The Beach is Back!

[andyinluton]

Without wanting to go off thread, I don't understand about the 80% business, I thought it was deliberate policy not to charge over 80% not that the alternator couldn't do it, if thats the case why doesn't everything go bang when you've charged it to 100% by plugging in & then start the engine.

Ive not noticed any difference in battery capacity whether I've charged on mains or by driving, but then Ive never charged on mains & then camped without driving somewhere first.

 

[Borris]

Out of pure interest, I've just spent ten minutes configuring our twelve month old T6, or at least as near as I can get to it's spec, on the new T6-1 Beach Camper configurator. The tab came to £68,533 and that's without the two extra swivels which don't appear to be an option! It will be interesting to see how the options list changes in due course.

An interesting exercise, however I shall be keeping my van for the foreseeable future. It was always going to be a keeper, besides the T6-1 really doesn't offer me anything new that would pursued me to change. Never the less I'm really glad that VW have decided to re-introduce the Beach. It's a very popular vehicle.

 

[Amarillo]

Out of pure interest, I've just spent ten minutes configuring our twelve month old T6, or at least as near as I can get to it's spec, on the new T6-1 Beach Camper configurator. The tab came to £68,533 and that's without the two extra swivels which don't appear to be an option! It will be interesting to see how the options list changes in due course.

An interesting exercise, however I shall be keeping my van for the foreseeable future. It was always going to be a keeper, besides the T6-1 really doesn't offer me anything new that would pursued me to change. Never the less I'm really glad that VW have decided to re-introduce the Beach. It's a very popular vehicle.

I tried to configure as closely as I could to Amarillo. £64,126.
I paid £42,222 for Amarillo three years and 9 months ago.
We buy any car would bung me £29,000 for Amarillo now.
So depreciation is £13,222 (or £3,525 per year); but I'd have to find £35,126 for a replacement (or £9,367 per year of ownership).

 

[2into1]

So a Beach is about the same price as a Coast..... (given DTD were offering Coasts at about £50k)?

 

[AlisonF]

I tried to configure as closely as I could to Amarillo. £64,126.
I paid £42,222 for Amarillo three years and 9 months ago.
We buy any car would bung me £29,000 for Amarillo now.
So depreciation is £13,222 (or £3,525 per year); but I'd have to find £35,126 for a replacement (or £9,367 per year of ownership).

You’re comparing the VW configurator number without any discount (which all dealers have) vs WBAC which offers bottom dollar as they need to make a profit elsewhere...
Apples and Pears I’m afraid.

 

[2haw]

So a Beach is about the same price as a Coast..... (given DTD were offering Coasts at about £50k)?

Yes.
Standard Coast £56395

Standard Beach Camper £53395
+ Lights And Vision
+ Front & Rear Sensors
+ Parking Heater
= £56587 but you do get 17” Alloys.


A few things I’m just not sure about or would like to of seen confirmation of:
No Electric Hook up?
Was finally hoping for A Pillar screen blinds from the Ocean?
Chrome Grille not available on Beach. Annoying!
No sign of black B Pillars from Factory.
The Dash looks a bit basic, not sure if it has Inlays?

 

[andyinluton]

The tour couldn't be any cheaper as if it was, no-one would buy a caravelle. the tour is a caravelle with the addition of a pop top & the sleep pack.

 

[CampervanTime]

The tour couldn't be any cheaper as if it was, no-one would buy a caravelle. the tour is a caravelle with the addition of a pop top & the sleep pack.

Agree - VW have boxed themselves in a bit with their range/pricing.

I also imagine there are quite a few beach customers who just want that configuration specifically, rather than it being the less expensive option that it once was. I must admit though, I never thought I’d see a near-54k starting price for a beach...

 

[WelshGas]

You’re comparing the VW configurator number without any discount (which all dealers have) vs WBAC which offers bottom dollar as they need to make a profit elsewhere...
Apples and Pears I’m afraid.

I think you would find that VWs trade in price would be even lower than WBAC.

 

[subthree]

We have only had our 6.1 Ocean for a few months so I am not in the market for a Beach, however I do like the Beach. I also think anything north of £50k is big money, actually £50k is big money! Last night I looked on the Campersales website and came away thinking the VW factory campers aren't bad value in comparison - I know, I have gone mad during Lockdown 2.0.

I mean look at this vehicle https://www.campersales.co.uk/for-sale/495/

Would you pay £58k for that??? I know it is not a Beach, but if I was spending £58k I know I would be rushing to a VW dealer rather than Campersales.

 

[Borris]

Yes.
Standard Coast £56395

Standard Beach Camper £53395
+ Lights And Vision
+ Front & Rear Sensors
+ Parking Heater
= £56587 but you do get 17” Alloys.


A few things I’m just not sure about or would like to of seen confirmation of:
No Electric Hook up?
Was finally hoping for A Pillar screen blinds from the Ocean?
Chrome Grille not available on Beach. Annoying!
No sign of black B Pillars from Factory.
The Dash looks a bit basic, not sure if it has Inlays?

I imagine that some of these will be added in due course but being a Beach there will be a hefty premium attached.

If true, I can't understand why VW would introduce a new Beach model without an EHU.

Re the dash, I've never been a fan of the T6-1 dash, in fact that was one of the main reasons why I went for one of the last T6s. The configurator images of the T6-1 Beach dash show a sea of black plastic clearly aimed at maintaining VW's daft model hierarchy policy. Leaving aside its marmite design, IMO I'm sorry to say that this effort looks cheap and nasty. I previously owned an early T6 Beach with the uncomfortable dash and whilst that was also a sea of black plastic, the practical simplicity of it's design somehow made the whole package work. We now have the T6 Comfort dash which whilst being less practical than the uncomfortable version looks positively luxurious compared to the new T6-1 poverty spec dash.


As for the pricing, I agree with @itguy above. VW gave themselves a problem when they introduced the Coast. IMO they made it more obvious just how much they are ripping off Beach customers.

 

[CampervanTime]

Agree @boris re the dash - one of the worst bits of the new T6.1. Zero useful storage for bits and bobs. Sunglasses, cables, bulldog clips for parking tickets so they don't fall down the front of the dash etc etc. V poor 'update'. We loved our comfort dash on the T6 and will miss it.

 

[Amarillo]

You’re comparing the VW configurator number without any discount (which all dealers have) vs WBAC which offers bottom dollar as they need to make a profit elsewhere...
Apples and Pears I’m afraid.

A fair point. I had a 17% discount on Amarillo.

A 17% discount would bring a replacement down to £53,225.

I paid £42,222 for Amarillo three years and 9 months ago.
We buy any car would bung me £29,000 for Amarillo now.
So depreciation is £13,222 (or £3,525 per year); but I'd have to find £24,225 for a replacement (or £6,460 per year of ownership) assuming I could still negotiate a 17% discount.

 

[2into1]

Yes.
Standard Coast £56395

Standard Beach Camper £53395
+ Lights And Vision
+ Front & Rear Sensors
+ Parking Heater
= £56587 but you do get 17” Alloys.

Yikes, so all the cupboards, water system, fridge, 2nd battery, hook up and probably a few things I've forgotten, come for 'free' on a Coast vs the Beach Camper.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

We have only had our 6.1 Ocean for a few months so I am not in the market for a Beach, however I do like the Beach. I also think anything north of £50k is big money, actually £50k is big money! Last night I looked on the Campersales website and came away thinking the VW factory campers aren't bad value in comparison - I know, I have gone mad during Lockdown 2.0.

I mean look at this vehicle https://www.campersales.co.uk/for-sale/495/

Would you pay £58k for that??? I know it is not a Beach, but if I was spending £58k I know I would be rushing to a VW dealer rather than Campersales.

But Autohaus aimed at different buyers/needs, the Autohaus has also additional features versus Beach / Coast ie- oven, grill, toilet, insulated panels, hot water & leather, but does not have an electric roof (But for some reason it does has carpet on the walls!).

 

[subthree]

But Autohaus aimed at different buyers/needs, the Autohaus has also additional features versus Beach / Coast ie- oven, grill, toilet, insulated panels, hot water & leather, but does not have an electric roof (But for some reason it does has carpet on the walls!).

I agree with all of what you say, but compared to a factory built camper it is just horrible. I would not even entertain spending £58k on that! Anyway, I am off topic!

 

[Martin12bar]

I think you would find that VWs trade in price would be even lower than WBAC.

We Buy Any Car are a subsidiary of British Car Auctions and it is my understanding that all vehicles they buy go through their auctions. If a VW trade in price is lower than WBAC then they are either trying it on or are not looking to retail the vehicle and so will move it on in the trade - very often having been underwritten beforehand. WBAC (as with most dealers) will also look to negotiate the price down if there is anything at all wrong with the vehicle that has not been previously declared or picked up on appraisal. However, if you can move the vehicle on yourself by whatever means and then negotiate a no trade in discount then you should be better off.

 

[WelshGas]

We Buy Any Car are a subsidiary of British Car Auctions and it is my understanding that all vehicles they buy go through their auctions. If a VW trade in price is lower than WBAC then they are either trying it on or are not looking to retail the vehicle and so will move it on in the trade - very often having been underwritten beforehand. WBAC (as with most dealers) will also look to negotiate the price down if there is anything at all wrong with the vehicle that has not been previously declared or picked up on appraisal. However, if you can move the vehicle on yourself by whatever means and then negotiate a no trade in discount then you should be better off.

Agree, but VW Dealerships often do try it on, because for many it's much less hassle to just part-exchange.

 

[Kernowboy]

Just to show the WBAC lottery....they offered £5200 less for my Ocean yesterday than they did exactly a month ago. That’s quite some depreciation.

 

[WelshGas]

Just to show the WBAC lottery....they offered £5200 less for my Ocean yesterday than they did exactly a month ago. That’s quite some depreciation.

Those who bought in haste over the Summer now realise it‘s not for them, economic downturn or the advent of a vaccine so they can travel. It think many will be disappointed over the coming months.

 

[andyinluton]

Just to show the WBAC lottery....they offered £5200 less for my Ocean yesterday than they did exactly a month ago. That’s quite some depreciation.

Thats because they cant sell during lockdown & then we are straight into xmas. Their pricing algorithm also knows that you checked the price last month - you now sound desperate to sell.
If they really want your van you will get a text in a couple of days increasing their offer.

 

[Martin12bar]

Their pricing algorithm also knows that you checked the price last month - you now sound desperate to sell.

Try the same exercise on a different computer if you can. If the above is the case, you might get an increase?

 

[Kernowboy]

To be clear, I only got the quote out of interest. Van already sold elsewhere. My first Cali was sold to WBAC though; they offered way above market value, more than any comparable vehicle was being advertised on here or in VW dealers, and way more than I paid for it new 12mths previous and with 10k less on the clock. That was before WBAC changed hands and their guaranteed price was watered down to the current ‘not guaranteed’ offering. The agent stated that they had over-offered for it but as there wasn’t a scratch on it he couldn’t argue and the full amount hit my account the following day . I tracked it through the auctions, it didn’t sell and ended up at one of their linked dealers on the forecourt for a grand under what they paid me for it. Not sure what it actually sold for in the end. As I say, it’s a lottery but shouldn’t be ignored out of hand - there are a few others on here as well who have had a decent result from WBAC, but do your homework first.

 

[Kernowboy]

Those who bought in haste over the Summer now realise it‘s not for them, economic downturn or the advent of a vaccine so they can travel. It think many will be disappointed over the coming months.

Yep, agree with this. Part of the reason we decided to sell whilst market was unusually bouyant into the autumn, and order for next year with decent discounts on offer. Don’t need the van over the winter so timing seemed right. Think that window has now passed. Be interesting to see what happens in the spring.

 

[2haw]

Hook up inc on Beach Camper