A-Class or Coachbuilt?

[GBM]

This is just a ramble, but I thought I'd gauge reaction...

Having had both, I thought it would be easy to know which was best, but it hasn't been as obvious as I thought. Tradition says A-class is the best, they certainly used to look the best, but have you seen some of the latest coachbuilts? They look terrific. Coachbuilts also look sleeker as the cab is narrower, and now designers are fairing them in properly, I don't think there's much - if anything - in it. And on the inside, again, I'm not sure an A-class has much advantage. In fact I think the only time that holds true is if there's no drop down bed, then the front of an A-class is very spacious. But then you often get a sunroof in a coachbuilt. A coachbuilt uses the OEM headlights, bonnet etc which are often better, and the dashboard top has to be extended in an A-class to meet the wider body and newly positioned windscreen, which can make for problems like squeaks. I want to think an A-class is better, but I'm just not sure it is. What are you're experiences, funsters?

 

[Lenny HB]

A classes can look a bit odd. the resessed front wheels due to a big body but standard mechanicals look weird.

Try looking at some new ones what you describe only applies to ones built on the older Mercedes chassis.

Sometimes the same goes for the inside. Steering wheel can look tiny against the big open space. the large plastic dash space between the driver and the steering wheel.

Much nicer environment for driving nice large screen & big side windows. The steering wheel is in exactly the same position as a standard coachbuild relative to the front & sides of the vehicle.
Far nicer than the tiny cramped van cab.

When it comes down to it the manufacturer is trying to fit a larger body onto a smaller oem structure and to me it generally doesn't work. I'd like to see a properly designed and built A class rather than the Frankenstein bodge job but I guess due to small numbers/cost that's never going to happen.

You have got that wrong they look much move streamlined than a standard coachbuild that looks like a caravan tacked onto the back of a chassis cab, Bailey are the worst offender they look like a real cut & shunt job, they make me cringe every time I see one.
IMO an A Class is a proper Motorhome from the ground up.

 

[DandJ]

A-class with a drop-down bed means the lounge area is still available while she's still in bed. And that also gives us several more high level lockers because the lounge doesn't have a bed dropping though it. And an extra outside locker because the gas cupboard is under a cab window. So a ton more space when it's only 6 metres long.

I've failed on a forum search so....can I ask which make and model of MH yours is pls. Many thanks

 

[Guigsy]

I've failed on a forum search so....can I ask which make and model of MH yours is pls. Many thanks

Geist i585

The Roller Team Pegaso 590 and the slightly older Pilote G600L are similar layouts.

Note: it's massive inside for its size. But only a few outside lockers. No proper garage.

 

[haganap]

having had 3 Coach builds and 5 A classes I wouldn't go back to the Coach build as I just love the views and the space in the A class.

to consider though

Coach built offers better MPG, they look much nicer and slicker (see my how ugly are you thread). Yes you can still get douuble floors and pretty much anything you like on a Cclass in terms of build.

But personally I prefer Nikki to be sat as far away from me as possible when driving.

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[Aspenshaw]

I'm on my third A-Class over 23 years. I don't like the last two, my missus does (she won't drive them but she happily drove the cab motorhomes we've had). Our A-classes give us more space which is important to us. The worst of our Hymers is the blind front/side on the passenger side. The 6m Arto didn't have that. If only Artos were 6.5m or less and an awful lot cheaper I'd go for an A-class with glee.

And that is my experience. Get the best A-class with the right size and be sure you can see around the outside of the cab from the driver seat.

 

[denisejoe]

I see A class repair bills and can say from those alone I wouldn't have one.

Why would it be any different from any other mh

 

[funflair]

A classes can look a bit odd. the resessed front wheels due to a big body but standard mechanicals look weird. Sometimes the same goes for the inside. Steering wheel can look tiny against the big open space. the large plastic dash space between the driver and the steering wheel. The lack of door on the hab side on lots of models. etc etc

When it comes down to it the manufacturer is trying to fit a larger body onto a smaller oem structure and to me it generally doesn't work. I'd like to see a properly designed and built A class rather than the Frankenstein bodge job but I guess due to small numbers/cost that's never going to happen.

"A class" all the way for me but yes you are right some do look a bit odd, if you don't like the recessed front wheels thing (I don't) there are options on the IVECO chassis as you can now spec the wide front axle from Meier or alternatively you can fit wheel spacers, if you have front air suspension you need these anyway so that the wheels clear the air bags.

When you say "large plastic dash" I am guessing that you mean between windscreen and steering wheel/driver and yes again I am with you not liking this but there are A class vans out there that do not suffer this as the dashboard has been altered to be higher and further forward, raising the dashboard gives more room over the engine as well.

The lack of doors at the front doesn't bother me in the slightest so in conclusion I would say that all A class are not made the same and you need to be selective.

 

[denisejoe]

I like our thermal electric front blind and double glazed side cab windows and now I have got rid of the massive table and installEd a small one for the two of us massive lounge

 

[herald_400rl]

Why would it be any different from any other mh

Access, I can change my timing belt by removing the bumper, radiator and then I have all the access I need. But why bother when a garage did it for £330. Once they have to mess about doing it off the floor or start swearing because they can't get any tools on the price inevitably increases. I've seen many a post on here where people struggle to even find a garage that would take the work on... although that seems to be a locality issue.

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[vkr15s]

Having had both and currently a coach built but would go A class every time if I could find one at 3500 with the layout I want and a half decent payload

 

[varaizian]

Our last van was a standard Ducati cab and I looked out of the top 10cm of screen. Never needed a sun visor though! Current A class I look out of the middle of the screen. At 185cm (6ft 2inches) I am on the tall side but not unusually so. I also found looking in the driver's mirror difficult with the window bar in the way. So much better for visibility in this A class.

 

[cyberyacht]

Coachbuilt first and now A Class. Both same slimline width and more or less same layout. 0.4M extra length gives me a bigger garage and the locker option instead of drop-down bed gives loads of storage. Double floor adds more storage and internal tanks. I wouldn't be averse to another coach-built but since I consider this my ultimate(within my budget) moho and my advancing years, this will almost certainly be my last.

 

[GBM]

Coachbuilt first and now A Class. Both same slimline width and more or less same layout. 0.4M extra length gives me a bigger garage and the locker option instead of drop-down bed gives loads of storage. Double floor adds more storage and internal tanks. I wouldn't be averse to another coach-built but since I consider this my ultimate(within my budget) moho and my advancing years, this will almost certainly be my last.

Yes, I think a compact A-class such as Hymer Exsis or Carthago Compact line have a lot going for them.

 

[tonyidle]

I like our thermal electric front blind and double glazed side cab windows and now I have got rid of the massive table and installEd a small one for the two of us massive lounge

You and I must have the same van .

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[VXman]

an A Class is a proper Motorhome from the ground up.

Nope - they are still a van chassis. From the chassis up maybe.

 

[VXman]

Try looking at some new ones what you describe only applies to ones built on the older Mercedes chassis.

Much nicer environment for driving nice large screen & big side windows. The steering wheel is in exactly the same position as a standard coachbuild relative to the front & sides of the vehicle.
Far nicer than the tiny cramped van cab.

You have got that wrong they look much move streamlined than a standard coachbuild that looks like a caravan tacked onto the back of a chassis cab, Bailey are the worst offender they look like a real cut & shunt job, they make me cringe every time I see one.
IMO an A Class is a proper Motorhome from the ground up.

No, I have not got it wrong. but then neither have you. It is all subjective and a matter of opinion. These threads will always be so.

TINY CRAMPED VAN CAB - a heck of an exaggeration. It's all relative. If you want cramped have a sit in my VX220! In comparison a mini car is spacious. A mid sized car is massive. Even in comparison to a Range Rover a Fiat Ducato cab is spacious. Yes - there is more room in a A class but for me and my wife there is plenty of space in a Ducato Cab.

Your A class is tiny and cramped in comparison to my Coach sized RV!

 

[Verteuil Man]

For us an A class is our choice and German at that. We use our van all year round in both the UK and Europe. The double floor gives the benefit of thermal insulation (more later) and a small amount of storage space. The cab area is all part of the thermal construction of the motorhome body so along with the double glazed side windows and roll down thermal windscreen blind there are no cold spots and you do not sit in the front seats with jumpers on. Another benefit of the cab being part of the overall build you gain a lot of width in the front.

 

[Guigsy]

Coach built offers better MPG

Is this true? The frontal area is the same. The back (which is far more crucial than most people think) is the same. The front is a bit more pointy, but it's also a lot more lumpy with many more areas to generate vortices.

 

[denisejoe]

Access, I can change my timing belt by removing the bumper, radiator and then I have all the access I need. But why bother when a garage did it for £330. Once they have to mess about doing it off the floor or start swearing because they can't get any tools on the price inevitably increases. I've seen many a post on here where people struggle to even find a garage that would take the work on... although that seems to be a locality issue.

my garage does the timing belt in through the bonnet not a problem and the mechanic said he prefers it to newer vans

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[funflair]

Nope - they are still a van chassis. From the chassis up maybe.

They have to have a chassis and running gear so a donor vehicle is ideal, some are van derived some are truck, some are quite heavily modified specifically for the motorhome body to go on top so no they are not all on a "van chassis", and even on the same basic chassis can be quite different.

 

[iandsm]

I see A class repair bills and can say from those alone I wouldn't have one.

I had one for 13 years, usual servicing including camp belt etc. never a problemlem and I dont think I was ever charged a premium because it was an A Class.

 

[UptheGas]

That’s why it’s best to get an A class with a chain not a cambelt
Then you’ve NO cost.

Until your chain gets loose , like my Vauxhall Astra that I had to replace because the repair bill would of been so high ! £1600+
Happy to see it go though as it gave me the excuse to buy a nice Audi A5

 

[Guigsy]

Until your chain gets loose , like my Vauxhall Astra that I had to replace because the repair bill would of been so high ! £1600+
Happy to see it go though as it gave me the excuse to buy a nice Audi A5

Aren't there a few Audi's with chain issues? And the engine is backwards, so impossible to service.

Quite a few BMWs and Minis with Pug engines have timing chains that like to eat their chain guides. Several other engines have hydraulic tensioners that are a common failure point.

Chain timing isn't necessarily better.

 

[GMLS]

A classes can look a bit odd. the resessed front wheels due to a big body but standard mechanicals look weird. Sometimes the same goes for the inside. Steering wheel can look tiny against the big open space. the large plastic dash space between the driver and the steering wheel. The lack of door on the hab side on lots of models. etc etc

When it comes down to it the manufacturer is trying to fit a larger body onto a smaller oem structure and to me it generally doesn't work. I'd like to see a properly

A classes can look a bit odd. the resessed front wheels due to a big body but standard mechanicals look weird. Sometimes the same goes for the inside. Steering wheel can look tiny against the big open space. the large plastic dash space between the driver and the steering wheel. The lack of door on the hab side on lots of models. etc etc

When it comes down to it the manufacturer is trying to fit a larger body onto a smaller oem structure and to me it generally doesn't work. I'd like to see a properly designed and built A class rather than the Frankenstein bodge job but I guess due to small numbers/cost that's never going to happen.

Can do but certainly don't need to

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[Abgs]

Our last van was a standard Ducati cab and I looked out of the top 10cm of screen. Never needed a sun visor though! Current A class I look out of the middle of the screen. At 185cm (6ft 2inches) I am on the tall side but not unusually so. I also found looking in the driver's mirror difficult with the window bar in the way. So much better for visibility in this A class.

Yep - same here. I'm too tall for the Ducato cab. Fiat based A Class is fine but Coachbuilt would have to be Merc based.

 

[varaizian]

Yep - same here. I'm too tall for the Ducato cab. Fiat based A Class is fine but Coachbuilt would have to be Merc based.

I've also tried a Ford-based cab that was ok but I'm not fond of Fords for other reasons.

 

[Northernraider]

Yep - same here. I'm too tall for the Ducato cab. Fiat based A Class is fine but Coachbuilt would have to be Merc based.

I find it's the seat swivels they add that then makes the seat too tall in the cab. Don't know why they haven't invented lower seat boxes to compensate

 

[enark]

Are there any coach builds with a double floor?
Would certainly miss ours

Yes, Burstner, Adria, Homer etc

 

[denisejoe]

You and I must have the same van .

No, ours is a Euramobile.as on our avatar

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[gus-lopez]

that’s what we pay insurance for (paying four figure repair bills).

that's UK thinking.Insurance is not for someones vehicle to be repaired who drives negligently & damages there own. should be max of TPF&T to induce better driving