T7 spec regrets - helping others to avoid

[Adam8374]

I ordered a new t7 cali and have two regrets. hopefully it will help next buyers to avoid them.

1. heated windshield. it's heated by a visible wire which obstructs the view at night. it's very annoying. it blurrs the vision. especially as my cali is PHEV, which can be pre-heated remotely. this one disturbs me really a lot.

2. 19" wheels. the van is very uncomfortable. the tyre size is 245/45 which is very thin. moreover, it was quite expansive. i'd go for 18" max. it might be connected, that I hadn't ordered the DCC suspension. my expereince is that it hardly does anything and one always drive in one setting anyway. and it probably adds weight and possible problems in future. but give how uncomfortable it now is on bad road, i'd like to try if DCC would help...

and bonus tips:
3. weight: (applicable for the PHEV only): the useful payload is very low in T7 cali. my Beach only has 450kg and it's the reason why its 4 seater only. i'd be careful with specing "everything". spec only what you really need and save precious kgs.

4. softclose: in spain, it was not possible to spec softlose for the sliding doors. on one hand, I'm happy to have saved few kg. but it's not very easy to close the door and it's quite annoying.. I might want to retrofit this in futre.

 

[thehoggmeister]

I ordered a new t7 cali and have two regrets. hopefully it will help next buyers to avoid them.

1. heated windshield. it's heated by a visible wire which obstructs the view at night. it's very annoying. it blurrs the vision. especially as my cali is PHEV, which can be pre-heated remotely. this one disturbs me really a lot.

2. 19" wheels. the van is very uncomfortable. the tyre size is 245/45 which is very thin. moreover, it was quite expansive. i'd go for 18" max. it might be connected, that I hadn't ordered the DCC suspension. my expereince is that it hardly does anything and one always drive in one setting anyway. and it probably adds weight and possible problems in future. but give how uncomfortable it now is on bad road, i'd like to try if DCC would help...

and bonus tips:
3. weight: (applicable for the PHEV only): the useful payload is very low in T7 cali. my Beach only has 450kg and it's the reason why its 4 seater only. i'd be careful with specing "everything". spec only what you really need and save precious kgs.

4. softclose: in spain, it was not possible to spec softlose for the sliding doors. on one hand, I'm happy to have saved few kg. but it's not very easy to close the door and it's quite annoying.. I might want to retrofit this in futre.

Each to their own. We live in Scotland where a combination of preheating and using the heated windscreen is a must for winter. I don't notice the wires in the screen and find them much the same as any Ford I have driven with them.

I agree with the wheels. Whilst the 19" wheels look great having driven a California with18" wheels and 19"wheels the 18" are much more suited to the vehicle. We got the 18" in black to go with the Energetic Orange and black roof which I really like the look of.

Soft close doors are great and make sure you don't wake the neighbours on site when getting up early to walk the dog.

 

[Aldoi]

Agree on the soft close doors. I wish this were an option on it’s own on the Beach but sadly only offered with the full electric doors option which I didn’t like. It’s an annoying restriction in the options configuration in my opinion and not really necessary for this option specifically.

 

[stoobthealien]

Agree on the soft close doors. I wish this were an option on it’s own on the Beach but sadly only offered with the full electric doors option which I didn’t like. It’s an annoying restriction in the options configuration in my opinion and not really necessary for this option specifically.

I agree - I put it on the tailgate but would happily have paid for it on the side doors, just hoping my kids can manage it when we get it in a couple of weeks

 

[Adam8374]

you don't wake the neighbours on site when getting up early to walk the dog.

Our dog sleeps until 12 every day

 

[SpuffingtonMe]

I have to say, the heated windscreen is my favourite feature on any car. We've got it on the Discovery 5 and I wouldn't be without it. It's not just for mornings, defrosting or demisting before getting in, you can get a build up of moisture at other times and it's so much quicker to demist than any fan.

I'd love it on all my vehicles and although once in a while you can spot the little wires, I personally don''t find it distracting for more than a few seconds and then my eyes adjust through it.

 

[Nand0]

Each to their own. We live in Scotland where a combination of preheating and using the heated windscreen is a must for winter. I don't notice the wires in the screen and find them much the same as any Ford I have driven with them.

I have to agree there. I used to have a Ford Focus with such a windscreen. It's the only thing I wish I had in later cars, although it doesn't bother me that much. My Cali seems to do a good enough job with the blower. I never noticed the tiny wires unless I inspected the windscreen up close

 

[thehoggmeister]

Our dog sleeps until 12 every day

If only. Our Lab gets up for a good morning walk then conks out until 2pm before going out again for another good walk.

On the plus side it gets us up and about and I have been known to walk for a morning coffee and breakfast roll at a nice wee cafe if I come across one on the walk. Then have second breakfast when back at the van.

 

[MC90]

I agree with your observation with the headed windscreen, I also find it distracting when night driving. Given the choice again I would not option it.