Appalling quality

[mikeelawson]

Went to look at replacement to my Cali (brand new Adria Twin 640) and the quality was appealing. Plastic facial coming off fridge, drawers loose, camber door on toilet jammed, flynets broken and this was three months old demo! We don’t want to sell our van but the height and lack of toilet is an issue. I will never complain about Cali again. For 80k you would have thought you would get something with rudimentary quality?

Don’t know where to go next? Custom build crafter? Ideas

Regards

Mike

 

[Corradobrit]

Appealing or appalling? Make up your mind.

 

[dspuk]

Grand Cali

 

[GrannyJen]

Went to look at replacement to my Cali (brand new Adria Twin 640) and the quality was appealing. Plastic facial coming off fridge, drawers loose, camber door on toilet jammed, flynets broken and this was three months old demo! We don’t want to sell our van but the height and lack of toilet is an issue. I will never complain about Cali again. For 80k you would have thought you would get something with rudimentary quality?

Don’t know where to go next? Custom build crafter? Ideas

Regards

Mike

I can't fault the quality of our Hymer Ayers Rock.

 

[sidepod]

For 80k you would have thought you would get something with rudimentary quality?

 

[mikeelawson]

Went to look at replacement to my Cali (brand new Adria Twin 640) and the quality was appealing. Plastic facial coming off fridge, drawers loose, camber door on toilet jammed, flynets broken and this was three months old demo! We don’t want to sell our van but the height and lack of toilet is an issue. I will never complain about Cali again. For 80k you would have thought you would get something with rudimentary quality?

Don’t know where to go next? Custom build crafter? Ideas

Regards

Mike

Bloody predictive text appaling

 

[Jenny H]

Went to look at replacement to my Cali (brand new Adria Twin 640) and the quality was appealing. Plastic facial coming off fridge, drawers loose, camber door on toilet jammed, flynets broken and this was three months old demo! We don’t want to sell our van but the height and lack of toilet is an issue. I will never complain about Cali again. For 80k you would have thought you would get something with rudimentary quality?

Don’t know where to go next? Custom build crafter? Ideas

Regards

Mike

I was at the Norfolk Camping & Caravan Show last weekend & had the chance to look around countless campervans & too was shocked to see how terrible the quality & general finish was, they all seemed to be trying for glitz & glamour which quite obviously they were not.
Not that Im looking to upgrade but always intrigued to look whats out there & when the time comes I feel we might need to go large my preference would be the Hymer Ayers Rock or Grand Cali but for now just adore my Cali Coast Camper

 

[Ian789]

Appealing or appalling? Make up your mind.

Potato potahto, tomato tomahto, let's call the whole thing off.

 

[StevenP]

Went to look at replacement to my Cali (brand new Adria Twin 640) and the quality was appealing. Plastic facial coming off fridge, drawers loose, camber door on toilet jammed, flynets broken and this was three months old demo! We don’t want to sell our van but the height and lack of toilet is an issue. I will never complain about Cali again. For 80k you would have thought you would get something with rudimentary quality?

Don’t know where to go next? Custom build crafter? Ideas

Regards

Mike

The VW has so many advantages over a Motorhome (or bigger van) and a toilet tent with collapsible toilet is an easy fix for that issue (unless you need onboard toilet facilities 24/7).

Here’s the reasons we’ll be sticking to our T4 Cali:
1. Pop top Roof height of 1.9m means access to all car parks

2. Overall size means easy to navigate tiny country lanes

3. Great as a day van for kids to the local beach as well as a camper for our downtime.

4. Size and LHD also means cheap on the ferry and perfect for continental touring.

5. Servicing and parts supply everywhere you go

6. ‘Tailgate open’ sleeping when it’s really hot like last week! Brandrup mozzie nets a real winner here.

7. Enjoyment of driving a beautifully made icon and genius packaging

That all said, I appreciate size can be limiting for some so it’s not for everyone, but it’s where we are now whilst our mobility is still reasonable!

 

[HowieDog]

Picked up our new Hymer van yesterday. Surprised by how good the interior camper fittings are.

 

[Wondering Star]

Hymer Grand Canyon S, Mercedes base vehicle.
Never looked back, loved our Cali but needed space.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Picked up our new Hymer van yesterday. Surprised by how good the interior camper fittings are.

I’m seriously considering moving on and Hymer is top of my list so far.
The Evo looks good, but wondering about the 600s. We’ve decided we want more standup space whilst camping…

 

[linusmaxe]

I’m seriously considering moving on and Hymer is top of my list so far.
The Evo looks good, but wondering about the 600s. We’ve decided we want more standup space whilst camping…

You can’t go wrong with the 600s. We’ve had ours for 6 months and came from an ocean -17 with kids. The 90L fridge, standup space and onboard toilet/shower is amazing. The Mercedes base vehicle makes a really smooth ride, never was very impressed with the bumpers on the cali, the Mercedes clearly wins here imo.

We tried to make the cali work but just found ourselves needing a little more space. We also have it as our only vehicle and of course it’s a little bigger at 5,93m long /2,8m high but fits most parking lots with ease. Nothing wrong about the cali in general, it’s an amazing camper but surely it’s made for 2 people. We might get a another cali once the kids lack the interest or have grown up.

 

[soulstyledevon]

We’ve loved the Cali-life too. I’ve had a transporter van for the last 20 years which has been my main vehicle and camping partner.
With an ID Buzz on the way next year, this will become the main family vehicle.
We’ve decided this is probably our last Cali trip and plan to buy something bigger once we get home. We want something that’s bigger inside, which means I have to join the big ugly crew. We don’t really need more storage, but more space to move around the van.
I think I would be happy with either Ducato or Mercedes with a pop top. They both have their merits…

 

[soulstyledevon]

I should add.
Happy to hear experiences of both Ducato and Mercedes owners on why they chose that particular chassis.

 

[larrylamb]

I’m seriously considering moving on and Hymer is top of my list so far.
The Evo looks good, but wondering about the 600s. We’ve decided we want more standup space whilst camping…

2020 Hymer Free 600 Campus

Check out our previously sold 2020 Hymer Free 600 Campus at Adventure Leisure Vehicles in Tebay, Cumbria

www.adventurelv.com

Grannyjen and myself have both used ALV, good dealer.

 

[Azteccamper]

I’m seriously considering moving on and Hymer is top of my list so far.
The Evo looks good, but wondering about the 600s. We’ve decided we want more standup space whilst camping…

I’m at the point when I’m constantly looking at options. Not interested in a ’great white’, only a van based conversion.
But then we have a great few days away and find the Cali is spot on - weather plays a huge part. As a day van it’s superb for hobbies (hikes, bikes & sup’s) and small enough to go anywhere.
And I can’t be doing with awnings! So I do limit our own space when set up, but does mean we travel light.
But a bigger van………….one day.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

I should add.
Happy to hear experiences of both Ducato and Mercedes owners on why they chose that particular chassis.

Mercedes badge looks better on the driveway, but harder on the pocket.

They need to build one of these, preferably electric:

Hymer reveals its foray into vanlife with the VisionVenture

German motorhome manufacturer Hymer has just dropped images and video of its entry into the vanlife market - and we're very excited. The VisionVenture is close to vanlife perfection, right down to the pull-out barbeque station, fold-down balcony and full office space set-up. Check out the video...

vanlifer.com

 

[soulstyledevon]

2020 Hymer Free 600 Campus

Check out our previously sold 2020 Hymer Free 600 Campus at Adventure Leisure Vehicles in Tebay, Cumbria

www.adventurelv.com

Grannyjen and myself have both used ALV, good dealer.

I’ve spotted that one.
If it’s still available when we get home, we will arrange to view.
Depending on what the Cali sells for, we could look at vehicles up to £70-80k. Ideally, I would like to come in around £65k ish mark and up to 2020 models.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Mercedes badge looks better on the driveway, but harder on the pocket.

They need to build one of these, preferably electric:

Hymer reveals its foray into vanlife with the VisionVenture

German motorhome manufacturer Hymer has just dropped images and video of its entry into the vanlife market - and we're very excited. The VisionVenture is close to vanlife perfection, right down to the pull-out barbeque station, fold-down balcony and full office space set-up. Check out the video...

vanlifer.com

That’s something else that thing.
Probably way out of most people budgets

 

[GrannyJen]

I should add.
Happy to hear experiences of both Ducato and Mercedes owners on why they chose that particular chassis.

I chose Ducato because I can get it in 5.4M length. Mercedes, and Grand California's, start at 6m which would compromise my drive space which already has 3 cars and a caravan on it. I also wanted 5.4M as I can just about get it into a conventional car park space without two much overhanging.

I was apprehensive about ordering Ducato. I needn't have been. It's very much a van, not a van trying to be a limo but it works well. Forget things like carpets in the cab, however I can just wash clean the floor when I've got in with muddy shoes.Takes two minutes.

It's a shade noisier from the engine area. Stiffer suspension, which IMO is not a bad thing. It just feels all-round a cruder cab.

However, it works. I have a 9 speed auto which is lovely. I'm always at the right rev limit and changes are seamless. I can accelerate into and across roundabouts with no heart-stopping pauses. I have the biggest engine,, 180 PS and to cruise along at the legal limit is effortless, with or without caravan. I have all the driver info I need, driver aids which can be a pain (but can individually be turned off), the cruise control works but being FIAT can be quirky.THe driving position is perfect for me and my longest distance, 7 hours in the saddle, was comfortable and painless. The seats swivel at the pull of a lever without any adjustment, from the inside, doors closed.

12 months into ownership, nothing has gone wrong with either habitation or the mechanical bits. It just goes. No squeaks or rattles although with all that storage the ability to have something loose rattling around a cupboard is easy.

Yes, it's a big workhorse van with furniture in it. No frills. The best bit is I got it fully loaded ( non pop-top version) for £65k ( ordered 10/2020 - collected 07/2021). Pop top would be an extra £3.6k. I can also use it as a van, i.e. fold back the fixed bed and have a big long load space, something that appealed over other 5.4m offerings without a boot space.

Like every camper, a compromise. Some things work, some don't, some are unnecessary for me.

 

[Wondering Star]

Went with the Merc because I value German engineering, I planned to keep the vehicle for a number of years.
In my opinion the interior cab layout and quality is far better than the Fiat.
That's not to say it perfect, in many ways the Fiat makes for a roomier van, being wider and flat sided.
The Mercs suspension is softer than the Fiat, which is great for knocking off motorway miles but poor when loaded on undulating surfaces.
Compared to the Cali its a boat, tall high center of gravity especially with poptop makes for some uncomfortable moments.
I up grade the rear suspension, not cheap at 5k but gave a flat drive like the Cali.
For off grid camping also budget to upgrade to solar and lithium.
Additional AGM battery and solar not sufficient to power the likes of compressor fridge and diesel heating in winter.
Other observations, led headlights poor compared to T6 .
Auto gearbox / engine not as smooth or as quite.
Servicing can be expensive £700 plus for 2yr service.
Having said all that, we love it, many many advantages with non of the faff which came with the Cali.
As we've herd many many times campervaning is all about compromise.
Happy travels every one.

 

[Corradobrit]

That’s something else that thing.
Probably way out of most people budgets

Safe to say well into 6 figures and more. But some really nice features. I liked the integrated office zone, the stairs/storage concept, and the roll out BBQ. Puts the Cali's front Pano opening to shame. Gotta love the CGI

 

[AlisonF]

2020 Hymer Free 600 Campus

Check out our previously sold 2020 Hymer Free 600 Campus at Adventure Leisure Vehicles in Tebay, Cumbria

www.adventurelv.com

Grannyjen and myself have both used ALV, good dealer.

Another happy customer of ALV here. For my Eriba. Their annual get together for owners is fabulous although I missed it this year.

 

[larrylamb]

I think I would be happy with either Ducato or Mercedes with a pop top. They both have their merits…

One thing, the Ducato is wider, more boxlike so easier to have a transverse bed without any modifications. This enables a shorter wheelbase ie 5.40m if required. I hired a 6.3m Westfalia Ducato with longitudinal beds, humongous bed compared to the Cali but i struggled to find spaces for it to park.