Our first Carthago, thoughts so far.

I was in Reliance today for the vans first damp check, I can't believe we have had it a year.

Interesting talking to the guys there although Carthago's aren't without problems they were saying of all the van they work on Carthago's are the best built and the only ones they would recommend.

For anyone who doesn't know they are just a service centre and they don't sell vans.

Interesting of the newer Pilote 3.5t Motorhomes they have had to replace the inner floor as far back as the bedroom on 9 vans due to undue flexing, it's an 80 hour job as all furniture has to be removed.
 
Lenny HB said:
I was in Reliance today for the vans first damp check, I can't believe we have had it a year.

Interesting talking to the guys there although Carthago's aren't without problems they were saying of all the van they work on Carthago's are the best built and the only ones they would recommend.

For anyone who doesn't know they are just a service centre and they don't sell vans.

Interesting of the newer Pilote 3.5t Motorhomes they have had to replace the inner floor as far back as the bedroom on 9 vans due to undue flexing, it's an 80 hour job as all furniture has to be removed.
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They do Neismans as well, so that's a good thing to hear.

Handy them being local to me they do most of my stuff - I certainly trust them.
 
AdrianChen said:
They do Neismans as well, so that's a good thing to hear.

Handy them being local to me they do most of my stuff - I certainly trust them.
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Saw my electrics and asked if I wanted a job. 🤣

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peterseabrook said:
These ones.
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Ours are slightly different being a C class. The German dealer spent a lot of time and effort resolving the over cab cupboard his words “if you had seen it from the factory you’d have rejected” they fitted a custom alu extrusion to resolve the poor factory joinery.
Our problem was with the galley overhead cupboard, which kept springing open, I’ve adjusted the hinges and fitted a couple of foam pads to keep tension on the latch.

Neil
 
Lenny HB said:
Your doing well I only get 24 to 26.
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Strewth Lenny, you're not related to Sterling Moss are you? :giggle: My hubby likes a bit of speed but we still get at least 28 out of ours up/down mountains etc.

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Minxy said:
Strewth Lenny, you're not related to Sterling Moss are you? :giggle: My hubby likes a bit of speed but we still get at least 28 out of ours up/down mountains etc.
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Can't get anything like that no matter how carefully I drive.
Most of my driving is in normal mode, found Eco unusable too sluggish and only use Sport in hilly districts.
 
Lenny HB said:
Can't get anything like that no matter how carefully I drive.
Most of my driving is in normal mode, found Eco unusable too sluggish and only use Sport in hilly districts.
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Hopefully will come up a bit with more miles - ours is on around 10,000 and is still slowly improving - there was a firmware update a while back which helped a little, but I think we might be just on 20 now. Was 24 ish on the Merc E line, so your's does seem low.....
 
LithiumConvert said:
Because, if the passenger is just going out, when the driver starts the engine ......
Obvious when you think about it.
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Our step retracts when the engine is started BUT only when the door is closed, it's not a Carthago though.

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AdrianChen said:
Hopefully will come up a bit with more miles - ours is on around 10,000 and is still slowly improving - there was a firmware update a while back which helped a little, but I think we might be just on 20 now. Was 24 ish on the Merc E line, so your's does seem low.....
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At Adams Morey at the mo, gearbox update being done.
Only done 7000 miles in the year as we had to cancel our spring trip.
 
Must admit it creaks and rattles far more than any of the Hymers we have had, which is surprising as it is much more solidly built.
 
Lenny HB said:
Must admit it creaks and rattles far more than any of the Hymers we have had, which is surprising as it is much more solidly built.
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Maybe it's because they are more solid, that they resist movement a bit more and don't flex causing creaks? I was surprised how noisy ours was when we first got it coming from a Dethleffs A class, which was pretty quiet.
 
Lenny HB said:
Must admit it creaks and rattles far more than any of the Hymers we have had, which is surprising as it is much more solidly built.
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Most of the noise in ours is bad stowage, but the dash extension seems poor on bad roads and the passenger seat if empty, and I guess a little screen blind (chain thing) or drop down bed, not sure which. One day I will wonder round while Julie drives, then I can add a bit of neoprene foam tape in the right places. Haven't tried having the sliding doors closed etc. Overall, other than the dash, it doesn't irritate me as much as the driving/directions/parking advice system which cannot be turned off.........

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Our 2019 Fiat base c-tourer MPG has got better as the miles have gone higher. The squeaks come and go but none that irritate us a lot.
It is the only vehicle that I have ever owned where the computer in the van mpg ties up with a brim to brim check.
Keep it under 60mph ish and regularly get high 20s, go 65-70mpg and mid 20s easily. Got 35mpg average on a tankful running down to chunnel and Northern France 3 weeks ago...now that was a first and given we are at approx 4600kg very happy with that! Ignore the silly 249mpg, I had missed logging a few fill ups.



Screenshot_20250605-122626_FillUp.webp
 
Lenny HB, I know you've uprated your MH so are you still carrying a load of junk precious cargo around? Might be why you're getting crap MPG although my money's on a very heavy right foot! :giggle:
 
Minxy said:
Lenny HB, I know you've uprated your MH so are you still carrying a load of junk precious cargo around? Might be why you're getting crap MPG although my money's on a very heavy right foot! :giggle:
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Only running around 3800kg, last van was running at 4300kg and I got better consumption.
My right foot only weighs 100kg. :ROFLMAO:
 
Lenny HB said:
Must admit it creaks and rattles far more than any of the Hymers we have had, which is surprising as it is much more solidly built.
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I used to think my Malibu was completely squeak and creak free until 12 months ago when after much nagging from my family I bit the bullet and got some hearing aids and discovered it squeaks, creaks and rattles like a rattlesnake!

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Lenny HB said:
Only running around 3800kg, last van was running at 4300kg and I got better consumption.
My right foot only weighs 100kg. :ROFLMAO:
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In your defence Lenny HB a torque converter box (your ZF 9 speed) loses a little power through the torque converter (all the oil and friction plates etc) therefore maybe a little more down on the pedal to do the same Motion forward as a dry clutch set up (comfortmatic) hence using a bit more fuel ( your 9 speed ZF)
That’s my theory unless someone will correct me with up to date knowledge of the latest TC box’s but that’s what I learned in college in the early 80‘s😉👍👍👍
 
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WESTY66 said:
In your defence Lenny HB a torque converter box loses a little power through the torque converter (all the oil and friction plates etc) therefore maybe a little more down on the pedal to do the same Motion forward as a dry clutch set up, hence using a bit more fuel.
That’s my theory unless someone will correct me with up to date knowledge of the latest TC box’s but that’s what I learned in college in the early 80‘s😉👍👍👍
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Keep up son, it's a 9 speed ZF box.
 

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