Returning to a Calafornia

[mikeelawson]

After many motorhomes I am returning to a Calafornia

I have noticed that the market is strange, new T7 are going cheaper than T6.1, dealers must be struggling to shift them?

Anyway any tips for haggling a decent price on a T6.1 Ocean 22 plate and above with low mileage? I have a budget of 60k that I want to stick to.

Regards and thanks.

BOOMEL

 

[Sad]

The only tip I can think of, is be willing to travel to get the best price. We had a good experience buying from Birmingham.
Good luck

 

[Wannabecamperman]

After many motorhomes I am returning to a Calafornia

I have noticed that the market is strange, new T7 are going cheaper than T6.1, dealers must be struggling to shift them?

Anyway any tips for haggling a decent price on a T6.1 Ocean 22 plate and above with low mileage? I have a budget of 60k that I want to stick to.

Regards and thanks.

BOOMEL

There are a couple of 22 / 23 ex-rentals for the £55k mark. Otherwise, yes - the T6.1 is generally selling for as much as people paid for it 2-3 years ago!

The T7 Ocean meanwhile can now be had new with a 5 year promise for close to £65k. Make of that what you will.

 

[Up10]

I have noticed that the market is strange, new T7 are going cheaper than T6.1, dealers must be struggling to shift them?

Anyway any tips for haggling a decent price on a T6.1 Ocean 22 plate and above with low mileage? I have a budget of 60k that I want to stick to.

We found that lower mileage vans from dealers had been rented out by the dealer for trial purposes or holidays which meant they had been used and perhaps abused by many people. Buying from a genuine rental company gives a better assurance that they have been maintained to a good standard so that would be my preferred option between these two.
We bought privately through this forum and bought a low mileage, well spec'd van from a private seller. It came with the residual 5 year warranty and 2 services which was transferred with the van. The benefit to us was that we could see how it kept and who had used it. We also negotiated the price down by a small margin, less easy to do with a dealer. So we feel that this was a better solution for us with all the benefits of a warranty.
We didn't haggle but negotiated. I had a set figure available and I was upfront about that. I didn't view the van until that was settled but neither did I negotiate it down further after viewing because the van was completely as described.
Just my thoughts! Good luck finding what you want. We have no regrets buying a T6.1 as it suits our needs better than the new 7. But it's horses for courses.

 

[mikeelawson]

Spoke with a dealer and said that people are concerned about wet cam belts issue on ford / vw California

 

[WelshGas]

Spoke with a dealer and said that people are concerned about wet cam belts issue on ford / vw California

Get a new Dealer then.
The T7 California is not Built by Ford and does not use Ford engines. Its ALL VW and not based on the new Ford/VW Transporter commercial vehicle .

 

[mikeelawson]

Get a new Dealer then.
The T7 California is not Built by Ford and does not use Ford engines. Its ALL VW and not based on the new Ford/VW Transporter commercial vehicle .

Are you sure “

• VW California (Camper): Now uses the platform of the Ford Transit Custom (for the T7 commercial van) but is built separately by VW as a more car-like camper, based on the Multivan.
• VW California (Camper): Now uses the platform of the Ford Transit Custom (for the T7 commercial van) but is built separately by VW as a more car-like camper, based on the Multivan.

 

[KevH]

Are you sure “

• VW California (Camper): Now uses the platform of the Ford Transit Custom (for the T7 commercial van) but is built separately by VW as a more car-like camper, based on the Multivan.
• VW California (Camper): Now uses the platform of the Ford Transit Custom (for the T7 commercial van) but is built separately by VW as a more car-like camper, based on the Multivan.

My understanding is that the 'T7 Transporter' is a Transit badged as a VW, built by Ford.
And that the 'New California'' aka T7 is wholly VW, a Multivan.
And that they are totally distinct vehicles with no platform sharing.
And that your dealer is citing something that is illogical.
Or you have misheard him.
If I am wrong then I will hold up my hands.

 

[Sad]

Yes, as @KevH said, the new Cali is not based on the VW/Ford commercial vehicle. It is the long wheel based VW Multivan

 

[Stargazing]

Spoke with a dealer and said that people are concerned about wet cam belts issue on ford / vw California

Dealer needs a revision course.
The new California's have no timing wet belts. The petrol TSI and Hybrid variants use a timing chain, whereas the diesel uses a traditional belt.
Some confusion can result from the T6.1 having an oil pump wet belt, as well as a traditional timing chain, but the oil pump wet belts have not caused any concerns and have proven to be reliable as they are not under any undue pressure.
Other confusions are around the Ford/VW Transporter collaboration which is an entirely different vehicle to the new California, but does use a wet belt for timing. Some would call this sacrilege, others would say its going to get costly. VW have put a 5 year warranty and service plan on this, so any claim would need a water-tight service history.

 

[WelshGas]

Are you sure “

• VW California (Camper): Now uses the platform of the Ford Transit Custom (for the T7 commercial van) but is built separately by VW as a more car-like camper, based on the Multivan.
• VW California (Camper): Now uses the platform of the Ford Transit Custom (for the T7 commercial van) but is built separately by VW as a more car-like camper, based on the Multivan.

Yes, I’m sure.

The T7 California is based on the LWB Multivan built in Hannover Germany on the VW MBQ chassis used also in the new Golf and VW EV vehicles.

It has no connection whatsoever with the Ford/VW collaboration for commercial vehicles built in Turkey.

 

[Sad]

Other confusions are around the Ford/VW Transporter collaboration which is an entirely different vehicle to the new California, but does use a wet belt for timing. Some would call this sacrilege, others would say its going to get costly. VW have put a 5 year warranty and service plan on this, so any claim would need a water-tight service history.

From what I understand, the Ford wet belt problem came about from them trying to use more sustainable materials to make the belts. It did not work!! So they have since reverted to the old belt materials.

 

[LRGS253]

T7 is a disaster. Wet belt ford engine. One burner. Hugely expensive. Buy my T6 for the most reliable California and save yourself a few quid as well.

 

[KevH]

VW need to acknowledge the confusion that they, imo, have caused.
Separating out the Cali from the Transporter may or may not be a mistake, but referring to both simply as 'new' fuels confusion as neither model is truly a T7. Both are simply 'new'. But new what?
And what will their respective replacements be known as? New-new? Reborn?
What a mess, little wonder even dealers are utterly confused.
Rant over

 

[WelshGas]

T7 is a disaster. Wet belt ford engine. One burner. Hugely expensive. Buy my T6 for the most reliable California and save yourself a few quid as well.

Can’t you read the above Posts.
The VW T7 California DOES NOT HAVE THE FORD WET BELT ENGINE.

And if you want a reliable Transporter California then that’s the T4/5/5.1.

 

[Goingontour]

We’ve just sold ours in the last week. 6 months of our ownership, a top top everything spec. They might be selling at a dealer for what we paid for it but, we most definitely didn’t get to sell anywhere near what we paid for it regardless of all the flim flam of how they hold all their value etc etc..they don’t!
We spent over a month trying to sell in various ways and some offers were unbelievably low. It’s a good time to buy so just bide your time, the dealers come calling weeks after your interest for your custom.