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Downsizing from a Westfalia Columbus

H

HectorG

Messages
8
Location
Dorset
Vehicle
T6 Beach 150
Hello you Beach owners. I was an “early adopter” of the California having bought an SE 174ps Auto in 2007. I sold it 4 years later for what seems now to be a ridiculously low price. My wife decided it was too small, particularly as we had 2 dogs. At the moment we have a Westfalia Columbus 601D which we bought new just over 2 years ago.

I’ve had health issues recently and to cap it all my wife has suffered a haemorrhage in her left eye which means she has less than perfect vision. All this means we are looking to downsize back to a California size vehicle she would be comfortable driving.

Over the last 3 years we’ve looked at literally dozens of campervans/motorhomes, having been to many shows including the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf in 2015 and the NEC in 2016 and 2017. For the most part, the VW conversions are very similar and quite poor/amateurish in execution. The Westfalia Club Joker and Club Joker City are probably the only exception, but because of the terrible GBP to Euro exchange rate, the prices are eye watering. In any event, I think the fixed toilet, although a nice idea, robs the van of so much storage it would be problematic.

Apologies for the preamble, but that brings me back to the California - it currently seems to be the best option. Ocean prices are also fairly eye watering when you think I paid less than £40k for a top of the range SE with just about every option! So my thinking is a Beach may fit the bill if kitted out with some of the incredible kitchen and storage pods that have become available since we sold ours 7 years ago.

My wife is not a fan of the Ocean type kitchen so having a pod instead would probably not be such a big issue, particularly as there is no hot water anyway. Also, it seems to me that you can organize storage in the various storage pods available to suit your individual requirements much better than in the less than convincing ‘wardrobe’ and cupboards/drawers in the Ocean.

Finally, my queries are:

1) Should I be concerned about higher depreciation and greater difficulty in resale with a Beach over an
Ocean?
2) Am I likely to get a better deal on the Beach - I’m probably looking at a 150 DSG for the reasons outlined in 3) below.
3) Is there an issue with emissions that is interrupting production and could lead to higher prices? I’m particularly anxious about what could happen in the next Budget to diesel drivers. I was one of those caught by Gordon Brown when he introduced retrospective VED rises on more powerful cars in 2008. Also, I was one of the people who fought the DVLA to get the California reclassified as PLG for taxation purpose and won. I see the California is now back in the same category as cars in that it is taxed according to the band it falls in for emissions. Being relatively high emitting (and may go even higher when VW are shamed into having to tell the truth), I wonder if there may be grief to come! That’s why I think I’d avoid a 204ps. It’s more than likely that they’ll all move up at least one group. Also, there’s the extra £450 per annum for vehicles that fall int the M1SP category that cost over £40k.
4) Any advice on whether we should go for 2 or 3 seat rear bench and the related storage considerations would be gratefully received, bearing in mind there is just 2 of us and no dogs. Also, advice on kitchen pods would be helpful.
5) We’re used to Webasto type diesel heaters which are great in the UK in Spring and Autumn. How does the electric heating work in the Beach as we tend to go ‘off piste’ quite a lot? Our current van has a solar panel and diesel heating and we’ve been as long as 8 weeks without a hookup. Would this be difficult in an Ocean?

Apologies for the ‘essay’. I want to make an informed decision before making an expensive purchase.

Mods, If my post is in wrong section, my apologies. Please move if necessary.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Welcome HectorG
I hope you find some answers here. As you both know the pros and cons of both worlds I am sure you find the perfect solution for you (whether it‘s a besch or a ocean/coast).
However if you do not like the kitchen: decicion is made, isn‘t it? And there are great solutions for slidepods
Cheers
sapto
 
HectorG- welcome :cheers
Is it possible to attend one of the meets as a day visitor to discuss with owners of the various California types and maybe pods? No doubt you will find the perfect vehicle and good health to enjoy.
 
Welcome , follow your heart and the needs that suits you , don't worry about things like resale , ....
Live now , worry later ....
Lots of info on the forum in various topics , meets as said above are always a good recource if you want good info.
 
HectorG- welcome :cheers
Is it possible to attend one of the meets as a day visitor to discuss with owners of the various California types and maybe pods? No doubt you will find the perfect vehicle and good health to enjoy.

Great idea Digger to attend a meet. I think there’s one coming up later in the year in Dorset where I live.

Thanks everyone for the welcome. These forums are a great help. When I had my previous Cali there was only the Facebook forum and I steer well clear of Facebook these days.
 
Great idea Digger to attend a meet. I think there’s one coming up later in the year in Dorset where I live.

Thanks everyone for the welcome. These forums are a great help. When I had my previous Cali there was only the Facebook forum and I steer well clear of Facebook these days.

Hi Hector

Sorry to hear about the tough time you’ve both had but hopefully it sounds like you’ve turned a corner.
If I was you I’d hire both vehicles and see how you go.
One thing I would say, if anyone tells you the beach is not really a proper Campervan don’t believe it. By adding a fridge and portable stove you can camp for days, easily.

You guessed it, I own a beach :happy
 
I see the California is now back in the same category as cars in that it is taxed according to the band it falls in for emissions. Being relatively high emitting (and may go even higher when VW are shamed into having to tell the truth), I wonder if there may be grief to come! That’s why I think I’d avoid a 204ps. It’s more than likely that they’ll all move up at least one group. Also, there’s the extra £450 per annum for vehicles that fall int the M1SP category that cost over £40k.


There is just a flat rate tax now £140 per year for all cars (apart from 100% electric) irrespective of emissions cost the same apart from the first tax at registration - which is part of the on the road cost for a new one.

The over £40k penalty is actually "only" £310 so total cost for years 2-6 for any cali irrespective of model or engine will be £450.
 
There is just a flat rate tax now £140 per year for all cars (apart from 100% electric) irrespective of emissions cost the same apart from the first tax at registration - which is part of the on the road cost for a new one.

The over £40k penalty is actually "only" £310 so total cost for years 2-6 for any cali irrespective of model or engine will be £450.

Trouble is Andy, I’ve got used to paying only £300 per annum, in total, for 3 vehicles; my cars (RAV4 Hybrid -£20 and Hyundai i10- £30) and £250 for the van. We’re going to get rid of the Hyundai, but that only saves an extra £30 a year. I know it’s not necessarily a deal breaker, but it’s a factor when you’re on fixed retirement income.
 
Hi. Sorry to hear about your heath. It was one of the reasons I stopped motor homing and started using hotels. But I found that crowns and restaurant food don’t go together so wanted back to independent travel. I did own a globe car which was great and much better value then the vw. But was too large for much else in the uk. You can know longer plan for the future in this country bar for one fact which is what ever you buy will cost you money. I went for the ocean over the beach meanly due to the kitchen bit and I found one at a cheaper price then the beach. I also went for dsg as I like auto in traffic and went for the 204bhp as I found the 150bhp short of power. Was it a good move, well overall I think yes. I have spent a few months away in it with my bull dog working and apart from things like very poor internal lighting, usb points in hard to get too positions the lack of hot water on demand and that grey colour seating it’s ok. Like all things motor home or camper an there are good and bad bits, I am off in July to see hitlers eagles nest and then Milan. This time with two dogs and my partner. A good test of the van for sure. F
 
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