MMM – September 2019

132 outandaboutlive.co.ukSeptember 2019

large soft-close drawers answer your

storage needs (including a big cu tlery

drawer a nd a small kitchen bin), while

the ‘vertical wave’ design elementin

contrasting white gloss adds style, an d

the sink lid that repositionsas a shelf

on the wa ll adds extra worktop (and is

sturdy enough for slicing bread).

In terms of fittings,the Master

Gourmet three-burner hob lo oks the

part with it s (rattle-free) cast-iron pan

stands and the tall/slim fridge h as a

generous 134-litre ca pacity, as well as

auto’ ener gy selection , while the Smev

oven/grill (a £780 option ) satisfies the

British need for toast, or perhaps even

a small roast.

There’s more storage above, too,

so for once you shouldn’t need to

overflow kitchen/food items in to

neighbouring lounge or bedroom

cupboards. On the subjectof which,

you’ll find a neat drawer under the

settee for afew pairs of shoes, while

to the wa ste wa ter dr ain valve (in a
clea n, frost-free environment). Of
course,the basement area is heated ,
adding further to the Carthago’s
impressive winterisation, and water
capacities are excellent (150litres
fresh, 140 waste), although the
payloadcalculations (as usual) only
allowfor 20lit res while driving.

COMFY AND COSY
Storage is generous and all-season
comfort assured, but what about
space to live? Su rely that has been
sacrific ed toreduce overall leng th?
Well, clea rly this i s not the bigges t
seating space, butyou’ll haveno
qual ms about comfort. The cabchairs
are, of course,superb – especially as
they rotate thro ugh a full 180degrees,
allowing you to put your feet up on
the rear seats to viewthe telly (a 22in
Alphatronics screen, which slides

diagonal ly down out of its locker to

give abetter viewingheight). But, if

you prefer a sofa, then the L-shaped

one here is as good as you could

possibly hope for –as a travel seat,

too, it offers a good deal more sha pe

than most.

The most unusual lounge featu re is

the oddly shaped jump seat just inside

the do or – ideal, perhaps, for a guest

just popping i n. The table, too, has

a novelty – it slides a nd twists in all

directio ns, butonly after you release it

via a fo ot-o perated bu tton.

Lighting is plentiful, especially

thanksto the LEDs set into the base

of the drop-down cabbed (with the

mood variable according tohow many

you switch on).

SIZE ISN’T EVERYTHING

Like the lounge, the galley is not

big, butit is well thought out.Five

LIKEDLikes/Dislikes

WANTED

DISLIKED

TESTED Carthago C-tourer I 141 LE

Excellent driver visibility thanks to

sloping dashboard

Deep double floor withstorageand

large inboard tanks

Slow-to-drainwashbasin

Nowhere to hangwet coats

Leather steering wheel

Roof ventfor drop-down bed

The central stepsare usableeven when the middle part of the mattress isextended