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quoteLounge-ing with a capital L
Some of you with not so long memories will remember the last Pastiche 470 caravan from Coachman. It featured, of all things, a permanent double bed across the front. Too much for traditionalists, maybe, it didn’t last long.
But, it’s back, although this time the 470 moniker is being applied to an L-shaped front lounge. It takes the Pastiche offering to six caravan models for the 2019 season.
Surprisingly, there’s no picture window to complement the L-shaped seating – instead it’s a standard lounge unit (does it save on production?), with furniture unit below. There’s lots of seating, though.
The front end is supplemented by a dinette mid-‘van. Coachman still decrees this is a two-berth, though – so, you can have the dinette for dining and the front lounge for, er, lounging. And, of course, such a floorplan is all the roomier in the daytime for not having a space-swallowing fixed bed. Instead, it’s a simple matter to pull out the slatted settee section and flip over the cushions for a double bed.
Typically Coachman, many of the interior fittings are just that bit sturdier than the norm. Sit on the seating, too, and you’ll note the sprung-interior cushioning (whereas rivals tend to save money by offering just foam).
There are upgrades, too, across the Pastiche range, like the furniture and soft furnishings finishes, kitchen splashbacks and worktops, light switches and more.
The kitchen itself boasts a Thetford full cooker with dual-fuel hob and separate oven and grill. To its right is the sink, with a mixer tap in between. There’s also some permanent work surface to the right of the sink. There’s also LED strip lighting.
Storage includes a drawer and cutlery tray, plus tall locker with an open drawer, and a large locker with crockery racking above the sink, while the microwave oven is directly over the hob – not a location all folk like. The largest kitchen cupboard is impeded by the exterior-access gas locker.
The free-standing table for the lounge stows in the wardrobe, at a height that makes access easy. It’s the fridge below this, though, that seems a little bit too low down and tucked away. And it only has a 113-litre capacity. Maybe that’s fine for what is a two-person caravan?
Coachman belies its traditionalist leanings with plenty of mains sockets, but no USBs. Lighting is LED, though, including four reading lamps in the main lounge, supplemented by downlighters in the panelling around the sunroof.
The washroom takes up the whole back end, so you get a full-size shower cubicle with Ecocamel shower fitting, two corner shelves, a single plughole, moulded plastic walls and ceiling and a single bullet light. Other washroom fittings are the countertop sink in solid white plastic, and a swivel-bowl cassette toilet with an opaque, opening window behind and a heater towel rail to the side.
At the top of the kit list, Alde’s central heating and hot water system is a standard Pastiche fitting, now with iNet-ready programmable touchscreen control panel. There’s also a Pioneer stereo to cater for your music and news interests.
As is the way, Pastiche graphics have been changed for the caravan season ahead, although the rest of the exterior remains unaltered. There’s a standard three-window front with fixed sunroof, a Heki Midi opening roof light overhead and, for the kitchen, a Heki Mini.
Coachman shows confidence in its polyurethane-framed ABC (Advanced Bonded Construction) bodywork – backing it with a 10-year water ingress warranty. It’s no lightweight – no Coachman ever is. Instead, take that a sign of the sturdier-than-the-norm construction. Plus, don’t forget as well as all the interior goodies, it also comes with Al-Ko’s ATC as standard – hopefully you won’t ever need it, except for clawing back a few pennies from your annual caravan insurance premium.
Verdict: An L of a caravan
Plus: Cut-above overall build quality
Minus: Fridge location, a tad hefty
In-a-nutshell: Time to revisit the L-shaped lounge?
There’s more information on the Pastiche range on the Coachman website. To find out more about insuring this or your current caravan visit our caravan insurance discounts page
Alternatives: None
Coachman Pastiche 470 factfile
| Model | Coachman Pastiche 470 |
| Dimensions | 6.33m L, 2.26m W, 2.60m H |
| Internal length | 4.70m |
| Berths | 2 |
| MTPLM | 1320kg |
| MIRO | 1196kg |
| Payload | 124kg |
| RRP | from £22,340 on the road |
| Safety & security | Al-Ko ATC, Al-Ko stabiliser, Al-Ko Secure receiver, PIR alarm, optical smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detector, CRiS |
| Key options | Al-Ko Secure wheel lock (£300), Omnivent roof fan (£225), Whale Watermaster (£40), Phantom Pro 3 tracking system (340),100Watt solar panel (£395), Truma iNet and Gas Level Control (£275) |
Anyone got any comments on the bed width when made us a double?
Just bought my 18 month old Pastiche 470 and must say it is everything I wanted. The layout is such that for a small van, it feels like a TARDIS inside. The only gripe I have is that the transverse sofa cushion across the front window blocks the central heating venting, even if I am not sitting on it. Really needs a small baton across the top of the back, flush with the shelf, to hold the top of the cushion away. Tried to get a response from Coachman, but they are simply not interested.
Oh how I disagree with Geoffrey Taylors comments. His comment on the layout being restrictive is way out of line,
the L shaped lounge gives an impression of openness. The side dinette for us is a revelation, my wife and I have
always had a problem with 2 berth caravans in that she gets up early and I get up late leaving her to either sit
in the awning or if the weather is inclement in the car. So now she can sit at the dining table while having a
morning cuppa and read the newspaper while I lie in. Not everyone wants a fixed bed towing an extra 6ft plus around
just to sleep in it. This caravan is marvellous for 2 berth caravanners.
have to disagree with this comment, having actually owned the van its the best 2 berth layout i’ve ever had. plenty of room for 2, dinette makes into a bed if needed, how many brand new caravans have a Intergral draining board nowadays??? The dinette is great for preparing food, saves having to trip over each other when cooking. lounge nice and airey with plenty of light. Storage above and below the seating areas is plenty for two and having the wardrobe in the main area of the caravan frees up space in the bathroom, again so not falling over each other.
Great layout, the fixed dinette is perfect for preparing meals, which also as makes into a single bed and the kitchen is perfectly formed, which caravan has a integral draining board nowadays.
Space wise, feels so spacious and light, storage is plenty for two and the wardrode is handy being in the main space.
Overall a great little two berth for those that want something a little different and a prepared to move away from the conventional two berth layout. And being a coachman great quality
The layout is very restrictive and does not make the most of available space by having a fixed dinette which has no other purpose.
Very little work surface next to the sink which has no integral draining board, leaving the dining table for food preparation which is too low to stand at.
Very small wardrobe in main area of caravan which is far better to be in the washroom so that clothes can be chosen without having to pre-dress.
The tried and tested layout of the classic 2-berth van cannot be improved upon by these gimmicks.