Design Changes and/or New Options for the California.

[WelshGas]

Let’s discuss possible Design Changes or New Options that could be incorporated in a future version of the California.
I’m talking about things that would enhance the vehicle for All, not just you personally.
eg: A manual roof. It is already available on the Beach and the Coast but VW Marketing haven’t decided to sell that version in certain countries, SO NOT for discussion.
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We have Cruise Control which maintains speed, but something on our Smart Car would , I think, be of benefit.
A Speed Limiter. The Smart has Cruise Control but also a Speed Limiter. So you can set a Limit, say 30mph, and have full throttle control upto that speed but no more. Useful in towns etc. On the Norwegian roads I travelled today the limit was 80 kph, but the road was so windy/undulating it was very easy to exceed and impossible to use Cruise Control as you were constantly switching it back on as you braked for sharp corners.

Handbrake. I’m not a fan of Electric Handbrakes, too many possible problems, but surely a better system could be devised. Possibly a Dashboard System, suitable for LHD and RHD Vehicles.

Leisure Batteries. A Lithium Battery could replace the 2 AGM Batteries and give more useable power, probably at no additional cost. In the Ocean the space freed up could be used to replace the toolbox behind the back seat.

Solar Panel Option

 

[Lightning]

Hot water, especially for the external shower.

Darker tinted windows, or electrically adjustable tint.

A factory fitted adjustable privacy screen or blind between the front and back.

A built in LPG tank for the hob and hot water. Campingaz is not always easy to find in Europe.

Leather seats.

Heating duct upstairs.

A more comfortable comfort mattress.

Off road pack, lifted, snorkel etc.












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[kp64zl]

Handbrake to the right of the drivers seat (on the right hand drive) & make sure that it doesn't interfere with swiveling

Better integration of cab electrics/electronics e.g. radio not going off after 30 minutes parking

12 volt socket on the outside

Pop up roof black out fabric - or at least darker

Californias sold through consumer / leisure dealers rather than commercial dealers please.

 

[Meoncoast]

I would also say a solar panel. double front passenger seat option, grill, slide out rear draw, external gas connection. and how about a high top

 

[WelshGas]

Handbrake to the right of the drivers seat (on the right hand drive) & make sure that it doesn't interfere with swiveling

Better integration of cab electrics/electronics e.g. radio not going off after 30 minutes parking

12 volt socket on the outside

Pop up roof black out fabric - or at least darker

Californias sold through consumer / leisure dealers rather than commercial dealers please.

Handbrake to the R of the RHD Seat would be a No No as it would be a little difficult for LHD Vehicles.
Remember, more Californias sold on the Continent.

 

[WelshGas]

Hot water, especially for the external shower.

Darker tinted windows, or electrically adjustable tint.

A factory fitted adjustable privacy screen or blind between the front and back.

A built in LPG tank for the hob and hot water. Campingaz is not always easy to find in Europe.

Leather seats.

Heating duct upstairs.

A more comfortable comfort mattress.

Off road pack, lifted, snorkel etc.

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Many of these are personal wants/preferences. Some could be Options if the demand was present.
Why a privacy screen? Leather seats could be an Option, personally I hate Leather upholstery especially in the heat, but not difficult to get done by a 3rd party.
Many find the Comfort Mattress acceptable. Once again a personal preference.

 

[EddieEagle]

Leather trim on better seats
Speed limiter
Better access to gas bottle / tap
Swivel seats lockable in any position
Removable rear headrests.......
Better more comfortable seats in leather .

 

[WelshGas]

Many, not all, of the suggestions so far are personal preferences and would be lead by market forces.
Eg: Darker Interior, Leather Option, Hot water for shower, Darker Roof Canvas, grill etc: These are things that VW will have done their research on and probably come to the conclusion there isn’t a demand or that demand can be met by 3rd party companies.
Such as a Leather retrim, Internal Topper, Mattress Topper.

Selling through the Car side of VW instead of the Commercial side, or at least having Specialised Dealerships is a good one.

Having the Entertainment system capable of running off the Leisure Electrics is certainly possible.

 

[flying banana]

More height. More room. Solar. Shower. Hot water. Shitter. Oh wait......

 

[Lightning]

I think most of your proposals proposals are also personal preferences aren’t they? No option is likely to be universally needed or used by everybody. I never turn the drivers seat so I think the hand brake is fine for example, so it’s your preference not mine.

If I’m parked up in a city and want to quickly get changed or whatever, a privacy screen or blind would be less hassle and more discreet than fitting the magnetic blinds and drawing the windscreen blinds. Hot water is the one I would really benefit from.


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[soulstyledevon]

I’ve had an M4 on loan this week.
Jumping back in the van today I noticed how poor the dsg box is compared to the BMW autobox.
BMW SatNav and info systems in a different league and stop/start works as it should on the BMW.
It’s left me feeling a bit deflated and realising how poor the Volkswagen kit is in comparison.
VW really need to up their game...

 

[WelshGas]

I think most of your proposals proposals are also personal preferences aren’t they? No option is likely to be universally needed or used by everybody. I never turn the drivers seat so I think the hand brake is fine for example, so it’s your preference not mine.

If I’m parked up in a city and want to quickly get changed or whatever, a privacy screen or blind would be less hassle and more discreet than fitting the magnetic blinds and drawing the windscreen blinds. Hot water is the one I would really benefit from.


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I think you would find more owners turn the front seats than are likely to get changed on a city street.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Would like to see a 3.0Tdi too...

 

[Lightning]

‘I think you would find...’


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[Moakesy]

Options or features I’d like

Factory fit solar
External lighting under awning (or at least a socket for after market options)
Electronic handbrake
Integrated dash cam (front and rear)
Split rear window
Habitation info (water, battery, fridge etc) as part of main entertainment system rather than the little screen in the roof. Much easier to see.

 

[WelshGas]

Options or features I’d like

Factory fit solar
External lighting under awning (or at least a socket for after market options)
Electronic handbrake
Integrated dash cam (front and rear)
Split rear window
Habitation info (water, battery, fridge etc) as part of main entertainment system rather than the little screen in the roof. Much easier to see.

Dash cameras are illegal in Austria and have to be removed.
Rear split window is unlikely because of the space required in the tailgate which holds the chairs.

 

[sidepod]

How bizarre! I was just thinking about stuff like this today.

One thing that annoys me about the 5/6’s is the daft out dated control panel for the roof:fridge etc.

Come on VW, get with the program, let’s have a nice “smart phone” type glass touch screen. Come on, it’s alreay ancient technology.

 

[larrylamb]

Remote control for the roof so solo camper can watch the bellows. Plus fridge/ heater controls from the ICE as Sidepod was suggesting.

 

[Amarillo]

Electric awning, using the manual crank is such a pain in the arse, and I had terrible problems when I tried to electrify our awning.

It would be a bonus if the canopy could be made of flexible solar panels.

 

[sidepod]

......and another thing.

How about automated water tank emptying.
Instead of the painful hard to access hand valve, a simple electrical solenoid fed from a switch on the dash.

So bloody simple it’s embarrassing.

As it happens I’m in the process of installing such a system. Watch this space for info soon.

 

[WelshGas]

Remember, the California is based on the Transporter so certain things would have to be available across the range if related to the vehicle platform itself. It is not a bespoke vehicle as such. Other things that are California related could be Options.
Eg: Built in LPG tank will never happen unless built into the California kitchen.

 

[westfalia]

Electric awning, using the manual crank is such a pain in the arse, and I had terrible problems when I tried to electrify our awning.

It would be a bonus if the canopy could be made of flexible solar panels.

That was your April fools joke wasn't it?
Please tell me it was

 

[Joker 1299]

Carbon fibre roof with integrated solar panel. LED fog lights. Radio with record/live pause/playback. Sat nav with journey/mileage recording/storage (not just destinations).

 

[Amarillo]

That was your April fools joke wasn't it?
Please tell me it was

Sorry - no jpegs to prove it. You’ll just have to accept it as fact.

 

[Moakesy]

Dash cameras are illegal in Austria and have to be removed.
Rear split window is unlikely because of the space required in the tailgate which holds the chairs.

If options then would dashcam could just not be offered in Austria.

Don’t understand why a simple bit of German engineering couldn’t work out how to hold chairs in the bottom half. It’s not like the current arrangement has the chairs popping out of the glass area.