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Pros and cons with Cali 4 motion (4WD)

F

Finn Bruun

Guest User
I am soon buying a California Ocean 2.0,150 HP, with DSG.
The choice I have not made yet is if it should be equipped with 4 MOTION (4 WD).
I live in a rural area where snow from time to time may be a challenge in the winter time.
We will use the California in Europe the year around and is on skiing holidays in Norway in wintertime.

Anyone who will share their experience by having a Cali 4 WD?

The cons is absolutely the price but are the many pros that it gives value for money to have the Cali equipped with 4 Motion?
 
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If i would buy new and could affort it , 4motion would be on the list.
Is it a Ocean (or Coast ) you are planning to get?
On a Beach a 4motion limits the numbers of passengers due weight limits i belive , others may give more info on this.
 
I know. I was expecting a HC style warning shot!

Actually we could start a sweepstake.

How many days will it be before someone posts this question again.
 
hotel california said:
If i would buy new and could affort it , 4motion would be on the list.
Is it a Ocean (or Coast ) you are planning to get?
On a Beach a 4motion limits the numbers of passengers due weight limits i belive , others may give more info on this.
Click to expand...
An Ocean.
 
Finn Bruun said:
An Ocean.
Click to expand...
Hi Finn and welcome to the forum.

If you click on link in my previous post you will be taken to a previous thread on the issue. Not much has not been covered in previous threads and it will often save you a fair bit of time and head scratching to have a search around. You can use the forum search facility which some do or as I did for this one use a search engine with:-

site:vwcaliforniaclub.com

Followed by your search term in this case

site:vwcaliforniaclub.com 4 Motion

This will restrict your hits mainly to ones on this forum.




Mike
 
Finn Bruun said:
I am soon buying a California Ocean 2.0,150 HP, with DSG.
The choice I have not made yet is if it should be equipped with 4 MOTION (4 WD).
I live in a rural area where snow from time to time may be a challenge in the winter time.
We will use the California in Europe the year around and is on skiing holidays in Norway in wintertime.

Anyone who will share their experience by having a Cali 4 WD?

The cons is absolutely the price but are the many pros that it gives value for money to have the Cali equipped with 4 Motion?
Click to expand...

Hi, welcome. I think, deep down, you know the answer. The first time your 2WD gets stuck in snow you'll regret spoiling the ship for a ha'peth of tar! ;)
 
I have 4 motion. I have it for the peace of mind it gives. I know from past history my gift for doing daft things in daft places and I wanted to ensure that I have every means possible to get myself out of trouble once I've got myself in it.

I can say that when finding myself in deep s .... snow ..... I was not troubled. Even worse on a track I was using as a "shortcut" I was very pleased to have 4WD when it turned into a swampy mayhem of loose boulders, tree stumps and glutinous mud.

I could also talk about executing a perfect four wheel touch down, albeit exploding two tyres, when becoming airborne but that's another story ☺️
 
If financially possible then snow or loose ground trips would make the answer a resounding YES.

The DSG makes it a bit harder than a conventional automatic or manual gearbox as you have no clutch control . The DSG drops out when you try to go very gently and needs revs to keep it engaged. It also needs a few revs to engage making a controlled wheel spin free start on slippery surfaces difficult.

I still wouldn't be without it on mine.
 
B J G said:
If financially possible then snow or loose ground trips would make the answer a resounding YES.

The DSG makes it a bit harder than a conventional automatic or manual gearbox as you have no clutch control . The DSG drops out when you try to go very gently and needs revs to keep it engaged. It also needs a few revs to engage making a controlled wheel spin free start on slippery surfaces difficult.

I still wouldn't be without it on mine.
Click to expand...
Must be different on the T6 then because I have no difficulty going very slowly forwards or backwards. Just take foot off the brake and it creeps, and the anti-stall function takes over, judicious use of the brakes mean you have fine control. Never had the DSG drop out as you said. I have to reverse up a drive to the road through a narrow drive entrance and never have to touch the gas peddle.
If going forward on an incline I have to wait for the Hill Start to disengage, but no gas if I want creep mode.
 
WelshGas said:
Must be different on the T6 then because I have no difficulty going very slowly forwards or backwards. Just take foot off the brake and it creeps, and the anti-stall function takes over, judicious use of the brakes mean you have fine control. Never had the DSG drop out as you said. I have to reverse up a drive to the road through a narrow drive entrance and never have to touch the gas peddle.
If going forward on an incline I have to wait for the Hill Start to disengage, but no gas if I want creep mode.
Click to expand...

Mine does creep forward under most circumstances but if on a slight incline it often refuses to creep in reverse. Seems a bit inconsistent because I'm sure it has crept in reverse on the odd occasion.
 
Teejay1 said:
Mine does creep forward under most circumstances but if on a slight incline it often refuses to creep in reverse. Seems a bit inconsistent because I'm sure it has crept in reverse on the odd occasion.
Click to expand...
Maybe they have changed the ECU programming for the T6?
 
Definitely needs revs to set off. Wife's EOS with DSG reverses etc with no reving, must easier to park etc.

Might go to Dealer for a check as it also makes creeping in queues difficult, when at roundabouts etc.
 
Thanks very much for your valuable feedback!
I am going for 4 Motion
Differential lock is an option on the Cali 4 Motion.
Do I need that?
Anyone have an opinion about that subject?
 
Pro diff lock - could get you out of a very slippery situation. If one rear wheel in a hole it will put drive to the other side and hopefully get you out.

Con - Due to the rear diff being 'locked' the Cali will be pushed straight ahead making any steering very difficult. OK in a straight line but not if on a camber or a bend. It is only a rear diff lock, there is no transfer/central lock but that comes under the electronic controls.

I didn't have it but not biased either way.
 
For me 4MOTION was a must have. It's the thing that positions the Cali in between a fat motorhome and a Landrover Defender. The most beautiful nature and camping sites are usually a bit of the beaten track, where large fat motorhomes cannot come. 4MOTION extends the range of accessible campsites a lot... In countries like Iceland it more than doubles the experience as you cannot enter the beautiful interior without.
 
Finn Bruun said:
Thanks very much for your valuable feedback!
I am going for 4 Motion
Differential lock is an option on the Cali 4 Motion.
Do I need that?
Anyone have an opinion about that subject?
Click to expand...
if you really want to go off road , diff lock makes a 4motion 4x4. I was told when you engage diff lock power is divided 50/50 front and rear axle also. Always keep in mind however tires, gears and ground clearance of a real 4x4 off road vehicle do still not match your cali and limit the cali off road performance.
On youtube you'll find a few tests of cali in northern scandinavia in winter, all report positively about 4motion.
I have 4motion with diff lock myself , not sure I will ever need it but I can imagine on narrow roads in bad weather getting both left or right wheels 'off-road' in mud ,snow or wet grass . If both front and rear wheel on one side start to spin, 4motion (activating breaks on wheel that slides and dividing power over front/rear axle) may not be enough to get you back on the road again. Also consider the Hill descent assist option, it is one of the cheapest on the list.
 
A con that I forgot which may or may not be applicable in your requirements.

VW do not give the option of having lowered suspension on the 4M nor do they recommend it.
I tried to get it done on an after market basis and could get the springs supplied but not fitted. Managed to get the reason eventually from supplier in that it 'may' cause problems with the differentials (you have 3, front, centre & rear) in relation to Bluemotion. The supplier wouldn't leave themselves open to any future claims for repairs hence not fitting.
Some have had it done by VW dealers after delivery but I can't give any information in that area.
Only safe warranty route is with VP Air suspension.

That is just my knowledge on the subject.
 
Muddiest Glastonbury festival for years last year and I drove straight out with my 4Motion. I have the diff lock but haven't had to use it. Also with winter tyres in the snow in the Yorkshire Dales...No problem. The only disadvantage is it only has 4 seats My wife and I + 2 kids... sorry mother in law no room ... TAXI!!!!!!!
 
I don't think with the diff lock power is divided 50/50 front and rear. What does happen is that the power going to the rear wheels is divided 50/50 between them.
It should only be used at slow speed so on the couple of occasions I have used it I can't say I noticed any probem with the steering.
 
No, it is not divided between rear wheels. It is simply locked.
So if one wheel is in the air or sleeps almost 100% can go on another wheel.
Got 4motion and difflock.
We had a good use of 4 motion in our last spring trip to Norway. Tried diff lock just once when got stuck in deeps wet snow. Didn't change the situation much but I felt the car was tending to go, more straight.
Would be really hard to find a situation when you need the difflock badly.

Here is one of the campings :)
6NX0z8Yhxs1ZvHspZl1pxvpBqVZgyS7zyLnuZB3Br466MxBBYY_EE1kwdWcbt2g8R-NoK6iufQpRfnGZw4X8el2CEvZjYT1OvpwMW0uqRWT2hiKy9FOVJZRkITd3TRynZQ2pjt_oDxh4RAhfWlLGFbXv81Lbx-L-LEcbrLVS__1f3hgFm4EpTrQS9nIhWidXC0pqCFDmdMsisvr0BFJovJp9dFJ6vnhAjk7MtOrRujA9jQ0Un91an4X0CToD8UNwO2PYQ2_7Nhac9Gcv-Kgn76Rf4v1zTTvojpW7ZX2fRhlUDUyPaVnYzzR0c1g3l-m2FBAB0tJs2hKVGWWm1EhIwmUusgOd_sE2SKEqodIybiFiJY9AIL8h9WSYqYjdwRsbPBGmKm_7OqC3nDsVe28l6KND4aWNg1YrdzgL8NlZFpzMnsPN39abz_y8Ywc900JeLG5F_PfT0vtJ7PMTG_LmRaj4S5DbnM-YChw-NhkqyNm0yqP_grITUaT4XGPUpFHhcCFzILQNolwuIDXPI23ww5wI4twzjTJvhLSoW3Sf8UX-ez8ADd480Nqxg0UQZdYzGgwb_XNYCdhZ3k83E21V7gLn5NwqCEUVQ9s08RyZJT0pBj8i_Ab7tw=w720
 
Yes agreed, just pointing out that it doesn't split it front/rear.
Used it to escape from the snow in my avatar.
 
It looks like VW have made the choice for you. The 150 is no longer available as a 4Motion with DSG......Only the 204 is now.

The website was updated today. A number of engine configs have been removed.
 
Moakesy said:
It looks like VW have made the choice for you. The 150 is no longer available as a 4Motion with DSG......Only the 204 is now.

The website was updated today. A number of engine configs have been removed.
Click to expand...

@Finn Bruun – It does not apply for Denmark (yet) - just checked …
 
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