Bad time to buy?

[heidiboy]

Hi,

We're thinking of buying a Cali Ocean. Not sure whether to go for a nearly new 7 or a 7-8 year old T6.1. My concern is the uncertainty surrounding future value of these vans as we get closer to and post 2035. Cali's have always held their price well and so have been a great investment. I've read quite a bit about the general car market post 2030 and the general feeling is that values of petrol/diesel cars will significantly drop as fuel become rarer/more expensive. Maintenance/parts are also predicted to become more expensive. Will the California market do this as well?

I know it's 10 years away, but would appreciate other peoples' thoughts on this. Should I go for cheaper and therefore less risk future loss?

Appreciate any thoughts/advice

 

[flying banana]

how old are you ? stop worrying about 10 years from now and do it.

 

[pjm-84]

Why worry? Its 10years away.

 

[heidiboy]

That's probably the advice I needed, thanks

 

[Up10]

That's probably the advice I needed, thanks

But in answer to the other part of your question, it depends on storage requirements and capital vs operational expenditure. Are you likely to be away for weeks on end or just the weekend? Can you afford or justify the expense of a nearly new vehicle or would you be more in the market for an older one which might have higher maintenance requirements?
I have a T6.1. I like the way the van handles (204, 4wd in my case) and appreciate the way the storage is arranged. Others say the new multivan is a better drive but it is less appealing to me in camping mode.
Suggest you test drive both and really investigate your list of pros and cons. Plenty of commentary regarding the T6.1 and the new multivan on this forum.
It really depends on what your personal requirements are.

 

[Stargazing]

Hi,

We're thinking of buying a Cali Ocean. Not sure whether to go for a nearly new 7 or a 7-8 year old T6.1. My concern is the uncertainty surrounding future value of these vans as we get closer to and post 2035. Cali's have always held their price well and so have been a great investment. I've read quite a bit about the general car market post 2030 and the general feeling is that values of petrol/diesel cars will significantly drop as fuel become rarer/more expensive. Maintenance/parts are also predicted to become more expensive. Will the California market do this as well?

I know it's 10 years away, but would appreciate other peoples' thoughts on this. Should I go for cheaper and therefore less risk future loss?

Appreciate any thoughts/advice

I don’t even think 10 days ahead if I can help it. Agree with all comments above.
Live your dream now and think how big the leisure industry is in terms of jobs and livelihoods. If any successive government clamped that down in years to come then they must have got everything else in perfect order to justify it (all laugh out loud together) Let us know what you go for and enjoy the here & now.

 

[RetroRed5]

I agree with the opinions above, i.e. 10 years is a long time away, far to long to be concerned about it today for sure, but I'd add a few other things to consider...

1. Certain petrol/diesel vehicles could in fact go up in value, or at least depreciate less as it is very possible people will want to get their hands on them since no new ICE vehicles will be sold. So the 2030/35 ban on new ICE could actually boost the 2nd hand market for some sectors.

2. Once we are at 2030/35 and new ICE vehicles are no more, there will still be a ton of ICE vehicles out there for many years for sure, so I doubt that petrol/diesel will become especially hard to find anytime soon (although it will be more expensive).

3. All vehicles (excluding certain "investment" vehicles such as classics or some supercars) depreciate, and so I'd avoid viewing the purchase of a vehicle as an "investment". Of course future depreciation is a sensible consideration when buying any vehicle, but don't let that be the main deciding factor.

Non of us know what will happen in the future, and I guess that is kind of the point in the responses you are getting; so live for today and not what might happen down the road (to a degree).

 

[2into1]

If you are worried, buy a 10 year old one, or older. If the world collapses in 10 years time, it will be 20 years old (or older)?

 

[Ch1pbutty]

If you are worried, buy a 10 year old one, or older. If the world collapses in 10 years time, it will be 20 years old (or older)?

Agree. From personal experience T5.1 (and T4) is the best buy when it comes to depreciation.

 

[heidiboy]

Thanks all, really appreciate the time you have taken and sound advice given. This forum is great when you're new to all this.

I think I've put myself off the the new multivan. Whilst it looks like a great drive, I really like the layout inside the T6.1. Now I have to decide which engine to go for, the TDI 150 or 204? Or Petrol TSI 204? So many decisions!!!!! I'm sure there will be a different thread about engines so I'll go and have a look.

Thanks again

 

[willwander]

Buy a T6 150bhp…peak Cali

 

[sidepod]

Buy a T6 150bhp…peak Cali

Arrggh now you’ve done it!

This term crops up often. I’m sure people confuse peak with personal favourite which, let’s be honest, are polar opposites.

How could a vehicle so riddled with faults and design flaws be considered “peak”?
I’m not saying it’s a bad vehicle but there are definitely more reliable (I think we’d all agree reliable is pretty much the same as peak?) versions out there?

 

[Scarlett]

I would expect that ICE Californias will appreciate in value once they can no longer be bought new. People that want a vehicle to go camping off-grid will still prefer the security of fuel in the tank versus electrons in the battery.

 

[willwander]

Arrggh now you’ve done it!

This term crops up often. I’m sure people confuse peak with personal favourite which, let’s be honest, are polar opposites.

How could a vehicle so riddled with faults and design flaws be considered “peak”?
I’m not saying it’s a bad vehicle but there are definitely more reliable (I think we’d all agree reliable is pretty much the same as peak?) versions out there?

I don’t consider ‘peak’ as personal favourite or the most reliable, but the highest point before the decline.

 

[WelshGas]

I would expect that ICE Californias will appreciate in value once they can no longer be bought new. People that want a vehicle to go camping off-grid will still prefer the security of fuel in the tank versus electrons in the battery.

Or the best of both worlds a PHEV Hybrid.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Used 150 for long term ownership, less to go wrong (& easily remapped if required.)

 

[RetroRed5]

If you opt for a TSI, you might struggle to find one that ticks all your boxes, not so much because good examples don't exist, but rather VW sold so few of them so they are rarely seen for sale.

In my opinion, I'd say go for the 199/204 TDI, not because it's the "best", but rather the extra power helps push the California along quite a lot better; remember, these machines are very heavy, especially when loaded up and so a bit of extra grunt is always welcome.

Having said that the 150 is certainly adequate and not what I'd call "slow", but the difference in power is quite noticeable. I've never owned a 150, so can't speak from long term experience, but I have hired many (from T4's through to T6, all of the T6's were 150) before buying my first California and I did often find myself wanting a bit more power here and there.

In terms of reliability and maintenance, there is a degree of "luck" at play here, but a lot of it is down to how well you look after it; I've owned 5 T6's (2 California's, 3 Caravelle's) and I've meticulously maintained them and thankfully never really had any major issues with any of them, all 5 have, by and large, been rock solid.

Of course, the costs associated with a 199/204 are going to more than a 150, both in terms of the purchase price and ongoing running costs such as fuel (better MPG with a 150) and possible ongoing maintenance, but the differences aren't huge.

In any instance, whether you go for a 150 or a 199/204, then so long as whatever you buy has been well maintained and you continue looking after it, both are awesome machines and so either will serve you well.

Good luck with your search

 

[brcas64]

We were in a similar position and were looking at older vans and conversions for 30k and ended up buying a 2020 6.1 204hp California ocean in two tome green and white for double the money. It just said buy me... I don't think about depreciation on vehicles as it would give me a heart attack after years of owning cars both new and second hand. Find the one you like and it will say buy me. You will know and then go and enjoy it. The 6.1 drives better than my 6 year old Hyundai Tucson and is my preferred daily to be honest. All vehicles have their quirks and some a mind of their own like my previous Jaguar F-type which on a good day was a fantastic noisy drive that put a smile on your face and on a bad day I was convinced it was trying to kill me. . Just make sure it is what you both want and need i.e. if you need a shower and toilet on board than the cali is not one for you.

 

[JuanVecino2023]

If you opt for a TSI, you might struggle to find one that ticks all your boxes, not so much because good examples don't exist, but rather VW sold so few of them so they are rarely seen for sale.

In my opinion, I'd say go for the 199/204 TDI, not because it's the "best", but rather the extra power helps push the California along quite a lot better; remember, these machines are very heavy, especially when loaded up and so a bit of extra grunt is always welcome.

Having said that the 150 is certainly adequate and not what I'd call "slow", but the difference in power is quite noticeable. I've never owned a 150, so can't speak from long term experience, but I have hired many (from T4's through to T6, all of the T6's were 150) before buying my first California and I did often find myself wanting a bit more power here and there.

In terms of reliability and maintenance, there is a degree of "luck" at play here, but a lot of it is down to how well you look after it; I've owned 5 T6's (2 California's, 3 Caravelle's) and I've meticulously maintained them and thankfully never really had any major issues with any of them, all 5 have, by and large, been rock solid.

Of course, the costs associated with a 199/204 are going to more than a 150, both in terms of the purchase price and ongoing running costs such as fuel (better MPG with a 150) and possible ongoing maintenance, but the differences aren't huge.

In any instance, whether you go for a 150 or a 199/204, then so long as whatever you buy has been well maintained and you continue looking after it, both are awesome machines and so either will serve you well.

Good luck with your search

I would probably echo this, having owned and since sold a 150 PS 6.1 Ocean.

It was fine, but I often had to plant my foot a bit to get it off the line on any slight incline and it would wheel spin like mad.

Depends on use case I would say. If it's for periodic camping pootling, 150 is great. If you are using it anywhere near daily, it is a bit under-clubbed in my opinion.

That said, the bi-turbo comes with its potential flaws, which is what steered me to 150 in the first place. I would do an extensive test drive in both first.

 

[pjm-84]

I had the benefit of a manual 140 for 6months and 6500miles. I'm glad I went for the 180hp and DSG.

 

[Cali Phillip]

T6 150 DSG owner here, 61K in 5 years, at some points yes more power would be good, its always adequate for a reasonable pace, speed limits UK.
Not sure even the 204 are that much faster, maybe with 3.0 Vd Tdi tuned (400ps) maybe, it's a heavy camper van at the end of the day, then there's the fuel, its already thirsty and its not very dynamic.
Besides glow plugs it's been flawless.