Sales of the Beach soar

[Amarillo]

VWUK’s decision not to sell the California Beach is looking more like a mistake with sales of the Beach in Ireland soaring.

Volkswagen lists must-see-and-drive routes in Ireland, as record numbers buying campervans for staycations

It's a staycation summer for most of us - and it looks like an increasing number of families are planning an Irish holiday on the move this year.

amp.independent.ie

But I do wonder if the decision might be based on VWUK’s desire to have the California reclassified as a motor caravan for VED. It is much easier to describe an Ocean or Coast as a motor caravan than a Beach. Once any reclassification has occurred the Beach could be reintroduced to the UK market at the lower VED.

 

[Camperfamily]

I’m pretty sure the Beach wasn’t offered in Ireland when I last looked earlier in the year. Maybe one of our Irish members can confirm.

But it seemingly is now being offered (and is RHD too). You can also order the full colour range available in Germany, e.g. Starlight Blue over Reflex SilverThe brochure was updated 13 July 2020. Never mind the Beach angle, VWUK may have shot themselves in the foot with a limited colour offering for Coasts and Oceans.

https://www.volkswagenvans.ie/idhub/content/dam/onehub_nfz/importers/ie/models/downloads/july2020/MY21%20T6.1%20California%20Brochure.pdf

Options brochure:

https://www.volkswagenvans.ie/idhub/content/dam/onehub_nfz/importers/ie/models/downloads/july2020/MY21%20T6.1%20California%20Optional%20Extra%20Brochure.pdf

 

[s2bear]

I think it’s a mistake as I don’t think the VED is a deal breaker for many buyers who probably had premium SUVs on their list. If you want one, you want one.


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[Camperfamily]

Yes, article confirms that Beach is new arrival to Ireland this year.

“Coincidentally the number of options has expanded this year with the arrival of a new entry-level version - called the VW Beach.”

Note that the article doesn’t actually say that Beaches are selling in high numbers, just that ‘camper sales’ are seeing a 500pc increase. Ireland offers the full range of Beach, Coast and Ocean and all stock I’ve seen online recently was either Coast or Ocean.

 

[OGII]

We could potentially see a rise in grey imports of RHD Beaches via Ireland like we used to see cheaper imports from there and also Malta. Used to be a tax saving thing, now potentially a way to easily get RHD from English speaking dealers. Could be warranty differences though.

 

[Camperfamily]

We could potentially see a rise in grey imports of RHD Beaches via Ireland like we used to see cheaper imports from there and also Malta. Used to be a tax saving thing, now potentially a way to easily get RHD from English speaking dealers. Could be warranty differences though.

Ireland only a ferry trip away for annual servicing and a holiday

 

[sidepod]

What’s VED? STD?

 

[Camperfamily]

Slightly bizarrely the brochure suggests the Beach is only available with 2 seat beach, the side cooker and a 5th seat in the middle row. I suspect this isn’t the most popular Beach layout. For example, I would only consider one to get 3 seat bench for 3 baby seats. Otherwise, Ocean all day long for me.

 

[s2bear]

We could potentially see a rise in grey imports of RHD Beaches via Ireland like we used to see cheaper imports from there and also Malta. Used to be a tax saving thing, now potentially a way to easily get RHD from English speaking dealers. Could be warranty differences though.

If it’s less - European Warranty can be topped up to 5 years just like here and you can have it serviced at any main Cali Dealer to keep the warranty in tact. VAT is 23% in Ireland so you’d buy it VAT free and pay the VAT here ordinarily but I don’t know what extra complications there will be when we drop out of the EU or if there’s a different set of rules between EIRE & UK.


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[s2bear]

What’s VED? STD?

Vehicle Excise Duty which can be on a par with STD. Too many TLAs in this chat. (Three Letter Acronyms)


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[OGII]

Looks like they are keeping range of models imported simple, Ocean, Coast, 2 seat +1 Beach. No Beach tour.

The 2 seat Beach is just an Ocean with the kitchen left out, layoutwise.

 

[Camperfamily]

Looks like they are keeping range of models imported simple, Ocean, Coast, 2 seat +1 Beach. No Beach tour.

The 2 seat Beach is just an Ocean with the kitchen left out, layoutwise.

But they’ve got the kitchen pod included as standard according to brochure

 

[Amarillo]

We could potentially see a rise in grey imports of RHD Beaches via Ireland like we used to see cheaper imports from there and also Malta. Used to be a tax saving thing, now potentially a way to easily get RHD from English speaking dealers. Could be warranty differences though.

You raise an interesting question.

Perhaps the thrust of the Irish Independent article is incorrect, and the rise in Beach sales in Ireland is little to do with staycations and has everything to do with British California Beach buyers heading to Ireland for their purchase.

 

[sidepod]

Vehicle Excise Duty which can be on a par with STD. Too many TLAs in this chat. (Three Letter Acronyms)


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Ah yes, I thought it was. I couldn’t understand how or why it would influence your decision to buy a Cali? Perhaps I’m missing something?

 

[Camperfamily]

You raise an interesting question.

Perhaps the thrust of the Irish Independent article is incorrect, and the rise in Beach sales in Ireland is little to do with staycations and has everything to do with British California Beach buyers heading to Ireland for their purchase.

See above though @Amarillo. I don’t think many would be going out of their way to get a two seater Beach with kitchen pod. I might be wrong however.

 

[OGII]

Ah yes, I thought it was. I couldn’t understand how or why it would influence your decision to buy a Cali? Perhaps I’m missing something?

I think Tom's point in the original post was that VWUK may have dropped the Beach as it is a "car" from the motorhome classification point of view, and easier to get Ocean's reclassified as MH with cheaper VED.

Potentially they brought in Coast to fill the Beach void, thinking people wouldn't want the "entry level" Beach with luxury car VED penalties when you could have the "better" Coast with cheap MH VED.

Missing the point that us Beach owners don't want a van full of mini wardrobes and sinks. Maybe the new hidden stove will help VW argue it's more of a MH but as the regs cite storage, water tanks etc. it could be hard to argue a Beach is a MH.

Either way there is Beach sized hole in the UK model line up.

 

[Amarillo]

See above though @Amarillo. I don’t think many would be going out of their way to get a two seater Beach with kitchen pod. I might be wrong however.

Yes - I posted before keeping up to date with the thread.

I would not be interested in the 2 seat bench beach. The two sliding door Beach, however, would be very interesting to us.

 

[Karlos]

Interestingly the article says the dealer had to order more stock. So have dealers got priority over customer orders or is that part of the article a little misleading given the factory delays.

 

[s2bear]

Ah yes, I thought it was. I couldn’t understand how or why it would influence your decision to buy a Cali? Perhaps I’m missing something?

I agree - I think it’s just that in year one the tax is over a grand and then about £500 a year for the next 4 or 5 years but so is everything else that’s over £40k. So if you’re looking at buying a new Beach it’s on a par with the rest of your list unless you’re looking at an Ocean (gets a £310 p.a. Discount as it’s a ‘motorhome’) , which I don’t think a lot of Beach buyers are - it’s not that they don’t want a kitchen, it’s often because they NEED more seating and this is their daily driver so there’s not a lot of choice. I think the VED becomes largely irrelevant in this case.


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[Karlos]

I agree - I think it’s just that in year one the tax is over a grand and then about £500 a year for the next 4 or 5 years but so is everything else that’s over £40k. So if you’re looking at buying a new Beach it’s on a par with the rest of your list unless you’re looking at an Ocean (gets a £310 p.a. Discount as it’s a ‘motorhome’) , which I don’t think a lot of Beach buyers are - it’s not that they don’t want a kitchen, it’s often because they NEED more seating and this is their daily driver so there’s not a lot of choice. I think the VED becomes largely irrelevant in this case.


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Our Ocean was £1.850 when new last September then £475 a year for i think the next 5 years.

 

[soulstyledevon]

I think Tom's point in the original post was that VWUK may have dropped the Beach as it is a "car" from the motorhome classification point of view, and easier to get Ocean's reclassified as MH with cheaper VED.

Potentially they brought in Coast to fill the Beach void, thinking people wouldn't want the "entry level" Beach with luxury car VED penalties when you could have the "better" Coast with cheap MH VED.

Missing the point that us Beach owners don't want a van full of mini wardrobes and sinks. Maybe the new hidden stove will help VW argue it's more of a MH but as the regs cite storage, water tanks etc. it could be hard to argue a Beach is a MH.

Either way there is Beach sized hole in the UK model line up.

The other problem you run into is Insurance.
I remember having my Beach and having to explain time and time again what sort of vehicle it was. Many times I found insurance companies couldn’t work out if it was classed on their system as a car, motor home or campervan.

Im glad I never had to claim, as I always felt there were discrepancies...

 

[WelshGas]

I agree - I think it’s just that in year one the tax is over a grand and then about £500 a year for the next 4 or 5 years but so is everything else that’s over £40k. So if you’re looking at buying a new Beach it’s on a par with the rest of your list unless you’re looking at an Ocean (gets a £310 p.a. Discount as it’s a ‘motorhome’) , which I don’t think a lot of Beach buyers are - it’s not that they don’t want a kitchen, it’s often because they NEED more seating and this is their daily driver so there’s not a lot of choice. I think the VED becomes largely irrelevant in this case.


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Maybe VWUK will offer a Caravelle with a pop top?

 

[s2bear]

Our Ocean was £1.850 when new last September then £475 a year for i think the next 5 years.

Hasn’t it changed since then for new registrations though?


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[WelshGas]

Hasn’t it changed since then for new registrations though?


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From March this year.

 

[Amarillo]

From March this year.

The question in my mind is if VWUK could now reintroduce the Beach to the UK market and successfully claim to DVLA that it is substantially the same as a Coast or Ocean, and thereby have the same motor caravan classification for VED.