Cashed in

[Private_Kelly]

Sorry but a comment like that just screams arrogance. We knew exactly what I was buying 3 years ago and during that time was exactly what we needed. But with 2 Golden Retrievers and a baby the California is no longer practical, in 5-6 yrs time that may change and we get another.

I agree totally. Two big dogs alone would in my opinion be hard work in a cali.

 

[66tim99]

70l beer fried

Huh? (flamin autocorrect?)

class 3 winter proof

Is that insulation in the walls/glass/ pop top? Any idea what the Cali is? Double glazing on some windows anyway…

 

[HowieDog]

Huh? (flamin autocorrect?)

Is that insulation in the walls/glass/ pop top? Any idea what the Cali is? Double glazing on some windows anyway…

Panel van has insulation in walls and floor and we have specified heater waste tank and alpine high altitude option for the 6kw diesel heater.

the pop top is same as cali but can add an internal padded lines (similar to isotop) and there is a heater vent that feeds up into the pop top. I find in the cali that those downstairs get too hot if the heater is on anything other than the lowest setting but then it can be a bit chilly upstairs. The Hymer has heater outlets dotted around that can be opened or closed so can divert more hot up top if needed.
Windows are double glazed and there is an additional insulation panel that can be fitted against the rear doors too.
as far as I’m aware the cali isn’t insulated in the same way (as you can see the exterior panel when looking in from cupboards, but someone will be more knowledgeable than me.

 

[BeeBee]

I was hugely surprised at the high price we buy any car offered. its hard to ignore the market right now.

I’m suspicious of ‘quotes’ on these sites as a friend told me when they come to examine your vehicle it’s always ‘considerably less’ !
Not that we’re thinking of it … love our wee van .

 

[Amarillo]

I’m suspicious of ‘quotes’ on these sites as a friend told me when they come to examine your vehicle it’s always ‘considerably less’ !
Not that we’re thinking of it … love our wee van .

There have been members of this group who have received the price first offered by WBAC.

 

[calibusje]

Great! What a considerable group of fans of the ducato large campervan variants here at the Volkswagen california forum
I even read that the ducato is the new california
But there will also be a reasonable explanation for that, but everyone has their own idea about it, isn’t it. I hope they don’t change the group name…
Only kidding.
Oh and this is irony not arrogance (neither cynical nor sarcastic).
Greetings

 

[HowieDog]

Great! What a considerable group of fans of the ducato large campervan variants here at the Volkswagen california forum
I even read that the ducato is the new california
But there will also be a reasonable explanation for that, but everyone has their own idea about it, isn’t it. I hope they don’t change the group name…
Only kidding.
Oh and this is sarcasm not arrogance.
Greetings

Lol, I think we need a category in the forum for “vans other than Cali’s. ‘ as there are quite a few on herne how who have made a change but still contribute to this community.
I found previous threads where Cali owners bought other vans such as @GrannyJen Ayers Rock and @DNR Boxdrive.really useful.

I do think VW are behind the curve by some margin as there is so much innovation going on with other manufacturers.

 

[Legin]

Im another to move to a 6m from a cali. I bought the cali to use as a second car as well as for camping. I didnt last without my car fix so another 911 appeared. Now it was always an act of faith but I figured I could try and sell if it didnt work, must of had a vision !
In the end I didnt have it as long as I hoped with the possibility to get out and revisit campers later turning my head so it went. I liked it a lot but given it was camping only for me didnt really make sense with all the well documented compromises making it something you can cope with but I want a bit more than cope I guess.

I had 6 months out and looked at 5.4m vans, in the end I decided to go 6m as I didnt want a pop top and the 5.4m vans invariably have a space compromise somewhere, bed, shower or dinette.

Still not sure right decision 6m vs 5.4m but I decided to go 6m , not even seen one but Im getting a Dreamer D51 which is a new 2022 model. The bed is over size really at 1.95 x 1.53m basically a king size.

I discounted the Mercedes and Crafter based vans on either cost and/or availability grounds plus Ive had it with VAG Groups latest unreliable current offerings. Comes to something when I buy a Fiat over a VW albeit the new MK8 thinking it will serve me better.
I have noted though that the new panel vans are even crazier priced vs California,s, the gap is closing.
As said no right or wrongs just depends on ones need.
We will see , should get it in q1.

 

[calibusje]

Lol, I think we need a category in the forum for “vans other than Cali’s. ‘ as there are quite a few on herne how who have made a change but still contribute to this community.
I found previous threads where Cali owners bought other vans such as @GrannyJen Ayers Rock and @DNR Boxdrive.really useful.

I do think VW are behind the curve by some margin as there is so much innovation going on with other manufacturers.

Or they should still change the name to 'fiatducatothenewcaliforniaclub' so that it is easy to find for anyone looking for information about the ducato variants. Personally I think is there is enough out there for the fans of the bigger campervan like the ducato.
True, the transporter is certainly not sacred but the ducato is not new at all but evolved like the ... well the transporter (t5 - 5.1 - 6 - 6.1).
Seriously, for those who love something completely different from the california and especially bigger, and are interested in/ member of this forum, there is already the GC category. Making another one for the ducato enthusiasts? Don’t know about that but that is my opinion, everyone has their own idea about this. I will see. I'm here for the california (the small one that is).
And then something completely at my own expense (and risk ): I am a fan of the Volkswagen camper community and want to participate in it; many times it is a real magical feeling to belong to a group like-minded (They can even make you see things differently ) a kind of family or group of friends that helps you with advice and where you can contribute, well, I bought a Volkswagen and not a Fiat and became a member of this very interesting and helpful forum about the all VW californias. And that is why I am here.
Greetings

 

[HowieDog]

Or they should still change the name to 'fiatducatothenewcaliforniaclub' so that it is easy to find for anyone looking for information about the ducato variants. Personally I think is there is enough out there for the fans of the bigger campervan like the ducato.
True, the transporter is certainly not sacred but the ducato is not new at all but evolved like the ... well the transporter (t5 - 5.1 - 6 - 6.1).
Seriously, for those who love something completely different from the california and especially bigger, and are interested in/ member of this forum, there is already the GC category. Making another one for the ducato enthusiasts? Don’t know about that but that is my opinion, everyone has their own idea about this. I will see. I'm here for the california (the small one that is).
And then something completely at my own expense (and risk ): I am a fan of the Volkswagen camper community and want to participate in it; many times it is a real magical feeling to belong to a group like-minded (They can even make you see things differently ) a kind of family or group of friends that helps you with advice and where you can contribute, well, I bought a Volkswagen and not a Fiat and became a member of this very interesting and helpful forum about the all VW californias. And that is why I am here.
Greetings

Interesting perspective. The extension of your view is that if you don’t own a Cali you’re either not welcome to be a member or the forum, or if you make comment of another manufacturer’s product you’re not welcome either.

Another more enlightened view might be that as a current and soon to be former Cali owner, the knowledge I’ve picked up over 15 years of ownership might be useful to other members. And the knowledge I am gaining of an alternative product might also be useful to other members who are considering their options for a larger van and feel the VW offering is not to their liking.

 

[calibusje]

Interesting perspective. The extension of your view is that if you don’t own a Cali you’re either not welcome to be a member or the forum, or if you make comment of another manufacturer’s product you’re not welcome either.

Another more enlightened view might be that as a current and soon to be former Cali owner, the knowledge I’ve picked up over 15 years of ownership might be useful to other members. And the knowledge I am gaining of an alternative product might also be useful to other members who are considering their options for a larger van and feel the VW offering is not to their liking.

OMG, never seen my words and intentions so twisted as what you make them! Also, you do know that you are elaborating on what I wrote and this is completely for yourself, right? Anyway, I know what I mean but if you want to see it negatively, this is completely up to you. Your experience is of course welcome, do I mention otherwise? Or wait, was I talking in someone else's name? No, only in my own name and for my own account. That everyone has their reason to be here.
I also remain in favor of being able to express an opinion in a polite respectful manner. If you think I don't do this, sorry for that.
But: being here to get information to change (evolve as they call it) to another bigger van because the california is not up to par, can't be the reason for the existence of this wonderful forum? More enlightened, you say? Perhaps indeed better a category for that.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Cmon Volkswagen…
The community wants a Crafter California pop top MWB …

 

[calibusje]

Cmon Volkswagen…
The community wants a Crafter California pop top MWB …

And now that's an idea that might serve many people

 

[soulstyledevon]

And now that's an idea that might serve many people

Proper Derv edition and the new E-multi van sleeping pack, could work…
Yes, two vehicles.
Perhaps a multi buy scheme

 

[calibusje]

Proper Derv edition and the new E-multi van sleeping pack, could work…
Yes, two vehicles.
Perhaps a multi buy scheme


View attachment 86409

You never know.

 

[GrannyJen]

Without going completely off topic -

I have mentioned before to both @Martin and @calikev the club could be missing a trick. or two.

People will always be sizing up and downsizing, and will always be interested in other camper vans. I'm not sure a separate section for the forum will be the right place to go about it, perhaps a sister forum, or perhaps "GC and other high top campers" as the GC is still pretty new with just a handful of forum members.

From a commercial point of view campervanbits could open itself up to a much wider market as much of what is sold there has a crossover with other camper vans and buyers of accessories will also have a huge community to get reviews and opinions from.

 

[calibusje]

Without going completely off topic -

I have mentioned before to both @Martin and @calikev the club could be missing a trick. or two.

People will always be sizing up and downsizing, and will always be interested in other camper vans. I'm not sure a separate section for the forum will be the right place to go about it, perhaps a sister forum, or perhaps "GC and other high top campers" as the GC is still pretty new with just a handful of forum members.

From a commercial point of view campervanbits could open itself up to a much wider market as much of what is sold there has a crossover with other camper vans and buyers of accessories will also have a huge community to get reviews and opinions from.

Now, this is thinking along I guess rather than going off topic; and for the commercial point of view: top! A sister forum for the other vans (and later: an other sister forum for the upgraders to a 'white whale' as they are sometimes called here?).
So diversify, because apparently there is a lot of interest in the ducato variants in the california club?
Or: one can also look around the mighty thing called the internet for anything not california related
and completely away from the idea of driving around and traveling with a small campervan; people evolve, situations change.
This forum has continued to be a source of information for the small campervan. I suspect there is something like this for any other form of camping/brand of campervan. But this is only me and my idea about it...
Before everyone draws his conclusions about what I wrote, I'll make one myself: all the same for me, I myself would not find it so opportune to divide even further for the larger campervans, certainly those of a different brand, but if it is, then it is like this. If nothing changes and the ducato variants keep popping up, no problem either: it just doesn't apply to me. A sisterforum, why not: there any ducato enthusiast can be lyrical about the isolation, the layout, the shower room or whatever ducato related or even how much they cashed in selling the california. Everyone interested can also visit this 'large campervanforum'.

I have nothing to say here. That's obvious but it will not stop me from having an idea about the small campervan like the california, the way of traveling with it and this forum.
And I mean this in a friendly way.
greetings
EDIT:
And even though I say and mean the same as for example the post below (clarinetbcn), I'm not going to get thumps up but that doesn't bother me; I know that many also think that this forum is really about the small campervan like the California and not about the switch to bigger. Just mention it and move on.

 

[clarinetbcn]

Without going completely off topic -

I have mentioned before to both @Martin and @calikev the club could be missing a trick. or two.

People will always be sizing up and downsizing, and will always be interested in other camper vans. I'm not sure a separate section for the forum will be the right place to go about it, perhaps a sister forum, or perhaps "GC and other high top campers" as the GC is still pretty new with just a handful of forum members.

From a commercial point of view campervanbits could open itself up to a much wider market as much of what is sold there has a crossover with other camper vans and buyers of accessories will also have a huge community to get reviews and opinions from.

What you say is true, but...the California is a unique concept: a campervan which occupies the same space as a normal car, and can travel, and park, anywhere a normal car can. Why else would I have paid more for my Beach than larger campers with fixed beds and hot showers?

Summer of 2020 I spent 5 weeks with the van hiking in the Austrian Alps. I also visited musician friends in Vienna and Graz, and slept in my van parked in the street. No one knew.. My parking space rental in Barcelona, and ferry boat charges in Denmark, are the same as a normal car. It is my only vehicle. A larger van is only for vacations, so this makes the California special. The GC does not form a part of this category, neither does any vehicle which is over 2m high or 5m long. Obviously they have their market, but the California, and similar sized vans, are special.

I am interested in information and experiences from larger vans, but only in as much as I can apply them to my Cali. I thought about and analyzed for years before buying my Cali, based on the above criteria, which is not shared by larger vehicles. I also took into account that about 50% of the time my Cali needs to seat 7 with all their equipment from my mountaineering/ski group.

So, I'm interested in everybody's experience (even the ghastly Unimogs!), but I don't want to see a forum dedicated to an amazingly unique multipurpose transformer vehicle diluted by second car, limited use, small road inappropriate vehicles which are only used on vacations a few weeks a year. A user with this profile would be better off with a larger vehicle with its advantages. This last summer in the Pyrenees I had to deal with some people with these vehicles on what are the equivalent of Scottish single track roads, except...it's high altitude and there are no turnouts! One should be aware of what vehicle is appropriate for the circumstances in which it will be used.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

Our experience is that the VW California is always the one people point at and lust over on every campsite we have visited. Why? I haven’t a clue but they do and that’s a fact.

 

[Sunstoner]

Our experience is that the VW California is always the one people point at and lust over on every campsite we have visited. Why? I haven’t a clue but they do and that’s a fact.

Id say its all down to the fit & finish and the fact that its a factory made vehicle from VW. The Cali reeks 'campervan' from every hole!

 

[GrannyJen]

What you say is true, but...the California is a unique concept: a campervan which occupies the same space as a normal car, and can travel, and park, anywhere a normal car can. Why else would I have paid more for my Beach than larger campers with fixed beds and hot showers?

Summer of 2020 I spent 5 weeks with the van hiking in the Austrian Alps. I also visited musician friends in Vienna and Graz, and slept in my van parked in the street. No one knew.. My parking space rental in Barcelona, and ferry boat charges in Denmark, are the same as a normal car. It is my only vehicle. A larger van is only for vacations, so this makes the California special. The GC does not form a part of this category, neither does any vehicle which is over 2m high or 5m long. Obviously they have their market, but the California, and similar sized vans, are special.

I am interested in information and experiences from larger vans, but only in as much as I can apply them to my Cali. I thought about and analyzed for years before buying my Cali, based on the above criteria, which is not shared by larger vehicles. I also took into account that about 50% of the time my Cali needs to seat 7 with all their equipment from my mountaineering/ski group.

So, I'm interested in everybody's experience (even the ghastly Unimogs!), but I don't want to see a forum dedicated to an amazingly unique multipurpose transformer vehicle diluted by second car, limited use, small road inappropriate vehicles which are only used on vacations a few weeks a year. A user with this profile would be better off with a larger vehicle with its advantages. This last summer in the Pyrenees I had to deal with some people with these vehicles on what are the equivalent of Scottish single track roads, except...it's high altitude and there are no turnouts! One should be aware of what vehicle is appropriate for the circumstances in which it will be used.

Completely agree with you, except the last part.

We are talking cmpervans, not motorhomes, vehicles converted within the size specifications of the base vehicle.

However the forum is diluted, with the GC section, which is why I said if it's to go anywhere in this forum rather than a sister forum that's where "others" should go.

Anyhow, this little diversion has achieved one amazing result.

@WelshGas agreed with you

 

[calibusje]

Completely agree with you, except the last part.

We are talking cmpervans, not motorhomes, vehicles converted within the size specifications of the base vehicle.

However the forum is diluted, with the GC section, which is why I said if it's to go anywhere in this forum rather than a sister forum that's where "others" should go.

Anyhow, this little diversion has achieved one amazing result.

@WelshGas agreed with you

So since the forum is diluted with the GC section as you say, should all the big campervans be included? Just to understand your reasoning why the ducato variants belong here.

 

[GrannyJen]

So since the forum is diluted with the GC section as you say, should all the big campervans be included? Just to understand your reasoning why the ducato variants belong here.

I did not say they do.

I said this: I'm not sure a separate section for the forum will be the right place to go about it, perhaps a sister forum, or perhaps "GC and other high top campers"

The same as with the MP. There is a sister forum for that, however if anyone was of a mind to expand this forum to include other types then the GC would be the place to share at as it is a vehicle that is already outside of the size of the Pop-top small multilane variant.

 

[calibusje]

I did not say they do.

I said this: I'm not sure a separate section for the forum will be the right place to go about it, perhaps a sister forum, or perhaps "GC and other high top campers"

The same as with the MP. There is a sister forum for that, however if anyone was of a mind to expand this forum to include other types then the GC would be the place to share at as it is a vehicle that is already outside of the size of the Pop-top small multilane variant.

I read the following: “GC and other high top campers" as the GC is still pretty new with just a handful of forum members.
So the ducato variants at the GC section because not so many 'members' yet? I don’t get it, but that’s just me.
The ducato belongs to the GC by size? I can understand but the GC is only here because of the name but it is far away from the small campervan and so is the Ducato.
But like I said: it just doesn’t apply to me (did you read that? I spend a lot of time in my posts because I don't speak English and would not like me to be misunderstood). I do notice great interest in the ducato variants on this california forum and try to understand this. Also look where this is going.
Maybe the california is also praised on other camper sites or forums as the ducato here [Meant as a joke]

 

[GrannyJen]

I read the following: “GC and other high top campers" as the GC is still pretty new with just a handful of forum members.
So the ducato variants at the GC section because not so many 'members' yet? I don’t get it, but that’s just me.
The ducato belongs to the GC by size? I can understand but the GC is only here because of the name but it is far away from the small campervan and so is the Ducato.
But like I said: it just doesn’t apply to me (did you read that? I spend a lot of time in my posts because I don't speak English and would not like me to be misunderstood). I do notice great interest in the ducato variants on this california forum and try to understand this. Also look where this is going.
Maybe the california is also praised on other camper sites or forums as the ducato here [Meant as a joke]

I understand English is not your first language, the nuances of phraseology will be difficult for you, and I hope that I demonstrate a respect for that.

There was a suggestion that as a few members have drifted to larger Ducato based campers, but still have knowledge to impart, and that others also may have an interest in sharing knowledge of other, non California campers, this forum should have a separate section. I responded by saying I do not think that will be appropriate, but if it were to happen then perhaps the place for it would be the GC section. I also suggested that if it were to go that way, and certainly from a commercial point of view there is a large market sector that could be exploited by campervanbits, there could be a sister forum, as there is currently a sister forum for the Marco Polo.

Yes, the California is very highly praised on other Campervan social media places. Please note I emphasise Campervan as opposed to motorhomes. There is a relationship between people who wish to live in as small a place possible for their needs as the vehicle is to facilitate other lifestyles, and those who see the vehicle as central to the lifestyle.