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I agree, a carpet is worth having and you don't have to buy the one that goes with the tent, there are cheaper alternatives out there.

Dolores

Hi cezziep – If you’re thinking of getting the Icarus 400 I’d strongly recommend upgrading to the Icarus 500.  It’s only £20 more if you shop around, and you get A LOT more space.  The sleeping area in the 400 has a max height of 150cm, whereas the 500 goes up to 180cm.  This doesn’t sound much, but given that most people in the UK are between 5 and 6 feet tall, this is the difference between standing up straight or standing with a bent neck!  

In general, the Icarus range is good choice.  They're made from the same stuff as Vango's more expensive brands (3000mm HH flysheets, fibreglass poles, 10000mm HH groundsheets etc), so the materials shouldn't let you down.  On the downside, they do suffer a bit from condensation in hot weather, and whilst the tunnel design helps the wind-resistance, they aren't quite as stable as the more geodesic designs on the next range up - the Vango Orchy (but you're looking at £50 more from the Icarus 400 to Orchy 400 or Icarus 500 to Orchy 500).

Carpets do help keep the tent warm and protected - again, shop around and see what you can find that fits the footprint.