
Borris
Super Poster
VIP Member
After nearly two years of wonderful trouble free motoring we have just sold our gorgeous SE 180 dsg 4motion. 

We first saw her in June 2015 as SMG Tonbridge's newly registered demonstrator and were the first to sit in her. She was/still is fully loaded with all sorts of extras and accssesories and has behaved faultlessly through out the 11700 miles that we had driven her. You hear about all the various problems that occur on Californias but we have seen none. She was/is a truly wonderful vehicle. So why did we decide to sell her?
Well two reasons really:
1. It really started to annoy me intensely to see her just sitting idle on the drive whilst we had insufficient time to make proper use of her.
2. We also own a T6 150 manual Beach which we have found to be better suited to our current needs.
We decided to buy Margot as a mobile eścape capsule for Mrs B and me to use exclusively. We had planned to use it much more than we have been able to but have found that both family and other commitments have constantly prevented us from taking full advantage of this wonderful vehicle. I had refused to consider selling her as I had invested so much emotion into both buying and equipping her and because of the many marvellous adventures that we had enjoyed in her. I had become strangely attached to this vehicle like no other car that I've ever owned before. However my wife raised the subject on several occasions and in the end a pragmatic decision had to be made. Handing her over to her new owners in Wales was quite a dismal experience and I still miss her now. The only comfort is that she went to a very good home and that we still have our gorgeous Beach.
We hadn't set out to buy two Californias but it just happened. Having bought Margot some months before we then felt that we needed to replace our elderly family car. This is the vehicle that does all the general work in our family and it had become a little small as our grandchildren continue to insist on growing. So we went looking for a replacement and eventually set our minds on buying a Caravelle. We have eight grandchildren some of whom we look after regularly. On visiting SMG to discuss this we eventually ended up with their exceptionally well equipped and as yet unregistered at the time of our visit, Beach demonstator. As both vehicles worked out about the same price, that is after we had added in our preferred options to the Caravelle and SMG had offered us a spectacularly good deal on the Beach, we both felt that we would rather have the Beach. Apart from losing the second sliding door, the Beach offers so much more versatility over a Caravelle. And so after fourteen months of ownership it has proved to be a truely amazing and versatile workhorse. There doesn't seem to be anything that this vehicle doesn't do exceptionally well.

I must also add that the Beach also helped us to make the decision to sell Margot. We had never used Margot's water tanks, safe, sink or tap and normally prefer to cook outside if the weather permits. We found the wardrobe an awkward space to use and we probably wouldn't have ordered the 4 motion that was fitted. I have discovered that I prefer the simplicity of the manual Beach roof over the electric hydraulic one on the SE/Ocean. Then there's the downstairs bed. We have the seven seater Beach variant and the downstairs bed is huge as is the rear cabin with the two swivel captains seats removed. The difference in space is startling. Our Beach is a 150 ps manual and whilst it is a lovely gear box I do miss the dsg box that Margot had. I also rather like the less complicated no nonsence feel of the Beach. No fancy fabric covered door cards here to get damaged just tough wipe down plastics everywhere, which is ideal for our crew. I would have another SE/Ocean tomorrow if we had more free time and indeed would probably still have Margot now if we had been able to use her more, but for the time being it is the Beach that has proved to be more suited to our current circumstances.
I don't want this thread to become a re-run of the old acrimonious SE verses Beach - which is best, thread. Both these vehicles have amazed and delighted me and are brilliant at what they are designed to do. It is just that they have two completely different characters that suit different peoples' needs. I just thought that I would share our experiences with you as it may help others to decide on which variant to buy.

We first saw her in June 2015 as SMG Tonbridge's newly registered demonstrator and were the first to sit in her. She was/still is fully loaded with all sorts of extras and accssesories and has behaved faultlessly through out the 11700 miles that we had driven her. You hear about all the various problems that occur on Californias but we have seen none. She was/is a truly wonderful vehicle. So why did we decide to sell her?
Well two reasons really:
1. It really started to annoy me intensely to see her just sitting idle on the drive whilst we had insufficient time to make proper use of her.
2. We also own a T6 150 manual Beach which we have found to be better suited to our current needs.
We decided to buy Margot as a mobile eścape capsule for Mrs B and me to use exclusively. We had planned to use it much more than we have been able to but have found that both family and other commitments have constantly prevented us from taking full advantage of this wonderful vehicle. I had refused to consider selling her as I had invested so much emotion into both buying and equipping her and because of the many marvellous adventures that we had enjoyed in her. I had become strangely attached to this vehicle like no other car that I've ever owned before. However my wife raised the subject on several occasions and in the end a pragmatic decision had to be made. Handing her over to her new owners in Wales was quite a dismal experience and I still miss her now. The only comfort is that she went to a very good home and that we still have our gorgeous Beach.
We hadn't set out to buy two Californias but it just happened. Having bought Margot some months before we then felt that we needed to replace our elderly family car. This is the vehicle that does all the general work in our family and it had become a little small as our grandchildren continue to insist on growing. So we went looking for a replacement and eventually set our minds on buying a Caravelle. We have eight grandchildren some of whom we look after regularly. On visiting SMG to discuss this we eventually ended up with their exceptionally well equipped and as yet unregistered at the time of our visit, Beach demonstator. As both vehicles worked out about the same price, that is after we had added in our preferred options to the Caravelle and SMG had offered us a spectacularly good deal on the Beach, we both felt that we would rather have the Beach. Apart from losing the second sliding door, the Beach offers so much more versatility over a Caravelle. And so after fourteen months of ownership it has proved to be a truely amazing and versatile workhorse. There doesn't seem to be anything that this vehicle doesn't do exceptionally well.

I must also add that the Beach also helped us to make the decision to sell Margot. We had never used Margot's water tanks, safe, sink or tap and normally prefer to cook outside if the weather permits. We found the wardrobe an awkward space to use and we probably wouldn't have ordered the 4 motion that was fitted. I have discovered that I prefer the simplicity of the manual Beach roof over the electric hydraulic one on the SE/Ocean. Then there's the downstairs bed. We have the seven seater Beach variant and the downstairs bed is huge as is the rear cabin with the two swivel captains seats removed. The difference in space is startling. Our Beach is a 150 ps manual and whilst it is a lovely gear box I do miss the dsg box that Margot had. I also rather like the less complicated no nonsence feel of the Beach. No fancy fabric covered door cards here to get damaged just tough wipe down plastics everywhere, which is ideal for our crew. I would have another SE/Ocean tomorrow if we had more free time and indeed would probably still have Margot now if we had been able to use her more, but for the time being it is the Beach that has proved to be more suited to our current circumstances.
I don't want this thread to become a re-run of the old acrimonious SE verses Beach - which is best, thread. Both these vehicles have amazed and delighted me and are brilliant at what they are designed to do. It is just that they have two completely different characters that suit different peoples' needs. I just thought that I would share our experiences with you as it may help others to decide on which variant to buy.
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