Jude
VIP Member
I am sitting here, overwintering just outside Agadir, waiting for my oyster man to open my dozen oysters, but I have to say it is raining & the temp is 15.3 outside. I love my Cali T6 (2020) bought it in Feb 2024 at 13 500 kms from a charming young couple in Paris who had bought it 2 years earlier at 3 900 kms. Thus, it had not seen much of the world, but I intended to rectify that. I am a solo female traveller of 78 summers, retired, widowed, dogless and considered brave. I am brave only because I am driving a Cali T6 which has no heating which means not hot water, no warm air inside and no gas cooking - gas is off as a security measure. Going off-grid is not feasible which is not problem because I am on a fully serviced, oyster plus, site. Although in Oulidia I was off-grid and the leisure battery lost 70% in 17 hours. Solace was found in 12 enormous oysters. I left at 5am specifically to recharge the battery while driving. I am here in Agadir because I am 2 thirds through a 3 year European tour, in theory, I hope, but it is not looking good. This van, really, is not fit for purpose. I am swamped by it, mentally & physically at my end. Little things that help like the admin manager of this site lifting the Cloudfare block preventing my access because I am in Morocco and must be up to something nefarious (I wish). It was adding to my distress because I need evidence for my insurer that my heater problem started before entry to Marocco, it is precisely due to issue this that I am in warm Morocco! The Truma heater problem could cost up to 1 300 euro. Not only that, diagnosed at 43 950 kms is an oil leak requiring the replacement of the distributer, alternator & water pump costing 1 998 euros & 2 days in the garage. It seems a bit premature to be replacing all this at under 44 000 kms, don't you think? That's just cover 27K miles isn't it? My insurance will not cover it, I have tried to attest it, but it is 'normal wear & tear'. Volkswagen - my question is: is this really normal at 27K? I have another question for you and one for TRUMA . Why place a kettle plug of all things in an inaccessible location under the drivers seat- & not tell anyone about it? TRUMA:-why place a vulnerable toggle switch (now broken), in an inaccessible location under a seat? To give you a larger picture of all this insanity, the historical evidence of the battery affair over the last 2 years should do it. Garage mechanics, breakdown guys & other fundies were confused over which was which battery. Defying all logic VW has fitted the leisure battery (keeps the fridge going you know) in the engine compartment (snuggly under the bonnet where they keep all the engine bits) & the starter battery which starts the vehicle & keeps the wheels rolling (except when the Commande Unit locks down the entire system, causing the vehicle to be abandonned), under 2 layers of insulation and bolts - under the driver's feet. So clamping the jump leads on the battery in the engine will not start it - tried by garagistes in 3 countries, doesn't work. Clamping the leads under the footwell jumping it majestically into life was proved by a guy stopping to assist the breakdown assistant trying to start the engine in th engine compartment. He was an ex-20 year veteran of VW & was right of course. That was Buhl in Germany, still the vehicle did it's usual stop-but-not-start practice & failed for the fifth time in Nuremburg - aah, know, I can't continue to describe this, it is too bizarre & stupid to recount. Anyway you will tell me there are good reasons for placing things that require a contortionist to manipulate and there is logic in giving leisure priority over mobility. It's all about location, location. Cost me a packet and I am out of my mind, but I have 12 oysters for lunch.
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