New VW Multivan California Coast - ask away?

[Muffutd]

Morning all

I have (for the next 2 days) a new cali coast instead of my usual T6.1

If anyone has any questions or needs any real-time thoughts then by all means ask away i am happy to respond over next few days with my experiences

Have a good day all

 

[owen_h]

couple of questions please,
How does the ride compare to the T6.1. In terms of suspension, refinement & noise.
Is the extra length noticeable when parking or manoeuvring.
Any creaks and rattles ?

Thanks

 

[Muffutd]

couple of questions please,
How does the ride compare to the T6.1. In terms of suspension, refinement & noise.
Is the extra length noticeable when parking or manoeuvring.
Any creaks and rattles ?

Thanks

Hi Owen_h

So all in all it’s actually very similar, having read various reviews I was expecting it to be way better than my Ocean. Just driven for a couple of hours and overall I would actually mark it slightly less comfortable although there are things that are better

Good bits - include better rear view as back seats are lower so more visibility.

There is a return of the footrest on left for those that prefer that

Space for a iPhone type device that can be charged

Bad bits - display is very cluttered and generally not as easy to use and I work in IT.

Does’t feel like you are in a camper too low for my liking and no different than driving height than my x3 but not the same level of comfort as car.

It might be me but can’t check the fridge etc from the drivers seat and the app device is slow responding - but I don’t really want to get in the back to check whether the fridge is on - as I say it may be me ??

The side pillars are not great and can be a a little distracting but maybe I will get used to that.

The infotainment system (not great) is easy to switch off when interacting with it - already turned it off 3 times by mistake

Yes it is longer for sure and it is noticeable that you stick out so be very difficult to park and still access back end

Same squeaks and rattles - you hear stuff in the fridge more as it’s nearer

Honestly, I think the ride is not as good generally as T6.1 and definitely not as much fun to drive at the moment - it’s just not as exciting feels too routine is the best way to explain it - only 2 hours in so will update later

 

[Mehdime]

I would love an answer the answer to the question I’ve never seen answered anywhere: how do you fill the fresh water tank?

In the T6.1, the fresh water tank outlet is on the outside. You fill the tank by filling until it overflows and water starts pouring on the ground.

In the T7, the fresh water tank outlet is inside the van in the boot. You don’t want anything to overflow there. So how does it work? Is there some kind of mechanism that prevents overflowing inside the boot (maybe an overflow pipe similar to what you have in sinks and baths)?

 

[Muffutd]

hi

Thanks for question give me an hour or so as travelling to site and I will give a go and let you know in due course

So here you go / they give a pee wee thingy - at least I think it’s for filling up my guess it’s still can pour out - but just in the underneath of the bed / bumper and not your mattress - not great though






NOTE: the gas bottle - it’s is a really difficult job to get the unit in once connected - it’s really bad and you have to be on your hands and knees outside to get proper access - not very good at all

I left it out - poor

 

[subthree]

hi

Thanks for question give me an hour or so as travelling to site and I will give a go and let you know in due course

So here you go / they give a pee wee thingy - at least I think it’s for filling up my guess it’s still can pour out - but just in the underneath of the bed / bumper and not your mattress - not great though

View attachment 132287

View attachment 132288


NOTE: the gas bottle - it’s is a really difficult job to get the unit in once connected - it’s really bad and you have to be on your hands and knees outside to get proper access - not very good at all

I left it out - poor

So it has an on-board toilet?

 

[Trudi]

My question is storage. I use the double cupboard under the sink for storing food and pans and the wardrobe and double bench draw for clothes. There's 2 of us and we can easily manage 3 weeks away with this set up in a 6.1 The new van looks like so much less storage especially when the rear seats are seats.

 

[Muffutd]

Hi Owen_h

So all in all it’s actually very similar, having read various reviews I was expecting it to be way better than my Ocean. Just driven for a couple of hours and overall I would actually mark it slightly less comfortable although there are things that are better

Good bits - include better rear view as back seats are lower so more visibility.

There is a return of the footrest on left for those that prefer that

Space for a iPhone type device that can be charged

Bad bits - display is very cluttered and generally not as easy to use and I work in IT.

Does’t feel like you are in a camper too low for my liking and no different than driving height than my x3 but not the same level of comfort as car.

It might be me but can’t check the fridge etc from the drivers seat and the app device is slow responding - but I don’t really want to get in the back to check whether the fridge is on - as I say it may be me ??

The side pillars are not great and can be a a little distracting but maybe I will get used to that.

The infotainment system (not great) is easy to switch off when interacting with it - already turned it off 3 times by mistake

Yes it is longer for sure and it is noticeable that you stick out so be very difficult to park and still access back end

Honestly, I think the ride is not as good generally as T6.1 and definitely not as much fun to drive at the moment - it’s just not as exciting feels too routine is the best way to explain it - only 2 hours in so will update later

My question is storage. I use the double cupboards under the sink for storing food and pans and the wardrobe and double bench draw for clothes. There's 2 of us and we can easily manage 3 weeks away with this set up in a 6.1 The new van looks like so much less storage especially when the rear seats are seats.

 

[Muffutd]

Hi Trudi

Yes same as I do in my T6.1 - this is very different - I honestly don’t think you can compare - there are two small wardrobes that you could store clothes in and you also have the bag window but if you use those for clothes there is literally no where for pots and pans, plates, etc, etc

Put another way - imagine the storage you have minus the under seat and double under skitchen cupboard and I think that’s what you get now. I spoke with my wife earlier and said that this is now a van for one to stay and only for 1 or 2 nights

On a plus side there is more space under bed but of course accessing when bed is down needs to be from outside. The downstairs mattress is better and doesn’t feel too bad without any additional topper etc








The seats do have small draws that open so there are four of those - that could be used for small items - bag of popcorn would fill them

I guess the theory being with the single stove you only need a kettle and pan

the other thing that is noticeable whilst laying in bed ( and this being a coast) it has no overhead locker and the head room is ok but in the ocean it would feel very tight and I feel that you would have to sleep feet at boot end

 

[Mehdime]

hi

Thanks for question give me an hour or so as travelling to site and I will give a go and let you know in due course

So here you go / they give a pee wee thingy - at least I think it’s for filling up my guess it’s still can pour out - but just in the underneath of the bed / bumper and not your mattress - not great though

View attachment 132287

View attachment 132288


NOTE: the gas bottle - it’s is a really difficult job to get the unit in once connected - it’s really bad and you have to be on your hands and knees outside to get proper access - not very good at all

I left it out - poor

Oh whao. See, that’s what I really want to get from a review. Real world usage. I’ve watched and read so many reviews of the T7 California and not one of them showed or mentioned this contraption.

 

[Muffutd]

My question is storage. I use the double cupboard under the sink for storing food and pans and the wardrobe and double bench draw for clothes. There's 2 of us and we can easily manage 3 weeks away with this set up in a 6.1 The new van looks like so much less storage especially when the rear seats are seats.

My question is storage. I use the double cupboard under the sink for storing food and pans and the wardrobe and double bench draw for clothes. There's 2 of us and we can easily manage 3 weeks away with this set up in a 6.1 The new van looks like so much less storage especially when the rear seats are seats.

Oh whao. See, that’s what I really want to get from a review. Real world usage. I’ve watched and read so many reviews of the T7 California and not one of them showed or mentioned this contraption.

In case people are wondering what the poles are - they are for the front windscreen blackouts which have three or for ribs - I gave up and left them in the bag and wedged the black outs under the visors I guess you can argue it’s better then the slide out blinds in the T6.1 but now you have a reasonable size bag to hold them all - that is now stored in the van elsewhere - too much faff?

 

[KevH]

Great review
Excuse my ignorance but what is a ‘bag window’?

 

[Muffutd]

Great review
Excuse my ignorance but what is a ‘bag window’?

Sorry better described as ‘window bag’ - takes up the space in drivers side rear window and is a storage facility with 3 shelf cubby holes and one large pocket - in itself quite a good idea I think - I imagine you can stuff quite a lot of small clothing items in there

 

[Mehdime]

the other thing that is noticeable whilst laying in bed ( and this being a coast) it has no overhead locker and the head room is ok but in the ocean it would feel very tight and I feel that you would have to sleep feet at boot end

Oh interesting. I didn’t notice that. Are you saying that the Coast doesn’t have the overhead airplane-style cupboard and that it’s now an Ocean-only feature?

 

[Muffutd]

Yes correct - it’s only in the ocean. Given the bed itself sits higher, I think it will feel fairly close to your head when in bed - this is what you have instead - some netting

 

[Muffutd]

Good news is - the views are just as good as the T6.1 - I’ll try out the kitchen etc in the morning

 

[Camperfamily]

One question, please - would you switch from your T6.1 if offered for free?

 

[Van Diesel VW]

Great review, Is there room for the port a potti to be used at night once the bed is out.

 

[calibusje]

Oh whao. See, that’s what I really want to get from a review. Real world usage. I’ve watched and read so many reviews of the T7 California and not one of them showed or mentioned this contraption.

Oops, I forgot to mention this in my thread but you get this spout with it; it is on the ground in the photo

I did't see filling the water tank as a problem like so many others because I filled the fresh water tank in our previous t4 westfalia in this way for 10 years. This one had a filler spout attached to it and was rotatable: works perfectly and almost never had any problems. It would have been nice if they had made an indicator or something with the new one to see when you are almost there with filling but you can also see this with the spout.
Placing/ replacing the gas bottle looks indeed not handy at all. Luckily one don't have to do it very often.
As I wrote in my first introduction, we will learn a lot from the real users of the new cali. I myself am curious about sleeping downstairs with two because this bed was already narrow and has become even narrower.
Although we will be sticking with our T6.1 Coast for a long time, we are looking at the new Cali with an open mind. All this comes from a healthy interest.

 

[Corradobrit]

Great review
Excuse my ignorance but what is a ‘bag window’?

VW's patented view obscurer system.

 

[Muffutd]

One question, please - would you switch from your T6.1 if offered for free?

Nope - it just doesn’t give me the same good feeling that you get in the T6.1

 

[Muffutd]

Great review, Is there room for the port a potti to be used at night once the bed is out.

Great review, Is there room for the port a potti to be used at night once the bed is out.

I would say honestly not with the bed up and seats facing inwards - that’s a normal size bag for life and so not as square - Even if you could squeeze it in you definitely would be able to use it.

Maybe if you have passenger forward facing and push as forwards as possible

 

[Corradobrit]

Can 2 adults lay comfortably on their backs on the lower bed? Can one exit the bed without disturbing the other (I imagine only possible if the feet face the front)?

 

[Trudi]

Hi Trudi

Yes same as I do in my T6.1 - this is very different - I honestly don’t think you can compare - there are two small wardrobes that you could store clothes in and you also have the bag window but if you use those for clothes there is literally no where for pots and pans, plates, etc, etc

Put another way - imagine the storage you have minus the under seat and double under skitchen cupboard and I think that’s what you get now. I spoke with my wife earlier and said that this is now a van for one to stay and only for 1 or 2 nights

On a plus side there is more space under bed but of course accessing when bed is down needs to be from outside. The downstairs mattress is better and doesn’t feel too bad without any additional topper etc

View attachment 132294

View attachment 132295

View attachment 132296

View attachment 132297
The seats do have small draws that open so there are four of those - that could be used for small items - bag of popcorn would fill them

I guess the theory being with the single stove you only need a kettle and pan

the other thing that is noticeable whilst laying in bed ( and this being a coast) it has no overhead locker and the head room is ok but in the ocean it would feel very tight and I feel that you would have to sleep feet at boot end

Thank you. My coast 6.1 has the overhead locker aswell as the other storage so most definitely we would struggle. My other thing i don't like is leaving the van to get to the table.
Think I will keep loving my 6.1coast and look after it so it lasts a long time.

 

[Van Diesel VW]

I would say honestly not with the bed up and seats facing inwards - that’s a normal size bag for life and so not as square - Even if you could squeeze it in you definitely would be able to use it.

Maybe if you have passenger forward facing and push as forwards as possible

View attachment 132313

View attachment 132314

Not leaving room for a loo is disappointing and another reason not to change at the moment, happy with my 6.1, which I aim to keep for a few more years. However may look to book a test drive later in the year when service is due.