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How long is lasting a new California today?

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Is much new electronic technology in 6.1 California. 1st instance is electric automatic steering direction system for automatic parking. Is amazing see working.

How many peoples here is still having 10 or 15 years old laptop and can operate today programs?.

My question is I wonder so much computer technology today California - will Vw supporting these systems in 10 years?. Software and hardware IT world jumping big leaps every 3-4 years.

We can see on roads is driving 15, 20, 25 30+ years old Vw campers. All is mechanical systems and can be repair and vehicle functions many years.

Is today California still can driving in 15 years, even 10 years? Auto/camper technology change so quickly who is looking keeping such old 2021 electronics to be still function in 10, 15 years?

Or is working life today California until software systems cannot be support / fix any more, same is 2010 laptop?
 
Is much new electronic technology in 6.1 California. 1st instance is electric automatic steering direction system for automatic parking. Is amazing see working.

How many peoples here is still having 10 or 15 years old laptop and can operate today programs?.

My question is I wonder so much computer technology today California - will Vw supporting these systems in 10 years?. Software and hardware IT world jumping big leaps every 3-4 years.

We can see on roads is driving 15, 20, 25 30+ years old Vw campers. All is mechanical systems and can be repair and vehicle functions many years.

Is today California still can driving in 15 years, even 10 years? Auto/camper technology change so quickly who is looking keeping such old 2021 electronics to be still function in 10, 15 years?

Or is working life today California until software systems cannot be support / fix any more, same is 2010 laptop?
Will be interesting to see time tell
 
From what I can tell VW are struggling to support them today, let alone in 10-15 years time.

The issues people are reporting with the new tech on the T6.1 is staggering.

The fixes being - unplug it all (by disconnecting the battery) and restarting it.

What a load of ...
 
Is much new electronic technology in 6.1 California. 1st instance is electric automatic steering direction system for automatic parking. Is amazing see working.

How many peoples here is still having 10 or 15 years old laptop and can operate today programs?.

My question is I wonder so much computer technology today California - will Vw supporting these systems in 10 years?. Software and hardware IT world jumping big leaps every 3-4 years.

We can see on roads is driving 15, 20, 25 30+ years old Vw campers. All is mechanical systems and can be repair and vehicle functions many years.

Is today California still can driving in 15 years, even 10 years? Auto/camper technology change so quickly who is looking keeping such old 2021 electronics to be still function in 10, 15 years?

Or is working life today California until software systems cannot be support / fix any more, same is 2010 laptop?
I think that's a very good question. My Cali is 7 years old, and I very much hope it will run as is for another 10 years. After that, if I am still around and using the van for outdoor adventures, I'm fairly confident that there will be a lively and economically rational after market industry dedicated to ripping out the diesel engine with all of its electronic controls, and replacing it with an electric motor with three moving parts. Look where lithium LifePod batteries are today, and imagine where battery and solar panel technology will be in 10 years. Added benefits, no gearbox needed, including DSG with all it's complex software, no fuel pump, no water pump, no oil pump, no exhaust system, no EGR valve or cooler, possibility of installing a compact electric rear motor to convert to 4WD, no AdBlue system, no leisure batteries, no gas system for the (electric) cooker...

The use of space in the design of these vans is so good that they will be in demand for decades if we don't extinguish the human race first, but the diesel motor is already a clackety anachronism, and 10 years from now will be the same as a 2010 laptop today.
 
Pretty sure that your main issue will be that within 10 years, more and more cities and even entire countries will be banning or severely penalising diesel vehicles. Doubt that you’ll be able to drive a California at all anywhere in 30 years times even if the electronics and engine are still working.

But putting the diesel issues aside, yes, the electronics maintenance will be problematic anyway I imagine.

The software itself wouldn’t be an issue I would think however. Sure it won’t get updated. But it doesn’t need to. It’s not like a web browser where you need to keep it up to date to be able to display modern websites that use the latest web technology. In a California, the GPS will be out of date and the ACC will look like a toy feature compared to modern autonomous tech - but they’ll still work fine.
 
Pretty sure that your main issue will be that within 10 years, more and more cities and even entire countries will be banning or severely penalising diesel vehicles. Doubt that you’ll be able to drive a California at all anywhere in 30 years times even if the electronics and engine are still working.

But putting the diesel issues aside, yes, the electronics maintenance will be problematic anyway I imagine.

The software itself wouldn’t be an issue I would think however. Sure it won’t get updated. But it doesn’t need to. It’s not like a web browser where you need to keep it up to date to be able to display modern websites that use the latest web technology. In a California, the GPS will be out of date and the ACC will look like a toy feature compared to modern autonomous tech - but they’ll still work fine.
The problem isn't the software, it's the physical electronic controller components themselves. They aren't as robust as their mechanical ancestors, and 15-20 years of drastic temperature changes and road vibration will take their toll. When they go, they can cause all sorts of havoc. I bought my Suzuki Bandit 400 new in 1992. Incredible, light and powerful, one of the first 16 valve motorcycle engines. I ran it for 20 years, and kept it in perfect condition. But after 20 years the ECU became senile causing no end of weird problems, until it finally gave up. Cost for parts and labor to replace in 2012, 2500 euros. I sold the bike for parts.
 
The problem isn't the software, it's the physical electronic controller components themselves. They aren't as robust as their mechanical ancestors, and 15-20 years of drastic temperature changes and road vibration will take their toll. When they go, they can cause all sorts of havoc. I bought my Suzuki Bandit 400 new in 1992. Incredible, light and powerful, one of the first 16 valve motorcycle engines. I ran it for 20 years, and kept it in perfect condition. But after 20 years the ECU became senile causing no end of weird problems, until it finally gave up. Cost for parts and labor to replace in 2012, 2500 euros. I sold the bike for parts.
It’s always a worry when new technology arrives and i for one hate technology I love basic mechanical equipment but it’s the way of the world and to be honest ecu electronics etc are usually very reliable ,mechanical equipment has its issues ie constant maintenance.The t6.1 will be going for many years parts will fail but people will become more aware of fixes and repairs just like when the defender changed from a 200tdi engine with no ecu to a td5 engine ,the td5 bmw engine was a massive issue for Land Rover defender fans but now it’s seen as an excellent option for a defender ,so new technology soon becomes old.
 
It’s always a worry when new technology arrives and i for one hate technology I love basic mechanical equipment but it’s the way of the world and to be honest ecu electronics etc are usually very reliable ,mechanical equipment has its issues ie constant maintenance.The t6.1 will be going for many years parts will fail but people will become more aware of fixes and repairs just like when the defender changed from a 200tdi engine with no ecu to a td5 engine ,the td5 bmw engine was a massive issue for Land Rover defender fans but now it’s seen as an excellent option for a defender ,so new technology soon becomes old.
I must be overly sensitive right now. I've put 55k kms on the van in the last three years (total 95k kms) with no problems, but in the last two months the control knob for volume on my 510 RNS has gone (lucky I have a MFSW), and the parking sensors and rear camera work when they feel like it (about 50% of the time, but 100% of the time when I take it into the dealer to have it repaired, and 0% of the time when I'm alone at night on a mountain road in the rain or trying to back out into city traffic!!!). The RNS 510 itself fails to boot up about 1 in 5 times, with the dreaded split and half displaced opening screen tragically giving a crosseyed "WELCO/ ME TO VOLK/ SWAGEN" while spiraling in an endless loop. I'm hoping these aren't a sign of more serious efforts to break up with me.
 
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I must be overly sensitive right now. I've put 55k kms on the van in the last three years (total 95k kms) with no problems, but in the last two months the control knob for volume on my 510 RNS has gone (lucky I have a MFSW), and the parking sensors and rear camera work when they feel like it (about 50% of the time, but 100% of the time when I take it into the dealer to have it repaired, and 0% of the time when I'm alone at night on a mountain road in the rain or trying to back out into city traffic!!!). The RNS 510 itself fails to boot up about 1 in 5 times, with the dreaded split and half displaced opening screen tragically giving a crosseyed "WELCO/ ME TO VOLK/ SWAGEN" while spiraling in an endless loop. I'm hoping these aren't a sign of more serious efforts to break up with me.
Pay for new parts a lot cheaper than a new van and it will probably be more reliable lol
 
There is very little on even a T6.1 on the camping side that couldn’t be rewired if needed in 20 years time.
The fridge, heater and roof could all be controlled by simple replacement traditional controls if needed.

People said the same when electronic fuel injection was introduced- give it a few years and there will be experts on rebuilding T6.1 control panels anyway.
If you want a van that will have third party support in the future I reckon a VW is the safest bet. Just look at how few specialists there are that can deal with old transits & sprinters.
 
The fixes being - unplug it all (by disconnecting the battery) and restarting it.

What a load of ...

You say that but that’s how I fix £50 million pound helicopters, electronic items sometimes need the hard reset.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
This is a good question to ask.

I have just undertaken a very mild restoration of a 2005 LR Discovery 3, restoring everything back to full working order, so we're talking a vehicle that is 16 years old.

There wasn't anything I couldn't get hold of - either via LR themselves or by a remanufactured route. I still have a couple of jobs to do on it when the body comes off, but that it more labour time, not parts availability.

I am a firm believer that ANYTHING is fixable - it just depends if you are prepared to spend the money it may take or invest the time in researching who/how to get the parts needed.

Things like satnav updates etc, all have already been hacked around the world so even if VW give up and won't update things, there are others out there which will. They all pretty much use the same base map data files and I've seen plenty of satnav systems updated (hacked) to use newer map updates than the manufacturer has released too.

The only caveat to all of the above is external factors - ie FM being switched off, or TMC traffic going, 4g being turned off at some distant point in the future etc etc. Those external things are harder to work around (but usually the market brings an answer - look at in-car DAB adaptors, for example).
 
Oh, and I forgot the voice commands:

Me: Call Jim Hall.
Voice command: Did you say, Call Zbigniev Brzezinski?
Me: No!
Voice command: Calling Zbigniev Brzezinski.
Voice control…. Best not to take it too seriously!
Hours of entertainment.
My other car …….
Me. “Play Led Zeppelin“
Car. “ Navigating to nearest LIDL”
 
Voice control…. Best not to take it too seriously!
Hours of entertainment.
My other car …….
Me. “Play Led Zeppelin“
Car. “ Navigating to nearest LIDL”
"Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on"
 
Is much new electronic technology in 6.1 California. 1st instance is electric automatic steering direction system for automatic parking. Is amazing see working.

How many peoples here is still having 10 or 15 years old laptop and can operate today programs?.

My question is I wonder so much computer technology today California - will Vw supporting these systems in 10 years?. Software and hardware IT world jumping big leaps every 3-4 years.

We can see on roads is driving 15, 20, 25 30+ years old Vw campers. All is mechanical systems and can be repair and vehicle functions many years.

Is today California still can driving in 15 years, even 10 years? Auto/camper technology change so quickly who is looking keeping such old 2021 electronics to be still function in 10, 15 years?

Or is working life today California until software systems cannot be support / fix any more, same is 2010 laptop?
You have raised a very valid point. Who knows whether today's Calis will continue to be supported by VW in years to come. One hopes that if they aren"t other small specialist companies will step in. We will have to wait and see.
This latest tech stuff may have an effect on future values as well. If today's vans prove unreliable, difficult and expensive to have repaired then people may prefer to stick with less complicated earlier models. The earlier models may end up attracting higher prices as a result.
 
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