Hanover Factory Pick-Up

DaveVancouver · May 12, 2018

At Last ... on April 11th, our T6 Coast was ready for pick-up at the VW Factory in Hanover. They really give their customers a warm welcome. Registering at reception, we received wrist bands to visit either of their two restaurants - everything gratis. We also received 70 Euro vouchers for the Factory Gift Store. At the appointed time, a Service Rep appeared, a large blue sliding door opened and we were escorted into a large cavernous room with spaces for 6 Camper Vans (I almost expected a drum roll!). We were directed to our shiny new vehicle & asked if we would like a photo. A photographer magically appeared & snapped off half a dozen pics. Moments later we were presented with a 5x7 photo mounted in a snazzy folder. Then the fun began in earnest as over the next 2 hours, Hans went over in detail the complete workings of the Van. All in all, a really feel good experience, despite the fact I'd spent over a paltry 50,000 Euros.

Our first stop was Ikea, to pick up some warm duvets (freezing cold at night) & start outfitting the Camper. We drove on to Celle to Rehwinkel Garage to have a 529 Euro Bear-Lock installed the following morning.

Next it was on to BS Camperwerk in Bramstedt to have a 1200 Euro 115Watt Solara M-Series Panel Installed. This company makes high end VW Campers, so I knew they'd do a professional job on the installation considering the pop top roof etc. The parts took a few days to order in, so we made a quick jaunt to Berlin & Checkpoint Charlie, picking up more Odds n Sods along the way. The Van drove like a dream.

As it was still bloody cold in Northern Germany, we couldn't wait to start our long journey to our Portuguese retreat in Lagos. We finally arrived May 1st, wild camping the whole way. No problems, no hassles anywhere.

We're planning to explore Portugal over the next couple of weeks. But we're planning an 8 week Safari to the wilds of the UK come September. So if you see a white LHD Cali parked sporting Portuguese plates, please stop by & say hello.

Cheers Dave & Jan, Vancouver, Canada

Sad · May 12, 2018

Amazing story! Keep us up to date with your adventures!

:welcome

p.s. if you're in the UK September time keep this date in your diary:
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/dorset-club-meet-28-sep-2018.24466/

T6 CFO · May 12, 2018

DaveVancouver said:
At Last ... on April 11th, our T6 Coast was ready for pick-up at the VW Factory in Hanover. They really give their customers a warm welcome. Registering at reception, we received wrist bands to visit either of their two restaurants - everything gratis. We also received 70 Euro vouchers for the Factory Gift Store. At the appointed time, a Service Rep appeared, a large blue sliding door opened and we were escorted into a large cavernous room with spaces for 6 Camper Vans (I almost expected a drum roll!). We were directed to our shiny new vehicle & asked if we would like a photo. A photographer magically appeared & snapped off half a dozen pics. Moments later we were presented with a 5x7 photo mounted in a snazzy folder. Then the fun began in earnest as over the next 2 hours, Hans went over in detail the complete workings of the Van. All in all, a really feel good experience, despite the fact I'd spent over a paltry 50,000 Euros.

Our first stop was Ikea, to pick up some warm duvets (freezing cold at night) & start outfitting the Camper. We drove on to Celle to Rehwinkel Garage to have a 529 Euro Bear-Lock installed the following morning.

Next it was on to BS Camperwerk in Bramstedt to have a 1200 Euro 115Watt Solara M-Series Panel Installed. This company makes high end VW Campers, so I knew they'd do a professional job on the installation considering the pop top roof etc. The parts took a few days to order in, so we made a quick jaunt to Berlin & Checkpoint Charlie, picking up more Odds n Sods along the way. The Van drove like a dream.

As it was still bloody cold in Northern Germany, we couldn't wait to start our long journey to our Portuguese retreat in Lagos. We finally arrived May 1st, wild camping the whole way. No problems, no hassles anywhere.

We're planning to explore Portugal over the next couple of weeks. But we're planning an 8 week Safari to the wilds of the UK come September. So if you see a white LHD Cali parked sporting Portuguese plates, please stop by & say hello.

Cheers Dave & Jan, Vancouver, Canada

This was a great site and well worth a visit. Nestled in amongst the cork trees.

Called Camping Alentejo.

Mike

parrot2 · May 14, 2018

welcome to the forum looks like you are going to enjoy your cali

Clover · Aug 27, 2018

Hello Dave and Jan,

We read your description of the collection of your Cali from Hanover with great interest. And we hope that you are every bit as pleased with your purchase as you were at the outset. If you managed that trip to Scotland you will have been so, so lucky with the weather.

We are selling our Hobby caravan at the moment (bought in Germany) - we want to buy a Cali!

We have also just moved to Portugal, Lagos in fact. Where we cannot find anyone who sells Cali's. However, we do know that the Portuguese government charge for importing a vehicle - despite EU regs.

We plan to hire a Cali later in the year before we finally commit to buying one. We have camped for years so we are already 90% certain that the Cali is just what we need to continue our wandering lifestyle. It will also fit in the underground garage of our apartment block in Lagos.

We have been going around in circles with various forms of investigation into how we can buy a Cali and get it registered in Portugal.

And you have done it all before us - so any information you can give us on how to do exactly what you have already done would be MOST welcome.

We have been to Germany many times with our caravan and we love it, so buying in Hanover would be great - from there we can explore even more of Germany - and onwards into the many countries that we haven't yet visited that share a border with Germany.

DaveVancouver · Aug 28, 2018

Hello Clover: We registered the Cali in Portugal through Antonio Moreira (lagos.doc23@+++++.com) who specialises in Vehicle Importation & Registration (and speaks English). He charged us 250 Euros for his services. His office is located just inside the old wall of Lagos.

VW Hanover arranged for temporary plates & 30 days insurance. As this was a brand new vehicle we had to pay VAT in Germany, then again in Portugal. When the German Dealership received proof of our Portuguese Registration & VAT payment, they refunded the German VAT in full to our Portuguese Bank Account.

I'm sure Antonio can help you out with all the ins & outs. Tax wise it will be cheaper if you import a used Campervan. The VW Dealership we purchased from (who was represented at the Dusseldorf Show) was BaderMainzl and the Salesman was Michael Rothmeyer who also speaks excellent English (m.rothmeyer@badermainzl.de)

I would not hesitate to recommend either gentleman for assistance.

Calis do seem to be a bit of a rarity in Portugal, probably because of the cost. I drove to the VW Dealership in Portimao, to register as they will do the servicing. The Service Manager asked me to give him the royal tour as he had never seen the new version. Haha. He was very impressed, especially with the removeable table in the sliding door & 2 Camp chairs tucked into the rear door!!

Camping was fantastic in Portugal. We particularly like "wild camping" or what the Americans call "boon docking" . We found lots of beautiful camp sites on our travels around Portugal and never ever any kind of hassle.

We had to return back to Canada at the beginning of June, but are set to return to Lagos September 12. Once we get the Van fully insured & outfitted, we're off to UK exploring.
We plan to return to Lagos for the month of November.

It would be great to rendezvous with you in Lagos some time in the future to compare notes. Good luck in your endeavours.

Cheers Jan & Dave, Vancouver (davesadler@telus.net)