Buying a used California advice

[Fredricka]

We have finally decided to take the plunge and buy a California. Our budget is £35k to £45k but as there is finance attached we would ideally like to keep our outlay towards the bottom end of the range.
So, if you were in my shoes, where would you be looking and what what sort of model/spec/year would you be looking to buy? I think for another £5k over our budget we could be looking at an ex demo from one of the VW dealers - are we silly not digging deeper to afford this option? Any advice would greatly appreciated to steer me in the right direction!
Thank you in advance...

 

[Sad]

We bought second hand due to budgeting constraints, we felt it silly to push our finances too far and not actually be able to afford to put fuel in her with big finance repayments.

In terms of model and spec it comes down to what you want or could live with, Beach vs Ocean, Manual vs DSG, bigger power vs lower power, 4wd vs 2wd, but these are all really personal preference. Get out there, look at them and drive them.

As a VIP there is a hand over check list, or a what to look for type list. In essence it comes down to the van part being looked after as a van, correctly serviced etc, and all the camping equipment sympathetically used and working. Press all the buttons, play with everything and if it doesn't work get on the forum and do some searching for solutions.

 

[Sad]

These threads may help from when we were starting out:

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/where-do-you-find-a-good-used-cali.18544/

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/advice-needed-buying-a-demo.19625/

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/thread...ole-who-could-help-us-view-a-2008-cali.19653/

 

[Borris]

We have finally decided to take the plunge and buy a California. Our budget is £35k to £45k but as there is finance attached we would ideally like to keep our outlay towards the bottom end of the range.
So, if you were in my shoes, where would you be looking and what what sort of model/spec/year would you be looking to buy? I think for another £5k over our budget we could be looking at an ex demo from one of the VW dealers - are we silly not digging deeper to afford this option? Any advice would greatly appreciated to steer me in the right direction!
Thank you in advance...

Hello Fredericka,
Only you can determine what financial burden you feel comfortable with.
However, IMHO the newer the vehicle the more benefits you will realize so it might be worth considering paying the extra and looking for an ex demo van. If you were to push the boat out and buy an ex demonstrator you could be eligible for the following:
1. Ex demonstrators are usually much cheaper than buying new so can represent a good deal..
2. They are usually no more than three months old with little or no mileage on the clock and should be in as new condition. If it isn't then look else where.
3. They are sometimes loaded with extra options and dealer fitted accessories in order to show case these features and protect the vehicle whilst being used as a demo van.
4. If less than three months old then you would be eligible to purchase the cheap VW extended warrantee [up to five years]. Peace of mind for nearly five years.
5. You would be eligible for a form of GAP insurance [although it doesn't work in the same way], if you were to insure your new Cali through the Caravan and Motorhome Club. If your van is written off or stolen and not recovered in the first two years then the insurance will provide a new replacement to the same spec. You will have to join the C and MH Club to get this insurance benefit but membership is only about £45 per year and the benefits are well worth it.
6. If buying on finance then you are sometimes eligible for cheap service packages. In our case 2 x services for £99. I don't know what deals are currently available.
7. Buying on finance can also lead to a cheaper purchase price. We purchased our Beach deliberately using a small amount of finance and recieved a VW £750 incentive payment. This was because we had used VW finance, a deal that was in place at the time. We paid it off two months later.
8. The T6 complies with the most up to date Environmental Standard, EU6.
9. With everything being newer, it should cost you very little to service compared with an older van.
10. VW's comprehensive Assist break down cover is in place for the first three years.

There is nothing wrong with buying older vans but make sure that you give them a thorough check over, checking everything closely. There's a lot that can break on a Cali. Take a knowledgeable Cali bod with you if you can. Certain issues can effect older vehicles e.g roof corrosion, oil issues in certain engines etc so read about them on this forum first. However, the newer T6 models and the late T5s have had most of these wrinkles ironed out.

What ever you decide, good luck.

Photos of your new van are mandatory.

 

[sapto]

Hello Fredricka

Actually everything said here I can only recommend to test drive whatever you fancy. We went for an old - one of the first - T5 SE CHF 36K) but well serviced and until now only had to fix normal things. I did retrofit parking sensors at the back everything else was just perfect.

I hope you find what you are looking for!

 

[johnyboy]

My friend was first to buy a 2nd hand cali (3 year old)
Then I did the same (2.5 year old, tiny mileage)
Then my sister did (3 year old)
Then another friend did (3 year old)

So four of us all bought similarly aged (at the time of purchase) and similar priced Calis, the latter three all as advertised on this site, and not one of us have had anything other than joy from them.

They really hold their value, especially at the end of warranty period so its not too imaginative to think you can get most of your money back at most times, and quick if you are prepared to lose a little more.

 

[Iron Van]

You could also look at the vehicles for sale on the forum. (Cali’s for sale tab at the top) plenty in your price range and some in your region. Then as others have already said, go look at a few.

 

[Ryemslie]

There are a few Cali se’s In the for sale saction here going for very good money if you haven’t looked already which would leave you change from your budget at the lower end to get out & use it.

 

[Elmo3]

We went round the houses with this. All the answers came back to an ex-demo, which we’ve been delighted with. There are some ridiculously priced used Calis. I’m sure some of the T5’s for sale didn’t cost that much when new. For the sake a few grand (which is a small percentage of what you are spending), you are getting a pretty much new van with warranty. It’s a no brainier.

 

[Fredricka]

Thank you all for taking the time to reply! It's an SE/Ocean we're after rather than a Beach.
Some really informative and useful points made which we are chewing over.
Definitely will join the VIP area for the checklist.
Just about to look through the recommended forums.
Please keep any extra advice coming, so useful to hear what you existing Cali owners have to say....hope to be joining your ranks in the not too distant future.

 

[2into1]

If you've time, really study the asking prices that are out there and try to note what sells and how quickly. It won't take long until you are able to estimate what any van should be priced at and jump / avoid as appropriate. There are many more vans around than there used to be (a couple of years ago you'd be lucky to find 25 on autotrader, now there are 80+) but that is a reflection of how the market has grown as new vans are added every year and very very few scrapped.

 

[cazmatt]

We had our mind fixed on a 35-45k ish SE but ended up getting a pre-registered with no mileage for about 50. The extra financing was a bit of a stretch, but the warranty, VW assist, and knowledge that no one else had abused or broken anything was satisfying, and mainly it just ended up happening to be one with the specific options we wanted that was available when we wanted it. I also really liked the split worktop and extra cupboard strip lighting on MY18 so was easily sold!

[edit] - and of course when you look at used prices you see they all follow the same depreciation curve - i.e. depreciating very little/slow rate regardless of age - if you look at what a 10 year old one is worth - so if you can get over the initial outlay the amount I think (hope?) they hold their value very well.

I guess something else to consider is that when buying new(ish) although well spec'd with factory options, it comes with nothing useful that the previous owner might be willing to sell with the van - carpets, seat covers, gas bottle!, sometimes awnings, porta pottis, floor mats, bike rack; so although small sums compared to the outlay for the van, worth adding up the cost for these "essentials" (depending on view) as some of the 2nd hand ones I saw when we were looking actually came with what would be £000s of accessories, and if a ex demo is at the top of budget, do think about whether you plan to go and buy extras with it and factor that in.

Nice seat covers to protect the investment from the muddy dogs was a must for us, for instance.

Of course if you are patient these accessories can be accumulated over many years! But I am not patient

 

[reserves]

Essentially the ‘camping’ equipment (cooker, water, roof, bed, rotating seats etc.) have not changed to a great degree since 2006. Something to consider.

The facelifts (post 2010) do look better in my opinion, nicer dash etc.

So then perhaps the choice is down to T5 vs T6. If you’re going for T6 then ex demo is the way to go, essentially the same price as people are asking for their 2nd hand ones.

Of you’re in a budget, i think any T5 Cali with the spec you want from 2010-2015 have depreciated enough but will still hold their value.

Personally I’d avoid 180bhp engines from 2010/2011 as there are some potential issues with these and there are enough second hand Calis to avoid these years.

 

[BikerGran]

I bought a 9 year old 178 DSG Tiptronic Cali from a specialist motorhome dealer with a very good rep. It came with lowered suspension, sidebars, roof bars, removeable towbar all factory fitted, Comfortz leisure room (to turn awning into a room), carpets all round, stick on insulating blinds for the front, gas bottle, EHU lead and a couple of travel mugs! Also brand new MOT, full service and habitation check, and full valet so it looked as good as new. Had it 2 years and when it's clean (not often - I use it!) it still looks good as new.

I use the same workshop the dealer uses and they are excellent (not VW).

 

[Fredricka]

Essentially the ‘camping’ equipment (cooker, water, roof, bed, rotating seats etc.) have not changed to a great degree since 2006. Something to consider.

The facelifts (post 2010) do look better in my opinion, nicer dash etc.

So then perhaps the choice is down to T5 vs T6. If you’re going for T6 then ex demo is the way to go, essentially the same price as people are asking for their 2nd hand ones.

Of you’re in a budget, i think any T5 Cali with the spec you want from 2010-2015 have depreciated enough but will still hold their value.

Personally I’d avoid 180bhp engines from 2010/2011 as there are some potential issues with these and there are enough second hand Calis to avoid these years.

Thank you Reserves. When you say you would personally avoid 180bhp from 2010/11 do you mean only these years or would you avoid later models i.e. 2012 onwards as well?

 

[reserves]

Thank you Reserves. When you say you would personally avoid 180bhp from 2010/11 do you mean only these years or would you avoid later models i.e. 2012 onwards as well?

If you have a search around the forum for 180 2010 engine you’ll see there are lots of posts about it.

Nothing is conclusive but as I said personally I wouldn’t buy a 180 from 2010/2011, there’s so much choice so I wouldn’t take the risk.

Of course I’m sure there are plenty of 2010/2011 180 California’s with no engine issues whatsoever.

It seems that these were the only years the engine may of had these issues so 2012 onwards shouldn’t be a problem.

 

[parrot2]

I would rather not borrow money to purchase a van so I elected for a second hand cali I purchased a low mileage 2012 se most of the equipment appeared to be unused . There are a lot of vans in similar condition out there I bought mine from a dealer and it came ready to go with all new ehu cable gas bottle levelling blocks and new mot and service it came with 12 warranty which after 9 months I haven't needed and was only 5 miles from my house. I do appreciate other buyers might not think the same so you have to try all the options and don't rush in just take your time its all part of the fun.