I think it would be good if you could have a timeshare or syndicate ownership of a motorhome. For those who get limited time off work 4/5 people sharing would give everyone ample usage.
Andy
Your quite right about the build quality of a california, it is in a class of it's own, it took us a while to justify the cost but we are so glad we did.
Regarding the gas it will only take one 907, what we have is a spare 901 that we carry round so if we run out it will finish the meal and knock up a few brews ect until we get a new 907. Like you we spend a lot of time on the continent and have found this the best way to carry spare gas without taking up space.
Just another quick point, some time ago while not paying attention whilst lowering the roof we caught the fabric in the mechanism and damaged the fabric, it was not torn but badly creased. Last week van went in for service so I asked them to take a look at it and give me advise on what to do. To my surprise they are fitting a new set of roof bellows under warrannty, I don't think you would get service like that from someone selling you a conversion?
Regarding the new engine sizes we have a 2.5l 174 auto 5 cylinder, can't understand why they stoped it on paper the new version is just as powerful but I think I would look for a good second hand 5 cylinder, It tows anything is as smooth as any luxury car I have driven and is quite frugal for a van. a two week tour of Italy during which there was a lot of heavy footed driving to keep to our tight schedule saw us return an average of 36.4 MPG.
Feel free to ask if you want to know any more, a read of the posts on facebook VW California will give a lot of info too
Mick-Gail
Hi mick-gail.
Thanks for the info, hadn't realised the 2.5lt engines were a 5 pot, bound to be more refined than a 4 pot imho. so will bear that in mind.
As for the fabric getting caught on the roof mechanism, that's probably quite easy to do, I noticed on the conversion that I looked at, the fabric had obviousley been trapped a few times, although not ripped, it had gone so thin and worn that daylight was shining through on both sides were, the mechanism joints/pivots are located.
Andy.
NB. I did start a VW California post a week or so ago, but due to it going of topic, the post was terminated, sorry to the OP here, for going a little of topic.
Hi Andy
The fabric of the roof is always a problem on this type of van, especially during closing as the volume of air in the roof has to be displaced some where, normally we leave the door open, this time it was the up wind side and it negated the effect causing the roof to bellow out and get caught.
The engine issue is to me a big one I have test driven a new 180 2.0l caravell as we thought about updating, the facts, figures and sales talk was not enough to convince me, and Gail did not like the new horizontal interior. Our van though only 18 months old has become like an old friend to us, we have become attached. I think this is because our previous motor homes were just for holidays whereas the california gets used all the time, the fact that if you keep it on the standard wheels it will pass under a 2m height barrier (many conversions don't due to the deeper profile roof) means it gets used as every day transport. It makes a great day van, shopping truck and in bad weather the amazing heater keeps it more than comfortable. We even packed 100 disposable cups during the winter hoping to get stuck in traffic so we could sell tea and coffee out of the window, feel smug and recoup some of the cost?
A friend points out how many night he could get in a 5* hotel for what we paid but I tell him looking at today market values in 40 years if it is regarded as a classic like splits and bays are now I might even make a profit.
Any questions you may have please ask, we may have only owned it for 18 months but we have had 70 odd nights out, and we took nearly 3 years of looking and research befor we brought.
Mick
Hi Mick.
Thanks for that, I think your friend is missing the point, especialy as the California, or any campervan for that matter, can be used as your regular day to day vehicle, unlike say a MotorHome.
I have stayed in plenty of 5* hotels through work, and to be honest I can't stand the places.
I get folk who say I am mad to go camping in France, when it would probably be cheaper to go on a package holiday to Turkey or Spain etc, and stay in an all inclusive hotel,
fact is it's nothing to do with the cost, it's all about life style choice.
Andy
couldn't agree more, we have camped (tents) for years, but following a complication during an operation Gail was left with very severely restricted mobility, the California has given us back our freedom. The what some people would cramped confines, compared to a full blown motor home, means most things can be done without having to move about to much.
The only minor down side now is more and more people getting to enjoy the same "life style", sites getting a little more expensive and busier, possibly only just outweighed by the resulting fall in gear prices. Now there's a point for a debate
Mick
Hi Mick.
Interesting that you mention mobility, as my 85 yrs young Father-in-law is registered disabled, and will soon have to give up his car, so the California would be great for me getting him to where he needs to go, the VW Dealer told me that wheelchair access ramps etc, would be straight forward to sort out, so yet another use for the California me thinks.
I think I must be the luckiest person I know. My Dad has a 6 berth motorhome, hardly used which he is reluctant to sell because he paid full whack for it and doesn't see why he should sell it for almost half of what he paid for it and give someone else a bargain. So he's keeping it for me to use as long as I tax it!
We're going to the Isle of Skye in May, but we'd already booked a cottage, but we'll have a few weekends away this year and take it to the south of France next year.
------------- Live is for living, learning and travelling
The 5 cylinder VW engine was replaced by the 2litre for reasons of lower emissions & lower production costs. smaller, higher output engines are the way forward.
Hi Tentz.
Explains why my Bro's 1.4 Turbo Petrol VW Golf has just had the engine die!, the car is barley 18 months old on a 09 Plate, with 20K on the clock, he bought it brand new back in April 09.
Strangley VW did not quibble, and a new engine was sent over from Germany to be fitted, all under warranty of course, but my Bro is concerned about the resale value of the car. although on the upside, it will be a three year old car with a 1 year old Engine when he comes to sell, so someone is going to get a bargain.
The way I see it, these new modern Engines are getting smaller, and more powerfull, great when new, but makes them risk to buy seconhand when they get to three years old or more.
As for the California, I think the older 2.5lt maybe a better buy, in terms of long time reliability, but who can tell, it's all somthing of a lottery.
I would say you are right to go for the 5cylinder, it has been around since the early 90s. The same engine has had 90, 105, 130 & 170bhp versions over the yrs.
I think eventually due to emission limits you won't see engines above 2litre but technology will allow very high power outputs.
Andy, Was in exactly the same position as yourself, needed wheelchair access vehicle. As it became apparent that a small car derived van would do no more than allow us to transport in wheelchair, we thought go a little bigger and have "the kitchen sink" too, thus giving a true multi function van. We looked long and hard, all the converters, coach builders and even bespoke. In the end it really came down to the warranty, being factory built it is a one stop shop for all servicing ect. Having had a string of VW's over the years including a golf that had clocked up 240,000 miles and was still going strong when I sold it I knew reliability would not be an issue. Although I tried to buy the van from a VW dealer in the first place, they kindly put me right and I brought it through JAG, a disabled vehicle specialist who fitted ramps, chair tie downs ect. When buying in this way it becomes VAT free, a 20% discount then made the California a good buy. The best thing we have done for years.
Mick
Thanks Mick.
Will look into JAG, I hadn't realy planned to be getting a California any time soon, just doing my home work, like I always do, but due to the worsening condition of the Father-In-Law, this may now change, other family members involved, so I have to tread carefully, and not go rushing in with my idea's, which may come accross as me being self centered.
Although at the end of the day, I am the only close family member, with a full driving licence.
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Topic: Motorhome Cost
