T
TNT
- Messages
- 4
Hi,
My wife and I have been looking into the possibilities of owning a California as it has been a dream of mine for some years. We currently have a caravan weighing in at 1300kgs which we tow with a 2008 140 Alhambra. I would like to carry on using the caravan if we bought a California for longer stays away as we have two kids and a dog; we also like using the caravan club CL sites which don't have facilities therefore the shower and toilet come in useful. I checked out the data for either the older auto or DSG as I prefer towing with an auto over a manual box. The Weights for the california all seem to be in excess of what we need however I read a recent post on the caravan club site that seems to suggest the California is not fit for purpose as a tow vehicle. Now personally I can't believe that it wouldn't be a fantastic tow vehicle but the post does concern me. It could be that the owners of this particular vehicle may have been unlucky, so does anyone have any experiences good or bad regarding towing? A copy of the post is below. Thanks in advance for any advice. Tony
Our much loved and admired combination of a VW California towing a 2 Berth Luna Spirit caravan, has earned the reputation of being "Not Fit For Purpose". Why? Although the Automatic Gear Box Specification allows a 2.55 ton trailor load towing maximum, it refuses to tow our Lunar 1 ton caravan over long up hill terrain.
VW Customer Care were finally convinced when the car came to a standstill once again, this time on the flat M42 South of Birmingham, whilst being driven alone without our caravan. VW are most sympathetic, indeed had proved themselves so during the whole of the time when innumerable electronic faults and failures had forced calling the friendly RAC (who got pretty fed up with our California) and later garage attention, all free of charge under the Warranty. Thank you for that VW!
However our California is now out of Warranty and we are left "holding the baby" but have been given the following advice from VW. "When towing, avoid long uphill journeys, but if unavoidable, stop for an hour, every hour, to allow the car to cool down".
Thus, if the car with a 2.55 ton Spec. refuses to tow a 1 ton Lunar Spirit up long, uphill ascents, as well as along the flat, then it earns the label "Not Fit For Purpose" and those many Members and Club Site Managers who have stopped to admire our VW California outfit should beware, hence the WARNING.
My wife and I have been looking into the possibilities of owning a California as it has been a dream of mine for some years. We currently have a caravan weighing in at 1300kgs which we tow with a 2008 140 Alhambra. I would like to carry on using the caravan if we bought a California for longer stays away as we have two kids and a dog; we also like using the caravan club CL sites which don't have facilities therefore the shower and toilet come in useful. I checked out the data for either the older auto or DSG as I prefer towing with an auto over a manual box. The Weights for the california all seem to be in excess of what we need however I read a recent post on the caravan club site that seems to suggest the California is not fit for purpose as a tow vehicle. Now personally I can't believe that it wouldn't be a fantastic tow vehicle but the post does concern me. It could be that the owners of this particular vehicle may have been unlucky, so does anyone have any experiences good or bad regarding towing? A copy of the post is below. Thanks in advance for any advice. Tony
Our much loved and admired combination of a VW California towing a 2 Berth Luna Spirit caravan, has earned the reputation of being "Not Fit For Purpose". Why? Although the Automatic Gear Box Specification allows a 2.55 ton trailor load towing maximum, it refuses to tow our Lunar 1 ton caravan over long up hill terrain.
VW Customer Care were finally convinced when the car came to a standstill once again, this time on the flat M42 South of Birmingham, whilst being driven alone without our caravan. VW are most sympathetic, indeed had proved themselves so during the whole of the time when innumerable electronic faults and failures had forced calling the friendly RAC (who got pretty fed up with our California) and later garage attention, all free of charge under the Warranty. Thank you for that VW!
However our California is now out of Warranty and we are left "holding the baby" but have been given the following advice from VW. "When towing, avoid long uphill journeys, but if unavoidable, stop for an hour, every hour, to allow the car to cool down".
Thus, if the car with a 2.55 ton Spec. refuses to tow a 1 ton Lunar Spirit up long, uphill ascents, as well as along the flat, then it earns the label "Not Fit For Purpose" and those many Members and Club Site Managers who have stopped to admire our VW California outfit should beware, hence the WARNING.