Some early research - VW California
Discussion
Just throwing this out now, by way of an early bit of research...
In spite of having the Superbrig and enjoying it when we're using it; it's something of a financial drain (2nd car to tax, service, storage fees etc) and so far (and so far the planning is such that) we've used just fully serviced campsites and the facilities on those campsites. So....I'm wondering whether we've bought the wrong vehicle.
Just wondering if anyone has any experience of the VW California and whether they'd recommend it.
My thought process is to move on the X5 and replace it with a VW Cali SE for both family duties and holiday duties. Therefore saving on storage and the duplication of fixed motoring costs.
Looking at the VW website, aside from the deposit (chunky @ 14k ish), the monthly's on a PCP are only a little more than I'm paying on the X5.
What are people's views on the van? If we did it, it'd probably be the 180bhp DSG (not sure about 4Motion or not).
In spite of having the Superbrig and enjoying it when we're using it; it's something of a financial drain (2nd car to tax, service, storage fees etc) and so far (and so far the planning is such that) we've used just fully serviced campsites and the facilities on those campsites. So....I'm wondering whether we've bought the wrong vehicle.
Just wondering if anyone has any experience of the VW California and whether they'd recommend it.
My thought process is to move on the X5 and replace it with a VW Cali SE for both family duties and holiday duties. Therefore saving on storage and the duplication of fixed motoring costs.
Looking at the VW website, aside from the deposit (chunky @ 14k ish), the monthly's on a PCP are only a little more than I'm paying on the X5.
What are people's views on the van? If we did it, it'd probably be the 180bhp DSG (not sure about 4Motion or not).
Thanks guys.
Seem to be persuading Mrs Spuff as to the merits of these. Watched a fair few video reviews on the Cali last night and she appears smitten.
That said, we're going to see out the rest of the year and Spring in the Superbrig and see how things pan out. Whilst it's very tempting to make a c. 2.5k p.a. saving by combining both car and camper, I can't ignore the fact I've spent a good 3k on the Superbrig which I'd be unlikely to recoup come sale time - only make the van more saleable. So need to amortise that first.
Food for thought though.
Seem to be persuading Mrs Spuff as to the merits of these. Watched a fair few video reviews on the Cali last night and she appears smitten.
That said, we're going to see out the rest of the year and Spring in the Superbrig and see how things pan out. Whilst it's very tempting to make a c. 2.5k p.a. saving by combining both car and camper, I can't ignore the fact I've spent a good 3k on the Superbrig which I'd be unlikely to recoup come sale time - only make the van more saleable. So need to amortise that first.
Food for thought though.
Thanks for that, Rhodie. Seems to mirror both my expectations and a good list of desires too.
Have see they fetch really strong money second hand which is another good reason to go all out and potentially spec one and buy new - pre-reg-ish like yours.
I'm getting av 21mpg in the Superbrig and av 26mpg in the X5 so c. 30mpg would be a winner over both of those.
We'll see. We're away this weekend at Thetford Forest and next weekend somewhere else (potentially Essex coast) so we'll see how we fair. I've no regrets I've done the motorhome thing, but think I might've been better off looking at the camper before we took the plunge.
Have see they fetch really strong money second hand which is another good reason to go all out and potentially spec one and buy new - pre-reg-ish like yours.
I'm getting av 21mpg in the Superbrig and av 26mpg in the X5 so c. 30mpg would be a winner over both of those.
We'll see. We're away this weekend at Thetford Forest and next weekend somewhere else (potentially Essex coast) so we'll see how we fair. I've no regrets I've done the motorhome thing, but think I might've been better off looking at the camper before we took the plunge.
Rosscow said:
Alternatively, sell the Campervan and keep the X5.
Then just spend £10k to £15k on a lovely caravan
Have thought about that, given what loveliness can be bought for that money in caravan world. Then just spend £10k to £15k on a lovely caravan
BUT - it doesn't really fit in with our lifestyle; being "outdoorsy" people we tend to like to go either to remote-ish places or do a lot of walking / cycling. I have the feeling, a camper would get us closer to the action and be a bit more useable on a more regular basis. There's a certain amount of effort involved in both motorhoming & caravanning, which I guess we could forego if we went in our "regular" vehicle.
Not sure.
First step is to look around one in a showroom and if that looks positive, then I think I might hire one for a few days and see how we get on.
Thanks for your thoughts, guys.
Some interesting things to consider, there. Certainly, the difference in space would be the greatest difference but actually in some bizarre way I think I'd enjoy that. One of the frustrating things about the motorhome is that we just seem to pack it to the rafters with "stuff", which (in my mind at least) defeats the object of camping.
There, I've said it again - it's actually camping that I enjoy the most. For some reason, motorhoming is not having the same allure and not hitting the spot as much as I'd thought it would in the limited times we've been out in the van.
But all that aside, we're not able to use the van anywhere like as much as I'd hoped - mixture of MiL being very ill and me working abroad too much and the situation is only going to get worse - so the Superbrig's days with us are numbered.
I'm not going to be jumping headfirst into a Cali either - I see the benefits of one vehicle, reduction in costs, a kind of "do-anything" and "go-anywhere" vs a big coachbuilt but also see the downsides about space too. It's food for thought and something we'll consider in due course but for now I'll just stay as I am.
Anyway - anyone interested in a well-sorted Superbrig in superb condition, let me know. I'll be popping her on Pistonheads soon if I don't attract any interest on eBay.
Some interesting things to consider, there. Certainly, the difference in space would be the greatest difference but actually in some bizarre way I think I'd enjoy that. One of the frustrating things about the motorhome is that we just seem to pack it to the rafters with "stuff", which (in my mind at least) defeats the object of camping.
There, I've said it again - it's actually camping that I enjoy the most. For some reason, motorhoming is not having the same allure and not hitting the spot as much as I'd thought it would in the limited times we've been out in the van.
But all that aside, we're not able to use the van anywhere like as much as I'd hoped - mixture of MiL being very ill and me working abroad too much and the situation is only going to get worse - so the Superbrig's days with us are numbered.
I'm not going to be jumping headfirst into a Cali either - I see the benefits of one vehicle, reduction in costs, a kind of "do-anything" and "go-anywhere" vs a big coachbuilt but also see the downsides about space too. It's food for thought and something we'll consider in due course but for now I'll just stay as I am.
Anyway - anyone interested in a well-sorted Superbrig in superb condition, let me know. I'll be popping her on Pistonheads soon if I don't attract any interest on eBay.
I totally understand Rosscow, but as much as I try and get my head around caravans, they're just not for me. That said, I will take the missus and daughter for a pour over a few over the next few weeks to see if we're missing something, but it's the towing aspect I can't get over and all the faffing with Aquarolls and Wastemasters etc.
It also doesn't solve the additional work in looking after two vehicles - the cleaning, keeping it dry, maintained etc. Don't want to be popping down to the storage yard frequently to check on it.
Re: California - good to hear from an X5 owner who hasn't regretted it. If I went for it then it would be the 180bhp DSG. The other downside at the moment is the wife won't drive the motorhome, so it's all down to me - figure we'd get more enjoyment if we could both drive it. We'll see.
Not especially ruling anything out at the moment - will look at caravans but not really me and won't have the time to be faffing around. Cali looks like a good option since it'll be used every day as a vehicle and camper second so no worry about it being left idle. BUT, not going to jump into anything. I still love my X5 - that's part of the problem. It makes long journeys so pleasant that I don't want to do them in anything else, which is the only reason I would possibly consider a caravan.
It also doesn't solve the additional work in looking after two vehicles - the cleaning, keeping it dry, maintained etc. Don't want to be popping down to the storage yard frequently to check on it.
Re: California - good to hear from an X5 owner who hasn't regretted it. If I went for it then it would be the 180bhp DSG. The other downside at the moment is the wife won't drive the motorhome, so it's all down to me - figure we'd get more enjoyment if we could both drive it. We'll see.
Not especially ruling anything out at the moment - will look at caravans but not really me and won't have the time to be faffing around. Cali looks like a good option since it'll be used every day as a vehicle and camper second so no worry about it being left idle. BUT, not going to jump into anything. I still love my X5 - that's part of the problem. It makes long journeys so pleasant that I don't want to do them in anything else, which is the only reason I would possibly consider a caravan.
Gassing Station | Tents, Caravans & Motorhomes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff