Integrated or semi-integrated?

[Speve]

Much harder to get at the engine so service costs??

Not noticed any difference in service costs to our previous C class

 

[rb62]

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.

Nor me,can't find anything to beat the parallel seating in the front of our Pilote,other than another Pilote or La Voyageur!

 

[Spriddler]

Good gracious, so much complexity and options, pros and cons......whys and wherefores..... ah, buts............drop-downs and overcabs............chassis and servicing...........windscreens and skylights..........cab doors and hab doors...........LHD's and RHD's.................flat sides and profiles............

I'm happy just having the same bed, cooker and loo available throughout Europe.
Enjoying yerself 'aint easy for some.

 

[maz]

I’ve had both A-class and coachbuilt - and I’m not bothered either way. The overall layout, winterisation and payload is more important to me.

 

[yellowcarnoreturn]

Just trying to balance up the pros and conns of them both. Aside from the cost difference of course. What were people's arguments when they had that choice to make?

A class every time. The space and comfort it has far outweighs the semi IMO but of course it’s personal preference.

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[Terry242]

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!

I needed a screen on my Starline and it took Autoglass 2 weeks, they could have done a coach built Merc screen the next day. So no great inconvenience. It may be even quicker now that Travelworld do screens.

I recall that the screen was just over £1k and my Comfort Ins was great but I recall a tale from a N+B owner whose screen cost £5k and his insurance only covered to £3k. Make sure your insurance is adequate.

I now have an Exsis-I578, a Fiat on an Alco chassis and we find that great for our use. The quality is no where near the Starline but the lay-out, size and general go anywhere ability i love.

The servicing costs so far has been the same as for a coach build but I've not had a belt done yet, I don't know if that will be more.

Terry

 

[Coolcats]

I consider we are safer surrounded by the structural steel of a semi integrated cab.

Mrs Lucky feels less exposed too - she thinks the wider cab of an integrated takes you closer to colliding with oncoming traffic. I know it can be argued otherwise but it's what she feels.

And the significant cost saving is worth repeating.

Just a thought years ago I saw an old lotus europa the front and roof was missing post an accident, I was told that there were 3 people inside at the time of the accident ( if you have ever been in a Europa you know this must be some sort of record) all occupants survived the crash, when a composite vehicle crashes some of the energy involved is dissipated by the destruction of the shell so you may find your cab is safer than you might think.

 

[AndyVW]

"A" Class every time, Servicing, ? everything is from underneath, because its made that way, I see so many bodybuilder,s NOT pay any attention to those whom have to look after it later, both chassis and interior, I guess its what you pay for,

 

[Jim]

It's impossible to say which is best as it depends on so much else. A class vans should uitilise space better than C's. But So many A classes don't do it that well. Like giving you a 1.5m deep dashboard. I've owned 11m A classes and 6m A classes. 9m and 7m C classes. All were bought for a particular job, style of motorhoming. Loved them all.

 

[RubyOptics]

I feel I can chip into this discussion meaningfully as we made a similar decision only last week.
For us, the things we took into consideration were - A-class cab is something you will either love or hate. 99% seem to love it but (and I must admit I'm a bit embarrassed to admit this) it felt very intimidating to me. This probably would have worn off over the course of an hour or two's drive, but sitting there was rather scary for me.
Windscreen replacement costs. I know the UK has insurance schemes that would cover this, but we found it incredibly hard to find something similar over here in Poland and I didn't relish the idea of a 5000 pound replacement cost should the worst come to the worst.
Certainly at the more cost-concious end of the market (but also some surprising names like Dethleffs) are NOT double floored anymore, at least not all of them. Be very careful if this is a big factor in your decision.
Ease of servicing. We bought a low-profile on a Transit base and I know I can basically take it into any Ford garage and they can work on it. This ofc would be the same on a Fiat chassis with a "normal" cab. I don't know if this would also be true for an A-class and more experienced people will advise you here.
Our low-profile is nice and airy inside, but it can't compare to an A-class in this regard, no way around it.
Hope that helps!

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[Lenny HB]

A-class cab is something you will either love or hate. 99% seem to love it but (and I must admit I'm a bit embarrassed to admit this) it felt very intimidating to me.

It's just an illusion the steering wheel is exactly the same distance from the front end as a standard cab, widthwise the seats are in the same position as a standard cab like the front, the space is inside rather than outside, like the front they are the same distance from the side but you get a false sense of the width in a semi as the cab is narrower than the main body which actually makes a semi harder to drive.

 

[RubyOptics]

It's just an illusion the steering wheel is exactly the same distance from the front end as a standard cab, widthwise the seats are in the same position as a standard cab like the front, the space is inside rather than outside, like the front they are the same distance from the side but you get a false sense of the width in a semi as the cab is narrower than the main body which actually makes a semi harder to drive.

In my head, I know you are right (and I did try to address this in my comment by saying that I'm sure it's something you get used to). I was just trying to give my honest opinion to the OP having very recently been in the same position of trying to decide between an A-class and a low-profile. I do agree it's very much an "in-your-head" thing, but I think the narrower cab gives me a bit more confidence now that i know I'm "pre-programmed" to account for the fact that whilst my front end is skinny...i have a fatter arse!!

 

[Lenny HB]

In my head, I know you are right (and I did try to address this in my comment by saying that I'm sure it's something you get used to). I was just trying to give my honest opinion to the OP having very recently been in the same position of trying to decide between an A-class and a low-profile. I do agree it's very much an "in-your-head" thing, but I think the narrower cab gives me a bit more confidence now that i know I'm "pre-programmed" to account for the fact that whilst my front end is skinny...i have a fatter arse!!

Very true of when you look in an A Class for the first time but as you say it's all in the head & people don't believe you when you say they are actually easier to drive.

 

[funflair]

It's impossible to say which is best as it depends on so much else. A class vans should uitilise space better than C's. But So many A classes don't do it that well. Like giving you a 1.5m deep dashboard. I've owned 11m A classes and 6m A classes. 9m and 7m C classes. All were bought for a particular job, style of motorhoming. Loved them all.

You are of course right Jim and its A class all the way for us but as you suggest all A class are not built the same, most will have the seats and the dashboard in exactly the same position as the van/coachbuilt but the screen will be at the front of where the bonnet front was so of course you get the billiard table inside.

Some and it is the more expensive A class are designed to be A class vans from the chassis up, the whole dashboard is moved forward and up and the seats are placed wider towards the outside of the vehicle and of course further forward, as you can imagine this is quite an expensive modification but it makes a world of difference.

 

[youbecome1]

For me the key difference between A Class and Semi Integrated is winterisation. The vast majority of A classes have double floors which provides greater protection against pipes freezing in very cold temperatures. My late father who was an avid skier bought Hymers for this very reason in the 80s and this has always stuck with me. The other big difference which cannot be ignored is cost. They are usually at least another 20% more expensive than an equivalent coach built. I, like my dad, am a massive skiing fan and I have a winterised Adria coach built (Matrix Supreme) and this can cope with temperatures as cold as -30. We were in Saalbach in -20 in 2018 and it coped brilliantly.
If money is no object then A class would be my preference but few of us are that fortunate.
If you don’t ski or travel in very cold temperatures, then coach built or semi integrated is likely to be perfectly good for you. If you ski and plan to use your van in the Alps in January and February then make sure whatever van you select can cope with those temperatures. If you can afford it, go A Class as these are the ‘Rolls Royce’ of Motorhomes.

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[tonyidle]

Spot on

Excellent lounging in cab seats & massive windows. No steel bodywork. Cost is only relevant if buying new - there's an A class to suit every pocket on the s/h market.

 

[Minxy]

For us, the things we took into consideration were - A-class cab is something you will either love or hate. 99% seem to love it but (and I must admit I'm a bit embarrassed to admit this) it felt very intimidating to me. This probably would have worn off over the course of an hour or two's drive, but sitting there was rather scary for me.

Nothing embarrassing about that, we were the same when we tried our first A-class and the same again when we tried another a good number of years later, this was the standard width ones though (approx 2.3m).

most will have the seats and the dashboard in exactly the same position as the van/coachbuilt but the screen will be at the front of where the bonnet front was so of course you get the billiard table inside.

If you tried to play billiards on ours you'd be sorely disappointed unless you parked it nose up by about 35 degrees! It was designed with a good slope down towards the front with a much deeper windscreen so that front visibility was vastly improved thus you don't have an excuse to run over short pedestrians, kiddies, dogs, people on mobility scooters or those funny little French microcars! Its good from a safety point of view but a pain in the butt as we can't put anything on it otherwise we end up scrabbling down the front to retrieve it!