ie, not having to be made up every night) because doing so would be a tad awkward, given the arrangement. 
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Above the bed, on both sides, are overhead lockers. As in all campervan and motorhome designs there are compromises, and in this case with the blanked off rear, you have to stand on the bed to get to the rear lockers. 
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Like all Paradise units, the electrics are well set up with two 6V 225Ah gel cell batteries supplying the 12V load. A 30A Smart Charger, as well as the vehicle’s alternator, keeps the batteries charged. Above the sliding door inside is a 240V circuit breaker panel and 12V controls. 
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Our model came with optional rooftop air-conditioning. 
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The Bottom Line
The Advantage comes with not all, but plenty of, Paradise’s usual features and is finished with the Paradise attention to detail. Having the permanent double bed in the rear will please many, as will the simple but effective front dinette/lounge area that makes full use of the driver’s cab. 
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Sprinter-sized vans are very popular for all kinds of reasons and the Advantage is an interesting addition to that sector of the motorhome/motorcamper market.
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For more information contact Paradise Motorhomes, 17 Kamholtz Court, Ashmore, Qld 4214, (07) 5597 4400, fax (07) 5597 5500, www.paradisemotorhomes.com.au
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I liked
• Front layout with swivelling seats and third seat to match the other two 
• Generous storage areas – not always easy to achieve in a van this size 
• Large bathroom area
• General decor, fit and finish
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Now I’m being picky
• A reading light for the passenger seat
• Separate cooktop and sink so that their layout configuration could be reversed
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Paradise Advantage 

Base vehicle: Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 313 CDI 

Engine: 2.2L turbodiesel

Brakes: Disc all round

Gearbox: Five-speed manual

Max power: 95kW@3800rpm

Max torque: 300Nm@1600-2400rpm

Tare weight: 2900kg

GVM: 3550kg

External length: 21ft 7in (6.6m)

External width: 6ft 4in (1.9m)

Internal height: 6ft (1.8m)

Cooktop: Smev three-burner 

Fridge: Vitrifrigo 118L 240/12V

Microwave: NEC

Gas: 2 x 4kg

Lighting: 12V

Hot water: Truma 14L gas

Toilet: Thetford cassette

Fresh water: 110L

Grey water: 86L

Second stage compliance: No

Price: $107,652 plus o/r (includes a/c for cab and roof and Sprintshift) 
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Paradise Advantage

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