Buying new Beach - advise on spec please before I order

[Gary&Heather]

For me I would go for the remote control

 

[Borris]

Re parking heater -- should I go for the one with remote control or is that overkill?

No definately not over kill.

You will be able to start the heater when away from the van e.g from your kitchen whilst having your brekkie on a frosty morning. By the time your ready to leave the van is defrosted and toasty warm. No more scrapping windows. Also you can activate the heater from in bed whilst camping or on the way back to your Cali after a long walk. It works from a considerable distance away. When you get back it's all warmed up for you.

Believe me you should definately get the remote. The parking heater with remote is the best option that I've ever had on any vehicle l've owned by a country mile.

 

[kp64zl]

thanks @Borris - I'm convinced

 

[Max-Felix]

Lol. Yellow is the colour of choice for the german postie.View attachment 38978

Really like that - my sort of van - solid yellow, grey bumpers, steel wheels.

 

[Amarillo]

Re parking heater -- should I go for the one with remote control or is that overkill?

Believe me you should definately get the remote. The parking heater with remote is the best option that I've ever had on any vehicle l've owned by a country mile.

Just to prove how diverse opinion is on the Beach options, I would not bother with the remote. At night the controls for the parking heater can be reached with a stretch of the arm from the upper berth, and a bit more of a wriggle and a jiggle from the lower berth.

When parked up at home, If it's frosty in the morning, popping out to the drive to turn on the heater before coffee and cornflakes is trivial.

Anyway, I never know where the remote control is. Mrs Amarillo hides it from the boys (and me).

 

[soulstyledevon]

Just to prove how diverse opinion is on the Beach options, I would not bother with the remote. At night the controls for the parking heater can be reached with a stretch of the arm from the upper berth, and a bit more of a wriggle and a jiggle from the lower berth.

When parked up at home, If it's frosty in the morning, popping out to the drive to turn on the heater before coffee and cornflakes is trivial.

Anyway, I never know where the remote control is. Mrs Amarillo hides it from the boys (and me).

Don’t listen to this guy.
Get the remote.

 

[Bellcrew]

Really like that - my sort of van - solid yellow, grey bumpers, steel wheels.

100% body colour window tint, dream stealth camper.

 

[Borris]

Just to prove how diverse opinion is on the Beach options, I would not bother with the remote. At night the controls for the parking heater can be reached with a stretch of the arm from the upper berth, and a bit more of a wriggle and a jiggle from the lower berth.

When parked up at home, If it's frosty in the morning, popping out to the drive to turn on the heater before coffee and cornflakes is trivial.

Anyway, I never know where the remote control is. Mrs Amarillo hides it from the boys (and me).

That sounds like an excuse to me Tom. Just admit it, you've lost it.

 

[Borris]

100% body colour window tint, dream stealth camper.

You can hardly stealth camp in a bright yellow Cali!

 

[Perfectos]

+1 for heater remote
Everything listed +
Multifunction steering wheel (cruise)
Reversing camera
Led auto headlights
Tow bar / tow bar prep ( future proof)
Heated rear screen (free option)

 

[Perfectos]

5 year warranty
Service package (2 services)

 

[Alan Andrews]

Don' forget the VW waterproof seat covers. I have the black version rather than the skin type and after 18 months, the seats are like new. The seat covers take all the knocks and scrapes and stay inn position. They are not uncomfortable to sit on and will help to protect your investment.

I have an Ocean rather than Beach and note that no one here has spoken about the kitchen bits.

Have you compared the cost difference between Beach and Ocean? As some of the extras you have noted are standard on the Ocean.

Have you also budgeted for the add-ons that you'll need once you take delivery of the Beach (or Ocean)?

 

[Borris]

Don' forget the VW waterproof seat covers. I have the black version rather than the skin type and after 18 months, the seats are like new. The seat covers take all the knocks and scrapes and stay inn position. They are not uncomfortable to sit on and will help to protect your investment.

I have an Ocean rather than Beach and note that no one here has spoken about the kitchen bits.

Have you compared the cost difference between Beach and Ocean? As some of the extras you have noted are standard on the Ocean.

Have you also budgeted for the add-ons that you'll need once you take delivery of the Beach (or Ocean)?

They are not the same vehicle. So unless you'd be just as happy with either version there's not much point in comparing the cost or the standard equipment.

I agree about the waterproof seat covers. We have little ones in our van regularly and made sure we had waterproof covers on everything including the matresses before it left the dealer. Mud, ice cream, jam, etc etc all wipe off and if they need it they can be washed on a cool wash and they come up like new.

 

[flying banana]

good point above. a well specced beach can easily overtake the price of an ocean. unless you need the room and versatility it's worth thinking about. oh but yellow isn't available on the ocean.as for multi steering wheel I don't see the point. you can access phone and even audio on the mfd if you really need to not move your arm while driving. how we ever managed to get c60 tapes out of the glove box at 80mph in the past I will never know

 

[Amarillo]

You can hardly stealth camp in a bright yellow Cali!

You can in a field of sunflowers.


Follow my blog: www.au-revoir.eu

 

[kp64zl]

yellow seems to cause lots of discussions. my daughter wants yellow with pink spots.
I quite like it but now shifting towards metallic.... (strong opinion from wife)

 

[Bellcrew]

You can hardly stealth camp in a bright yellow Cali!

You can in Germany and other countries on the continent, blends in with all the other post office vans. Of course they get the uncomfortable dash etc as standard fitments which again is very popular on here.

 

[kp64zl]

...... multi steering wheel I don't see the point......

agree although paddle shift sounds good for alpine roads & that's on the sports multi wheel

 

[Gary&Heather]

You can hardly stealth camp in a bright yellow Cali!

You could if you did it in autumn

 

[larrylamb]

agree although paddle shift sounds good for alpine roads & that's on the sports multi wheel

I was under the impression the paddle shift was gimmicky and a waste of time on a Cali, as in people never used it the dsg worked fine on its own. I however love the mfsw, it's whatever works for you that is important not everyone else.

 

[soulstyledevon]

I had paddle shift on a loan Cali. Used it twice, then thought what’s the point...???
Infact, I’ve only used Sport about 3 times since I bought DSG. Again, not sure why I would need to use it.
Haven’t tried manual on my current van which I’ve owned for over 3 months.

Perhaps I’m an isolated case, but I just stick it in D and forget about gears...???

 

[Amarillo]

Perhaps I’m an isolated case, but I just stick it in D and forget about gears...???

I tried S yesterday for the very first time after reading this thread. Just stick it in D for forward, R for backward or P for stop (why the letters for the mode are the last or penultimate letter of the direction defeats my logic).

 

[Max-Felix]

Autos are great but manual override is there for a reason - you should not just leave it in D the whole time - many times you need to manually select a lower gear for engine braking or just to give the best control for certain situations be they weather or as the road dictates. Same for overtaking - don't just use kickdown with it's inherent delay, get in the right gear before you pull out.

Sport is essential in the Alps etc - when you want to hold on to a lower gear for constant hairpins going up and when you want more engine braking coming down - although manual selection is probably better in these circumstances to really make sure it stays in third or even second coming down depending on the gradient. Last thing you should be doing is coasting down in a high gear constantly riding the brake pedal.

P should only ever be used when you park and switch off for good - not in normal stops at lights or junctions or jams etc.

Auto boxes are superb and getting better all the time but the driver still needs to apply his skill, experience and judgement to override some of the decisions which the box may get wrong.

 

[Bellcrew]

Sport is essential in the Alps etc - when you want to hold on to a lower gear for constant hairpins going up and when you want more engine braking coming down - although manual selection is probably better in these circumstances to really make sure it stays in third or even second coming down.

Sport mode also works the engine harder during short/urban trips and ensures the particulate filter gets to an effective temperature. Use the ACC to get the gears to normal cruise ratios on longer stretches whilst staying in sport mode.

 

[Borris]

I was under the impression the paddle shift was gimmicky and a waste of time on a Cali, as in people never used it the dsg worked fine on its own. I however love the mfsw, it's whatever works for you that is important not everyone else.

I could possibly see the point on a Ferrari California but not on a VW California.