CI Carioca 5 2004 anyone??

[wattsy280]

Hi there
We currently have a Swift Sundance 520 1998 which we love but is a little small for our family. We are looking at a CI Carioca 5 2004 with rear bunks 6 berth, does anyone have experience of this model??

Any feedback appreciated!
Thanks

 

[Teutone]

Hi there
We currently have a Swift Sundance 520 1998 which we love but is a little small for our family. We are looking at a CI Carioca 5 2004 with rear bunks 6 berth, does anyone have experience of this model??

Any feedback appreciated!
Thanks

We have a Carioca 5. What do you need to know?

 

[wattsy280]

Can you manage without an oven? Apparently one can't fit due to the electric box being in the cupboard below the grill.
How is it to drive? We have a smaller van just now which is much older but very easy to drive. We have hired a much bigger van in the past which was much newer but seemed a bit unwieldy at times!
Where (if you have one) have to set up your TV? We have a 18.5" Avtex
Is it roomy enough for two adults and two lively youngsters (2&5)!

Thanks!

 

[Teutone]

Can you manage without an oven? Apparently one can't fit due to the electric box being in the cupboard below the grill.
How is it to drive? We have a smaller van just now which is much older but very easy to drive. We have hired a much bigger van in the past which was much newer but seemed a bit unwieldy at times!
Where (if you have one) have to set up your TV? We have a 18.5" Avtex
Is it roomy enough for two adults and two lively youngsters (2&5)!

Thanks!

There is deffo enough room! And I love the seperate shower tray, makes the bathroom much more usable.
We have just been away for two and a half weeks (just the two of us) and managed fine.

We are not bothered about an oven, and we do not have a TV either. There is a TV shelf next to the bed over the driver cabin but I don't think it will take an 18.5 TV.

It is easy to drive, a few times I had to reveres and make some 3 point turns on busy streets in Italy. Not a problem at all. But I have a camera.

With the bunk beds going across at the back it is large but not too large to park it in a supermarket car park with a little bit of common sense.

But we only have a 2.0 JTD. It's ok if you are not in a hurry but if you can get a 2.8, I would advise to get this.

look here http://www.wildcamping.co.uk/forums...base/18975-teutones-rear-view-camera-diy.html

and here http://www.wildcamping.co.uk/forums/motorhome-knowledge-base/19275-teutones-solar-panel-install.html

and here http://www.wildcamping.co.uk/forums/motorhome-knowledge-base/17479-teutones-diy-led-lights.html

and here http://www.wildcamping.co.uk/forums/motorhome-knowledge-base/17236-truma-3200-heater-repair.html

http://www.wildcamping.co.uk/forums/motorhome-knowledge-base/17197-teutones-gas-install.html

gosh, didn't realise the amount of posting I made

 

[Smaug]

We have the Carriocca 635 which also has no oven. It's a slight disadvantage but not a deal killer. Wife doesn't want to cook a roast in a field & TBH I don't really want to eat one; or do the dishes either. I bought a cheap microwave for use if on EHU but we haven't bothered with it yet. An oven allows a few extra menu choices but that's about it. As Teutone says, the shower space makes the loo spacious, even if we seldom bother using the shower or the water heater (uses too much water!)

We have had boats, caravans & m/h's both with & without ovens it just slightly changes our choice of meals. If we put an oven in this van, we would have nowhere to store the pots & pans!

 

[wattsy280]

Thanks for your answers, very helpful. The one we are looking at only has the 2.0 JTD but we are used to a van that won't do more than 55mph anyways!!

Think well manage without an oven, as your say, I'm not planning on three course roast lunches!!

Looking forward to a nice large bathroom too, we do use the shower in our current van but its a bit messy, water everywhere!

Will pursue this new van I think......

 

[Teutone]

Thanks for your answers, very helpful. The one we are looking at only has the 2.0 JTD but we are used to a van that won't do more than 55mph anyways!!

Think well manage without an oven, as your say, I'm not planning on three course roast lunches!!

Looking forward to a nice large bathroom too, we do use the shower in our current van but its a bit messy, water everywhere!

Will pursue this new van I think......

It's not bad with the 2.0JTD, just steep uphill you need to take your time.
I drive it 60-65mph on the motorways without too much trouble, you just need to keep using the gearbox more than you would with an bigger engine. As soon as it wants to drop below 60mph, I shift down to 4th.

 

[wattsy280]

One more question, the cupboard under the sink which is tall and very narrow, what storage is there?? Is it shelves or just a big open cupboard or a fancy pull-out racking thing?!

 

[Teutone]

One more question, the cupboard under the sink which is tall and very narrow, what storage is there?? Is it shelves or just a big open cupboard or a fancy pull-out racking thing?!

it's a pull out thingie with two wire baskets. Pretty useless IMHO

 

[wattsy280]

Got the van today and very pleased. Next thing to figure out is where the aerial is for the radio?? Had good reception of local radio when I collected but not been able to get the BBC radio channels at all!!

 

[Deleted member 3270]

Ref the aerial if the base unit is a fiat then the aerial will be housed in one of the wing mirrors, but i would be tempted to retune all the stations you want .

 

[Teutone]

Got the van today and very pleased. Next thing to figure out is where the aerial is for the radio?? Had good reception of local radio when I collected but not been able to get the BBC radio channels at all!!

mine has an normal rubber aerial on the left fender

 

[wattsy280]

Problem solved! Searched for stations manually instead of using the auto-tune button, still no sign of aerial but whilst it's working I'll leave well alone!