RE: Check out the smarter, larger VW California

RE: Check out the smarter, larger VW California

Author
Discussion

Timbo_S2

544 posts

265 months

Thursday 9th May
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Quite like these. Currently looking at replacing my 6 seat Caravelle, this is another option as a similar caravelle with a pop roof would be ideal. Shame I can't have the Beach with seats with 4wd or the bigger engine...

Sporky

6,490 posts

66 months

Thursday 9th May
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I like the idea of that 4motion hybrid drive train in a Golf estate.

oedipus

390 posts

68 months

Thursday 9th May
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WhyOne said:
pycraft said:
£70k? I'd budget £50k for a good car and leave £20k for lots of time in some really nice hotels.
£20k really doesn't buy all that much time in really nice hotels....
Depending on locale I think £300 a night is about right - certainly more comfort than a cramped camper with no we so requiring a walk or the ports portion route. Then factor in the likelihood of overnight charges and that buys you four two week holidays of comfort plus some weekends and not having the lump stuck on your drive. Maybe for a retired couple who wants to travel but otherwise doesn’t work for me.

edo111s

219 posts

227 months

Thursday 9th May
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pycraft said:
£70k? I'd budget £50k for a good car and leave £20k for lots of time in some really nice hotels.
I have had my T6 Cali for 4 years and if I needed money I’d sell my sportscar first (it’s nice to have both though).

The versatility of a well designed small campervan is amazing. If you like it, and put up with the compromises, then it’s the only vehicle worth having.

Unfortunately this new generation is large on the outside but smaller inside and with less storage and an awful windscreen shield for the night.
I’ll stick with mine for the foreseeable future.

smilo996

2,833 posts

172 months

Friday 10th May
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pycraft said:
£70k? I'd budget £50k for a good car and leave £20k for lots of time in some really nice hotels.
Great if you want to drive to Hotl car parks all the time. If you want to stop elsewhere, not so much.

smilo996

2,833 posts

172 months

Friday 10th May
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The ID Buzz camper is coming soon so it will be interesting to see what happens there and compare it with this.
Smaller, less range but perhaps better use of the interior.
Not cheap but VW vans are so capable, drove really well and are much more secure than yer Renaults, Fawds and Nissans.

toon10

6,247 posts

159 months

Friday 10th May
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Jonny has a review on his late break show. Gives a good insight into the specs, changes, etc. Worth a watch.


James_N

2,983 posts

236 months

Friday 10th May
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Watched Johnnys video on it last night. Looks a lovely bit of kit!

RosscoPCole

3,348 posts

176 months

Friday 10th May
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smilo996 said:
The ID Buzz camper is coming soon so it will be interesting to see what happens there and compare it with this.
Smaller, less range but perhaps better use of the interior.
Not cheap but VW vans are so capable, drove really well and are much more secure than yer Renaults, Fawds and Nissans.
The iD Buzz camper is causing VW problems to keep it under 3,500kg so has been delayed.

WY86

1,354 posts

29 months

Friday 10th May
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holidaying in one of those would be my idea of hell. cramped, having to pack stuff away every time you wanted to go anywhere, having to stay in horrible campsites or else upsetting the locals by trying #vanlife. each to their own and all that but nope do not see one appealing aspect of owning or holidaying in one.

toon10

6,247 posts

159 months

Friday 10th May
quotequote all
WY86 said:
holidaying in one of those would be my idea of hell. cramped, having to pack stuff away every time you wanted to go anywhere, having to stay in horrible campsites or else upsetting the locals by trying #vanlife. each to their own and all that but nope do not see one appealing aspect of owning or holidaying in one.
Having owned a T6 conversion, you don't holiday in them. I went on normal holidays but used the camper, mainly as a family car which could also swallow up flat packs from Ikea, do the shopping and the school run in.

The "lifestyle" part of these things is that we could pop into Northumberland for the day and have our portable toilet with us, we could cook, relax and use it as a base for the day. I used it for going on weekends away with my other half and young son. As a day van, it was a great base for going hiking, coming back and getting changed and grabbing a coffee in the van before heading home.

It's the freedom of having options that they are good for. I'll give you an example. I'd booked up the Ullswater boathouse for a romantic birthday treat with the Mrs. After I'd booked, I bought the van. We drove around the lakes, stopping by the roadside to make sandwiches and enjoy the view. We then went to Bowness as we were meeting up with friends for a birthday celebration. On the day we were supposed to be going home, we learned they were continuing the celebration, so we called a local camp site who had a pitch, drove over 30 minutes before our parking was up and setup. Unplanned but really made the long weekend for us.

I'd never have a caravan or motorhome as the idea of staying on a campsite for a week or two doesn't work for us, but one or two nights here and there is great.

TOOMANYMS

44 posts

164 months

Friday 10th May
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The "California" thats not available to buy in California. SMH