Ex (or current) T5.1 owners; what T6 bits are you looking forward to?

[KernowLad]

Probably a few in the same boat as us - either had or still have a T5.1 and now ordered (or even have already got!) a T6. The differences appear to be pretty small but I have a feeling the overall ambience will be fairly different, especially in the cab.

Anyway for starters;

1) A DAB radio that works; reception in our T5.1 was always dismal and non DAB.
2) No roof paint corrosion (happened twice)
3) Either no EGR valve or a less stressed one (not sure which it is yet?!) (we had 3 replaced)
4) A sorted steering column
5) Climate as standard (a £2k option on our old Cali)
6) A cab interior slightly more appropriate to a £50k vehicle; the T5.1 one was a bit plasticky.
7) A very similar living area layout; because that all worked fine.
8) Lights in the roof; the bendy light in the old one was rather fragile.
9) Lights in the tailgate; the old one lacked rear lighting.
10) Possibly more acceptable mpg...
11) That new vehicle smell!

 

[WelshGas]

After 1 year with my SE, 21,000 miles, numerous nights away in all conditions, and having examined a T6 Ocean up close, and driven a T6 Caravelle. Nothing I'm afraid. Totally underwhelmed. Will look forward to the T7.

 

[Tommy Gun]

Hi.

Question 6.
What's wrong with the T5 interior fella? I thought it was functional & well laid out. Seats & carpets a bit light coloured for spills etc, but mats & covers fix that - no problem. The trade-off is that it is lighter & more airy in the evenings/dark.
I think it might be unfair to compare it to another vehicle of £50k value. Other vehicles like X5's, Q7's etc
don't have to function as campers, & therefore don't need to have the camping bits. If it was finished like
a £50k car, the OTR price would surely end-up out of reach & not commercialy viable.

 

[KernowLad]

I'm talking about the cab only; the living area appears to be identical!
Just more modern materials, up to date stereo, Bluetooth as standard. Looks more like a comfy car than a van. Maybe it even has a light in the glovebox and slightly better cup holders?!

Oh and a proper windscreen blind too!

 

[marshian70]

In the case of the Beach, unless you upgrade the dashboard, the cab actually looks worse to me

 

[Tommy Gun]

I'm talking about the cab only; the living area appears to be identical!
Just more modern materials, up to date stereo, Bluetooth as standard. Looks more like a comfy car than a van. Maybe it even has a light in the glovebox and slightly better cup holders?!

Oh and a proper windscreen blind too!

Ok, I give a little ground there. Yes there are some nice new touches, but, it's still the same great van really.
Hope you enjoy it when it arrives.

Cheers for now

 

[Freeley]

Did I hear that there was a retractable cup holder in the back near the bench seat in the new cali?
This is something I've often said to the better half that ours is missing - the table is a bit too much of a stretch for me when I'm relaxing with a cider in my hand!
Not sure it's worth £50k but nice to have

Sent from my Galaxy S6

 

[KernowLad]

A cup holder?
That's it, I'm not sleeping until March while I look forward to that feature...! I think there might be a....



... Towel holder rail too!

 

[KernowLad]

In the case of the Beach, unless you upgrade the dashboard, the cab actually looks worse to me

Have they been more stingy with Beach spec? I had a nose through the options and an awful lit seemed to be extra.

A shame we don't get the Coast version.

 

[CALI FATE]

Probably a few in the same boat as us - either had or still have a T5.1 and now ordered (or even have already got!) a T6. The differences appear to be pretty small but I have a feeling the overall ambience will be fairly different, especially in the cab.

Anyway for starters;

1) A DAB radio that works; reception in our T5.1 was always dismal and non DAB.
2) No roof paint corrosion (happened twice)
3) Either no EGR valve or a less stressed one (not sure which it is yet?!) (we had 3 replaced)
4) A sorted steering column
5) Climate as standard (a £2k option on our old Cali)
6) A cab interior slightly more appropriate to a £50k vehicle; the T5.1 one was a bit plasticky.
7) A very similar living area layout; because that all worked fine.
8) Lights in the roof; the bendy light in the old one was rather fragile.
9) Lights in the tailgate; the old one lacked rear lighting.
10) Possibly more acceptable mpg...
11) That new vehicle smell!

No more EGR valve ..... gone with the new Euro6 engine - biggy

 

[KernowLad]

No more EGR valve ..... gone with the new Euro6 engine - biggy

I've tried to check this out and was certain what you say is correct but some seem to think there's still one but under less pressure.

There's an excellent forum listing very detailed engine specs (in German) showing that both engines (based on the Golf unit) are very different to the T5.1. And the only torque figure I've found indicates a 30lbs-ft increase for the 150 over the 140; useful. But it'll be weird topping up our nice vans with... urea!!!

 

[MattBW]

My minor disappointments with the T5.1 (on my beach) was things like bluetooth etc should be standard these days, glad to hear VW have caught up (or are catching up) with the competition on this. Its minor but no excuse in 2015.

EGR valves strangle the engine that's for sure and being able to drop that would be great. Ive not even hit 6k miles yet though so those hurdles are to come.

I recently saw a non-Cali T6 for the first time, I have to say I didn't like the rear profile, dare I say we initially mistook it for a japanese van, slightly odd look to it. I had been worrying I was silly to buy a T5 so soon before the 6 came out (despite big big savings). It made me feel better at least. Glad to see the new T6 Cali doesn't seem to share that odd rear end appearance and maybe that will grow on me.

 

[KernowLad]

I think perceptions will change.
When the new Transit came out, it looked like a bloated hamster crossed with a Fiesta but now I quite like it.

If it's too radical, it scares people off; those rear lights do look a bit odd to me too.

 

[daveyboydanger]

After 1 year with my SE, 21,000 miles, numerous nights away in all conditions, and having examined a T6 Ocean up close, and driven a T6 Caravelle. Nothing I'm afraid. Totally underwhelmed. Will look forward to the T7.

What do you wish was different about the T6? What do you want to see in the T7?

 

[WelshGas]

Obviously anyone who has ordered a T6 California is going to Disagree, but it is really no different to when the T5.1 was introduced. They had to do something when forced to bring in the EU 6 engines, so change the engines, tinker here and there and call it the T6.
Now going from the T4 to the T5 was a significant Model Development and I hope the minor changes made for the T6 mean that VW are putting in some significant development time on the T7, and I hope that when it is launched they have got rid of the cowboys that organised and supervised the launch of the T6. A Nursery Class could have done a better job.

 

[daveyboydanger]

I hope the minor changes made for the T6 mean that VW are putting in some significant development time on the T7, and I hope that when it is launched they have got rid of the cowboys that organised and supervised the launch of the T6. A Nursery Class could have done a better job.

I totally agree about the launch. Shambles!
I suppose I'm a fan of the Cali mostly and getting the latest model made the most sense for eventual resale and most up to date tech.
I love the t5 and I hope I'll love the T6. I suppose my question was what would you be wanting from the T6 that it hasn't got. One thing for me is an electronic handbrake.

 

[KernowLad]

Was there a launch?!!

I hate electronic handbrakes!

 

[WelshGas]

Was there a launch?!!

I hate electronic handbrakes!

Too True. Mind you it doesn't have to be Electronic just in a position so that it can be left on when turning front seat, also a simpler way for turning the Drivers seat - probably in the T7.

 

[Tommy Gun]

I totally agree about the launch. Shambles!
I suppose I'm a fan of the Cali mostly and getting the latest model made the most sense for eventual resale and most up to date tech.
I love the t5 and I hope I'll love the T6. I suppose my question was what would you be wanting from the T6 that it hasn't got. One thing for me is an electronic handbrake.

+1 for wanting the electronic handbrake

 

[KernowLad]

Too True. Mind you it doesn't have to be Electronic just in a position so that it can be left on when turning front seat, also a simpler way for turning the Drivers seat - probably in the T7.

I may have gouged the handbrake cover with the swivel seat once or twice....

 

[CALI FATE]

I may have gouged the handbrake cover with the swivel seat once or twice....

I was looking for electric swivelling front seats, an electric moonroof in the pop top and electric self levelling parking switch - cant have everything .... oh and a dishwasher

 

[samdb]

Was there a launch?!!

I hate electronic handbrakes!

Have you tried the new Golf electronic handbrake? It's amazing - so good that it's really annoying going back to a normal handbrake. One of those would work well in a T7.

 

[KernowLad]

I've driven a few mk7 Golfs (while our old Cali was in for constant emissions trouble, we had most of the VW range as courtesy cars!) and didn't get on with it.

Our little M135i has an old school handbrake and I much prefer it; although it's auto so we don't use it much.

 

[owen_h]

Obviously anyone who has ordered a T6 California is going to Disagree, but it is really no different to when the T5.1 was introduced. They had to do something when forced to bring in the EU 6 engines, so change the engines, tinker here and there and call it the T6.
Now going from the T4 to the T5 was a significant Model Development and I hope the minor changes made for the T6 mean that VW are putting in some significant development time on the T7, and I hope that when it is launched they have got rid of the cowboys that organised and supervised the launch of the T6. A Nursery Class could have done a better job.

One of the bits of fallout over the emissions saga is that VW have cut back on development work (and probably engineers) to save some cash. Shortsighted in my opinion. Believe they also cancelled a new paint facility.

Another +1 for a handbrake that doesn't need to be taken off to swivel the drivers seat.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[X4 VWC]

I much prefer electronic handbrakes but there is a solution even with a regular handbrake. A few years ago, I had a Westfalia James Cook, 2nd gen., on the Sprinter platform. Once you put the handbrake on, you could simply push it down and out of the way without any resistance, and the handbrake remained on. I imported the vehicle from Germany and was horrified when I couldn't rotate the seats due to the handbrake ... embarrassing call to dealer who asked if I had pushed the handbrake down. Oh, that's new! So clearly there's a mechanical solution within German motor manufacturers.