Integrated or semi-integrated?

[Lenny HB]

I am also hoping one day Lenny HB will sell me his van!!

Maybe when you have some LHD Carthago's in stock.

Malibu has got to be a stepping stone to Carthago.

 

[Simon Select]

Maybe when you have some LHD Carthago's in stock.

Malibu has got to be a stepping stone to Carthago.

Yeah it is. Malibu is the same as the C Line. The E line beats the Malibu. Just a thought but why not go on the configurature and we can have a deal?

 

[Lenny HB]

Yeah it is. Malibu is the same as the C Line. The E line beats the Malibu. Just a thought but why not go on the configurature and we can have a deal?

The boss would kill me, and if we did change it would be a Compact Line, fed up with getting stuck in Spanish villages.
Who says size doesn't matter.

It would be a novelty I've never bought a van in the UK, I like to do things the hard way.

 

[Oldchappers]

A Class every time, easier to drive, flat sides make it easier to get through tight spaces and easier to reverse.
Great view from the cab, more space in the cab area. Less road & wind noise, cab area better insulated so warmer. Better winterization, most have double floors.

Alko chassis means less body roll

 

[Lenny HB]

Alko chassis means less body roll

Unfortunately not all A Class have an Al-Ko chassis but the Fiat Camping Car chassis is not bad.

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[Simon Select]

The boss would kill me, and if we did change it would be a Compact Line, fed up with getting stuck in Spanish villages.
Who says size doesn't matter.

It would be a novelty I've never bought a van in the UK, I like to do things the hard way.

I could retire if I knew I was the English dealer that managed to sell Lenny a van

 

[EuroTrotters]

Mercedes is available with Alko chassis. If you can afford one !.

 

[Oldchappers]

Unfortunately not all A Class have an Al-Ko chassis but the Fiat Camping Car chassis is not bad.

I can only go from my limited experience. My Fiat based Hymer is like a big comfy 60 mile an hour armchair. wouldn’t want to change.

 

[Lenny HB]

Mercedes is available with Alko chassis. If you can afford one !.

Expensive on RWD not too bad on the FWD.

 

[Lenny HB]

I can only go from my limited experience. My Fiat based Hymer is like a big comfy 60 mile an hour armchair. wouldn’t want to change.

Mine was a bone shaker until I got full air and got rid of the crap Michelin tyres very pleasant now.

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[Oldchappers]

Mercedes is available with Alko chassis. If you can afford one !.

Just check the front springs and shocks are upgraded and not stock as you may not like the boat like swaying. I have heard of some fairly damning experiences. That was an B class semi integrated though.

 

[Oldchappers]

Mine was a bone shaker until I got full air and got rid of the crap Michelin tyres very pleasant now.

Absolutely no problem with my little 5.99m. Complete luck as my research was not up to usual standards but I clearly got lucky. Absolutely love her.

 

[Wh05apk]

Another benefit of an a class is that they age better, difficult to judge their age unless you really know your stuff.

 

[Lucky]

Ultimately people vote with their wallet. I wonder how actual sales numbers compare between the two formats.

 

[pandas]

Semi integrated - how can you reach the ticket machine in a fully integrated

buy a car

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[pandas]

Ultimately people vote with their wallet. I wonder how actual sales numbers compare between the two formats.

Some may but the cost differential between an integrated and a simi isn't that much. The most important aspect is how you feel about the internal space - A Class suits us perfectly but understand but it doesn't for others. Back to costs I cannot quite understand the thought of buying a VW Ocean which would be upwards of £70k with the usual 'bits' but some feel they are great value.
Had front envy on a site the other day when a new Hymer B Class Master Line (that's an A Class!) pulled into a site. Hymer have just managed to sort of the profile of the front which wrap around the sides so not a shoe box - really very nice.

 

[pandas]

A Class every time, easier to drive, flat sides make it easier to get through tight spaces and easier to reverse.
Great view from the cab, more space in the cab area. Less road & wind noise, cab area better insulated so warmer. Better winterization, most have double floors.

Perfect explanation, A Class every time. Not with you on your RHD v LHD crusade though, very happy driving our RHD in Europe as far less traffic density than here although Europe represents 90% of our journeys (used to anyhow).

 

[Solwaybuggier]

As we’ve not had an A class, I’m not really in a position to comment. When looking for our current van we did look at a few A classes though - we generally prefer to buy used, and most A classes have a front drop down bed, which we don’t want. So there was an availability issue.

I can remember several years ago talking to someone on a site who’d moved from an A class Carthago to semi-integrated Carthago - when I asked him why, he’d had a couple of front screens break, which had been a major hassle (availability and insurance.). So far I’ve never had a screen break, so he must have been very unlucky - but it does disprove the argument that once you have an A class you never go back.

 

[claude et maude]

We love our A class, we were motorhome novices when we bought it 4 years ago, it’s RHD which we have no problem with in Europe but with COVID and being stuck in the UK for now we realise the problem of having only two doors on the same side of the van, they are both on the right hand side so open into the road over here. Not a major issue as don’t often park on side of road but when we do it’s a bit of an ordeal…saying that, we will be sticking with A class’s for the foreseeable.

 

[jongood]

Does it matter really. I've had left hookers for the last 30 years. Yet I was 50 miles down the road in a van I just bought when I realised it was RHD.

It depends on

1: how well the layout works with the steering wheel moved from the original position, we would need a different layout for RHD.

2 where you want to use it. We mostly use ours outside britain on less familiar roads so the benefit massively outweighs the very slight downside in Uk .

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[DangerMousy]

Having changed from a low profile coachbuilt to an A class, I have to agree that the A class is far superior in terms of usable space and storage. The wider cab takes some getting used to, but it's actually no different when trying to reach ticket machines because you couldn't get close in the coach built either because of the fat bit at the back

Because there could be a skylight where the bed is.

I was concerned about that too, but despite the drop down bed the front lounge in our Rapido is far brighter than the front of our old Bailey (which had a skylight). I think the huge windscreen more than makes up for it.

 

[jongood]

Yeah it is. Malibu is the same as the C Line. The E line beats the Malibu. Just a thought but why not go on the configurature and we can have a deal?

Do Cathargo offer a choice of lounges these days? Always find the lounges cramped especially on the smaller ones.

edit to say, no plans to change

 

[WESTY66]

I am also hoping one day Lenny HB will sell me his van!!

If he does I’ll be trading mine in for it

unless it’s for your personal use and not going on your forecourt

 

[Lenny HB]

Do Cathargo offer a choice of lounges these days? Always find the lounges cramped especially on the smaller ones.

edit to say, no plans to change

That's what's always bugged me about Carthago's, the smaller ones appear a bit better, don't have a problem with my friends Compact Line not so keen on mates E line.

 

[stevec]

Thanks for all the replies. I was talking to a Carthago owner at Peterborough who had semi integrated. They had an A class previously but changed because they didn't like the 6 month wait for a new windscreen. Anyone had problems with this. Also concerned about insurance and windscreen costs (looking at Carthago in particular). We've had two windscreen claims within 18 months on our semi!

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[Lenny HB]

Thanks for all the replies. I was talking to a Carthago owner at Peterborough who had semi integrated. They had an A class previously but changed because they didn't like the 6 month wait for a new windscreen. Anyone had problems with this. Also concerned about insurance and windscreen costs (looking at Carthago in particular). We've had two windscreen claims within 18 months on our semi!

Took seven days to get an OEM screen for our Hymer, insured with Comfort unlimited screen cover if you use Autoglass.

 

[Emmit]

Not if you have a Merc V6………

Or a 3lt. Iveco

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Or a 3lt. Iveco

Lovely engine

 

[rb62]

Do Cathargo offer a choice of lounges these days? Always find the lounges cramped especially on the smaller ones.

edit to say, no plans to change

Their 'Liner for two' have a rear lounge with drop down singles in the front

<Broken link removed>

 

[jongood]

Their 'Liner for two' have a rear lounge with drop down singles in the front

<Broken link removed>

Thanks Richard but I'm not a fan of rear lounges. I think they need to offer 2 sofa's or even a bar version in the bigger ones. Imo some of the cathargos are a good product but we wouldn't have one because of the squeeze into the lounge.

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