C
CaliMac
I have just ordered my Coast 6.1 and the programmable remote control parking heater is standard.
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Soton Campers
Southampton Campers
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Interesting...looks like the Coast will be well received here in the UK. I know I'm tempted!
C
CaliMac
Yes it swung it for me anyway. As for options I took the comfort lighting mainly because my wife would not forgive me if it is as nice as some say. Also tyre press monitoring as I hate not knowing pressure then checking them at a garage; I have on my Tiguan which I regard it as an essential safety device for only £156. Tiguan also has digital cockpit sat nav etc but I always use app connect as it is superior. The LED lights on Tiguan are fantastic particularly on auto, they light up the entire road and verge (deer!) even when cars are coming towards you; however, I don't expect to do a lot of night driving in it so I could not justify it.
BeagleMum
Top Poster
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Well put
Incidentally if the Beach had not been available when we purchased we would not have bought the Ocean, it’s not the vehicle for us, we didn’t want a kitchen & definitely didn’t want a wardrobe.
NickE
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- T5 SE 180
I'm confused as to why VW are marketing two products (Ocean and Coast), when adding enough options to one turns it (virtually) into the other. Why not market one product and make all options available? I must be missing something.
Borris
Super Poster
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I was talking to my dealer recently and he confirmed my thoughts. He said that VW has always seen the Ocean as the top model and the Beach as the entry level offering with the Coast wedged somewhere in between. In his view (and mine), this is wrong.
Most people know what they want from a California and buy accordingly. The number of seats available and how a customer intends use the vehicle will dictate which version suits them best. Cost is always an issue but when buying an expensive California that it isn't most peoples primary reason for choosing one version over another. In short the vast majority of customers don't walk into a VW showroom and pick a California Ocean or Beach on the basis of cost alone. They buy the version that suits their needs.
That's why VW's decision to axe the Beach (for the time being at least) and import the Coast instead makes very little sense. Will they sell as many Oceans and Coasts combined as they used to with Oceans and Beaches? Who knows. However, I doubt if the many owners of current Beaches will be rushing to replace them with a vehicle that doesn't suit their needs.
Having just purchased one of the last T6 Beaches it will have to be a "keeper" unless VW changes it's current policy.
Most people know what they want from a California and buy accordingly. The number of seats available and how a customer intends use the vehicle will dictate which version suits them best. Cost is always an issue but when buying an expensive California that it isn't most peoples primary reason for choosing one version over another. In short the vast majority of customers don't walk into a VW showroom and pick a California Ocean or Beach on the basis of cost alone. They buy the version that suits their needs.
That's why VW's decision to axe the Beach (for the time being at least) and import the Coast instead makes very little sense. Will they sell as many Oceans and Coasts combined as they used to with Oceans and Beaches? Who knows. However, I doubt if the many owners of current Beaches will be rushing to replace them with a vehicle that doesn't suit their needs.
Having just purchased one of the last T6 Beaches it will have to be a "keeper" unless VW changes it's current policy.
andyinluton
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- T6.1 Ocean 204 4 motion
Why? If the number of people posting on here with electric roof problems is a good indicator, there’s a 99.9% chance that the roof will have corroded away before the electric side of things fail.
ThomasHJ
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If it wasn't so true, it'd be funny
Borris
Super Poster
VIP Member
I've read about numerous faults on here to do with the electro/hydraulic roof including:If it wasn't so true, it'd be funny
1. Defective control panels.
2. Control panel knobs being accidentally being broken off.
3. Hydraulic oil leaks.
4. Hydraulic rams exploding.
5. Roofs not coming down.
6. Roofs sagging on one side.
7. Problems caused the unwary using a powered roof.
8. And the list goes on.
Most people may never experience any of these issues but they do illustrate the complexity. However if they do go wrong it will probably involve losing an arm and a leg to pay for repairs.
In contrast, I haven't seen many if any comments that refer to issues with the manual version.
hirsty
Two Seat Beach DSG
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Simpler the better for me - I'd like a new VW cheaper & more basic than the Beach; steel wheels & Transporter bumpers ideally. Electric roof just feels like an unnecessary complication & expense, but I'm not that worked up about it in the great scheme of things.
Jay20cali
A 7speed dsg box controlled by electronics and an ecu isn’t simplicity though ?.just noting your avatar .
I’m definitely not saying there unreliable because they are reliable but one thing for sure is there definitely not simple
In for a penny in for a pound and buy the extended warranty .
I’m definitely not saying there unreliable because they are reliable but one thing for sure is there definitely not simple
In for a penny in for a pound and buy the extended warranty .
Soton Campers
Southampton Campers
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Electric roofs have been around for ages on convertibles. I don't see what the issue is. Sure you need to take a bit more care but it's not like hydraulic systems are new!
Joker 1299
Cable brakes! Nearly killed me on several occasions. 1954 oval window Beetle. Happy memories.
B J G
Super Poster
Lifetime VIP Member
First car 1939 Austin Big 7. Stop at top of a hill engage a low gear and set off down with a prayer or two. Certainly learned how to anticipate traffic light changes as lots of pre-planning required for stopping. Never rear ended anyone.
Borris
Super Poster
VIP Member
I'm with you on the pre planning thing. I have several old cars that require a great deal of anticipation and pre planning when driven. With syncromesh gears, dsg, ACC, power steering, dual circuit servo assisted hydraulic disc brakes etc etc people don't appreciate how good the modern car has become. The downside is that I can fix the old ones but wouldn't have a clue with the new stuff. I do think modern cars are becoming un-nessessarily complicated though. A happy medium would be nice.
This is my 1912 Austin 10/12:
Rear cable brakes only. It does have a transmission brake but that's useless. The steering is approximate at best and it requires a lot of concentration to drive well and stop before the accident.
Jay20cali
But it looks so cool borris
Borris
Super Poster
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Yes, it can be very cool and damp!But it looks so cool borris
teeboy
VIP Member
Right I have done the spreadsheet work and played spot the difference!
So if you are considering the Coast this is what you have to live without (or spec up in the option list):
Not much there that I couldn't live without:
So if you are considering the Coast this is what you have to live without (or spec up in the option list):
| 16" Wheels instead of 17" |
| 4 Seats Versus 5 Seats (not sure if this is correct) |
| Brushed grey inserts not "decorative" |
| Composition Colour Stereo |
| Heated rear window (as not double glazed) |
| Manual roof (not hydraulic) |
| No comfort lighting |
| No floor mats |
| No fog lights (front) |
| No head unit coding (security) |
| No Heated seats |
| No Lane Assist |
| No Navigation |
| No park assist |
| No power latching sliding door |
| No rear view camera |
| No voice control |
| Normal Air Con not 3 Zone |
| Normal air filter |
| Normal Dashboard with Colour MFF (Not full digital) |
| Normal glazing (not double) |
| Normal Headlights (not LED) |
| Oak Cupboards not grey |
| Sliding window on passenger side only |
| Wired App Connect (not wireless) |
Not much there that I couldn't live without:
- No fog lights feels a bit tight
- Some people will not like the "normal headlights" but I don't really mind
- I actually prefer not having VW Nav - App connect will allow Google Maps
- 16" wheels are fine by me - cheaper tyres and squidgy
- Double glazing might be worth speccing up - I have only ever had an SE with double glazing so don't know the heat/noise downsides of not having it.
teeboy
VIP Member
Here is the spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MLpTE4U9ETXhBPr737GMWL40BG_ZDe6aL4iKEnCZ8G0/edit?usp=sharing
The source data is from the Van configurator on the VW Commercial Website, so treat it with the contempt it deserves
J
Jenny H
VIP Member
What extras would you be tempted by?
Karlos
Now there's a question but in relation to a Cali I specked a Coast & an Ocean on Drive The Deal this week.
Cherry Red Coast. 17 inch Davenports. Fog Lights. Tow Bar. Heated Seats. Privacy Glass. Comfort Mattress. Opening Front Bellows. £52675 OTR.
T6.1, 150 Cherry Red Ocean with Comfort Mattress & Tow Bar £58150 OTR.
The rest of the kit on the Ocean I could live without, yes the hydraulic roof is good to have but some can be problematic and expensive as they get older as Borris said on another thread. That aside I pulled up on a site near a Cali Beach in the early summer and his manual roof was far quicker but I don't know how long unlatching took.
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