Beach and Multivan. Pears and apples?

Hello everyone,

We´ve made up our minds and know the extras we want, so we´ve booked a testdrive. The dealer says he has no California Beach available to try, but that a Multivan should do nicely since the motor and drivetrain are the same.

Is that correct? I take it that the interior is not comparable, but at least the way the vehicle drives and feels should be similar, or are there significant differences? Suspension and the like? Apart from the fact that we would be ordering a 4motion Beach, whereas the Multivan we´ll be testdriving is 2wd. Will we get a misleading impression from the Multivan? Are we comparing pears and apples?

Thanks a lot in advance!

Iván

Hi , there was a hot discussion last time in a topic , don't know witch , about the diffrence between a beach and SE cali..
As for the multivan , i think it can feel diffrent do drive , think about the weight , the diffrent interieur panels , double glazing( noise)
I say ask for a test with the vehicle on top of your buying list!

Agree with Wim,

Don't buy anything on the basis of having had a test drive in a vehicle different to what you want to buy.

The mechanicals may be the same but there has to be significant other differences all which will have an effect on the driving experience. It's not all about gears, wheels and tyres, it's about personal comfort levels and asking yourself "Can I live with it and in it".

Thanks Wim and GrannyJen.

Yep, that´s the feeling I´ve had nagging me in the back of my mind, why settle for anything "approximate" instead of the real thing, my uneasiness is confirmed. Oh well, it´s booked so we´ll try it out anyway. I´ll keep looking for a Cali Beach to testdrive. The good thing is at least I´ll see the difference then.

And I still have to get in touch with Amersfoort, thanks again for the tip Wim.

Cheers!

Ivan

Hi Ivan,
see you are from Belgium, the Multivan is not a variant of the transporter that is sold in the UK so few on here will have direct experience. The dealer is correct, the Beach is based on the Multivan base vehicle (whereas the SE California is based on the Caravelle base vehicle).
For the Beach VW take a Multivan and add the elevating roof, different rear seats (for the 2 seater version) leisure battery and a few other minor bits. Test driving a Multivan should give a good indication as to how a Beach will be. The conversion will add a bit of weight and possibly a few more creaks around the roof but that should be all.

owen_h said:

Hi Ivan,
see you are from Belgium, the Multivan is not a variant of the transporter that is sold in the UK so few on here will have direct experience. The dealer is correct, the Beach is based on the Multivan base vehicle (whereas the SE California is based on the Caravelle base vehicle).
.

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I think that you will find that at least one of the two respondents has experience of the "multivan" and is also from Belgium.

I take your point but sorry, a like for like roadtest will only ever convince me, not something that is an approximation.

Guys, no worries. It´s not that I´m sacrificing myself for trying the Multivan I´ll actually enjoy it, I´m sure.
I´ll just keep looking for a Beach to be on the safe side, I´ll get back to you to give you my impression on how similar or dissimilar both are.

Anyway, we´ve pretty much decided that our next car is a Beach, I don´t think we´ll have second thoughts unless the ride is truly dreadful, which I don´t expect. Still, I wouldn´t want to hand out so much cash without trying the van first.

Cheers

Ivan

Ivan,

The ride in the Beach, like the SE, is superb.

You will not be disappointed buying a Cali. The only thing that I have ever raved about as much as a Cali are my own books, but then someone has to

I think we´ll love it, it´s a well thought project. I fear once in we won´t be leaving the van!

Funny, I published my first book last week, I think I know what you mean Well, it´s a collective volume, but still.

Thanks a ton. Good night!

Suomi man said:

I think we´ll love it, it´s a well thought project. I fear once in we won´t be leaving the van!

Funny, I published my first book last week, I think I know what you mean Well, it´s a collective volume, but still.

Thanks a ton. Good night!

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I published my first book 23 years ago,

Wish someone would read it