Cali Beach Camper as main car

[Agnes_Cali]

It's been a year since I collected my Beach and clocked 14K miles in this time and it's only 10 months worth of driving, because of time away from home. It's a leased vehicle, so there's another year left of the contract and I already wonder how I'm going to live without it and thinking of extending the lease.

As I wrote above, it's very practical and useful vehicle. I will be getting saloon at the end of September and will be dividing daily duty between the cars. I might use saloon for London commute, because it's a hybrid and Cali for motorway driving.

 

[JuanVecino2023]

I may be the dissenter. Albeit I had an Ocean, which is heavier and has more to rattle about.

In the end I found it too cumbersome to use as a family car for school runs etc. Great vehicle, just not an everyday one for me.

I would caveat this with the fact that we live in rural Gloucestershire, which has inherited its local roads from the moon.

 

[Black Forest]

T6.1 Beach Camper + Up Gti + ZZR11 here.

The Up does the most miles. If it's sunny then I'll take the bike to work every time. Beach does outdoor equipment duties amongst tip hauling and the like but mostly longer runs. 1300kms in one day and very comfy.

No-one has mentioned short runs and dpf regen issues on this thread if it's a daily driver so perhaps it's not a problem. I understood diesels and dpf's didn't like lot's of short trips as they don't get hot enough for the particle filter to work properly.... so as I said, probably not an issue.

 

[DavidofHook]

We have used our Tdi Cali as our only vehicle for at least 5 years. We originally had a Smart as well, but this packed up and, as it was hardly used we got rid of it. Using the Cali as out only vehicle has been fine. Being retired my mileage is only 5000 a year, a mix of shopping and family visits about 15 miles plus longer trips to France maybe 1000 miles.
I love the vehicle, it is supremely comfortable, practical and nice to drive. Downsides include the need to take care when parking because of the width, otherwise few problems. Our California is now 13 years old and still going strong and paintwork etc still looks very good.

 

[chockswahay]

I may be the dissenter. Albeit I had an Ocean, which is heavier and has more to rattle about.

In the end I found it too cumbersome to use as a family car for school runs etc. Great vehicle, just not an everyday one for me.

I would caveat this with the fact that we live in rural Gloucestershire, which has inherited its local roads from the moon.

Hmmm............. I am inclined to agree with you. We used our Coast for 2 years as our only drive (both retired) but this year we dipped our feet in to the world of EV's in February and bought a 4 yr ols Mini Cooper. The van is simply too cumbersome and expensive to use for local shopping, grandkids and general running about (we live in rural Cornwall) . So now the van is reserved for voyages and adventures and the Mini for the local stuff. Best decision we ever made! 2000 miles in now and it has already saved us over £430 in diesel. Also it is massive fun and makes us smile every time we drive it. (if only it had a bed, kitchen etc ....... haha).

 

[JuanVecino2023]

Hmmm............. I am inclined to agree with you. We used our Coast for 2 years as our only drive (both retired) but this year we dipped our feet in to the world of EV's in February and bought a 4 yr ols Mini Cooper. The van is simply too cumbersome and expensive to use for local shopping, grandkids and general running about (we live in rural Cornwall) . So now the van is reserved for voyages and adventures and the Mini for the local stuff. Best decision we ever made! 2000 miles in now and it has already saved us over £430 in diesel. Also it is massive fun and makes us smile every time we drive it. (if only it had a bed, kitchen etc ....... haha).

I think you have hit on it - it's more fun to save it for highdays and holidays and savour the slow pootling, rather than get frustrated strong arming it around winding B Roads every day.

I use our little Abarth for short hops and love it.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

We are vanless at the moment, but will get another T5.1 Cali Beach in the future.

Best mix for us is Cali + EV. Currently have EV + runabout go kart (20yr old Mini Cooper JCW auto convertible).

We invested in solar panels at home, so most of the EV miles are powered by sunlight. If we didn’t have panels then it would be hybrid.

 

[Winston Rumfoord]

Agree with this. Beach and an e-up that cost £10k less than two years old.

Perfect combo. Up does 90% of journeys, California does 90% of miles (and 90% of the fun stuff).

 

[Quiddle]

Used an Ocean for 2 years as only car, though I have a motorbike, and very happy. I had a larger motorhome before and was reluctant to visit supermarkets etc due to parking problems but not with the Cali.
I could only find one insurer, Comfort, which would let me use my full car ncb. Without it the next nearest quote was three times as much.

 

[Agnes_Cali]

No-one has mentioned short runs and dpf regen issues on this thread if it's a daily driver so perhaps it's not a problem. I understood diesels and dpf's didn't like lot's of short trips as they don't get hot enough for the particle filter to work properly.... so as I said, probably not an issue.

My shortest drive is 16 miles on motorway, other frequent route is 20 miles to London. I don't drive around the corner to supermarket. So don't expect DPF issues. I know when it's regenerating, because fan stays on after switching off the engine.
I should add, that van is perfect for that big Costco shopping.