6.1 2 day hire - initially disappointed, but now ordered!

[Lambeth Cali]

Can I just ask, is this for two people most of the time? Maybe you’ve said previously. Not for a family of 4? It makes a big difference.
We are 2 adults & two primary school kids and we like our T5 Cali but I can imagine wanting something bigger when we get older and the kids leave or are in tents.

 

[andyinluton]

. The T6 is so much more like a car to drive than a T5 but it's never going to be a car.
The base is a commercial vehicle.

Any Cali from 2012 onwards will drive the same. Other than adding add blue they are all the same mechanically albeit with minor tweaks to the engine outputs.

 

[PhilR]

Can I just ask, is this for two people most of the time? Maybe you’ve said previously. Not for a family of 4? It makes a big difference.
We are 2 adults & two primary school kids and we like our T5 Cali but I can imagine wanting something bigger when we get older and the kids leave or are in tents.

Just the two of us and two dogs for some trips. Surely you mean you’d need something smaller once it’s just two of you???

 

[westfalia]

Just to join in on the thread.

Whats the worst that can happen when you buy a good priced cali?

You drop a couple of grand and move on.

 

[PhilR]

Just to join in on the thread.

Whats the worst that can happen when you buy a good priced cali?

You drop a couple of grand and move on.

We've thought of that too - better than hiring one . A "no/low risk" purchase as I keep telling my wife, and myself!

 

[Calimili]

We've thought of that too - better than hiring one . A "no/low risk" purchase as I keep telling my wife, and myself!

That’s why I didn’t bother testing it. In Germany they want 125eur per night, min 7 days, 89eur booking fee, extra fee to reduce deductible insurance 116 eur, portapotti 35 eur etc.. Therefore way over a grand for testing It for a week.... no thank you.

 

[Katie T]

Honestly hire one again - or a conversion, Ox Campers is great in Wiltshire. Hiring is reality. You have had time to think about it all and now need to try it again I reckon with all that in your head. Maybe do a night away (when it's not raining - I hate it in the rain...) and then a day trip. Your gut instinct will tell you if you want it or not. I find it one of the most comfortable vehicles I have driven and, having worked in motorsports for years travelling and driving in a lot of different countries and places, I have driven a lot of different stuff. Good luck!

 

[ewkaj]

Just FYI, you can actually spec a seat with electronic control.

The seats will always be a personal thing. I’ve driven many (sometimes high-end) cars and I rarely end up with seats that I like and can sit long time in. Ocean 6 and Audi Q2 made it, 80% of cars were the opposite. But again, it depends on one’s back.

I have also driven couple of different campervans (converted and factory-made) and believe me, usually it is much much worse

Also regarding driving on rough surfaces - take a look at extra options. There is couple of those that actually make the ride much more pleasurable on rough surfaces than the standard. It’s definitely not full blown offroad vehicle

At the end, maybe it’s worth renting couple of other campervans and compare?

 

[subthree]

We've thought of that too - better than hiring one . A "no/low risk" purchase as I keep telling my wife, and myself!

Our van took 11 months from order to delivery - we spent a LOT of that time questioning whether it was the right thing to do. In the end it was the lack of depreciation that we just went with it. We did rent a T6 and it cost us £700 for 5 days! You really aren't going to lose much if you dislike it.

I have spent a considerable amount of time in North Wales climbing. I would not be able to take a motorhome to those remote and beautiful places.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Just the two of us and two dogs for some trips. Surely you mean you’d need something smaller once it’s just two of you???

No surprisingly the opposite. I’m 49 and don’t mind the graft of moving everything around. In fact I enjoy it. My kids make me feel young(ish). But when we are older I can imagine the appeal of not having to put the bed away if we go for a drive.
We love our Cali and are 11 years in with it. I would say I’m a different kind of owner to the people who get a new one every 2 or 3 years. I can imagine keeping ours for 12 more years or so that would put me at 62 or so but if we had a windfall I dunno we might get something bigger.
I was just wondering what stage of life you’re at. We still have to take a lot of Rice Crispies and toys for a 7yr old and 10yr old. We’ve got 11 more years before our kids leave home. Then I like the idea of 90 day foreign trips. For me it’s all about Europe. We’ve do lots of weekends in UK but our holidays are all in France and Spain.

 

[ewkaj]

Definitely hire one again. First time I hired one I hated it. It was raining and I didn’t know where to put anything. Second time it was nice weather and I learned more how to use it in terms of where things should go etc, third time I started to know what I was doing and I was totally sold. I bought a second hand one over 12 months ago now and have never regretted it for a second.

That's an excellent point. I rented it out for 4 nights. First night ... I couldn't find anything. I even lost car keys while being inside the car... After four nights, I couldn't love it more. Best campervan I drove and I drove 6 different (converters and factory, all different brands and sizes).

 

[ewkaj]

Good afternoon,

The list price for my California Ocean 2017 was a wee bit shy of EUR 70,000. I just checked the list price a minute ago and the price for a T 6.1 California Ocean 2020 is EUR 73,070.

But.... I believe the following items are standard in the 2020 T 6.1 which wasn't in the 2017 T 6:

• Navigation Discover Media 8"
• LED Headlamps!
• Digital Cockpit

That alone could be worth about EUR 1,800.00.

What I am trying to say is that it might not be that in general the cost for the VW California Ocean hasn't increased so much. Have I said that EUR 73,030 for a camper van is an awful lot of money.

My problem is, similar as PhilR did, if I wanted to upgrade I wanted all the items I am looking for.

The California Ocean with 199 HP, DSG, 4 Motion is list price EUR 83,720.00. Plus differential lock, heated windscreen, traffic sign recognition 2x year extended warranty etc. (I don't have the price for those) I assume it will get close to the EUR 88,000.00 or more.

For that money you get (almost) a Hymer Gand Canyon, a Woelcke Autark Runner or a La Strada Regent S.

I don't understand the price politiks from Volkswagen. I just believe their market research proved that the market (meaning us) are able and willing to spend that kind of money on a VW Camper van. I read in the Irish Independent a few days ago that in Ireland the sales of VW Californias increased of 25% (they didn't say Beach, Coast or Ocean).

It was mentioned on the forum somewhere that in the near future that there will be a lot of Californias on the used car market - and I believe that. At the moment it is "trendy" to get a camper van and many of us have no other option to get away as in the own country camping. But if Covid-19 is under control and flying abroad on holidays will be possible again, people will go back to the old ways. The aviation and tourism industries from all the countries relying on the income from tourism will do their best to get their customers back.

Happy California,
Eberhard

LED is standard, the rest are options

 

[Wayne rocco]

I understand your predicament, £70K is a lot of cash! (for us anyway) but as many have said you don't need a new one to 'get it' We bought a T4 Cali 8 years ago to try it out with the reasoning that we wouldn't lose much if it didn't work out and we would upgrade if it did. We still have it and love it! Can't see the point in upgrading for a newer one as it does everything a new one does (but slower!)

 

[Bellcrew]

I understand your predicament, £70K is a lot of cash! (for us anyway) but as many have said you don't need a new one to 'get it' We bought a T4 Cali 8 years ago to try it out with the reasoning that we wouldn't lose much if it didn't work out and we would upgrade if it did. We still have it and love it! Can't see the point in upgrading for a newer one as it does everything a new one does (but slower!)

Except of course current California's have progressed in many other ways, see below, please correct me if I am wrong or have left something out.
LED headlights and bright day time running lights etc.
Auto wipers/rear view mirror etc.
Triple zone heating and air conditioning, something conversion manufacturers just don't mention.
Add blue system so can be used in any city in Europe and soon suburbs in many places.
DSG and ACC with emergency brake systems, DSG is more economical than even the manual.
Lights in the pop top.
Much bigger disc brakes with latest anti-lock technology.
Galvanised bodies.
Apple car play/Android equivalent together with easy free updates on the built in sat nav.
Power roof, I know many on here would prefer manual, except of course those who want to put something other than a feather on the roof rack.
The older vans are simpler and have less to go wrong, a massive plus for many, you pays your money..............

 

[Wesel]

Except of course current California's have progressed in many other ways, see below, please correct me if I am wrong or have left something out.
LED headlights and bright day time running lights etc.
Auto wipers/rear view mirror etc.
Triple zone heating and air conditioning, something conversion manufacturers just don't mention.
Add blue system so can be used in any city in Europe and soon suburbs in many places.
DSG and ACC with emergency brake systems, DSG is more economical than even the manual.
Lights in the pop top.
Much bigger disc brakes with latest anti-lock technology.
Galvanised bodies.
Apple car play/Android equivalent together with easy free updates on the built in sat nav.
Power roof, I know many on here would prefer manual, except of course those who want to put something other than a feather on the roof rack.
The older vans are simpler and have less to go wrong, a massive plus for many, you pays your money..............

Lots of "nice to have" improvements, but none essential for living.

 

[PONOS47]

Using man maths Californias don't actually cost anything.

If I didn't have one I would need a sensible car, say a BMW 3 series, depreciation on the last one of those I had was about £6k a year, depreciation on our cali using the worst trade in offer verses what I paid for it comes in at £1700 a year, the cali therefore has saved me £4,300 a year for the last 6 years on that alone.

If we then factor in 4 of us camping say 20 nights per year at £30 per night V £200 for 2x hotel rooms thats another £3,400 a year saved.

I haven't yet put a price on the fun & enjoyment that it has brought, highlights include getting changed out of a freezing cold wet suit in the beach carpark in a warm van with the kettle on.
Playing a family game of cards waiting for the tide to go out at our favourite Modbury beach, the sheer convenience of having a fridge with cold drinks on a hot day when stuck in a traffic jam, I could go on & on.

Then there is the convenience - used as a van for moving kids to Uni. A mobile office.

A car plus hotels cant replace it, A big white motorhome won't go the same places.

You either get it or you don't.

It is my suggestion then that the £70k is actually irrelevant.

Agreed. It also makes a great tour bus when your son is a drummer !

 

[mountainman]

This is the 9th summer for mine. It is the best thing I have ever bought. I have never seen a suitable equivalent.

 

[California4x4]

Just saw the Caravan and Motorhome club magazine review of the BMW X7 as a towing car. Seven seats and a boot and big enough to sleep in by the looks of it. I’d need to, as the price as tested was £93k. Makes a 7 seat beach look like a steal.

 

[subthree]

This is the 9th summer for mine. It is the best thing I have ever bought. I have never seen a suitable equivalent.View attachment 65424

Lovely photo of Bla Bheinn. Van isn't bad either

 

[Calimili]

Just saw the Caravan and Motorhome club magazine review of the BMW X7 as a towing car. Seven seats and a boot and big enough to sleep in by the looks of it. I’d need to, as the price as tested was £93k. Makes a 7 seat beach look like a steal.
View attachment 65428

Gross vehicle weight: 3220kg. More that a Cali!!

 

[PhilR]

Our van took 11 months from order to delivery - we spent a LOT of that time questioning whether it was the right thing to do. In the end it was the lack of depreciation that we just went with it. We did rent a T6 and it cost us £700 for 5 days! You really aren't going to lose much if you dislike it.

I have spent a considerable amount of time in North Wales climbing. I would not be able to take a motorhome to those remote and beautiful places.

11 months . How come?

 

[subthree]

11 months . How come?

Order was for a T6, that got damaged on the transporter. Replaced with a T6.1, took VW 2 months to find a tow bar, then Storm Ciara in Feb, then some virus arrived....anyway loving the van now!

 

[PhilR]

Order was for a T6, that got damaged on the transporter. Replaced with a T6.1, took VW 2 months to find a tow bar, then Storm Ciara in Feb, then some virus arrived....anyway loving the van now!

Wow! 6 months doesn’t seem so bad now! Glad to hear you’re loving it

 

[mountainman]

Lovely photo of Bla Bheinn. Van isn't bad either

Well done! and this?

 

[subthree]

Well done! and this?View attachment 65461View attachment 65462

No idea where the van is, but that second photo looks rather Inaccessible - awesome fun.

I still have on my list to paddle from Elgol to Loch Coruisk and then up the Dubhs Ridge