Best looking T7 / Multivan I've seen - Help

[2into1]

Can any of you help?

I spotted this Beach in Wilmslow the other week and was surprised how 'drawn' I was to it (I'm struggling a bit with the design).
I've just been on the configurator, trying to see what the colour is and the alloys are....that combined to make such an attractive effect.

I think the alloys are Dundrod 17" at £840 but I can't see which of the available colours it is.

The effect was very dark blue. I'd take some convincing it was Deep Black Pearl Effect but that's the only one of the current colours that comes close.

Perhaps mud and winter salt are the missing ingredients to help the T7 grow on us .

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Good to see the awning on the correct side. At least VW have learnt something after all these years.

 

[colintfcolintf]

Good to see the awning on the correct side. At least VW have learnt something after all these years.

Guess that depends upon the type of roads you drove on.
In built up areas no problem, but county roads with overhanging hedges / trees and I’ll keep my awning drivers side to minimise the risks of Having it damaged / ripped off

 

[colintfcolintf]

From those photographic angles it could be the most photogenic view

 

[sidepod]

It’s a NO from me……..

 

[SusiBus]

T4WFA what's going on, drawn to a filthy dirty grey T7?

 

[WelshGas]

At least it’s being used.

Although I haven’t a California now we’ve covered 14,000 miles in our first year. Still travelling.

 

[2into1]

T4WFA what's going on, drawn to a filthy dirty grey T7?

Ah, T4WFA is long gone and much missed. One of many I've regretted selling.
The T7 hybrid, single rear seats combo offers loads as a single vehicle for my virtually retired cycling life, but I'm so struggling with the looks! Hence the question/post. Do your eyes see grey?

 

[RetroRed5]

I've seen a few T7 Cali's out in the wild (although not many) and whilst I personally don't think they look especially great in pictures, they are much nicer in the flesh, especially the two-tone variants.

Last time I was over at my local dealership (waiting to collect my Cali), I spent maybe 45 minutes having a good look at one in the showroom and I have to admit, they are quite nice in person.

However, one of the biggest issues I have with it (aside from storage and the single gas burner and the lack of the built-in table), is the fact that to me they do look a bit like a people carrier - VW Sharan or Ford Galaxy springs to mind.

Interestingly, I heard that VW are planning on doing a specific T7 Multivan "camper edition", so basically a proper T7 (not the VW/Ford Transporter) with nothing in the back, designed specifically for converters; so we may end up seeing some new T7 based conversions where the gripes many have with the T7 Cali have been ironed out.

 

[TripleBee]

Good to see the awning on the correct side. At least VW have learnt something after all these years.

Well, it would be a bit silly to have the awning hanging over the side where there is no sliding door.
Now with the T7, there are 2 sliding doors, so it makes sense for left side driving countries to be able to have an awning on your correct side.

 

[burton61]

Looks like Starlight Blue to me, same colour as the blue two tone with white.
So likely Starlight Blue with black roof in the build options

 

[2into1]

Looks like Starlight Blue to me, same colour as the blue two tone with white.
So likely Starlight Blue with black roof in the build options

Agreed, but Starlight blue is only available in the half and half white. The only regular colours are as shown below:

It was a 25 plate. I don't know if the colours have changed .
Edit - correction, you can have starlight blue with a black roof (right most option in the pic) for £1380, although this one seemed to have a blue (well same colour) roof

 

[thehoggmeister]

You can put the awning on either side of the van if you wish. You do need a couple of extra brackets to do this but they are not too expensive. The disadvantage of the nearside is that is the sliding door with the kitchen block behind it so there is less space to get in and out. The advantage of this side is you have a clip on outside table and access to the slide out fridge drawer for drinks and snacks and a 240v plug socket. This only applies to the Ocean or Coast and wouldn't matter on the Beach.

I think the original picture is the dark grey with standard silver alloys that are very dirty. I like bright colours so went for the orange. I only wished that the yellow of older vans was still made available.

Picture of our van on the day we collected it at the Kendal Caravan Club site. Ours is currently as dirty as the original picture as we have been away in it.

 

[Corradobrit]

Specsavers have sale on at the moment 2for1.... just sayin'

 

[Corradobrit]

I think that petrol blue paint is doing a lot of the heavy lifting.

 

[willwander]

Last time I was over at my local dealership (waiting to collect my Cali), I spent maybe 45 minutes having a good look at one in the showroom and I have to admit, they are quite nice in person.

Was in the dealers today, waiting for a service, had a play in a Buzz, the new Cali and the new ‘Transporter’ (Transit Custom). For me the new ‘Transporter’ was the best looking, inside and out.

 

[Wannabecamperman]

Ah, T4WFA is long gone and much missed. One of many I've regretted selling.
The T7 hybrid, single rear seats combo offers loads as a single vehicle for my virtually retired cycling life, but I'm so struggling with the looks! Hence the question/post. Do your eyes see grey?

My first thought was yes, a nice steel grey.

 

[sidepod]

Interestingly, I heard that VW are planning on doing a specific T7 Multivan "camper edition", so basically a proper T7 (not the VW/Ford Transporter) with nothing in the back, designed specifically for converters; so we may end up seeing some new T7 based conversions where the gripes many have with the T7 Cali have been ironed out.

History repeating itself perhaps?
Just like Westfalia back in the day before Merc bought them and VW had to start doing their own conversions.

 

[pjm-84]

These may help

 

[2into1]

Interestingly, I heard that VW are planning on doing a specific T7 Multivan "camper edition", so basically a proper T7 (not the VW/Ford Transporter) with nothing in the back, designed specifically for converters; so we may end up seeing some new T7 based conversions where the gripes many have with the T7 Cali have been ironed out.

I think we saw the same video. It wasn't the clearest but I concluded (I think like you) they would launch an empty LWB multivan with a factory roof and 2 swivel seats for converters. Although initially excited I'm still left battling with the looks. Given what they were offered, I don't think the designers did too bad inside. Yes it's more of a weekend get away than the proper Ts, but I don't mind that. There is a market for a more car like, hybrid, day \ weekend van with flexible seating - just struggling with the looks.

 

[Corradobrit]

Interestingly, I heard that VW are planning on doing a specific T7 Multivan "camper edition", so basically a proper T7 (not the VW/Ford Transporter) with nothing in the back, designed specifically for converters; so we may end up seeing some new T7 based conversions where the gripes many have with the T7 Cali have been ironed out.

It will never be a proper T7 Transporter based VW if they continue to use the MQB car chassis as found in the current Multivan. Unless something changes, 'T7' will always be a misnomer.

 

[2into1]

Unless something changes, 'T7' will always be a misnomer.

Spot on. We don't like being lied to. It raised everyone's hackles from the start as we could see the obvious lie. If they'd just launched a "brand new MV California" it would have helped create a new niche, in a similar but more popular vein to the Caddy California.

 

[RetroRed5]

I think we saw the same video. It wasn't the clearest but I concluded (I think like you) they would launch an empty LWB multivan with a factory roof and 2 swivel seats for converters. Although initially excited I'm still left battling with the looks. Given what they were offered, I don't think the designers did too bad inside. Yes it's more of a weekend get away than the proper Ts, but I don't mind that. There is a market for a more car like, hybrid, day \ weekend van with flexible seating - just struggling with the looks.

Yes, it sounds like we watched the same thing.

Whilst better in the flesh, I do struggle with the overall look as well; each to their own of course but the "people carrier" vibe doesn't really float my boat.

I can understand VW's approach, i.e. wanting a platform (MQB) that can be used for multiple vehicles and also wanting to reduce development costs on the commercial side (hence teaming up with Ford), but where I think VW perhaps went wrong in my opinion is that they put too much emphasis on the "car" aspect of the Cali, when they should have focused on the "camper" aspect. It's great, I'm sure, that the T7 Cali drives more like a car, but this is at the expense of compromising everything behind the B-pillar. In my experience, most folks who own a California, or any campervan for that matter are quite happy with how well modern "vans" drive, and don't necessarily want their campervan to drive just like their car.

Just my two-penneth

 

[sidepod]

Very much a case of fixing something that wasn’t broken.

 

[pjm-84]

Nope I fixed it with suspension changes and bushes