Not for me

[Steinbeck]

Having gone through a great deal of thought regarding the purchase of a new California, I gave up on the idea for a great many good reasons. Then, just as I had put the idea to bed along came the Grand California which sounds a lot more appealing and practical.
Is the general thinking at the moment that these vehicles will be just well well recieved within the California community, or are they so far away from the Micro Bus concept that a new group might well be formed?

 

[Velma's Dad]

The Grand Cali is a different proposition and aimed at a different market from the 'classic' (ie T4/5/6-based) Cali. Some may switch but a lot will already have weighed up pros/cons of moving to a larger format van - there are loads of them around, mostly based on Fiat Ducato platform - but decided to stick with the T6 size.

I'm one of those.I wouldn't trade the 'go-anywhereness' of the T6 format (under 2.1m height barriers, into car-sized parking spaces etc) for a loo/shower compartment and some more space.

There is already an active Grand California section on this forum, suggest you browse/post there.

Best of luck whatever you decide.

 

[parrot2]

I would agree the go anywhere aspect was my deciding factor after looking at slightly larger campers.

 

[Ocean Spirit]

I hate to say I told you but...
I told you
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/steinbeck.27109/#post-310473

 

[Steinbeck]

Tell me you did indeed 2020 Freedom. Thank you all for your replies. Much appreciated.
I can see that for many enthusiastic people these cars have a great appeal. Far too many years ago now I went all over England on my BSA motorbike with a tent that was already soggy before I even put it up on even wetter grass. That was a young mans game and working my way through to today, with a 2018 top of the range Coachman caravan, I have become errr... soft. Already though I find the setting up and taking down of the caravan has become more time consuming than I like and I dread the day of rain that will surely coincide. Perhaps the compromise of a Grand California will eventually win the day.
For a period of two months during 2017 I had a Swift motorhome based upon a Ducato chassis. That was a very dissapointing experience. Having had VW Passat Estates, my newest R-Line now six months old, I am a huge fan of VW quality, hence my instant excitement when I learned of the Grand California. On the internet they look fantastic and I am sure that they will be be just as good in all ways as the lovely Ocean vans that I looked at.
I'll seek out the Grand California section on the group. Thanks for the tip Velma's Dad.
Kindest regards to you all.

 

[Kirk]

I hope that admin will make Grand owners welcome on this forum still as I am looking forward to reading about real life ownership of these as we will be in the market for one in 2020. I realise it is a totally different vehicle but we all have the same thing in common.

 

[Hotel California]

I hope that admin will make Grand owners welcome on this forum still as I am looking forward to reading about real life ownership of these as we will be in the market for one in 2020. I realise it is a totally different vehicle but we all have the same thing in common.

Why should we not ?
Personal a GC could be the next step for many of us VW lovers.

For now there's a Grand California section to start discussions
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/forums/vw-grand-california-600-680-discussion.206/
and who knows later more specific sub-forums be added.

 

[ChrisB]

Only time will tell as to whether the new GC is a success, It has some serious competition with the likes of the Hymer MLT and Hymercar range, which appear to be fantastic, but very expensive when tricked out with the options. For me, once you go much more than 6 metres in length, you might as well go the 'whole hog' so to speak. Although the GC will lack some of the spontaneity and versatility of the California, it will provide a higher overall level of comfort and facilities. The GC is a California and I can see no reason why owners shouldn't be welcomed to the VWCC with open arms.

 

[Legin]

It took me 2 years to decide a calio was for me and as yet I havent tried one so we will see. However what i have worked out after discussing with a number of old boys and my own experience is the following.

Im a long time caravaner and as the family left the nest I just cant be bothered with the the slow towing, set up etc anymore unless its Uk only and Im in one place for a week or more.

In the end I concluded the cali is a car you can sleep in and a motorhome is a home you can drive.
Which is most important to you the journey or when you get there.

Motorhome really is a compromise between a caravan and a camper which is OK if you have a need like towing a race car to circuits etc. However the reality is for most its the worst of all worlds imo as evidenced by towing a small car.

So its easier to polarise and go for car an caravan or a camper, I decided therefore its camper and if that doesnt work out its nothing.

The only real threat to the cali was the likes of the Autotrail 540se as its MWB so at a pinch you could go virtually anywhere a Cali can plus its got a real roof and a bog etc. I didnt go for it in the end because I just know I wouldnt want to pick up the keys to drive it as a daily although Im sure you could, which again means another vehicle not fully utilised.Would you really drive a GC as a daily.

FWIW all the old timers I spoke to said they had bought sprinter and ducato conversions etc and said dont do it, they are bikers like me though and ultimately ended up happier in Hotels at no extra cost. None had considered a Cali type vehicle though hence how I convinced myself its cali or caravan or nowt.

 

[Auberg-ine]

Food for thought:


What do they have in common, besides the two-tone color?
- ...

Let's admit, the 'California' link is artificial, just simple and plane VW Marketing.
But yes, of course, let's embrace them here as we do with all nephews! I will just call them 'GCs' standing for 'Grand Conversions'.

 

[Bellcrew]

Food for thought:
View attachment 39311

What do they have in common, besides the two-tone color?
- ...

Let's admit, the 'California' link is artificial, just simple and plane VW Marketing.
But yes, of course, let's embrace them here as we do with all nephews! I will just call them 'GCs' standing for 'Grand Conversions'.

The crucial measurements on this layout is the distances between knees of the people in the front swivelled seats and the rear passenger seats together with the angle of the rear seat back rest/height of squab etc. Whenever we have tried this design we have been disappointed at the lack of space/second rate comfort in these areas. If guests are never invited aboard and the front seats are the only ones used maybe OK but otherwise nah.
The inclusion of the child's roof bed IMO makes the van look like a guppy with an ugly roof line, must do better.

 

[BikerGran]

Tell me you did indeed 2020 Freedom. Thank you all for your replies. Much appreciated.
I can see that for many enthusiastic people these cars have a great appeal. Far too many years ago now I went all over England on my BSA motorbike with a tent that was already soggy before I even put it up on even wetter grass. That was a young mans game and working my way through to today, with a 2018 top of the range Coachman caravan, I have become errr... soft. Already though I find the setting up and taking down of the caravan has become more time consuming than I like and I dread the day of rain that will surely coincide. Perhaps the compromise of a Grand California will eventually win the day.
For a period of two months during 2017 I had a Swift motorhome based upon a Ducato chassis. That was a very dissapointing experience. Having had VW Passat Estates, my newest R-Line now six months old, I am a huge fan of VW quality, hence my instant excitement when I learned of the Grand California. On the internet they look fantastic and I am sure that they will be be just as good in all ways as the lovely Ocean vans that I looked at.
I'll seek out the Grand California section on the group. Thanks for the tip Velma's Dad.
Kindest regards to you all.

I really don't want to be negative but reading your post I thought - sounds like this bloke would really be happier in hotels or B&Bs - I suggest you hire before you buy, if it turned out to be another disappointing experience it would be a rather expensive one!

I too was a biker, and later a triker when I had my bike converted, and in spite of loving my Cali, I still miss camping with the bike/trike, just can't do it any more due to anno domini and dodgy hips!

 

[HAPPY_T6_CALI]

Our meeting with the Grand California (October 2018) and our opinion in a short video here.

 

[calimera]

The thing we really like in our T6 Cali is that you can adjust the rake on the rear seat for comfort. Is this possible in the Grand California ?
When we hired a motorhome ,we found the beach seat uncomfortable & the sitting area restrictive.

 

[HAPPY_T6_CALI]

The thing we really like in our T6 Cali is that you can adjust the rake on the rear seat for comfort. Is this possible in the Grand California ?
When we hired a motorhome ,we found the beach seat uncomfortable & the sitting area restrictive.

Not possible in the Grand California. It's in many respect just like all the other vans, including a restrictive seating area. Until now it's not obvious what the advantages and differences are when you compare it to other vans based on Fiat chassis.

 

[billyhedge]

One of the annoying things about the double rear doored vans is that when you need to open the back doors when it’s raining, to access the rear storage, then your bedding gets wet :-(

 

[Erbster]

One of the annoying things about the double rear doored vans is that when you need to open the back doors when it’s raining, to access the rear storage, then your bedding gets wet :-(

A friend of mine has a Ducato conversion with the same issue. He has fitted a shower curtain at the rear, so he can access the boot without rain on the bed.


https://caliventures364847572.wordpress.com/

 

[Lizzyj]

We went smaller after having small motorhome because we couldnt get everywhere in a bigger van especially when we were in wales and cornwall where roads and bushes are touching both sides, we didnt move the van once we were on site just moved every 3 days and caught buses but they dont go everywhere!

 

[Mr & Mrs B]

We used to have a caravan and would set up on site for a holiday and drive to wherever we wanted to visit. After selling the caravan we chose a California so we can use it as a day vehicle, park it at home, and travel easily around narrow lanes. Rather than taking it off site every day on a main holiday we book different sites near to where we want to visit and then walk or catch buses.

 

[BikerGran]

We went smaller after having small motorhome because we couldnt get everywhere in a bigger van especially when we were in wales and cornwall where roads and bushes are touching both sides, we didnt move the van once we were on site just moved every 3 days and caught buses but they dont go everywhere!

And they don't go at the time you want, or want to come back, and you have to carry stuff, and you have nowhere to sit and make a cup of tea if you want to, or if it rains..........