How would you redesign the Cali interior?

My parents have just got a new Wellhouse Terrier (I know - I did try to persuade them!) based on the Ford Transit Custom. Anyway, looking at it, there are some features better than the Cali and some worse.

One of the better ones is a "fly-off" handbrake. This means that once you pull on the handbrake you can then push it back down again (without pressing the button) and the brake will stay on. To release it, you pull it back up, press the button, and then drop it down like a normal handbrake. This is brilliant for swivelling the seats!

Apparently they get it done by a company in Bristol for about £200 (although they probably get loads done). They're going to get me the details so I can see if they can also do it for T5s. It's one thing that really annoys me about the Cali!

motacyclist said:

I'd like to be able to operate the gas valve without getting out of the van ...

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Isn't the one in the cupboard enough?

I would like to see more optional layouts. At the moment we have the Beach or SE. That is it.
What about the option of different bed layouts as above. Also, a fitted cassette toilet at the expense of carrying room. Then you have a choice.
I agree the electric roof should be replaced by a manual one. No doubt lead to a price reduction. (I wish)

I know what people mean about the complexity of the electric roof, but could you still have quite heavy objects on the roof - canoes and the like - with a manual roof? I'm thinking in particular about those of us, myself included, who might struggle with the physical effort .... although I guess it could be an option!

Another vote for the provision of a grill

reserves said:

Isn't the one in the cupboard enough?

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I've always worked on the basis that it is better to turn the gas off at the tap. This way there should be no gas 'in the system'

Agree, that was what I meant

Having had the Manual roof I can't wait to get the electro version.

I would like the front seats to swivel without having to open the doors, and have the ability to click the passenger seat in place at other angles other then front or rear.

I'd like a proper solution to blinds on the front cab

Hot water could be nice

My vote goes
1 Manual roof
2 Upto date control unit
3 Switch in cab area that turns off the gas at the valve

Not necessarily in that order.

Twin passenger seat option upfront.

Built in solar panels, leather as standard and

Solar panels as standard are another of the better features of the Terrier. Also you can have a grill (not that I personally would really want one). It's not all good though. It does have quite a few bad features as well - the main table top is stored in the boot for example!

I reckon taking the best features from each (Cali and Terrier) would make practically the perfect camper!

Definitely the twin seat up front. With one child it would be nice to all sit together. A weatherproof pop-up roof. And separate covers for the hob and the sink. And being able to swivel the seats without opening the doors. Other than that I quite like the Cali!

Very good question!

Get rid of the rattles - it's the only aspect of the Cali that I don't like.
Add paddle shift for the DSG, replace the handbrake with an electric one.

And I also hope that VW are regularly monitoring these forums for the great suggestions that you all come up with. If you are out there VW, just let us know that you are listening and I will order my T6 right away!

Lever activated seat back adjustment for front seats with a setting for turning seats. Electric or dash mounted handbrake. Maybe ability to slide front seat sideways towards centre for turning.

Jennydddd said:

Definitely the twin seat up front. ..... And being able to swivel the seats without opening the doors. Other than that I quite like the Cali!

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I think you are being greedy here, twin seat would take some swivelling

This thread has given me a headache.

I can't think of anything clever to say

I think the design of the Cali surpasses just about everything. The one thing I would like is a bit less teutonic grey and a bit more colour, but then that risks going down the common conversion route of dark wood, light wood, piano gloss (hello Marco Polo, ever seen kids with sticky fingers?)...

Grey at least you can do something about, cover it over with a colour of your choice!

Every time I curse and swear at what I perceive to be a flaw in the Cali design I then ask "what would I like instead" and the answer nearly always is "sorry Jen, your choice will drive you nuts in ten minutes of living with it".

My only thing, only only thing, is a clever, swish, failsafe manual roof opening.

I love the Cali. It's why I bought one.

motacyclist said:

I think you are being greedy here, twin seat would take some swivelling

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Most conversions have a clever swivelling twin passenger seat arrangement, like the Cali it takes some getting used to, bit of a faff but it gives a great forward or rear facing bench seat and does away with the cumbersome 5th seat.

A rocker switch for roof up and roof down, positioned so you can stand and watch the roof lowering to check the canvas is folding properly whilst operating it.

Fiddling with the control panel to do this is currently is completely unintuitive.

You don't need to be able to see the switch, just feel it. One way for up, and the other way for down. Handbrake needing to be on for it to work.

Plus - some flip out hooks in handy places.

Split glass top for sink and cooker. Some form of draining board.

Sliding lid to the fridge so it pops "up and across" so you can leave stuff on the lid and still get to the contents of the fridge. I am so bored of having to clear the top in order to get to the contents.

Ability to turn the gas on and off and deal with the water without having to dismantle everything.

A power supply on the dash retro fitted for free by VW at my next service as an apology for having forgotten to install one in our van in 2010 before it occurred to them to do it to later vans. SatNav's were invented a long time ago.

As others have said, electric front seats that swivel around at the push of a button without the need to open the doors. In fact the passenger seat can be on a scissor lift so I can stand on it and it can raise me upstairs to climb into bed easily (joking).

A switch for the central locking "upstairs".

Electric blinds (even if it is only the rear blind which is quite difficult to reach from the drivers seat on the motorway) and I agree that the sliding door blind should be in the door itself.

An extra 3 pin plug socket next to the existing one.

Catches on the sliding windows that are easier to operate.

A third seatbelt on the bench seat.

A fly off handbrake.

I'll stop now.....

How about a remote control for the roof?

Too early for me as i am complete newbie to the Cali but after a few day trips would love to see electric seats with a memory function, I hate losing my driving position when the seats have been turned. The other fiddly thing that I have found is the little metal strips that need to be removed to lift out the middle seats, a little finger hole and cover would make life a little easier.

A built in spirit level on the dash
Outside light
Comfort mattress built into the upstairs bed
Room upstairs to leave your duvet
Dogofix (like an isofix)

Gasgas said:

Room upstairs to leave your duvet

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Absolutely +1. To be able to leave the upstairs bed made up would be great. I'd be happy to forgo the few cm's height required to achieve that.

Something better than a knob to adjust the drivers seat back

Just broke a nail trying to twist it round whilst fiddling with the seat to get it past the steering wheel to turn it round.

As Hubert said, A lever, or better, electric option with memory

What about a App for tablet/smart phone that took over the control panel

I would prefer to see separate controls for each item then if one fails the others still work. Fridge just needs an on/off close to it and a temp control inside. Up/down switch for the roof on the dash (or manual). Standard controls are available for the Eberspacher and could be sited in the rear roof trim next to the heater controls. Battery voltage could be incorporated into the dash display. The water levels are hit and miss anyway so could be left out.
I know it's nice to have it all up there in one place but I think it's unnecessarily complex and obviously expensive to repair when/if it goes wrong.