California Ocean Quality

[Ged1625]

Good morning all, I received my Cali 2 weeks ago and have noticed that the trim by the rear window passenger side does not fit correctly. Also the rear passenger side double glazed window has condensation in between the glass. The pop top also scratches the inner roof when opening/retracting. the Cali in the showroom had similar marks in the roof so may be a common attribute.

has anyone else had the same issues? Got it booked in at Breeze Poole in April so hopefully all will be resolved. needles to say, I am disappointed with the quality on a brand new View attachment IMG_6200.jpeg

View attachment IMG_6224.jpeg

 

[Corradobrit]

Can't comment on the rub marks as I have a manual poptop. But the gap in the first pic is to accommodate the edge of the sliding spice rack and block the light for that window.

 

[Defender90]

Good morning all, I received my Cali 2 weeks ago and have noticed that the trim by the rear window passenger side does not fit correctly. Also the rear passenger side double glazed window has condensation in between the glass. The pop top also scratches the inner roof when opening/retracting. the Cali in the showroom had similar marks in the roof so may be a common attribute.

has anyone else had the same issues? Got it booked in at Breeze Poole in April so hopefully all will be resolved. needles to say, I am disappointed with the quality on a brand new View attachment 120665View attachment 120666

View attachment 120667

i had condensation on the rear passenger window it appeared once and has never returned so just left it

 

[dspuk]

First is by design. The second may go, could just be a weather thing or the pane needs replacing - simple seal issue, these things happen. And the third - any pics so we can see where the marks are and check our own?

If these three are it sounds a result.

 

[Ged1625]

First is by design. The second may go, could just be a weather thing or the pane needs replacing - simple seal issue, these things happen. And the third - any pics so we can see where the marks are and check our own?

If these three are it sounds a result.

Second attachment has the scratch on the inner roof housing

 

[JuanVecino2023]

Second attachment has the scratch on the inner roof housing

I noticed similar with my brand new roof, there are scratches internally. It has been put up and down less than 5 times.

 

[Camperfamily]

I noticed similar with my brand new roof, there are scratches internally. It has been put up and down less than 5 times.

Same on our new Beach, albeit very minor and think it will be fine as things ‘bed in’ with use.

Meanwhile our 10 year old SE/ Ocean has no marks. I do think the quality of the 10 year old Cali is superior…

 

[ThomasHJ]

Our T5.1 SE has the same markings. I never thought much of it as our was bought second hand, so I didnt know what it was or how it got there. But obviously something that's been around since at least T5.1 and not fixxed since, so yeah, I guess it's something you gotta live with.

 

[Corradobrit]

Does the poptop rise and lower on both sides at the same rate? Any deviation could result in contact.

 

[Nik_campervan]

The cost of a new vehicle is not a linear relationship to quality. Dont expect quality on your 80k camper to be better than a 14k dacia. Tier 1 suppliers and component mfrs supply all vehicle mfrs and the standards between wont significantly differ. Every part has been costed to the minimum.

 

[Ged1625]

Does the poptop rise and lower on both sides at the same rate? Any deviation could result in contact.

Moves up and down uniformly, just catches the inner frame

 

[Ged1625]

The cost of a new vehicle is not a linear relationship to quality. Dont expect quality on your 80k camper to be better than a 14k dacia. Tier 1 suppliers and component mfrs supply all vehicle mfrs and the standards between wont significantly differ. Every part has been costed to the minimum.

Quality control is defo lacking. I expect better from a premium brand

 

[Corradobrit]

Quality control is defo lacking. I expect better from a premium brand

Its been many many years since VW could be considered a premium brand. Premium brands don't treat their customers so appallingly en masse.

 

[CaliforniaSeb]

Quality control is defo lacking. I expect better from a premium brand

Just be grateful British Leyland never decided to build a campervan. We are eighteen months into ownership and still sorting out issues. We love or camper though.

 

[chockswahay]

I have to confess.......... sometimes..............just sometimes....................I wonder why I drive a Cali. VW are not what they used to be (ex '67 Beetle owner here)

(then I remember....... )

 

[Corradobrit]

Just be grateful British Leyland never decided to build a campervan. We are eighteen months into ownership and still sorting out issues. We love or camper though.

After owning an Austin Allegro and learning to drive in an Austin Metro I completely agree. Chances are it would still be stuck on the assembly line.

 

[Californication69]

After owning an Austin Allegro and learning to drive in an Austin Metro I completely agree. Chances are it would still be stuck on the assembly line.

I learnt to drive in a red MG metro.
Loved it when my instructor said it’s 70 on this Duala, put your foot down.

 

[Corradobrit]

I learnt to drive in a red MG metro.
Loved it when my instructor said it’s 70 on this Duala, put your foot down.

I loved the visibility which was superior for a car in the early 80's. And reversing around a corner part of the test was a doddle using the tip of the rear wiper to follow the curvature of the curb.

 

[Californication69]

I loved the visibility which was superior for a car in the early 80's. And reversing around a corner part of the test was a doddle using the tip of the rear wiper to follow the curvature of the curb.

Omg, wiper tip for reversing ! Yes I remember now.

 

[Ilikesleeping]

I’ve had my new Cali for around two months. I don’t have any of the problems you have but I have lots of other quality issues.. Seat cover not fitted properly, rear speaker rattles, batteries not charging from alternator. I’m not very impressed!

 

[RockinNRollin]

I don't think "modern" quality control issues are unique to VW; I would go so far as to say most non-Asian large scale automobile manufacturers are similar. We've had very good experience with Honda and I've friends similar with Kia. However, I'd also say that both of those marques have less "unnecessarily complicated" cars (the ones I've been in anyway), the sort the motoring press would probably refer to as "feels a bit dated", but actually the fact it has a physical contact button rather than some gesture-induced AI-fed hover-button isn't actually a bad thing.

Fundamentally though, like anything, vehicles have become a bit of a "fast fashion", fuelled by (at least until recently) cheap PCP/lease deals and I think manufacturers have adapted to fit that model, churning out vehicles that appeal to the person looking for the next deal rather than longevity. I think the approach to quality management has changed to fit this approach.

Back to the California itself, well it's a massively complicated vehicle that's made in comparatively small numbers. The "van" part of it I gather is generally fairly good, but the camper part is quite specialist and it probably doesn't make commercial sense for VW to inject enough quality testing and control into it, instead preferring to mop up issues with warranty claims (where people actually discover and/or are bothered by it). We're lucky in that we've had few issues really, other than the infamous bellows problem, but the fact there are all sorts of teething issues points to poor supply chain management, but doubtless those supply chain partners would say they'd want 20% more on the part cost if they increased the rigour of their quality testing - VW wouldn't want that.

 

[Californication69]

16 months in, in a brand new 4M Ocean and no issues yet.
TBH I wouldn’t worry about a bit of rubbing, the 5 year warranty will fix a condensation issues on a window, and any other issues to, tbh.

 

[RockinNRollin]

16 months in, in a brand new 4M Ocean and no issues yet.
TBH I wouldn’t worry about a bit of rubbing, the 5 year warranty will fix a condensation issues on a window, and any other issues to, tbh.

Absolutely. If I had those issues, I'd just go to the dealer. The rubbing will be an alignment issue - they will resolve that and put new metal sides in to replace the damaged ones. New glass panel and done.

 

[dspuk]

I don't think "modern" quality control issues are unique to VW; I would go so far as to say most non-Asian large scale automobile manufacturers are similar. We've had very good experience with Honda and I've friends similar with Kia. However, I'd also say that both of those marques have less "unnecessarily complicated" cars (the ones I've been in anyway), the sort the motoring press would probably refer to as "feels a bit dated", but actually the fact it has a physical contact button rather than some gesture-induced AI-fed hover-button isn't actually a bad thing.

Fundamentally though, like anything, vehicles have become a bit of a "fast fashion", fuelled by (at least until recently) cheap PCP/lease deals and I think manufacturers have adapted to fit that model, churning out vehicles that appeal to the person looking for the next deal rather than longevity. I think the approach to quality management has changed to fit this approach.

Back to the California itself, well it's a massively complicated vehicle that's made in comparatively small numbers. The "van" part of it I gather is generally fairly good, but the camper part is quite specialist and it probably doesn't make commercial sense for VW to inject enough quality testing and control into it, instead preferring to mop up issues with warranty claims (where people actually discover and/or are bothered by it). We're lucky in that we've had few issues really, other than the infamous bellows problem, but the fact there are all sorts of teething issues points to poor supply chain management, but doubtless those supply chain partners would say they'd want 20% more on the part cost if they increased the rigour of their quality testing - VW wouldn't want that.

Agree with the last para of this in the main, having worked at an Auto company.

The fast fashion bit is not really how a factory production or quality line works. Neither at VW nor my old company. Neither does the mopping up piece - car manufacturers have not worked like this since the 80's because the upstream cost of fixing quality is much higher than doing at source and it would be financial suicide to work in that way.

I think people bemoaning current vs the past quality have slightly rose coloured specs, or are in the 95% that have no issues then or today. The half dozen people on here with issues always ignores the thousands with none. Such is forum life.

Everyone keeps calling VW a "premium" manufacturer. They are a volume manufacturer with a good reputation that allows them to charge more for the same vehicle compared to Skoda and Seat, both of which are VAG brands. We never saw VW as premium and I think people who expect their complex van to look like it's come out of a Lamborghini factory with laser edges and polishing are a little off the mark.

Go buy a conversion. Then see the difference.

 

[calicasas]

i had condensation on the rear passenger window it appeared once and has never returned so just left it

I have had the same with rear driver side window. It happened once some 3 years ago and never came back