Advice sought: Slimline A class, low profile or PVC?

[avmac]

Hi,
We've been researching what to buy as our next van having not had one for many years.

We'd value comments on drivability, convenience and comfort of PVCs versus slimline A Class versus low profile B class (both sub 2.12m width) vans e.g. Carthargo Compactline 138 or Adria Compact Supreme SP. We need a maximum of 3.5tonne and 6.4m max length is practical for our driveway. Due to areas around us bringing in emissions fees, Euro 6 is a high priority.

We previously had an old 6.4m PVC. There's only the two of us and we like walking, hillwalking, cycling and skiing and would value the option of some wild/remote camping. Though driving out to ski is not a priority given ongoing restrictions, winterisation is a consideration. Initially we'd thought we'd go for another hightop PVC e.g. Murvi Morello or similar. However, having the bikes secured safely out of sight has increased the emphasis on some form of garage. Of the various vans we've looked at the Adria Twin 640 SGX had looked promising but the seating wasn't that comfy, whereas the seating in a Malibu van felt relaxing, though its rear bed is not high enough for easy bike stowage. This has led us on to considering compact motorhomes. We've looked at a second hand Carthago Compactline 138 and were impressed with its quality and layout. However, we've not driven an A Class and a test drive was not available at the time.

Any comments on handling of a Carthago CL 138 vs a PVC? Is the narrower width of the Carthago 138, really more PVC-like or is it still going to feel 'brick-like'. Is the lack of a driver's door a pain in real world use? Are there other slimline options? Others seem to be available (e.g. Hymer DL444) in 2.22m width but we're not keen on feeling restricted on narrow lanes so our perception is to stay as narrow as possible.

We're going to be looking at an Adria C.S. SP (also 2.12m width) and hope that it might feel more comfy than the Twin. BTW, yes we'd love to hire one first but haven't seen any available to hire on our short list. As we live in a hilly part of the country and like going to the hills, views on recommended engine powers for the various options would also be appreciated e.g is 140bhp ok on an A class?

We'd value any and all opinions and comments, including recommended (or not) dealerships.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Monty777]

Have a look at a Hymer Exsis I- we went down the same route as you earlier this year and bought an Exsis I 414-5.99 meters long and only 4 inches wider that the Compactline-we love ours and it’s easy to park.

 

[Lenny HB]

A full water tank gives us a week no shower in van and 2.5 days max using shower

Are you drinking it? You have a 150 Lt tank easy to do 4 days maybe 5 with both of you having a daily shower.

 

[Blackadder]

The Buerstner Travel Van looks good. As far as I can tell though it's a little wider than the 2.12m options we're looking at currently. The thought of the cost of chipped A class windscreen is another factor to consider, so a good point about standard Ducato parts on the Travel Van. Thank you.

Correct. I think our Travel Van is 2.2m which is minimal in real terms - but I don't think that includes the mirrors, hence the rapid purchase of a set of mirror guards. In that respect an A-class with "bus style" mirrors does have an advantage though I'm told that some types can restrict vision at some junctions - like having a foot wide A-pillar.

A Class screen are not really a problem just scaremongering by the hate A Class brigade. Most proper Motorhome insurance will have unlimited windscreen cover. Cost me £75 excess to get my screen changed last year.

Yes, having windscreen insurance means the cost is not so important but our screen is the same as every other Ducato on the road so is easily available. What are the chances of the nearest windscreen fitter having one for a low-volume A-class? Or getting one within a week?
I believe that driving with a damaged screen in front of the driver is an offence in many countries and I'm not sure I could make the right excuses in most foreign languages.
In addition, a friend of mine has a Hymer and he told me that repairing the A-class versions is much more expensive than the ones with a conventional bonnet due to access issues. I don't know how true that is but I'd investigate before I bought one.
As for being an A-Class hater, not true. Like the Op I don't want to go over 3.5tonnes and I couldn't find a narrow A-class with a decent payload (Minxy's comments are very relevant!) and an automatic transmission that we could afford to buy.

 

[Minxy]

Storage is great ours too is uprated on plate slightly to 3650kg

Interesting that you've uprated to 3650kg as 3700kg was a no-cost upgrade option from Carthago - all it needed was a new COC which the dealer uses at the time of registration, however not all dealers may know this.

What I'm more interested in though is what are your loaded axle weights? Due to the extra length and your carrying a scooter you must be sailing pretty close to the rear axle limit and/or overall max.

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[Minxy]

Are you drinking it? You have a 150 Lt tank easy to do 4 days maybe 5 with both of you having a daily shower.

Ours lasts even longer as we have no daily showers although I do drink lots of cuppas so if I cut down we could probably manage a week!

 

[minesapint]

Hi,
We've been researching what to buy as our next van having not had one for many years.

We'd value comments on drivability, convenience and comfort of PVCs versus slimline A Class versus low profile B class (both sub 2.12m width) vans e.g. Carthargo Compactline 138 or Adria Compact Supreme SP. We need a maximum of 3.5tonne and 6.4m max length is practical for our driveway. Due to areas around us bringing in emissions fees, Euro 6 is a high priority.

We previously had an old 6.4m PVC. There's only the two of us and we like walking, hillwalking, cycling and skiing and would value the option of some wild/remote camping. Though driving out to ski is not a priority given ongoing restrictions, winterisation is a consideration. Initially we'd thought we'd go for another hightop PVC e.g. Murvi Morello or similar. However, having the bikes secured safely out of sight has increased the emphasis on some form of garage. Of the various vans we've looked at the Adria Twin 640 SGX had looked promising but the seating wasn't that comfy, whereas the seating in a Malibu van felt relaxing, though its rear bed is not high enough for easy bike stowage. This has led us on to considering compact motorhomes. We've looked at a second hand Carthago Compactline 138 and were impressed with its quality and layout. However, we've not driven an A Class and a test drive was not available at the time.

Any comments on handling of a Carthago CL 138 vs a PVC? Is the narrower width of the Carthago 138, really more PVC-like or is it still going to feel 'brick-like'. Is the lack of a driver's door a pain in real world use? Are there other slimline options? Others seem to be available (e.g. Hymer DL444) in 2.22m width but we're not keen on feeling restricted on narrow lanes so our perception is to stay as narrow as possible.

We're going to be looking at an Adria C.S. SP (also 2.12m width) and hope that it might feel more comfy than the Twin. BTW, yes we'd love to hire one first but haven't seen any available to hire on our short list. As we live in a hilly part of the country and like going to the hills, views on recommended engine powers for the various options would also be appreciated e.g is 140bhp ok on an A class?

We'd value any and all opinions and comments, including recommended (or not) dealerships.

Thanks in advance.

A compact coachbuilt was our way out of the, what do we need question. A 6.25 Hobby van with a hugh garage to take bikes etc. We looked a a PVC but did not like the big noisy sliding door, and the restriction in storage space and we would have to put our bikes outside.

 

[cyberyacht]

My 2016 Compactline 138 only has a 100L tank that just lasts us four days. As for length, the Carthago's are 138 - 6.40, 141 - 6.65, 143/144 - 6.99. Mine is constrained by the length of the drive and the 138 is the only model with a transverse bed over the garage.
.

 

[Adrianlle]

Thanks Cyberyacht. What size is the transverse bed ? - as a 6 footer I need a bit of space to stretch out length wise : hence why thinking of the 144 which I think has one of the single beds extendable. Also like the thought of rear twin beds that can be used as day beds when want to put feet up to read- the Euro lounges ( we have one at moment) a bit too shoe horned for that. Thanks.

 

[cyberyacht]

1.96m x 1.47m tapering to 1.35. As with all transverse beds, the one with the weakest bladder should sleep on the outside.

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[Adrianlle]

Thanks. So that’s 6’5””in old money which is a good size. Suppose that’s what comes from the straight sides of an A class. Is the drop down bed the same length? as - like Minxy - the plan would be to have one double bed each, as in the James Cook at the moment, and which gets round the weak bladder arguments!?

 

[Minxy]

The drop down bed is stated as being the 'Largest sleeping area in its class'

Of course seeing as there'll only be one of you in each bed you can easily sleep slightly angled to get more length, I often have to do this as our Tazzy likes to sleep right where my feet should go!

The above is taken from 'Carthago A-Class 2019 Price List' which you can download from the below (bottom left) - I can't attach it as it's too big,

Carthago Brochures

Our Carthago brochures can be found here, containing detailed information about the Carthago motorhomes in stock at Go European Motorhomes and Caravans.

www.goeuropean.co.uk

I do have a copy of the 2019 brochure if you want it but you'll net to message me your email as it's way too big to put on here.

 

[cyberyacht]

Mine has cupboards all round in lieu of a drop down bed. Far more useful.

 

[Minxy]

Mine has cupboards all round in lieu of a drop down bed. Far more useful.

I depends on what you want, if ours hadn't had the front bed we wouldn't have bought it.

Did you buy it from a show in September 2019?

 

[Adrianlle]

Thanks Minxy and Cyberyacht. The drop down bed would be essential for us in addition to the rear bed as sleep patterns make it impossible to share a bed in the van. The price list was informative though eye wateringly expensive once the options are added in! So if we change it is beginning to look like a used 138 or a 143 Euro6 auto. Thanks

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[138go]

We have the luxury of a bed each, so this model suits us perfectly. Neither of us sleeps that well, so with this arrangement we don’t wake each other up. It’s also great when we go to Spain, as we don’t get too hot.

 

[Lenny HB]

hence why thinking of the 144 which I think has one of the single beds extendable.

It doesn't extend it reduces to make the shower useable.

Bed sizes are on the price list.

 

[LaughingPlumber]

We have a Hymer MLT-580, which at 6.98 is slightly longer than your requirement, but the 560 and 570 are nearer at 5.78, and all share the same cavernous garage that I can get 2 road bikes and 2 MTB's in with only a bit of handlebar twisting. This is the second Merc chasis we've had, and wouldn't go back to Cerval built vans again. The passenger can actually see out of the swept portion of the windscreen. Rear wheel drive makes it as manouverable as our Golf.
Our previous Autosleeper Devon was 5.99 m long, but with a Carry lift bike rack for 3 bikes was the same length overall, along with the problems of visibility, securiy and weather proofing that you wan't to avoid. Bare bones it also weighed 75 kg more than the 680, and as I'm restricted to 3500 for medical grounds, that is a critical factor, and you do have to be Ruthless with accumulating "usefull accesories". Winterisation is much better on European vans generally the UK ones, with warm floors built into the B678. I would have strongly conidered one if it had been available on a Merc chassis, but SHWMBO was adamant that she's fed up with looking out of the side window for 4 days driving across Northern Europe in the rain.
Don't forget that overall width is dictated by the cab and the mirrors, not the body. I don't know about the specific A or B Class vans that you're looking at, but on the Globecar that we hired a few years ago it was exceedingly diffifucult to judge where the front corners of the van are without proximity sensors or all round cameras :- another expense that I'm seriosly considering for continental driving.

 

[Minxy]

Thanks Minxy and Cyberyacht. The drop down bed would be essential for us in addition to the rear bed as sleep patterns make it impossible to share a bed in the van. The price list was informative though eye wateringly expensive once the options are added in! So if we change it is beginning to look like a used 138 or a 143 Euro6 auto. Thanks

When we bought ours we were originally looking at another one at the same show which was 'new' but a year older (not registered) which we were most unhappy with as we had been purposely misled by the selling dealer, consequently we got the one we have now which was also 'new' and unregistered having just been taken to shows, the difference was that the latter had a much better spec and a much better trade in valuation so in the end it only cost us around £2,000 more for a far superior vehicle with an auto box, the other being manual (see post #31 for info), what I'm saying is that you don't always have to fork our a lot for the higher spec if you can get a 'new' unregistered one.

Oh heck ... yet another very, VERY expensive show ...

I knew we shouldn't have come to Lincoln show ... the plan was to come for the day originally as we'd not been able to book well in advance to be able to park with funsters, but then we got some camping tickets from another member who couldn't attend (donation to MH Fun charity to be made...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[cyberyacht]

I depends on what you want, if ours hadn't had the front bed we wouldn't have bought it.

Did you buy it from a show in September 2019?

No px'd my Marquis Majestic 125 in August 2020 at Go European. Just managed a few short trips before Lockdown Mk

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[Minxy]

No px'd my Marquis Majestic 125 in August 2020 at Go European. Just managed a few short trips before Lockdown Mk

That'll probably be the one we saw then as there are very few ones with lockers at the front, does it have the coloured sides?

 

[cyberyacht]

Yes, fog grey.

 

[Adrianlle]

Minxy, I assume the logic of buying an unregistered one at
much reduced price is that it needs to be at the end of the season so that the dealer is clearing out unsold stock before the next model year. I note that you bought yours at the Lincoln show which I guess is one of the last in the year. If that’s right then I may just have to bide my time until something suitable comes up- complicated as well by the Lockdown demand for vans - though will be interested to see if that continues or people start offloading them as travel opens up! Thanks

 

[Minxy]

Minxy, I assume the logic of buying an unregistered one at
much reduced price is that it needs to be at the end of the season so that the dealer is clearing out unsold stock before the next model year. I note that you bought yours at the Lincoln show which I guess is one of the last in the year. If that’s right then I may just have to bide my time until something suitable comes up- complicated as well by the Lockdown demand for vans - though will be interested to see if that continues or people start offloading them as travel opens up! Thanks

Yup, that's pretty much one of the best times to get good deal in a 'normal' year but nowadays it's anyone's guess, I think that once people are able to go abroad for holiday easier and at less cost (ie not so much testing etc) then some will no longer want the MHs they've bought so could come back into the market, trouble is the dealers will be waiting in the wings to pounce in order to top up their own stock levels due to the shortage they have - if you see one you like and the price is okay don't spend too much time making your mind up, do your research now and narrow down to which models/makes you want and get yourself in a position to beat the dealers to them!

 

[Adrianlle]

That’s v sage advice. Part of the problem of course because of the stock posit is actually getting to see the models- in our case 138/141/143!

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[Lenny HB]

That’s v sage advice. Part of the problem of course because of the stock posit is actually getting to see the models- in our case 138/141/143!

A Compact Line it is then.

Next time we change it will probably be a Compact Line probably a 144LE would rather go a bit shorter but it's the only layout that really suits us. Won't be for a couple of years anyway.

 

[Minxy]

A Compact Line it is then.

Next time we change it will probably be a Compact Line probably a 144LE would rather go a bit shorter but it's the only layout that really suits us. Won't be for a couple of years anyway.

You mean you don't don't want an excuse to have a double bed all to yourself?

 

[Lenny HB]

You mean you don't don't want an excuse to have a double bed all to yourself?

Too lazy to pull a bed down every night.
Prefer the shower and kitchen layout although not that keen on the sliding bed as we use the shower a lot. Also prefer the position of the TV.

Would like front cupboards rather than a bed but that wouldn't be allowed in case we take a grandchild away for one night a year.

 

[Adrianlle]

I’d like to look at a 144LE as well as a 143 to compare. If the retractable bed really works then I guess I get the advantage of a seperate shower for the same length van as 143.

 

[Minxy]

Too lazy to pull a bed down every night.
Prefer the shower and kitchen layout although not that keen on the sliding bed as we use the shower a lot. Also prefer the position of the TV.

Would like front cupboards rather than a bed but that wouldn't be allowed in case we take a grandchild away for one night a year.

Make a temporary bed to go across the quarter-turned cab seats, or get a cab-bunk.

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[howsitgoingdude]

We bought ours unregistered also , best economic way full warranty and that all new odour can’t beat it