VW Van Centre (Cleckheaton/Batley) - Buying New CaliO

RetroRed5 · Feb 11, 2019

Part 1...
Dealership: VW Van Centre (Cleckheaton/Batley)
Dealer Name: Mark Wheelwright

For the past several years, we've hired a Transporter (Shuttle) from VW Van Centre (Cleckheaton site) for 2 weeks during the summer and we've always found them to be friendly and helpful (not to mention good on price in terms of hiring); when the time came for us to buy our California they were the obvious choice (they are quite local to us). They referred us to their sister site for sales near Batley.

So we visited the Batley dealership in April 2018 and was greeted by Mark Wheelwright; there were no high-pressure sales tactics, just a "Take your time looking at our Cali's and let me know if you have any questions". So we spent around half an hour looking at the Cali's they had in the showroom, asked Mark a few questions and off we went.

Early May 2018, I arranged for a test drive of a CaliO; Mark took me on the test drive after which I decided that we would take a plunge and buy one.

I went away to do some more research and spent some time with online configurator putting together our perfect Cali; I visited the dealership again towards the end of May to place my order; Mark went through every item on the spec (27 factory options and 9 dealer options). I signed some paperwork, paid my £2k deposit and left it with Mark. A couple of days later Mark got in touch to say our order was in and so the waiting began.

Within a month of ordering, I went back to the dealer (via email) a couple of times to tweak my spec (I added a heated windscreen and detachable towbar); in both cases Mark got it done right away without any fuss (although this was only possible because we didn't yet have a build date).

Part 2 to follow...

RetroRed5 · Feb 11, 2019

Part 2...
Mark called in July to give us a build date of the first week in August (2018).

Our CaliO was subject to the delays caused by WLTP and so in spite of ordering in May, we didn't take delivery until 3 weeks ago (Jan '19). It was originally supposed to land late September, then October, then December. Throughout the delays, Mark did his best to keep us updated but for much of the process, the dealer was also somewhat in the dark.

Just into the New Year, we got a call from Mark to say our CaliO has arrived; I booked a time to go view and "sign-off" on the Cali; this has to be done BEFORE they add any of the dealer options that I'd selected. I went to the dealership and he went through every option from my order sheet so it was signed-off and ready for the next step.

During the week that followed they fit all the dealer options, organized the darker tints, had a tracker fitted, fitted the retro VW wheels, had the bodywork treated, organized the extended warranty and service package.

A week'ish later I went to pick up our CaliO; Mark again went through every factory option, every dealer option, and spent a good hour going through some of the basics of using and living with a Cali. I signed the final bit of paperwork and off I went.

Throughout the whole process, there were a few things I would have like to see improved but these are more about VW improving the process rather than anything the dealership could have done.

So based on my own experience, I can't really fault this particular dealership; they did a fantastic job from start to finish and I would highly recommend them to anyone considering buying a new (or nearly new) California.

Top marks all round!! :thumb