El Greco
VIP Member
I must start by thanking you all for your comments on the many threads on this site. These helped me to get a feel for the Cali experience to come and the options to choose and the discount one can expect.
For some three years now, I have been considering getting wheels to travel. It didn't take too long to decide that a T5 was the answer. After a couple of visits to the NEC I hired a Cali and took the wife along the south west coast for a week to see what the experience was like. The wife enjoyed it very much so the hunt was on for a suitable camper. I felt that a LWB conversion with a sliding seat was the ideal solution. This would have given us an extra 400mm that is very useful in a small van. I went on the hunt for a good convertor. After travelling 100s of miles visiting factories I came to the conclusion that the Cali could not be beaten even though it was on a SWB. One has to make compromises! Specifying a new van and having it converted is not for the faint hearted. Also the costs are similar to the Cali and not 'finished' to the same standard.
I have only been to two dealers to try and buy the Cali. The first dealer could not answer many of my questions. He was unfamiliar with quite a few of the options. For example, neither he nor their 'technical' team knew what servotronic speed sensitive power steering is and gave me a guess which was wrong. After a second visit I was ready to order. The configuration was finalised and I was presented with offer. I could believe my eyes that this was the list price. Then I couldn't believe my ears when he firmly told me that that is the price and proceeded to bulls**t that he can sell all the Calis he can get at list and that they are in short supply and that there an icon and ..... I stopped listening and politely left.
The second dealer was very knowledgeable and the two things he couldn't answer, he called VW so I knew I had the correct info. After a few minutes discussion, I was offered a discount that was greater than I expected. I am not the sort of person that messes others about so I placed the order.
It's 204 DSG Ocean with lots of options and delivery anticipated towards the end of May
Now just have to wait it out and in the meantime read and digest as much info as possible.
Again, thank you all for helping me get this far!
For some three years now, I have been considering getting wheels to travel. It didn't take too long to decide that a T5 was the answer. After a couple of visits to the NEC I hired a Cali and took the wife along the south west coast for a week to see what the experience was like. The wife enjoyed it very much so the hunt was on for a suitable camper. I felt that a LWB conversion with a sliding seat was the ideal solution. This would have given us an extra 400mm that is very useful in a small van. I went on the hunt for a good convertor. After travelling 100s of miles visiting factories I came to the conclusion that the Cali could not be beaten even though it was on a SWB. One has to make compromises! Specifying a new van and having it converted is not for the faint hearted. Also the costs are similar to the Cali and not 'finished' to the same standard.
I have only been to two dealers to try and buy the Cali. The first dealer could not answer many of my questions. He was unfamiliar with quite a few of the options. For example, neither he nor their 'technical' team knew what servotronic speed sensitive power steering is and gave me a guess which was wrong. After a second visit I was ready to order. The configuration was finalised and I was presented with offer. I could believe my eyes that this was the list price. Then I couldn't believe my ears when he firmly told me that that is the price and proceeded to bulls**t that he can sell all the Calis he can get at list and that they are in short supply and that there an icon and ..... I stopped listening and politely left.
The second dealer was very knowledgeable and the two things he couldn't answer, he called VW so I knew I had the correct info. After a few minutes discussion, I was offered a discount that was greater than I expected. I am not the sort of person that messes others about so I placed the order.
It's 204 DSG Ocean with lots of options and delivery anticipated towards the end of May
Now just have to wait it out and in the meantime read and digest as much info as possible.
Again, thank you all for helping me get this far!
. A bridge to be crossed but hopefully I will find somewhere reliable using members recommendations. Eurovans will be my first call I expect then I will see.
The dealer stated that once the build week was confirmed, although not guaranteed, it should be a very good guide. If it arrives during early June, it wont be a disaster. I will just delay my retirement and upset my co-workers!
![Comfort Insurance](https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/shop/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/square20ad20image.jpg"")
