GC disillusionment

[The Blue Merle]

I know I am always querying why people who don't own or want a Cali bother to post here but my interest was piqued by your suggestion.
With only the leather seats additional to what I have on my 2016 Cali the price came to £78,419 for the Club Joker, presumably DTD do not quote for these great campers. so the price is fixed.
The old problem of where to store anything but a couple of chairs and a table/cable in such a design raised its ugly head. Where a drive away awning and the rest of the paraphernalia we store behind the rear seat would go is a mystery. Other than that, very interesting.

Loads of storage, just not in one place.
Two front runner chairs hung up in boot with coats etc, space under floor for shoes and a camping table, also has table in sliding door, loads of space under rear bench seat, loads of cupboards and storage for bedding can stay in roof bed.
I’m in the new forest if you want a proper nose as it will be up for sale when new one gets here.
Prices well there’s always a deal somewhere, my new one ordered June last year is cheaper than a cali of the same spec now! Worth speaking to campersales if you want a new one.
The Cali is a great all round van but if you want something for camping with a bit more space hot water and loo etc then a joker ticks all them boxes.

 

[satuja]

Today we sent a mail to the dealership and asked them to calculate how much they will refund us from our GC680 if we return the car. We have driven some 23000 kilometers so far. Waiting for their reply...

 

[Private_Kelly]

The “it’s so new” excuse isn’t really cutting it for me. It’s nearly 2 years old.
Would adria (nearby) have to spend “2 weeks running software updates” to the control panel?

Vw are fine (?) with small, simpl-ish California’s, but with the larger more complex motorhomes they really seem to not have the logistics or the training to service them properly.

Fine with simpler vehicles? I bought a Coast T6.1. Kept it as basic as I could. No bells and whistles. Less to go wrong I thought. It has been stuck at the dealers for 47 days because the 2nd leisure battery wasn’t charging. As of today it is still not fixed.

 

[Eber123]

Fine with simpler vehicles? I bought a Coast T6.1. Kept it as basic as I could. No bells and whistles. Less to go wrong I thought. It has been stuck at the dealers for 47 days because the 2nd leisure battery wasn’t charging. As of today it is still not fixed.

Hello Coasterman,

I am sorry to hear about the problems you experience with your Coast.

It is unacceptable that VW (dealer) get away with something like this. I think this is unreasonable to need that long for a repair.

At the moment I am waiting for parts from Germany. The camper is with my VW dealer since last Wednesday. If I have not clear feedback until Friday of this week, when I get the camper, I will start to push to get the camper replaced. I will do my best not to accept repairs for weeks on end.

I know I will hear that the situation is because of the pandemic, but I am sick to hear that. VW was rather keen to get the money quickly. I coulnd't say "... sorry I will pay you in a few weeks, maybe in 10 or 15 weeks, you know the pandemic..." they will tell me where to go.

All the best with the repair and that you have your camper back in good working order. Live is too short not to use the camper.

Happy California,
Eberhard

 

[Private_Kelly]

Hello Coasterman,

I am sorry to hear about the problems you experience with your Coast.

It is unacceptable that VW (dealer) get away with something like this. I think this is unreasonable to need that long for a repair.

At the moment I am waiting for parts from Germany. The camper is with my VW dealer since last Wednesday. If I have not clear feedback until Friday of this week, when I get the camper, I will start to push to get the camper replaced. I will do my best not to accept repairs for weeks on end.

I know I will hear that the situation is because of the pandemic, but I am sick to hear that. VW was rather keen to get the money quickly. I coulnd't say "... sorry I will pay you in a few weeks, maybe in 10 or 15 weeks, you know the pandemic..." they will tell me where to go.

All the best with the repair and that you have your camper back in good working order. Live is too short not to use the camper.

Happy California,
Eberhard

Hi Eberhard

Quite right. I have lost my patience now so will keep “banging on” until something is done. Good luck.

 

[two-saabs]

Hi Eberhard

Quite right. I have lost my patience now so will keep “banging on” until something is done. Good luck.

Good luck @Coasterman - I wonder if there's a super dealer out there who is happy to help you and win the admiration and trust of the UK's largest VW California forum?!

 

[Eber123]

Well, there is an update on my camper.

I got a phone call from my VW dealer earlier this afternoon, confirming that the spare parts have arrived! I was very surprised. I've been told that they started working on it, finish it tomorrow and test it. I expect I can collect the camper tomorrow afternoon.

That will give me a chance to go up north to collect my velour carpets which I ordered from a VW dealer in Northern Ireland, because they are not available in the ROI. This is about a 350 km trip, which will be a good test.

Expecting the camper is still working (sorry, a bit of sarcasm must be) we will go to Waterford over the weekend.

Almost repaired Grand California,
Eberhard

 

[GrannyJen]

Well, there is an update on my camper.

I got a phone call from my VW dealer earlier this afternoon, confirming that the spare parts have arrived! I was very surprised. I've been told that they started working on it, finish it tomorrow and test it. I expect I can collect the camper tomorrow afternoon.

That will give me a chance to go up north to collect my velour carpets which I ordered from a VW dealer in Northern Ireland, because they are not available in the ROI. This is about a 350 km trip, which will be a good test.

Expecting the camper is still working (sorry, a bit of sarcasm must be) we will go to Waterford over the weekend.

Almost repaired Grand California,
Eberhard

Well I have everything crossed for you xx

I really hope it goes well.

 

[GillianC]

Fingers and everything else crossed for you! hope your new van lives up to expectations.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

I love our 2008 Cali SE. Not sure we’ll ever sell. I would have been interested in the Grand Cali but to be honest my faith in VWs ability to fix vehicles means I don’t think I would consider either a newer Cali or GC.
I have a Golf and would happily buy another or an ID3 but most of the van dealers are a complete joke. Would not consider putting myself at their mercy.
I‘m expecting to try and fix anything camper side myself and I have great local VW specialist for mechanicals.

I could imagine looking at Hymer and Westfalia. VW vans nope.

 

[ShmBK]

Well, there is an update on my camper.

I got a phone call from my VW dealer earlier this afternoon, confirming that the spare parts have arrived! I was very surprised. I've been told that they started working on it, finish it tomorrow and test it. I expect I can collect the camper tomorrow afternoon.

That will give me a chance to go up north to collect my velour carpets which I ordered from a VW dealer in Northern Ireland, because they are not available in the ROI. This is about a 350 km trip, which will be a good test.

Expecting the camper is still working (sorry, a bit of sarcasm must be) we will go to Waterford over the weekend.

Almost repaired Grand California,
Eberhard

Well I had a rather unusual phone call today. Service manager at unnamed garage (who may be on here) suggested I go for rejection of vehicle.

Said quite a few things which i won’t share but basically VW aren’t able to get parts and don’t have the support to enact repairs.
No date for most of the new parts.
said a few things that make me doubt the long term ownership of GC and ability to do repairs. Said he’s done this for 2 other GCs so for.

Is it because a different garage will have to process refund? Is it so they can wash their hands of the van (and me annoying them?)

he’s been very supportive and helpful giving me all the info I could possibly need to peruse a refund (to be done within the 6 months, so I have about 8 weeks left).

but do I really want to be van-less for 18 months?

 

[Eber123]

Hello,

I must say that at least my VW dealer is rather good looking after the camper. He is also honest saying that there are issues they have no idea of how to fix it and need to contact VW Ireland and they will escalate it to VW Germany. In my case it seems that had happened.

The problem is that the VW dealers have not spare parts, nor it seems that VW (Country) keep stock of spare parts. Because of this delays happen. But not only that, it seems that VW Germany themselves waiting for parts. All this will increase the waiting time.

I've been told that in some cases they take spare parts, which are not on stock in Germany, from the production line. If this is true or not I don't know, but that is what I've been told. That is the only explanation I have, why the parts needed to repair my camper arrived today. If that is true somebody will wait longer for his/her's Grand California (if it by any chance is yours, I am sorry about this ).

My doubt is (and actually never was with the VW dealer) with VW as a company. I still belive the Grand California is not a bad camper, but it seems that the design, planning and implementation has massive room for improvement. They must know that something is wrong. From that point of view I would have expect that they increase the spare parts stock in each contry. But that seems to be too expensive. Also training of sales staff, support advisors and technician. Talking about this, I could not help myself and contacted senior management from my VW dealer, pointing out that there is no competent and interested support team there anymore. Campers are different to cars and staff need better and different training. I've been told that is correct but the VW Ireland training facility is closed for a long time because of the pandemic. As soon as it will reopen they will send support staff and technicians for training.

I don't know what is going on. It seems to me that there is no camper van available in Ireland. I contacted the only official Hymer dealer in Ireland to discuss (plan B) Hymer Free S and Hymer Grand Canyon S. The reply I've got was that the order books for 2022 are closed and because of this we look as far as 2023! But my VW dealer has at least 3x Grand Californias 600 on stock. Why? If people are so desperate for motorhomes and camper vans why are those campers not gone? Ok, they are more expensive than a Buerstner, Sunlight, Rapito etc. But customers don't have to wait.

What I have learned is that what ever happens, I can't give back the GC600 and get the money back. As mentioned in a previous post, that means hiking with a tent. I just have to sit it out and hope for the best.

Everybody who is in the process to purchase a camper van, I wish them the very best. It is not an easy time to find the right vehicle, get the best configuration needed and affordable and make a decision to place an order.

Kind regards,
Eberhard

 

[Scribbler939]

What's clear in all of this discussion is the huge effect that the pandemic has had on supply chains. For decades the manufacturing of motor vehicles has been run on a 'just in time' basis, where only the parts required for that particular day's production arrive at the factory an hour or two before they're required so that inventories are reduced to a bare minimum to save costs.
Hyundai once told me that if one of their truck drivers stopped for a fizzy drink on his way to one of their factories that it would stop that factory's production line for half a day. That's how tightly everything is co-ordinated and timed.
So just imagine how a pandemic upsets all that regimented precision. Then consider that the product is a campervan, with whole raft of other components from non-automotive suppliers. The result is even more chaos - and it's sustained chaos because the components come from all across the globe and are made in countries that are riding the Covid roller-coaster out of sync with others.
This why it's hard to buy any recreational product at the moment, because demand for those has also been ramped up by border lockdowns, which has freed up disposable funds that would normally be spent on international travel to buy things that we can enjoy closer to home.
So anyone who says Volkswagen has had two years to sort things out for Grand California owners hasn't considered that the timing of the release of the GC was more or less parallel with Covid's assault on the global economy and all its ongoing mutations and surges. Two years? I reckon they've had the equivalent of about six months of 'normal' operations to sort things out.

 

[kave]

I can confirm in talking to dealers, no education from VW on the California parts whatsoever. All GC my dealer have sold have had various issues among them the heater and control panels etc.

 

[ShmBK]

What's clear in all of this discussion is the huge effect that the pandemic has had on supply chains. For decades the manufacturing of motor vehicles has been run on a 'just in time' basis, where only the parts required for that particular day's production arrive at the factory an hour or two before they're required so that inventories are reduced to a bare minimum to save costs.
Hyundai once told me that if one of their truck drivers stopped for a fizzy drink on his way to one of their factories that it would stop that factory's production line for half a day. That's how tightly everything is co-ordinated and timed.
So just imagine how a pandemic upsets all that regimented precision. Then consider that the product is a campervan, with whole raft of other components from non-automotive suppliers. The result is even more chaos - and it's sustained chaos because the components come from all across the globe and are made in countries that are riding the Covid roller-coaster out of sync with others.
This why it's hard to buy any recreational product at the moment, because demand for those has also been ramped up by border lockdowns, which has freed up disposable funds that would normally be spent on international travel to buy things that we can enjoy closer to home.
So anyone who says Volkswagen has had two years to sort things out for Grand California owners hasn't considered that the timing of the release of the GC was more or less parallel with Covid's assault on the global economy and all its ongoing mutations and surges. Two years? I reckon they've had the equivalent of about six months of 'normal' operations to sort things out.

What's clear in all of this discussion is the huge effect that the pandemic has had on supply chains. For decades the manufacturing of motor vehicles has been run on a 'just in time' basis, where only the parts required for that particular day's production arrive at the factory an hour or two before they're required so that inventories are reduced to a bare minimum to save costs.
Hyundai once told me that if one of their truck drivers stopped for a fizzy drink on his way to one of their factories that it would stop that factory's production line for half a day. That's how tightly everything is co-ordinated and timed.
So just imagine how a pandemic upsets all that regimented precision. Then consider that the product is a campervan, with whole raft of other components from non-automotive suppliers. The result is even more chaos - and it's sustained chaos because the components come from all across the globe and are made in countries that are riding the Covid roller-coaster out of sync with others.
This why it's hard to buy any recreational product at the moment, because demand for those has also been ramped up by border lockdowns, which has freed up disposable funds that would normally be spent on international travel to buy things that we can enjoy closer to home.
So anyone who says Volkswagen has had two years to sort things out for Grand California owners hasn't considered that the timing of the release of the GC was more or less parallel with Covid's assault on the global economy and all its ongoing mutations and surges. Two years? I reckon they've had the equivalent of about six months of 'normal' operations to sort things out.

Global supply chain issues has been a factor but several staff at the garage have criticised the VW roll out of this. It’s not the transport of these parts, it’s the actual availability. And not simply the chip shortage or whatever other shortage.

From initial part ordering in 2018 for the network and the production line, to actually giving the front line the tools, the training to actually fix them. Can’t go into detail (at least until my issues resolved) but there’s several parts in the van that are just “poorly designed” and will “almost definitely fail at some point. Another factor is that they are expecting mechanics to perform what is effectively joinery and plumbing - and to do it at a high standard befitting an £80k product.

I could summarise it with: VW have simply not supported the garages.

Yes, obviously can’t ignore the pandemic (I work with Covid in NHS) but these issues are the result of bad planning from 2017/18 and poor implementation in 2019 onwards.

 

[The Blue Merle]

Hello,

I must say that at least my VW dealer is rather good looking after the camper. He is also honest saying that there are issues they have no idea of how to fix it and need to contact VW Ireland and they will escalate it to VW Germany. In my case it seems that had happened.

The problem is that the VW dealers have not spare parts, nor it seems that VW (Country) keep stock of spare parts. Because of this delays happen. But not only that, it seems that VW Germany themselves waiting for parts. All this will increase the waiting time.

I've been told that in some cases they take spare parts, which are not on stock in Germany, from the production line. If this is true or not I don't know, but that is what I've been told. That is the only explanation I have, why the parts needed to repair my camper arrived today. If that is true somebody will wait longer for his/her's Grand California (if it by any chance is yours, I am sorry about this ).

My doubt is (and actually never was with the VW dealer) with VW as a company. I still belive the Grand California is not a bad camper, but it seems that the design, planning and implementation has massive room for improvement. They must know that something is wrong. From that point of view I would have expect that they increase the spare parts stock in each contry. But that seems to be too expensive. Also training of sales staff, support advisors and technician. Talking about this, I could not help myself and contacted senior management from my VW dealer, pointing out that there is no competent and interested support team there anymore. Campers are different to cars and staff need better and different training. I've been told that is correct but the VW Ireland training facility is closed for a long time because of the pandemic. As soon as it will reopen they will send support staff and technicians for training.

I don't know what is going on. It seems to me that there is no camper van available in Ireland. I contacted the only official Hymer dealer in Ireland to discuss (plan B) Hymer Free S and Hymer Grand Canyon S. The reply I've got was that the order books for 2022 are closed and because of this we look as far as 2023! But my VW dealer has at least 3x Grand Californias 600 on stock. Why? If people are so desperate for motorhomes and camper vans why are those campers not gone? Ok, they are more expensive than a Buerstner, Sunlight, Rapito etc. But customers don't have to wait.

What I have learned is that what ever happens, I can't give back the GC600 and get the money back. As mentioned in a previous post, that means hiking with a tent. I just have to sit it out and hope for the best.

Everybody who is in the process to purchase a camper van, I wish them the very best. It is not an easy time to find the right vehicle, get the best configuration needed and affordable and make a decision to place an order.

Kind regards,
Eberhard

New hymer Grand Canyon s for sale Portsmouth (England) dealer.

 

[blondebier]

New hymer Grand Canyon s for sale Portsmouth (England) dealer.View attachment 83558

Ahem, Mercedes Benz? Renowned for quality, craftsmanship and service...

[Scratched record sound inserted]

Have you visited a Mercedes dealer recently? I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[Lars]

Im sorry to read about your troubles with your VW dealers regarding the GC. In Sweden (where I live) the Californias are only sold/serviced at certified VW Camper dealers and my experience so far is great. I just had our 600 in for yearly inspection and had a few words with the technician. They had to go to on special training for the Grand in order to work on those veihcles and he knew the car inside out. Our 600 is working perfect after 15.000kms so far but I feel confident to be taken well cared about if problems appear down the road.

/Lars

 

[Eber123]

Before lunch I collected the camper. So far so good.

Tomorrow I am off to Northern Ireland. Can't wait.

Happy (?) Grand California
Eberhard

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

Reading through this thread.
Quickly becomes apparent that less tech is more.
Can’t understand why things aren’t kept simple and modular in a camping vehicle.

Why someone needs to control heating, fridge, lighting and air con from the same control unit in a van, seems utterly pointless…?

My in-laws have a fancy kettle with lots of buttons and settings. Im not sure what anything does and boiling the bloody thing is not straightforward.
Ultimately, you just want to boil water…

Stayed in an AirB&B near Canterbury a couple of years ago. Everything in the house was brand new including a motorised toaster! Took me ages to figure out how to make toast for breakfast.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Stayed in an AirB&B near Canterbury a couple of years ago. Everything in the house was brand new including a motorised toaster! Took me ages to figure out how to make toast for breakfast.

Does the world really need a motorised toaster…?

 

[ArunAlec]

Does the world really need a motorised toaster…?

Nope!
I see Karcher now sell a pressure washer with an associated App…… why?
The worlds gone mad.

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

Does the world really need a motorised toaster…?

No - talk about over engineering! More buttons than a Cali’ dashboard.

 

[Eber123]

Well,

I think that there is room for a few design options improvements. But maybe VW thought about those already and had a good reason not to implement them?

For instance, it might have been better if the Truma control panel would be somewhere at the wall easy to access, instead of hiding it and move the "standard" functions into the VW camper unit. First, this is over engineered and second it makes it so much more complicated, because more in depth functions can be done only on the Truma control anyway. So, down on your knees Grand California community (I see the designer and software programmer laughing).

Another improvement might be to have a USB port beside the internal on/of switch beside the bed. Why are there 2x USB ports at the end of the camper? Also those USB ports should be a wee bit higher or with a cover, because we are always afraid that during the night the USB adapter can be damaged.

Another item of improvement would be a build in step to get older folks like me into the bed. To get a little step is ok, but if not in use, in the way all the time.

Still another item are the curtains for the windscreen and the side windows. Come on VW! It seems that after the design was done, the Grand California was build and one of the designer said ".... oh sugar, we forgot a mechanism to darken the windscreen and the side windows..." It is really bad.

The list could go on for a bit. But it is what it is and I am sure that other manufacturers have similar problems.

But talking about advanced technology in the camper, if (in this case) VW does offer traffic sign recognition or lane assist and charges the user for it, than for blo.....ng sake they have to work. What I try to say is, that new technology can help (and does help) driving the vehicle or make it more comfortable and we should not say that the less it is installed the less can break. Of course this is correct, but I still believe that the manufactures get away with a lot. It seems that they not concentrate on quality and reliability of a new service, they check what the other competitors offer and believe they have to catch up, even if it is not fully tested. Hence, we have to deal with the fall out.

I love ACC and automatic it makes driving so much easier (and works 99.5%), the radio with the various functions is nice to have and can make life easier. I might understand the VW Camper Unit, to get all functions in on place (in comparison to the competitors which have several panels).

If falls back on design, engineering, testing, testing, testing, quality assembly line, available spare parts, trained technicians at the dealer ship.
All this seems not to have happened in some parts with the Grand California. And because of this we experience problems.

Grand California (neutral),
Eberhard

 

[GrannyJen]

New hymer Grand Canyon s for sale Portsmouth (England) dealer.View attachment 83558

Hugely expensive just to have it Sprinter rather than Ducato based.

My Ayers Rock, which is pretty well fully loaded with options, cost £62.