Hi all. Advice Required.

[Phoenix387]

That is a really nice layout, very bright and airy

 

[Elly Swanson]

Conversions do not have to be dark. This is an Autohaus, VW approved converter, of a T6 LWB DSG 150 Highline base van. Bright and cheerful. It is a High Top that is great for winter camping but is pain for those 2m barriers. Picture taken from driver's seat. The two rear seats fold down with the turned round front seats to give a full width double bed. Toilet at the rear left and fitted with hot water that runs off gas and electric. Horses for courses but it is not a Cali if that is important to you.View attachment 64526

That’s just reminded me. If you want a high top, it can’t be a Cali.

 

[Dottie]

I've said before, there isn't a right answer to the ultimate question of cali or conversion. We took a couple of years to make up our minds and went for a Jerba conversion because

• The sliding door is on the left
• The roof has an unzippable fully removable canvas
• 100w solar panel on the roof
• Fibreglass roof with no corrosion issues
• Fridge with an icebox
• The rock n roll bed folds open to reveal a perfectly flat surface to sleep on, not the contoured seat cushion
• Room for two gas cylinders in the gas locker
• Two twin 13A power sockets

Yes the extras do add a lot to the price of a conversion, and the cali has smoother looking fixtures, but I can't find any of the above features in the cali brochure.

In the end, it all comes down to personal preference. What is right for us may be wrong for you, and vice versa. I think everyone will agree that the concept of a campervan based on a VW transporter is the right one. Whether you go for cali or conversion is a secondary issue.

Enjoy it !

it was a difficult decision But for the fact I wanted a VW, but when I hired a Jerba, and heard the speal, I was sold! And I love that I’m still welcome in the Cali community!

What I love about my van, in no order:

Comfy bed/seats..bed is flat/seats are shaped
Fridge, with shelves and freezer
No roof corrosion
Midge-proof pop up
Insulation
Unique interior design

• cabinetry
• Flooring
• Choice of colour scheme, inc seating and curtains
• leather seats

Great storage capacity..every nook and cranny is used to the max and is so well made/thought out
Choice not to have upstairs bed so more space/shelving
Ability to spec base vehicle

• automatic wing mirror folding
• automatic
• engine size

Sliding door on left hand side
Rapport with conversion company who will happily make alterations to suit
Jerba -has VW warranty

Some of the above might well be available on a Cali but I didn’t look at detail..I just knew I wanted to have more choice in making a good conversion my own.

There’s so much choice out there...it’s what you make it.

 

[laurao]

We started by looking at conversions but for several reasons ended up going with a Cali. VW approval, VCA approval and NCC approval were really important to us. That leaves you with just a couple converters that we could find. That loses you a lot of the customisation as type approved converters can’t build just anything you like.

We only wanted an SCA roof as it is the best (you don’t want to be messing about when removing the roof of a vehicle you’re going to drive at 70mph. The SCA roof has solid reinforcement that the others lack) and I think other roofs aren’t weight rated for two adults, only to about 14st.

We actually liked the idea of the rock and roll beds and not needing a mattress topper. Plus you can get sliding beds in conversions anyway. So that wasn’t a deal breaker for us.

The storage in the Cali was a big swing. When we’d decided on the converter we would have used and compared storage there is just so much more in the Cali (boot space is so much bigger, plus handy storage solutions like chairs and table, loads of room under the sink, overhead locker). The finish is beautiful too. And the ease of insurance, warranty. Things like that. Also if you’re going for a converter with all those approvals you get pretty much to Cali price anyway. And the resale will be much better.

 

[Karlos]

Hi Dikie.

I've had both and by far the Cali was the best all round with high residuals, for me the Cali is a no brainer. They are that good as are some conversions but the Cali if new or in warranty has the whole vehicle covered not just a base van.

 

[Esandar#1]

Hi everyone. I’m looking to get myself a Cali, question is do I got for the “official” Cali or do I go down the conversion route. Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

We have a California Beach and absolutely love the flexibility if offers.

It becomes a 7 seater 'Caravelle' in winter months and a spacious 5 seater 4 berth campervan in summer. We are a family of 4 so space (and ability to carry stuff) is really important. We have toured in Europe twice and it is just perfect. If it was just two of us - doing extended trips to Europe - we might prefer a Californa Ocean, but as we use the van all year round, we don't want to be carrying round all the built in stuff. Horses for courses. Any California is great and any conversion that suits your needs will equally provide the opportunity to have great adventures.

VW appear to have stopped producing the Beach for the UK market (various conflicting rumours about this) but luckily - and offering hope to any diehard Beach converts - Mercedes now offer a Marco Polo Horizon which seems to be the closest thing you can get to a Beach... without being a VW California Beach. (Apologies to those who may consider this statement an act of blasphemy on this site!!)

Finally, this site is simply brilliant for all things CAMPERVAN, for tips & fixes, recommendation of places and events, clever gadgets & storage ideas, routes & driving tip, warranty advice etc. Whatever you buy, this VWCC Forum is so so so very useful and friendly!

 

[Toothlessjon]

I spent a lot of time looking at the Cali v Mercedes. I decided I would buy the Marco Polo, I can not tell you how bad I found the customer service at ALL their dealerships and I tried many. Purely out of frustration I bought the Cali. NONE of the Polo dealers understood the vehicle, they didn’t want to spend the time trying to sell it, as they could have sold 4 Merc cars in the same time. It really was the worst experience I have had with dealerships, and I’ve had some bad ones! I drove 100 miles to view one on a Friday through rush hour only to be told the manager had taken it away for the weekend with his family! 6 hours in traffic! I’m not allowed in Mercedes Milton Keynes now. However, now I have lived with it a while I really think I made a great decision. mercedes didn’t have the 4 motion at the time, which I wanted, and waiting for the rear electric seats to move back and forward would have driven me mental by now (They where a lot of problems with those seats as well by the way).