Hi Thepuma,
I had a similar conundrum and had spent entirely too much time trying to decide, so maybe I can help a little... For what it’s worth, I’ve bought a Marco Polo, but I’ve rented both the Ocean and the Beach several times (prior to and also alongside the MP - for an extended family trip).
My general conclusion is that my attitude and willingness to „get over” the tiny annoyances was weighing much more on my satisfaction than any differences between the vehicles. Months after buying the MP I was still discovering new „pros” and „cons” compared to the VWs - all irrelevant in the grand scheme of things - you find solutions as you live with the vehicle and learn to enjoy what it offers. Examples of the pros of the MP and solutions to the cons:
- placement of chairs in the MP - I’ve removed the trunk tray for chairs and replaced them with more comfortable Decathlon chairs that fold into a 1m tube shape - take very little space (laterally behind / below the rear bench), trunk is now fully usable; you can also place the original Merc chairs vertically behind the reach bench (there is a 15cm foldable segment of the rear bed/shelf that can be unzipped and removed or folded back, creating a very useful space to transport taller items vertically behind the rear seats)
- „better drive” of the MP vs Cali - I’ve driven both and they’re both very comfortable on long drives, tiny difference in refinement in favour of the MP, but not really noticeable once you drive instead of comparing
- MP being luxurious is mentioned both as an advantage and a disadvantage - I find it’s mostly a matter of taste (it can go a little against the „camping” geist), and things like leather, smooth „glossy” surfaces are very useable (easy to wipe) as well as cosy; ambient lighting is really great and gives a really nice feel; but there are some cons - the nice soft close kitchen drawers can collide with the unfolded bed, nice „yacht” floor is resistant and easy to wipe, but floor rails need rubber inserts to keep dirt away (original accessory)
- rear side window in MP can be opened/tilted - super useful as additional ventilation when sleeping downstairs, less fussy than various acccessories allowing to lock the hatch slightly open; Cali feels more like a „closed can” in comparison, using it in the summer I felt like the additional opening window in the RHS sliding door is a must and ventilation while sleeping downstairs is not optimal - and popping the roof up is not always convenient, especially when trying to be discrete
- reach hatch window in MP can be opened independently - a real bonus for views, another ventilation option, rear access
- new MPs (2020+) do have the front window option in the pop top
- MP residual values are excellent and in line with VW in Germany (that’s where I bought mine) - don’t know UK market prices
- you can have a 4WD MP with 5th seat (this was my main need when buying); the 4WD is permanent - tried and tested in the backroads of Norwegian mountains - really useful
- the 5th seat is very useable without adjusting anything - the cabin has visibly more space inside than the Cali, also nice if you travel with a dog
- the electric rear bench in the MP seems like a fuss, but easy to get used to and works well, also has a side benefit of having 2 independently adjustable backrests
- the real con I found with the MP is the lack of the third battery (second leisure battery) when wild camping for more than 2-3 days - Ocean (but not Beach) is better in that respect; not a deal breaker as a short drive tops up the battery quickly; a solar panel could also be a partial solution
- a useful option on VWs not available on the MP - heated windscreen - turned out to be a real life saver in winter in Norway, during a long trip with a heavy melting-freezing snowfall
- real surpise: my 4WD 190hp MP needed visibly less fuel than a 150hp 2WD Beach when we drove both side-by-side on a long trip, both packed and driven comparably
All in all, I find both VWs and Mercs are excellent vehicles and campers. I could easily live with both. The Merc service is better than VWs where I live, although hard to find real experts with campervans - same seems to hold true elsewhere judging by the forums. I don’t have any experience with the Nugget. MPs get criticised for their visual „bling” and lack of „camping practicality” and I have initially struggled with the luxury image as well, but have now spent many weeks camping with the MP - both on campings and wild camping, in four seasons - and it’s not only usable, it’s really functional and easy to live with. Both have pros and cons, but I would focus on things you must have (it was the 5th seat and 4wd for me) and choose the one that fits the „must haves” best. Then simply accept the rest and enjoy
Hope this helps.
Good luck with your choice - and happy camping!
JB