I've Seen One!

Lack of knowledge on my part, but does the fact they are sold by the van manufacturer rather than the converter mean the former would be responsible for any habitation issues?
Variable if you check the Forums but all the parts come from Westfalia, eventually.
Certainly not a one-stop shop.
 
I suspect all the VW Cali rivals are circling like vultures hoping to attract across the traditional VW buyers who don't like the T7.........
 
Two of the reasons we bought a Cali were the electric pop top and the rear air con.
I know you can get electric pop tops with a conversion (Reimo make one), but I have yet to see a conversion with air con in the back.
 
Get what people are saying about the T7 I currently have a multi van it’s just myself and my wife and we are going to look at the t7, especially around the fact that it will go through pretty much most carparks
 
I appreciate that probably most on this forum aren't fans of the T7, but one thing I wonder is where the traditional Cali buyers will go next. I get that many are snapping up the last of the new 6.1's and some may go nearly new for a while. But many buyers are only going to want to buy new, so a used 6.1 will be discounted as a choice. I certainly wanted only brand new when I got my 6.1.

Where do you think these buyers will go if it's not the T7? I appreciate some may go for new conversions but many like the idea of a manufacturer conversion so does that mean the Marco Polo or Nugget will be more in demand?????

Going by the Hymer forum.
The majority seem to end up there…
 
There is a sliding drawer under each seat, but can’t be anything like the capacity of the bench drawer
I’m waiting for my dealer to email me that there’s one in the showroom.
It's tiny and flimsy. I played with one at a recent camper salon.
 
I reckon we will see a T7 Transporter based California in a couple of years.
Very unlikely . The new Transporter is built alongside the new Transit in Turkey. I can't see VW building a " California" facility next door, in Turkey, as they had in Germany next door to the now closed Transporter manufacturing line.
 
I reckon we will see a T7 Transporter based California in a couple of years.

No chance.
Volkswagen didn’t have the money to develop the latest T7 van without Ford collaboration.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see the end of the California universe, in the not to distant future as Volkswagen continues to cut costs and streamlines production.
 
Whether VW or Ford will supply partially built base vans , ie: no roof or habitation area fittings, to trusted 3rd party converters is the question, although it would seem that Ford might be with the new Nugget. Otherwise these converters would have to buy in fully fitted vans and then strip out, insert windows and remove roof for a pop top. An expensive conversion.
 
Whether VW or Ford will supply partially built base vans , ie: no roof or habitation area fittings, to trusted 3rd party converters is the question, although it would seem that Ford might be with the new Nugget. Otherwise these converters would have to buy in fully fitted vans and then strip out, insert windows and remove roof for a pop top. An expensive conversion.

Pretty much what goes on now.
Although, it could be a savvy move to supply a half fitted out van, ready for converters to finish as you state.

With the volume of converters out there now. There seems little point that a gargantuan like Volkswagen having an offering…
 
Pretty much what goes on now.
Although, it could be a savvy move to supply a half fitted out van, ready for converters to finish as you state.

With the volume of converters out there now. There seems little point that a gargantuan like Volkswagen having an offering…
VW do supply their Trusted Partners with discounted base vehicles but they restricted the model choice. 10yrs ago I could not get a 180 4Motion with Climatronic 3 zone AirCon from any of the suppliers . The only way was buy a new van to my spec and get it converted but the price was significantly more than the equivalent VW California.
 
Whether VW or Ford will supply partially built base vans , ie: no roof or habitation area fittings, to trusted 3rd party converters is the question, although it would seem that Ford might be with the new Nugget. Otherwise these converters would have to buy in fully fitted vans and then strip out, insert windows and remove roof for a pop top. An expensive conversion.
This is really interesting, from an environmental perspective I'm guessing converting fully built vans causes waste. But if converters are prepared to buy fully built vans, what's the incentive for VW to sell partially built? They probably make more profit selling fully assembled vans and they would have to alter their manufacturing process to provide partially built.
 
This is really interesting, from an environmental perspective I'm guessing converting fully built vans causes waste. But if converters are prepared to buy fully built vans, what's the incentive for VW to sell partially built? They probably make more profit selling fully assembled vans and they would have to alter their manufacturing process to provide partially built.
In my particular case the converter wouldn’t buy the van, I had to. They only offered the lower spec as a new build Campervan and registered with DVLA as a Motor Caravan . Otherwise it was a full spec Commercial N1 Panel Van that I had to get DVLA to change Body Type on . Much more difficult nowadays.
 
Was taking our Cali in for a service at Breeze and they have a T7 California in the showroom. Had a look around and a chat. Is much smaller inside than I thought.
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There are a lot of great details like the control screen in the back, twin sliding doors, great in the UK, and how you can access the fridge from the open door. But it didn't jump out and say 'Buy me!' like my T6.1 did. I think it would be great for couples, but not for a family of 4 and a dog like us.
They are just too small, I really think VW have lost the plot.
 
Out of the two engine types for the t7 Which would be the better option petrol all the diesel
 
Two of the reasons we bought a Cali were the electric pop top and the rear air con.
I know you can get electric pop tops with a conversion (Reimo make one), but I have yet to see a conversion with air con in the back.
What I really don't understand, and the T7 is another disappointment, is the failure to insert an electrical compressor in the Cali. Being able to run AC when plugged in at a site would be a game changer both to dehumidify and for the very hot nights.
 
Pretty much what goes on now.
Although, it could be a savvy move to supply a half fitted out van, ready for converters to finish as you state.

With the volume of converters out there now. There seems little point that a gargantuan like Volkswagen having an offering…
Always good to have a reference model. A bit like Microsoft make laptops. Not to be the volume seller but to set the standards of what can be done. And it has a halo effect on the brand.
 
Out of the two engine types for the t7 Which would be the better option petrol all the diesel
It depends on your driving style -

Using it as the most expensive vehicle you can do milk runs to the location shop? Maybe petrol.

Using it as a camper van? Long distance trips? Diesel all the way. I have bad experience of the VAG hybrid engines that unless you are doing milk runs and keeping them charged at home they are staggerinly expensive to run. I can't imagine a run across France in one without spending your life at petrol stations.
 
What I really don't understand, and the T7 is another disappointment, is the failure to insert an electrical compressor in the Cali. Being able to run AC when plugged in at a site would be a game changer both to dehumidify and for the very hot nights.
You can on the Multivan Hybrid. Whether the new California Hybrid can , I don't know.
 
Out of the two engine types for the t7 Which would be the better option petrol all the diesel

Quoted range for the Petrol 2.0TSi Multivan California (there is no such thing as a T7 California) is ~30.5 mpg. For the 2.0 TDi Diesel its ~ 41. So based purely on fuelling costs the petrol will be 34% more to run (edit: bit less than this as petrol costs bit less than diesel) . Interesting one will be when the 1.4Tsi Hybrid version becomes available. TopGear got 38-40mpg out of that in SWB people carrier version on long motorway runs (ie not using any pre stored battery capacity).

In the Ford / New Transporter (VW aren't even referring to this as a T7) that converters are or will be using a base there are 3 engine options:
2.0 Diesel - ( Ford Ecoboost, the infamous wet belt engine the may or may not have been fixed)
2.5 petrol hybrid (Ford Duratec with the petrol running on otto cycle for efficiency)
Electric (The VW electric drivetrain, quoted range in the van < 200miles).
 
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where the traditional Cali buyers will go next
Probably Sprinter based Campervan. By the time I decide to move to something else I will be 100% retired (read lots more freetime for travel), own a small runaround (probably an EV) for pootling around, have a house for at home charging and a space to store the van undercover. None of which I could do now living in a city in an apartment with only 30 days annual holiday.
 
To be realistic, there are just 10 yrs to develope a 3.5 ton EV Campervan 2m high x5m long, that can carry/sleep 4 with a range of 400 miles.
It just isn't going to happen.
Without some remarkable developments to maintain the internal dimensions/volume of the T6.1 will mean a bigger and heavier vehicle. Just pure physics.
Many younger drivers will have to upgrade driving licences to drive one.
The 4 berth campervan as personified by the Transporter based California will be gone in 10 yrs.
 
the Transporter based California will be gone in 10 yrs.
If you mean they will be banned from the road, I highly doubt that, but where you can take one might be more limited than it is today. Rememeber the EU is lagging WAY behind the UK in its transition to non ICE based transport options.
 

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