Geist Xklusive 559
Image
Key Features
Model Year
2009
Product Class
Single Axle
Price from (£)
£15654
Berths
4
Full Review
ISLAND-BED luxury and U-shaped lounge spaciousness are a combination usually associated with large twin-axle models.
Bailey sliced into the single-axle, fixed bed, U-shaped lounge market with its Senator Carolina at the start of this year – but Geist has been producing this combination for longer.
It’s the Xklusiv 559 and, U-shaped lounge and island bed apart, it’s nothing like the Carolina.
This model has a character all of its own. Warm-shade woodwork, all solid and giving you the impression it’s made to last, fine-fabric curtains and durable upholstery – that’s before you consider the build quality you can’t see in a Geist.
The walls and roof are of a thicker construction than most British-made caravans. They’re designed to withstand extremes of temperature from Swedish winters to Mediterranean summers, so insulation is an important factor.
If you’re attracted to continental styling you’ll love this model’s simplicity. Décor relies on cream, in the curtains, in scatter cushions and in the upholstery.
The flooring is pale wood-effect. There is a carpet provided. That’s pale cream, too – which is why we kept it rolled up under the bed during our test; it’s a shade impractical and we weren’t going to be the ones to foot-mark it!
Everything about this caravan is solid. The oval table that’s much easier to slide around than a rectangular one is heavier than anything you’ll find in a British-made caravan.
And the door that divides bedroom from living area is solid wood. Yet the 559 weighs only 1435kg all-up.
The kitchen is of an unusual layout. You have a Spinflo four-burner hob, grill and oven, fixed drainer and a small amount of work surface to its left.
So far so British, but beneath, you’ll find a huge, two-shelf cupboard, plus a smaller, central cupboard with cutlery drawer above. Now that’s what we call excellent kitchen storage.
And there’s more. Opposite the kitchen is the fridge. Above it is a large cupboard – and there’s another, double-doored cupboard beneath.
Splendid on storage – but this kitchen’s disadvantage is that food prep space is confined to that small amount of surface to the left of the drainer. It’s a price you pay for getting that lovely island bed and U-shaped lounge on a single axle in just 5.59m of body.
The other price you pay is that there is no separate shower. Beside the fridge cabinet is the washroom – again, with ample storage space.
And there’s something really praiseworthy here – there are four towel hooks. In a world where the majority of caravans have a single towel loop for the whole family, this is a refreshing change.
Specification includes an Omnivent extractor fan, speakers (but no radio) and TV aerial – but it doesn’t include the all-important AKS hitch stabiliser.
Even with the long-drawbar excellent towing characteristics of a continental-manufacture caravan, the assurance of those dampers on both sides of the towball to minimise risk of snaking has to be valuable.
The AKS is part of an option pack on Geists: pay £950 and you get £1570 of kit that includes under-floor heating and a television.
That under-floor heating is of course in addition to the standard Truma 3002 blown-air unit – the under-floor heating is designed to provide background heat, which you top up with the Truma when necessary.
Verdict:
Island bed, superb U-shaped lounge, oval table, plenty of cupboards – this model has a lot going for it.
Can you live with the small wardrobes? Can you cope with confined kitchen work surface? If the answer is yes to both of those – and you don’t want a shower that’s separate from the loo, then this Geist is a great caravan.
For under £16,000, it has to be good value. Our advice: go for the option pack; it’s well worth the extra money.
Bailey sliced into the single-axle, fixed bed, U-shaped lounge market with its Senator Carolina at the start of this year – but Geist has been producing this combination for longer.
It’s the Xklusiv 559 and, U-shaped lounge and island bed apart, it’s nothing like the Carolina.
This model has a character all of its own. Warm-shade woodwork, all solid and giving you the impression it’s made to last, fine-fabric curtains and durable upholstery – that’s before you consider the build quality you can’t see in a Geist.
The walls and roof are of a thicker construction than most British-made caravans. They’re designed to withstand extremes of temperature from Swedish winters to Mediterranean summers, so insulation is an important factor.
If you’re attracted to continental styling you’ll love this model’s simplicity. Décor relies on cream, in the curtains, in scatter cushions and in the upholstery.
The flooring is pale wood-effect. There is a carpet provided. That’s pale cream, too – which is why we kept it rolled up under the bed during our test; it’s a shade impractical and we weren’t going to be the ones to foot-mark it!
Everything about this caravan is solid. The oval table that’s much easier to slide around than a rectangular one is heavier than anything you’ll find in a British-made caravan. And the door that divides bedroom from living area is solid wood. Yet the 559 weighs only 1435kg all-up.
The kitchen is of an unusual layout. You have a Spinflo four-burner hob, grill and oven, fixed drainer and a small amount of work surface to its left.
So far so British, but beneath, you’ll find a huge, two-shelf cupboard, plus a smaller, central cupboard with cutlery drawer above. Now that’s what we call excellent kitchen storage.
And there’s more. Opposite the kitchen is the fridge. Above it is a large cupboard – and there’s another, double-doored cupboard beneath.
Splendid on storage – but this kitchen’s disadvantage is that food prep space is confined to that small amount of surface to the left of the drainer. It’s a price you pay for getting that lovely island bed and U-shaped lounge on a single axle in just 5.59m of body.
The other price you pay is that there is no separate shower. Beside the fridge cabinet is the washroom – again, with ample storage space.
And there’s something really praiseworthy here – there are four towel hooks. In a world where the majority of caravans have a single towel loop for the whole family, this is a refreshing change.
Specification includes an Omnivent extractor fan, speakers (but no radio) and TV aerial – but it doesn’t include the all-important AKS hitch stabiliser.
Even with the long-drawbar excellent towing characteristics of a continental-manufacture caravan, the assurance of those dampers on both sides of the towball to minimise risk of snaking has to be valuable.
The AKS is part of an option pack on Geists: pay £950 and you get £1570 of kit that includes under-floor heating and a television.
That under-floor heating is of course in addition to the standard Truma 3002 blown-air unit – the under-floor heating is designed to provide background heat, which you top up with the Truma when necessary.
Verdict:
Island bed, superb U-shaped lounge, oval table, plenty of cupboards – this model has a lot going for it.
Can you live with the small wardrobes? Can you cope with confined kitchen work surface? If the answer is yes to both of those – and you don’t want a shower that’s separate from the loo, then this Geist is a great caravan.
For under £16,000, it has to be good value. Our advice: go for the option pack; it’s well worth the extra money.
