Carthago chic e-line I 50 LE: First impressions

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Stefania and Giuseppe are embarking on a new chapter with their new Carthago chic e-line I 50 LE. After their first few weeks on the road and having covered many miles together, they offer a personal insight into their new motorhome. They talk about how the layout with lengthways single beds works in everyday life, which features they particularly appreciate, and how the vehicle feels on their travels.

5 Min

A NEW CHAPTER ON FOUR WHEELS.

“At the end of February, after about five and a half years, we said goodbye to our HERR GRAU chic e-line I 51 QB. We’ve shared adventures with him and had many experiences. We know it might sound a bit over the top, but we breathe life into our motorhomes; to us, they become part of the family, with whom we share wonderful moments. We could compare the relationship with the motorhome – within reason, of course – to the relationship between parents and children. When they’re born, you don’t know them yet; you don’t know what to expect, and you do your best to make sure they grow up well. Over time, you get to know them; you realise that every child has their own personality, and you learn how to deal with it.

When you buy a motorhome, you don’t know what it’s like yet; you don’t know how it handles on the road, you don’t know how comfortable it is, and so you have to get used to it first.
As we’re used to the old premises, we need to get to grips with the new ones… And a single day isn’t enough for that. That takes time.

To come back to “Herr Grau” (Mr. Grey): we can say that it was a brilliant vehicle. There were never any problems, and it handled every type of road, whether tarmac or not.

Two single beds with patterned bed linen in a cosy, bright motorhome bedroom – perfect for unwinding after a long day spent writing your travelogue about Finland. Wall-mounted cupboards, reading lamps and side windows fitted with curtains create a welcoming, tidy space.

Now it is “Herr Grau 2°” turn. Yes, the Grey Generation lives on. A new design, but the DNA and the heart of the matter remain Carthago.

In our life as motorhome owners, during which we have owned 10 motorhomes, we have tried out many different layouts with various bed configurations. We’ve never had lengthways single beds before, so we’re delighted to introduce our latest addition: the “Herr Grau” chic e-line I 50 LE!! Once we had got used to the spacious layout of the living area, kitchen and bathroom – which is identical in both layouts – we were impressed by the generous storage space in the sleeping area.

Three cupboards at once! The first one, next to the bathroom, is as tall as the motorhome from floor to ceiling and is divided in the middle by a partition, so that it can be used by two people. As it is very deep, items of clothing can also be placed on the shelf, as the hanging garments leave enough space in front of the cabinet door for the locking mechanism to function properly. The other two cupboards are located under the beds. You might think they were low, but that isn’t the case. The beds in the Carthago are quite high, and the interior height is a good 78 cm. As a result, the storage space, which is a good 114 cm high, also has room for a scooter.

To come back to the cupboards: as I mentioned earlier, they’re not just tall, but deep too! We’ve attached the cushion for the bed extension to the back panel using an elastic cord to create the maxi version, so that it’s always to hand when needed and doesn’t get left lying around at home. Another distinctive feature of the cupboard on the right is the recess at the bottom. This means that even longer items of clothing can be hung up.

In short… Plenty and plenty of space, in addition to the six very deep and spacious wall units around the beds and the two storage steps.

An open wooden wardrobe containing several empty hangers and a few dark jackets evokes the cosy interiors often described in travelogues about Finland, an impression enhanced by warm lighting and a door left slightly ajar.

Speaking of beds: what can I say – the mattresses are incredibly comfortable, with a backrest that can be adjusted to different angles, making them ideal for reading or watching TV. And then you can just snuggle up under a cosy duvet, get warm and look out of the window… That’s beautiful!! Complete relaxation – and if you want to retreat to your cosy corner but still let some light in, all you have to do is pull the cord on the Roman blind, which is now even more convenient and easier to use as it is fixed at both the top and the bottom.

Two months after welcoming the Herr Grau 2° into our family, and having travelled over 4,500 km and spent many nights in it, we are completely satisfied with both the model and the 180 hp Ducato 2200 towing vehicle, which we have already tested on winding roads and gradients of 10%.

Now all we have to do is load it up for our upcoming summer trips, which will take us to the North Cape and the Baltic states… in short… a wonderful run-in period.”

Stefania, Giuseppe and Herr Grau 2°

To the contributions

Travel Naples

50 years, a Carthago and Naples: the tenderness you least expect

My wife is turning 50 and has chosen Naples as the place to blow out the candles – on board our Carthago, of course. I get the motorhome ready with my usual care, and then we set off. Bend after bend, the journey flies by, because when you’re travelling in a premium vehicle, comfort is with you every step of the way, and the kilometres don’t seem to matter. The suspension smooths out every bump, the soundproofing is incredible, and you can always be sure that your suite on wheels is ready and waiting, no matter where you stop. You arrive at the rest area already well rested, ready to take the city by storm without having to worry about ‘where I’ll sleep tonight’.

7 Min

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