The New T7 California can be ordered from today in Germany + configurator.

[Tycoon]

Have you considered a T6.1 beach camper?

I’ve got one on a year lease. we enjoy it, but as a car driven mostly not for camping I think the new one will do a better job tbh. it’s only disadvantage I see (as a car, not a camper) it’s the length but I think I could live with this.
As a camper of course the T6.1 has more space, e.g fits a little fridge behind the seat which I have concerns about not fitting in the T7 with the bed open. but can’t have it all I guess

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

T6/6.1 beach with removable slidepod kitchen in boot, retains 5 seats when away, still use large table inside, cook under tailgate, 2 burners and sink with onboard built in waste tank, remove it when you get home, takes up same space in garage as the two captains chairs to make car seven seater

 

[Californication69]

Still no issues parking the beast

 

[pluc99]

I just play configured a California Ocean on the Swiss VW site, the configurator having just now been enabled. I was pleasantly surprised that the price for a FWD petrol version with all my options would come in just under £68000. I expect the PHEV/4Motion version will add about £5000 to the total but as of now there's no word on when it might become available.

 

[Californication69]

Beast sent back to VW Hereford.
Stinks of tobacco. Ciggie burns in seats. Floor and seats covered in silicon. Was an 2 owner car and was told it was 1 owner. And by lots of discussions with other valeters and motor trade people, tobacco smell will never be got rid of.
Good job they had a no quibble 30 day refund and return policy.
Drove there on A roads for 90 minutes.
I’ll be honest and say at £70k worth of motor, it is so noisy, rattles and the suspension is not like the 90 minute drive back in the air suspension £63k Defender (my24)
Disco S MY25 on order.

Really cannot live with the crashing noise in the MV.
Seat was good.
Electric sliding doors = ace.
But I fear for the California Beach / Ocean T7.
Gona be a bumpy ride.

I’ll get a roof tent for the Disco. And cook outside.
Fridge in the armrest.
Then Sprinter based JC 600D when I retire.

 

[m10chkcalifornia]

Interesting experience then. Initially very positive (1st and 2nd September posts) but you fell out of love. Will be interesting when someone gets hands on with the Cali T7, Not looking entirely promising though.

What was it about the drive that put you off in the end? First review was that you couldn't fault it. But it seems it was noisy and crashy after a while. Was that it?

 

[Corradobrit]

I just play configured a California Ocean on the Swiss VW site, the configurator having just now been enabled. I was pleasantly surprised that the price for a FWD petrol version with all my options would come in just under £68000. I expect the PHEV/4Motion version will add about £5000 to the total but as of now there's no word on when it might become available.

I think you'll be sadly disappointed if you're expecting the PHEV/4Mo to be an additional 5K. I would say 15K is closer the mark. Those batteries aren't cheap, plus all the development spend has to be paid for.

 

[Californication69]

Interesting experience then. Initially very positive (1st and 2nd September posts) but you fell out of love. Will be interesting when someone gets hands on with the Cali T7, Not looking entirely promising though.

What was it about the drive that put you off in the end? First review was that you couldn't fault it. But it seems it was noisy and crashy after a while. Was that it?

It’s good on a billiard type motorway.
Adaptive cruise works well 90% of the time.
Automatic steering is very weird and I don’t trust it at all.
The A road driving on bad roads is pretty bad.
Maybe if it has another 350kg loaded up it might be better. But will need testing out by somebody.
Buyer beware.

 

[Californication69]

I think you'll be sadly disappointed if you're expecting the PHEV/4Mo to be an additional 5K. I would say 15K is closer the mark. Those batteries aren't cheap, plus all the development spend has to be paid for.

It’s a heavy beast just in a 2.0 petrol version.
Dread to think how it will handle with heavy batteries and motors.

 

[Californication69]

Interesting experience then. Initially very positive (1st and 2nd September posts) but you fell out of love. Will be interesting when someone gets hands on with the Cali T7, Not looking entirely promising though.

What was it about the drive that put you off in the end? First review was that you couldn't fault it. But it seems it was noisy and crashy after a while. Was that it?

And yes, 100% interesting experience.
Really glad I was able to put some miles on it, and have the experience.

I wonder which sales place does a 30 day quibble free return & refund drive of a sprinter based campervan ?

 

[Kayleigh]

It’s good on a billiard type motorway.
Adaptive cruise works well 90% of the time.
Automatic steering is very weird and I don’t trust it at all.
The A road driving on bad roads is pretty bad.
Maybe if it has another 350kg loaded up it might be better. But will need testing out by somebody.
Buyer beware.

Well you tried it Bill. Good job you had the 30 day money back guarantee. If it didn’t have the tobacco and silicon issues do you think you would have kept it?
I have a feeling you’ll be joining the beach club (T6.1 that is)

 

[Californication69]

Well you tried it Bill. Good job you had the 30 day money back guarantee. If it didn’t have the tobacco and silicon issues do you think you would have kept it?
I have a feeling you’ll be joining the beach club (T6.1 that is)

That’s the rub right there. I don’t know, is the honest answer.

Still want that, stop and pull up, switch off engine, stand up, walk to the back and toilet, shower, make the tea, have a chill, get into bed, with no faff.
To be honest

 

[Kayleigh]

That’s the rub right there. I don’t know, is the honest answer.

Still want that, stop and pull up, switch off engine, stand up, walk to the back and toilet, shower, make the tea, have a chill, get into bed, with no faff.
To be honest

That’ll be the Club Joker then?

 

[pluc99]

I think you'll be sadly disappointed if you're expecting the PHEV/4Mo to be an additional 5K. I would say 15K is closer the mark. Those batteries aren't cheap, plus all the development spend has to be paid for.

You may well be right of course. I was basing my guess on the difference between a 4Motion Tuareg R-Line and the corresponding PHEV R-Line/4Motion. My reasoning is that it should have a similar amount of batteries and technology costs. Having looked at it again the difference between the two is closer to £6000 (CHF 7000) and not the £5000 I said before. We'll see once they make it available. Based on @Californication69 's review of his MV experience I definitely won't be the first in line to switch.

 

[Californication69]

That’ll be the Club Joker then?

Would love a 4Motion club joker.
But would need an ergo comfort chair from the MV in the drivers seat position with height adjustable and no swivel.
I think it could work !
That’s a great idea

 

[ourcaliforniakid]

I’ll admit to have been lurking a bit on this thread and thank you Bill for your candidness. I was actually holding off for the Multivan but this week went all in on a new 6.1. Going to be interesting how the new model sells.

 

[Corradobrit]

I’ll admit to have been lurking a bit on this thread and thank you Bill for your candidness. I was actually holding off for the Multivan but this week went all in on a new 6.1. Going to be interesting how the new model sells.

Smart move IMO. What are the specs of the T6.1?

 

[ourcaliforniakid]

Smart move IMO. What are the specs of the T6.1?

I went for a fairly high spec Surf. I quite like that Surf is a bit kooky and different, pick up within a fortnight.

To be honest with you with the discount and 5 year 0% it’s a no brainer and saves me at least an extra 20k on a Multivan that may or may not arrive before next summer and may or may not be any good.

 

[OooOooTheMonkey]

Beast sent back to VW Hereford.
Stinks of tobacco. Ciggie burns in seats. Floor and seats covered in silicon. Was an 2 owner car and was told it was 1 owner. And by lots of discussions with other valeters and motor trade people, tobacco smell will never be got rid of.
Good job they had a no quibble 30 day refund and return policy.
Drove there on A roads for 90 minutes.
I’ll be honest and say at £70k worth of motor, it is so noisy, rattles and the suspension is not like the 90 minute drive back in the air suspension £63k Defender (my24)
Disco S MY25 on order.

Really cannot live with the crashing noise in the MV.
Seat was good.
Electric sliding doors = ace.
But I fear for the California Beach / Ocean T7.
Gona be a bumpy ride.

I’ll get a roof tent for the Disco. And cook outside.
Fridge in the armrest.
Then Sprinter based JC 600D when I retire.

That’s really interesting. Thanks for sharing and your honest appraisal.

 

[OooOooTheMonkey]

That’s really interesting. Thanks for sharing and your honest appraisal.

This makes me wonder actually what the Cali would be like. I drove a T6.1 Transporter as a courtesy vehicle recently. Totally different experience to the T6.1 Cali. Weight difference was very obvious. So if the Multivan is like that in normal configuration, the Cali presumably can only be a more exaggerated version of this? Also, I don’t find the T6.1 at all bad to drive. Some minor improvements on the Multivan I think but is it really worlds apart?