Hello All

[major]

Hello California Club. Youngish couple in the Midlands finally signing up.

Been lurking on here a little bit as we've tried to figure out the what van to get the past few months.
We will be using for some short breaks over the next year whilst saving up for a year long sabbatical around Europe+ in 2020.

Wanted a 4motion to make sure we could explore Iceland (fell in love on a route 1 tour years ago) and beaches with self reliance, finally took the plunge at Lister Cov after we couldn't find second hand that met expectation (tbh locking diff clinched it on a couple). The order:

204 4Motion DSG / sports wheel
Diff lock / hill descend / ACC / towbar
Alcantara / bed extension / shower connection
LED lights / Parking camera / 4 keys
Composition media + app connect / dynaudio
Silver awing / manual door (so as not to get the beeping)
Two tone red/white / red belows/ 18inch toluca wheels.

Ordered at the weekend, but now thinking to change before build date:
Paint to pearl black to aid in 'stealth' parking.
Wheels to 17inch to have a full spare
Possible nav upgrade - had chosen app connect to use the iphone gps, but having doubts.

Any thoughts on the changes (or anything else) would be appreciated.

Thanks for the great reads so far, lots of your great discussions have definitely helped us take the plunge.

 

[Sad]

 

[JohnnyP]

Hello California Club. Youngish couple in the Midlands finally signing up.

Been lurking on here a little bit as we've tried to figure out the what van to get the past few months.
We will be using for some short breaks over the next year whilst saving up for a year long sabbatical around Europe+ in 2020.

Wanted a 4motion to make sure we could explore Iceland (fell in love on a route 1 tour years ago) and beaches with self reliance, finally took the plunge at Lister Cov after we couldn't find second hand that met expectation (tbh locking diff clinched it on a couple). The order:

204 4Motion DSG / sports wheel
Diff lock / hill descend / ACC / towbar
Alcantara / bed extension / shower connection
LED lights / Parking camera / 4 keys
Composition media + app connect / dynaudio
Silver awing / manual door (so as not to get the beeping)
Two tone red/white / red belows/ 18inch toluca wheels.

Ordered at the weekend, but now thinking to change before build date:
Paint to pearl black to aid in 'stealth' parking.
Wheels to 17inch to have a full spare
Possible nav upgrade - had chosen app connect to use the iphone gps, but having doubts.

Any thoughts on the changes (or anything else) would be appreciated.

Thanks for the great reads so far, lots of your great discussions have definitely helped us take the plunge.

Welcome Major, sounds like a trip of a life time.
I think a full spare is a good idea for a 12 month tour.
I use app connect with an iPhone which works well (also works with my wife's android phone) and I carry a slightly ageing dedicated sat nav as a backup. I don't like the vw sat nav system (I have used in works pool cars) which is over priced inho but some swear by it and you might get your money's worth in 12 months.

 

[major]

Welcome Major, sounds like a trip of a life time.
I think a full spare is a good idea for a 12 month tour.
I use app connect with an iPhone which works well (also works with my wife's android phone) and I carry a slightly ageing dedicated sat nav as a backup. I don't like the vw sat nav system (I have used in works pool cars) which is over priced inho but some swear by it and you might get your money's worth in 12 months.

We hope it is, thanks!
It seems expensive for just sat nav - glad you find the app connect works well. I use my iphone covering the speedo in the work Ford as the nav in that is so awful - just makes sticking to speed limits more guess work than knowing!

 

[MarkVw2017]

I want your Cali, it sounds amazing! Welcome!

With that spec, it would hold its price very well as it wouod be a very desirable cali!

 

[Hotel California]

Welcome , nice spec. assuming this would be a Ocean ?

 

[sapto]

Welcome Major!
Great ideas and timed ahead!
I guess there are so many diff opinions on spec here as this board got members so choose what you like
IMO:
- 17“ great idea if you want some „real“ offroad wheels and got a extra one. Although got a friend with 18“ and a spare (mounted on the bike rack):

- Depends on how offroad you want to go: Adding-list is endless I guess (check seikel for example). Maybe antiroll bars?

However: Have fun planning and look forward to some pictures!

 

[Travelling Togs]

Welcome. Very envious of your year long sabbatical The red / white looks wonderful, however yes, it does rather stand out and make a statement, but black, well, looks great when clean but hellish to keep it that way, specially if you are spending time off the tarmac. Having seen the red canvas bellows and the light it sheds within the Cali I personally would get a tad overwhelmed by it living in it day in day out. Heated screen a must have for us and the parking heater too, we live in Scotland and both are required during the winter months as we want ours to be a year round ride. Looking forward to seeing your final spec in real life pics when you take delivery

 

[Jabberwocky]

Great spec! For me 17 inch wheels to allow full-size spare is a must. The rest is optional except maybe the colour, red and you want to go stealth camping? I’d think again.
From a fellow Midlander.

 

[DG1]

We were there at Lister's Coventry the same weekend on Saturday morning buying a demo Ocean. And someone else was buying an Ocean Edition at the same time - wonder if they're on the forum?

 

[major]

@sapto That picture is where I want to be! Buying this new has removed any extra play money on the van for the next couple of years, will need to be back in work again - however the anti-roll is quite cheap?

@Travelling Togs The Ocean comes with parking heater as standard, i hope! The heated windscreen I don't want as the little wires make my eyes go funny, very distracting Hoping that just putting the heater on 10mins before setting out will solve the Scotland problem
Pretty sure we have to colour black or grey - even though that red/white looks so fun!

@DG1 Was in late Friday for mine, fingers crossed on the build time being soon, got holiday saved up this year due to saving money for this thing!

@Jabberwocky 17's seem the sensible choice. Any good bits'n'bobs shops for these around our parts?

 

[major]

@sapto How did you find getting to Iceland, haven't found much on here about it other than the 2 day ferry.

 

[sapto]

@sapto How did you find getting to Iceland, haven't found much on here about it other than the 2 day ferry.

This van in the picture is from on of the www.traveltech.ch guys (Mathias) and was taken in Switzerland. They do Iceland Tours with some kind of a truck. However I only know that they are always using the ferry...

 

[cundf]

@sapto The heated windscreen I don't want as the little wires make my eyes go funny, very distracting :

I had the same thoughts after a week but
after another week you won‘t see them when you get used to them.

 

[Travelling Togs]

I had the same thoughts after a week but
after another week you won‘t see them when you get used to them.

I never notice the wires either, however for sure I would regret not having a heated screen in the winter up in the Highlands of Scotland.

 

[Erbster]

Lovely spec. My advice would not be to get black- gets awfully hot parked in the sun. If you want a less standout colour, I would choose one of the solid blue or green shades.


https://caliventures364847572.wordpress.com/

 

[major]

I never notice the wires either, however for sure I would regret not having a heated screen in the winter up in the Highlands of Scotland.

I've had the wires on fords and they've been very distracting, will try to sit in a cab with them when i go change the spec with all this praise

@Erbster completely forgot about the black = hot, good point. Seems I need to catch up on some sleep.

 

[Jabberwocky]

@Jabberwocky 17's seem the sensible choice. Any good bits'n'bobs shops for these around our parts?

Our local specialist for Cali ‘bits and bobs’ is the club shop as they are only just up the road. They will be holding their annual open day in November (don’t forget to book into the club meet at Tall Trees Camping for Friday and Saturday night.
So special discounts etc can be had - keep a look out for all of this. I will send you a link to the meet as I am not sure how to copy and paste here!

 

[Jabberwocky]

As promised @major here is the link to Novemberbmeet and open day event.
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/events/bolsover-co-incident-with-club-shop-open-day.30/

 

[major]

As promised @major here is the link to Novemberbmeet and open day event.
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/events/bolsover-co-incident-with-club-shop-open-day.30/

Thank you, hope ours is here by then!

 

[Jabberwocky]

We were so excited we rented a Cali the first meet we went to !!! I know we are mad! Well at least while you are using it you have all the other folk to ask your questions to and be nosey about their vans!

 

[Ksar-el-kebir]

Hello California Club. Youngish couple in the Midlands finally signing up.

Been lurking on here a little bit as we've tried to figure out the what van to get the past few months.
We will be using for some short breaks over the next year whilst saving up for a year long sabbatical around Europe+ in 2020.

Wanted a 4motion to make sure we could explore Iceland (fell in love on a route 1 tour years ago) and beaches with self reliance, finally took the plunge at Lister Cov after we couldn't find second hand that met expectation (tbh locking diff clinched it on a couple). The order:

204 4Motion DSG / sports wheel
Diff lock / hill descend / ACC / towbar
Alcantara / bed extension / shower connection
LED lights / Parking camera / 4 keys
Composition media + app connect / dynaudio
Silver awing / manual door (so as not to get the beeping)
Two tone red/white / red belows/ 18inch toluca wheels.

Ordered at the weekend, but now thinking to change before build date:
Paint to pearl black to aid in 'stealth' parking.
Wheels to 17inch to have a full spare
Possible nav upgrade - had chosen app connect to use the iphone gps, but having doubts.

Any thoughts on the changes (or anything else) would be appreciated.

Thanks for the great reads so far, lots of your great discussions have definitely helped us take the plunge.

Welcome! More or less what I’ve just got except black/grey. Went for 17” wheels to get an original equipment spare.

 

[kurienp]

Welcome. Long trips - the larger 80l fuel tank?

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[major]

Heading in this week to change the colour / tank / wheels.
It's good to hear new iphone update allows other gps on carplay, so quite happy to exclude the gps still.

 

[motacyclist]

I wouldn’t spec the Dynaudio. Ours has it and I’m not impressed (maybe it’s my ears).

Good luck!