New California or Bilbo Celex ?

[GrannyJen]

A fine conversion but in my opinion, and only my opinion, no match for the Cali.

What put me off: The fixed bed / bench seat: My cali is quite often used as a van as well as camper and in getting rid of my second car I really needed that flexibility.

I didn't like the roof and as far as less to go wrong in around 500 roof ups/ down nothing has gone wrong so far with my Cali.

I have a fire extinguisher, they only cost around £30, hardly something to swing the difference and if my van caught fire to be quite honest it is the very last component that I would think of. Me, my safety, the exit door and my mobile phone to call the fire brigade would be first. It's why I have insurance - part 1.

If something went wrong with any of the conversion parts and I was in the South of France I would be somewhat pissed to think I either have to pay through the nose to a specialist, if I could find one, or have to wait until I got back to East Grinstead. My Cali, regardless of what goes wrong, can be fixed anywhere in the world where there is a VW dealership.

Warranty. I have 5 years, transporter base and conversion.

The safe is not even a consideration. I would rather be burgled than have the van trashed as someone tore it apart looking for stuff. It's why I have insurance - part 2.

The Cali is just so well integrated, beautifully so, from gas bottles to picnic tables, from trim made to fit, not cut to fit.

Nothing against Bilbo's, a fine vehicle, but they sold me my Cali. I was in their showroom/ yard looking over their stuff when I saw a Cali for the first time. So pleased I did.

 

[Bellcrew]

Having owned a Bilbo Celex and recently bought a Cali I'm in a uniquely favourable position to pass comment on both vans...So here goes..
Plus for Bilbo;
Oven, Grill and freezer compartment in van
Fittings seem more robust
The small side picnic table is really useful.... especially for lunch stops/preparing food outside of the van
Fire extinguish
Roof manual raising (less to go wrong)
A Safe that you can trust
Bigger bed!!
Negatives;
Its a conversion therefore rattles bit more
The price comparison with similar specced Cali
The side raising pop up roof doesn't seem to give as much space as the Cali version
Roof manual raising therefore you have to lift it
Carrying chairs and outside table in the boot
Seats don't slide

In the end it is finally balanced in favour of the Cali... but I have my very nice Bilbo Celex T5 for sale if anyones interested! its in the used van section of this Site... or contact me...

The full sized/comfortable Cali roof bed makes it a Tardis, the ground floor lounge is retained day and night.
No painted metal or wall carpet on show.
Actually cheaper when all standard options are taken into account.

 

[The Blue Merle]

Hi I am new to this site and I would like opinions Should I go for a new California or go for a conversion from Bilbo Celex? or some other van re builder?
I went to the show at NEC and I had a look at all the conversions.
The only think I dont like about the California is the fridge top loader ?
Conversions have a better one but I dont like the poor trim less cheap look around the windows
The California looks far superior
I also get a bit confused whats in the California that you have to get as extras in the Celex ?
Any help would be appreciated and also where is the best deal ? And what amount can you expect to negotiate off a new one with no part ex
Kind regards Ray

I had a conversion van years ago with a front loading fridge, I found it was noisier and generated a lot more heat than a Cali fridge.
Top loader always means you get access to it and wine fits in way better too!

 

[ArunAlec]

I had a convention van years ago with a front loading fridge, I found it was noisier and generated a lot more heat than a Cali fridge.
Top loader always means you get access to it and wine fits in way better too!

Top loaders are more efficient also. When the lids lifted the cold air is kept in the "bucket", front loaders allow the cold air to "fall out" when opened.

 

[Erbster]

I’ve had both Celex and Cali. Agree with comments about fridge- top loader much better than front (even if you do get a freezer compartment). you also have to remember to clip fridge shut in Cali or the contents make a surprise appearance the first left hand bend!

We compared spec and the Cali is actually cheaper. We wanted to sleep 4 and the Bilbo’s roof/bed is inferior to Cali by far, though I prefer the look.

More storage in Celex. Very robust furniture. Very good after sales support from Bilbo’s too.

We loved our Celex and always said we’d buy same again but when it was stolen we got a Cali in the end (despite the 6 month wait)...



https://caliventures364847572.wordpress.com/

 

[John Slater]

We had a Jerba Tiree for 9 years and were convinced we'd get another when we came to change. In late 2009 when we bought it there were no new Calis available, T5 to T5.1, change time.
This time we looked at a couple of Calis and found a good deal on the one we bought from Birmingham van centre. The benefits of the Cali are that it has a more integrated feel with properly engineered fittings rather than wooden kitchen units. It is less practical in some ways though, the moonrock grey seats and the cab carpet just collects dirt and marks.
Another issue we found when selling the Jerba is that lots of T5 purchasers don't appreciate the quality of the conversion or provenance if the base van. There are plenty of bling conversions by 'Fred in his shed' on hard worked commercial vans that 'look like a better buy. Calis have much better understood and comparable residuals.

 

[ArunAlec]

We had a Jerba Tiree for 9 years and were convinced we'd get another when we came to change. In late 2009 when we bought it there were no new Calis available, T5 to T5.1, change time.
This time we looked at a couple of Calis and found a good deal on the one we bought from Birmingham van centre. The benefits of the Cali are that it has a more integrated feel with properly engineered fittings rather than wooden kitchen units. It is less practical in some ways though, the moonrock grey seats and the cab carpet just collects dirt and marks.
Another issue we found when selling the Jerba is that lots of T5 purchasers don't appreciate the quality of the conversion or provenance if the base van. There are plenty of bling conversions by 'Fred in his shed' on hard worked commercial vans that 'look like a better buy. Calis have much better understood and comparable residuals.

I like some of the small touches that Jerba offer, the mains and water hookup hidden below the rear light and the fully opening roof canvas. Trouble is having now tasted the Cali, I'd find a conversion a compromise.

 

[Wongo]

I had a LWB Celex, nice conversion & Bilbos good people to deal with, but once you spec it up to something near a Cali the prices converge.
Pluses: UK side door, LWB if you want, big roof space.
Minuses: still a van & drives like it, doesn’t have that Cali design refinement.
Wasted thousands really when I was told by somone ‘Do look at Bilbo & Jerba but buy a Cali’ at the beginning of my search.

 

[MarkVw2017]

Welcome but coming on a Cali Club website and asking is a conversion a better option than a Cali will not really give you a unbiased answer, HOWEVER, feel you answered your own question when you said i your question "The California looks far superior". Now go and order that cali you deserve

 

[Legin]

Im no different I initially discounted the cali on cost and it looked clinical to me (still does), I went through them all and eventually looked at the cali I had dismissed based on others saying they had done the same.

In the end it was a choice between the cali and the volksleisure offering which I think beats the cali not least because of the the interior appearance and the superior reimo 3000 sliding seat. Also I think Volksleisure is top of the conversions except possibly westfalia but they have weird configurations and daft prices.

I ordered the cali because it was ultimately lower cost, looks finished and the established residuals are clear plus some things you only get in a cali like no carpet on the walls and tri zone climate etc etc

 

[TwoDogs]

Nothing against Bilbo's, a fine vehicle, but they sold me my Cali. I was in their showroom/ yard looking over their stuff when I saw a Cali for the first time. So pleased I did.

Exactly the same happened to us....

 

[Anthony1]

Re Fridge,
As an ex, now retired fridge engineer with electrolux for 25 years, a top loading fridge wins hands down. What happens when you open the door of any fridge? cold air drops out at the bottom warm rushes in fridge at top and fridge starts working using energy! Top loaders cold air stays in, less energy used. Compare it to an upright freezer or a chest freezer.
John

I hadn't thought of that, Thanks. I used to curse the top loading fridge, because you had to clear the top and empty the contents to get to the items at the bottom.

The cold air leaving and the fact you can't open the door of a traditional fridge with the bed out, makes good sense. Obvioulsy this was well thought out.

 

[Anthony1]

A fine conversion but in my opinion, and only my opinion, no match for the Cali.

What put me off: The fixed bed / bench seat: My cali is quite often used as a van as well as camper and in getting rid of my second car I really needed that flexibility.

I didn't like the roof and as far as less to go wrong in around 500 roof ups/ down nothing has gone wrong so far with my Cali.

I have a fire extinguisher, they only cost around £30, hardly something to swing the difference and if my van caught fire to be quite honest it is the very last component that I would think of. Me, my safety, the exit door and my mobile phone to call the fire brigade would be first. It's why I have insurance - part 1.

If something went wrong with any of the conversion parts and I was in the South of France I would be somewhat pissed to think I either have to pay through the nose to a specialist, if I could find one, or have to wait until I got back to East Grinstead. My Cali, regardless of what goes wrong, can be fixed anywhere in the world where there is a VW dealership.

Warranty. I have 5 years, transporter base and conversion.

The safe is not even a consideration. I would rather be burgled than have the van trashed as someone tore it apart looking for stuff. It's why I have insurance - part 2.

The Cali is just so well integrated, beautifully so, from gas bottles to picnic tables, from trim made to fit, not cut to fit.

Nothing against Bilbo's, a fine vehicle, but they sold me my Cali. I was in their showroom/ yard looking over their stuff when I saw a Cali for the first time. So pleased I did.

Same happened to us many years ago. We had never seen a cali before, took it out for a spin (unaccompanied) and loved it, especially the roof bed for our two small boys.