CampervanTime
VIP Member
Hi Everyone
We've had a busy weekend
We had been looking forward to Saturday as it was the first time we'd actually stepped foot inside an Ocean (or SE) California. @Salty helped us a great deal when we were in Cornwall showing us round is amazing Beach though.
Steve + Leicester VW spent 3 hours with us talking through what people usually buy, explaining everything and being very patient! He gelled with us straight away by saying 'are you at month 1 or month 18 of the thought process around the california'!! We are month 1 for sure . He certainly knew that it takes time to sell these in most cases.
So, a nice specced white Ocean 150 manual awaited us in the showroom to look round. Wow, it's lovely. Both Sarah and I loved it at first sight and the new grey interior on the T6 is lovely too. It had the fancy under cupboard lighting (and in cupboard too) which just set it off really well.
We managed to get a quick drive in a 150 Manual (what we were thinking would be ideal for us) but it was a Beach so maybe just slightly lighter weight. It drove much better than we were both expecting. Just like driving a tour an or high up estate car. Yes you can feel the weight in it as it goes over bumps but it really is a good drive, if a little sluggish when doing 50-70 on the motorway.
So with much playing with the configurator, we're thinking along the lines of:
204 Manual Ocean - White (204 will be our luxury on this if we can stretch to it)
LED lights + auto high beam (we live in a dark rural village, so always buy the best lights possible)
Front+Rear Parking Sensors + Camera (didn't really want the camera but.. if we have a towbar bike carrier then I think this might be useful?)
Composition Media Radio + App Connect (his recommendation, we tested it and it was great with CarPlay)
Awning in Black
Shower Connection (we have a dog and thought this might be useful for rising off paws etc?)
LED Under cupboard lighting (looks fancy and we really liked it!)
Bed Extension with Comfort Sleeping Mat (is this the best option or are we better off leaving this off and getting an aftermarket one?)
Lockable storage compartment
Cruise Control
Magnetic Flashlight (can anyone show me what this is?!)
Towbar (for a bike rack later - what does towbar prep give you though???)
Tinted Rear Windows
So quite a spec really - roughly 60.5k, so quite a lot of saving to do!!
We have debated DSG (and adaptive cruise), we've had both options before on various cars and because this won't be a daily driver we felt that the manual will be fine. The manual box was surprisingly good to drive actually!
We could live with the 150 engine in reality, but given what we are spending both my wife and I like to have fast cars so this might just feel a bit pedestrian without the 204, so that's what is in our minds.
We wanted to get through this initial spec stage so we know what we're shooting for with our finances, and it will take us about 12 months from now to be in a position where we have what we need - maybe slightly sooner, but it means that we will probably be ordering March/April time next year.
Sorry for the long post, it's all VERY exciting.
We've got a diary now where we're writing down all of the events we want to go to, and also where we would have used 'Whipsy' (yes it has a name already). We're also going to do a charity fundraising style money thermometer for our fridge for our savings !! Pathetic really, we're both nearly 40!!
Oh - and we've booked a rental van (T6 150) from LTH in Leicester for Friday 13th October for the weekend. Going to Whitby / that coastal area too.
This feels like the start of a fantastic journey
We've had a busy weekend
We had been looking forward to Saturday as it was the first time we'd actually stepped foot inside an Ocean (or SE) California. @Salty helped us a great deal when we were in Cornwall showing us round is amazing Beach though.
Steve + Leicester VW spent 3 hours with us talking through what people usually buy, explaining everything and being very patient! He gelled with us straight away by saying 'are you at month 1 or month 18 of the thought process around the california'!! We are month 1 for sure . He certainly knew that it takes time to sell these in most cases.
So, a nice specced white Ocean 150 manual awaited us in the showroom to look round. Wow, it's lovely. Both Sarah and I loved it at first sight and the new grey interior on the T6 is lovely too. It had the fancy under cupboard lighting (and in cupboard too) which just set it off really well.
We managed to get a quick drive in a 150 Manual (what we were thinking would be ideal for us) but it was a Beach so maybe just slightly lighter weight. It drove much better than we were both expecting. Just like driving a tour an or high up estate car. Yes you can feel the weight in it as it goes over bumps but it really is a good drive, if a little sluggish when doing 50-70 on the motorway.
So with much playing with the configurator, we're thinking along the lines of:
204 Manual Ocean - White (204 will be our luxury on this if we can stretch to it)
LED lights + auto high beam (we live in a dark rural village, so always buy the best lights possible)
Front+Rear Parking Sensors + Camera (didn't really want the camera but.. if we have a towbar bike carrier then I think this might be useful?)
Composition Media Radio + App Connect (his recommendation, we tested it and it was great with CarPlay)
Awning in Black
Shower Connection (we have a dog and thought this might be useful for rising off paws etc?)
LED Under cupboard lighting (looks fancy and we really liked it!)
Bed Extension with Comfort Sleeping Mat (is this the best option or are we better off leaving this off and getting an aftermarket one?)
Lockable storage compartment
Cruise Control
Magnetic Flashlight (can anyone show me what this is?!)
Towbar (for a bike rack later - what does towbar prep give you though???)
Tinted Rear Windows
So quite a spec really - roughly 60.5k, so quite a lot of saving to do!!
We have debated DSG (and adaptive cruise), we've had both options before on various cars and because this won't be a daily driver we felt that the manual will be fine. The manual box was surprisingly good to drive actually!
We could live with the 150 engine in reality, but given what we are spending both my wife and I like to have fast cars so this might just feel a bit pedestrian without the 204, so that's what is in our minds.
We wanted to get through this initial spec stage so we know what we're shooting for with our finances, and it will take us about 12 months from now to be in a position where we have what we need - maybe slightly sooner, but it means that we will probably be ordering March/April time next year.
Sorry for the long post, it's all VERY exciting.
We've got a diary now where we're writing down all of the events we want to go to, and also where we would have used 'Whipsy' (yes it has a name already). We're also going to do a charity fundraising style money thermometer for our fridge for our savings !! Pathetic really, we're both nearly 40!!
Oh - and we've booked a rental van (T6 150) from LTH in Leicester for Friday 13th October for the weekend. Going to Whitby / that coastal area too.
This feels like the start of a fantastic journey