Making the correct choice?

[Hovis]

So we've decided that with our growing family and busy work commitments the little roadster has to go and a camper van is gonna give us lots of fun and enjoyment.

Buying one though throws up some very important questions as it almost combines the issues of buying a car with buying a house and like both it's got the price tag to make you stop and think about which way to go.

The options I'm looking at are..

VW California - which is what bought me here.
Now do i go for new on? and if so what are the + and - s for each module. What are the must haves from the option list.
Look for a 2nd hand Cali - could get the older t5 spec or is the newer one much better

VW Transporter conversion
Pick up a 2nd hand one already decked out? seems to vary alot in spec and quality and I definately want a crash tested bed
Pick up a T5 and get it fitted out to my spec - get every thing i need and how i want it

Now here is the wild card....

Nope not the i800 that looks pretty good spec and warranty but just not feeling it..

It's the VW T5 Doubleback!
a LWB conversion but with an extendable pod out the back to give huge space and spec. If you've not seen it check it out:
http://www.doubleback.co.uk/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIG9P0lB1iA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4qn0JGM__8

Look forward to any help or advise on this as there's nothing like asking people who love and live them to get the information you really need

 

[KernowLad]

Going to be very biased replies here but we had a similarish dilemma.

We chose the Cali because:

1) All of it is warrantied and made by VW who are generally good at making vehicles
2) They often work our cheaper than a decent conversion
3) They look more cohesive - most aftermarket conversions look a bit odd to me
4) The electric roof and control panel are great
5) It's based on a Multivan/Caravelle not a Transporter

Downsides are:

1) Small hob only - no grill
2) Top down fridge - some don't like them
3) A bit "grey" and stark to many eyes - not very homely

We ended up getting a pre-reg (three months before) but delivery miler for £7.5k off list with every option we wanted and many more we probably wouldn't have coughed up for!

The i800 does look good but I couldn't live with one and not seen a decent conversion. Also we need 4x4 so no other van suited!

That may or may not help!!

 

[Hovis]

thanks for the response... I was adding up the list price of every thing I wanted on it and it was getting to the point of 2 vans!

but good to here the is room for some flex from the dealers.

I'm based in Nottingham, anyone dealt with any dealers for calis around my area?

 

[calikev]

Speak to stuart at leicester vw he has 10 cali's
In at the moment tell him kev sent you im sure
He will help

 

[sebking]

when I bought I looked at "pro" conversions e.g. Bilbo but they just looked very expensive compared to the Cali - yes more habitation toys but on a low spec van. Then add in the complications of proper crash tested seats, the fact that DVLA at the time were being very odd with changing the type to "Motor Caravan" and it wasn't looking good.

On DIY vans the question was all about quality and generally done on high milers with a paint job.

The Cali has a good resale, a certain cachet and is backed with a decent warranty.

Also considered Transit (!), Merc (oh the stories) and the i800 (eh, what)...

 

[shambly]

It's the VW T5 Doubleback!
a LWB conversion but with an extendable pod out the back to give huge space and spec. If you've not seen it check it out:
http://www.doubleback.co.uk/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIG9P0lB1iA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4qn0JGM__8

Look forward to any help or advise on this as there's nothing like asking people who love and live them to get the information you really need

I looked over this at Volksworld and sincerely hope it was rushed together to get it to the show. Fit and finish lacked attention to detail to say the least..... :censor

...mind you the Danbury reminded me of school bus trips with its use of felt and visible fastenings....

Guess that is why we bought a California... No comparison in my book

 

[Hovis]

Thanks again for the continual advice and feed back... i'd considered a vito as have driven them many times but seems they have a bad rep

I'm over in Leicester over the weekend so i'll try to drop in and ask for stuart. thanks kev

 

[CannellWalker]

Have a look on Drivethedeal.com and use that price as a starting point to making an offer on a new van. You should be able to get very close.

 

[Hovis]

looks like they claim to be looking at around £7k of list price which is encouraging.

 

[Stu]

I was told by our dealer that they have 8% front end margin and then some backend bonus etc for hitting targets. Possibly some more if you take Solutions which includes 3 years servicing.

I think new SE's are harder to get and waits for factory orders are long, especially with DSG.

We bought a Berghaus and on Saturday, there were 3 x Natural Grey and 7 Olympic Blue left at the docks. The dealer we used also has a Reflex Silver in stock. I sat with him on the stock locator and we couldn't find any SE's in declared free stock but it appears the dealers are being less than genuine and ring fencing their stock by tagging it to fictitious customers to keep other dealers away.

Willing to share details of discount via PM if you are interested.

 

[Hovis]

thanks again dude... drop me a PM when you get a minute

 

[Stu]

PM'd.

 

[BMVS-Camper-Hire]

So we've decided that with our growing family and busy work commitments the little roadster has to go and a camper van is gonna give us lots of fun and enjoyment.

Buying one though throws up some very important questions as it almost combines the issues of buying a car with buying a house and like both it's got the price tag to make you stop and think about which way to go.

The options I'm looking at are..

VW California - which is what bought me here.
Now do i go for new on? and if so what are the + and - s for each module. What are the must haves from the option list.
Look for a 2nd hand Cali - could get the older t5 spec or is the newer one much better

VW Transporter conversion
Pick up a 2nd hand one already decked out? seems to vary alot in spec and quality and I definately want a crash tested bed
Pick up a T5 and get it fitted out to my spec - get every thing i need and how i want it

Now here is the wild card....

Nope not the i800 that looks pretty good spec and warranty but just not feeling it..

It's the VW T5 Doubleback!
a LWB conversion but with an extendable pod out the back to give huge space and spec. If you've not seen it check it out:
http://www.doubleback.co.uk/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIG9P0lB1iA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4qn0JGM__8

Look forward to any help or advise on this as there's nothing like asking people who love and live them to get the information you really need

You can always hire before you buy. We have a deal set up with SMG. Have a look in the hire section Or phone directly and speak to Hugh

 

[Hovis]

so we went to leicester today, they had about 6 out front and some others that had already been sold.

They were very busy and took a while to get to talk to some one and just ended up coming away.

got their list of current stock of pre regs and they said they'd send me the next list.

Lots of talk about very limited numbers come to the UK, SE and especially DSGs.

9-12 months for factory order.

i was working through the list of options for a new build and comparing to the options on the pre-regs.

on their listings they had MFSW any idea what this is?

 

[Stu]

MFSW - Multi Function Steering Wheel.

Was that Toffee one any good?

 

[Hovis]

doh! can't believe i didn't work that out.

the toffee you pointed me at looks good, went to see a toffee DSG they had there but it was SOLD.

 

[Stu]

If you have the budget there is a fully loaded silver one I've seen which IIRC is DSG. It's non VW seller though.

 

[Stu]

I saw it on eBay -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volkswagen-VW ... 500wt_1216

Then I remembered seeing it here too -

viewtopic.php?f=39&t=1204&p=8425#p8425

But it's Sand Beige not Silver as I said.


And a new one here -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2012-12-VOLKS ... 211wt_1216

 

[Stu]

There is a DSG one here too -

http://www.thevwcalifornia.com/classifieds/

I think I've seen that advertised in a couple of places.

 

[Hovis]

cheers.. got the ebay ones already in my watch list

 

[Andy]

A few listed on autotrader.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk

 

[choplee]

Looked at a silver berghaus and they said they had a blue one as well as a black ,but the silver was a demo ...not seen the blue ...is the silver a more safe bet and a colour more liveable with ,as it's going to be a more daily driver ....

 

[Stu]

Only three colours for the Berghaus -

Olympic Blue
Natural Grey
Reflex Silver

No black.

We very nearly bought the blue, it's a lovely colour. As I have said before when we ordered ours last weekend there were 7 Blue & 3 Grey left. You can take one Grey off that now

Our dealer has a Silver in stock which to be honest is a very nice colour too. I saw a picture last night of a silver Berghaus with the lowering springs fitted but I can't seem to find it now.

 

[choplee]

The blue sounds nice just need to see it first I think ... No grey for me I have a grey caddy and Audi , but Audi going for the Cali .

 

[Stu]

I have a grey Audi,

Mee too

Got a black Leon but that is soon to be replaced with a black Golf.