D
Dean Oldfield
Picked up our new California on Tuesday 1st March.
Hopefully this will help other or get feedback on some of my questions/issues? Sorry for the waffle!
T6 Ocean - 204 DSG
Spec Regrets;
I was running an Ultra Run in Bristol and my partner/kids said they would support and we'd stay over the night at a local campsite so decided this would be our first trip.
Everything is fairly easy to use on the controls, radio/media is a great interface. Aircon/Heating and Heated seats are all good. It was cold but the heating at the front and rear was so much better than our car. Often too hot.
If you do long distance run the heated seats are amazing for soothing the back and glutes!
Front and rear drinks holders are great as well.
If you like lots of drinks, sweets and store other things, there are loads of assessable pockets everywhere around the driver to hand.
One question the MFD dos the speed in KM/H, can this be changed?? The dial is in Mile/H so not a big issue.
All in all while I was out running my family had a great time relaxing, eating, playing games and keeping warm!
Seats - The front seats swivel fine and initially you need to take it very slow to work out what position you need to be in, rush and you risk scratching the sides.
Roof/Beds all these are easy to put out. The roof bed is the comfiest, the lower bed really does need a topper or something unless you like the bed really hard but fine for a night.
Heater - The heater is great for downstairs, even on setting 1 heats up everything fine with a low outside temperature. You do get the occasional clicking noise from from the front but believe this is normal. Upstairs however it does stay cool, maybe the heater does take the chill off but for kids maybe the cali-cosy or a mini heater upstairs is needed to take the chill off. Any ideas??
Storage net - £150 is a lot of money, not sure why I ordered it but it does have it's use for more storage at night and during the day with the roof up so not a total waste.
Roof - This goes up and down easy, I plan to put the bungee cord on but the creases in the roof keep this in the right place when going down so far.
Blinds - All the blinds are easy to use, the front ones take a couple of goes to get right but we know how to do it now making sure you can lower the blinds afterwards and get the connectors over the drivers mirror. All blinds accept the front doors are pull down/up/across blinds, the front door are magnetic clothe blinds. You also get a free cigarette lighter torch which is very bright and useful.
Still to work out;
Hopefully this will help other or get feedback on some of my questions/issues? Sorry for the waffle!
T6 Ocean - 204 DSG
- Indium Grey
- Black Awning
- Lights & Vision
- Cruise Control
- Front & Rear Parking Sensors
- Large Radio/Media Display
- App Connect
- Removable Towbar
- Fresher intake system
- Lockable Storage
- Storage Net
- Shower
Spec Regrets;
- Initially I thought not having a parking camera was a mistake but the parking sensor display is perfectly fine, probably the best I have used.
- Also wondered about the multi function steering wheel but everything is easily assesible so not worried.
- 4 wheel drive - time will tell!! but was going to buy some traction mats and in the future maybe some winter tyres
- Bought the 907 Calor Gas bottle £3 of eBay empty and a £30 refill, easy fit. Stove checked and worked out how to use fine, just need to ensure the stove gas button is pressed when igniting the gas and it stays lit fine. The gas also needs to be turned on in the cab, this is located until the stove and the leaver shouldn't be aligned along the pipe if you want the gas on.
- Drinking Water, I bought a food grade hose from amazon and filled up to full. However the leaver to empty this which is above the gas bottle was slightly open so just needed to close this to fill it! The indicator in the cab showed this was full. After the weekend and a bit of use it was showing as 1 bar so need to double check this as didn't use too much water.
- Electric hookup, we had a hookup extension already from camping. Bought a 3 pin plug socket from amazon and plugged this into the house. Took me a few mins to realise the electric cap actually went into the slot into the van and the blue leaver kept this in place. I initially thought I had to bend this cap right back! Also make sure the electric fuse box is turned on. This is above the gas bottle with the fresh water leaver.
- Waste water ensure the leaver is in the closed position located under the gas burners in the bottom cupboard.
- App Connect, still need to work this out. It seemed a bit flakey turning off randomly for music. The USB socket I thought should be in the little dash opening rather than the big glove box. I'm not sure if wireless is available yet?? Apple music and Spotify seem fine but Deezer was a bit flakey. I prefer my TomTom for Navigation on my iPhone but tried Apple Maps. Maybe just need to try this a bit more.
- I use a Kenu Airframe on the fan grill with the fan turned off to hold the iPhone. This works great with the usb from the small underneath cupboard.
- I bought some very small Cigarette Lighter to twin USB sockets that only just come over the socket by a few mm. They power all the iPhones, iPads from the various sockets. Still working out where these sockets all are? Some are not in the best places but all workable.
- The fridge we started on the setting 3 but lowered as we like drink cold so lowered to 1.
- Not used the 3 pin or euro socket.
- Not used the shower.
- QTM Grey full set of mats.
- Bungee for bellows - Not fitted yet.
- VW Plastic mats, not used but should of done as it was muddy.
- Spare wheel lock - fitted and easy to install
- Wind deflectors - not fitted yet
- Rear bumper black guard - not fitted yet
- Waterproof covers - not fitted yet
- Vango Aibeam Galli - not arrived yet
- VW Cycle Carrier
- Step Mats
- Worktop protection
- Rear mattress water proof covers
- Mattress topper for lower bed
- heater for top bed
I was running an Ultra Run in Bristol and my partner/kids said they would support and we'd stay over the night at a local campsite so decided this would be our first trip.
- Driving;
Everything is fairly easy to use on the controls, radio/media is a great interface. Aircon/Heating and Heated seats are all good. It was cold but the heating at the front and rear was so much better than our car. Often too hot.
If you do long distance run the heated seats are amazing for soothing the back and glutes!
Front and rear drinks holders are great as well.
If you like lots of drinks, sweets and store other things, there are loads of assessable pockets everywhere around the driver to hand.
One question the MFD dos the speed in KM/H, can this be changed?? The dial is in Mile/H so not a big issue.
All in all while I was out running my family had a great time relaxing, eating, playing games and keeping warm!
- Camping
Seats - The front seats swivel fine and initially you need to take it very slow to work out what position you need to be in, rush and you risk scratching the sides.
Roof/Beds all these are easy to put out. The roof bed is the comfiest, the lower bed really does need a topper or something unless you like the bed really hard but fine for a night.
Heater - The heater is great for downstairs, even on setting 1 heats up everything fine with a low outside temperature. You do get the occasional clicking noise from from the front but believe this is normal. Upstairs however it does stay cool, maybe the heater does take the chill off but for kids maybe the cali-cosy or a mini heater upstairs is needed to take the chill off. Any ideas??
Storage net - £150 is a lot of money, not sure why I ordered it but it does have it's use for more storage at night and during the day with the roof up so not a total waste.
Roof - This goes up and down easy, I plan to put the bungee cord on but the creases in the roof keep this in the right place when going down so far.
Blinds - All the blinds are easy to use, the front ones take a couple of goes to get right but we know how to do it now making sure you can lower the blinds afterwards and get the connectors over the drivers mirror. All blinds accept the front doors are pull down/up/across blinds, the front door are magnetic clothe blinds. You also get a free cigarette lighter torch which is very bright and useful.
Still to work out;
- How long can we run for on leisure batteries?
- MFD Km/H or M/H, can this be changed?
- App connect? Its got potential but need to work it out?
- Keeping upstairs bed warm?