My new Westfalia Joker has arrived

[Paul1]

For those who wonder why Westfalia call it a Joker, the definition according to Wikipedia is- Wild and beats all.

 

[2into1]

'VW Camper Sales' are one of the newly appointed agents for Westfalia, and they have just added details of their Blackberry Joker demonstrator to their website: http://www.vwcampersales.com/volkswagen-camper-van-stock-list/1505/

 

[Andresz]

This morning I met this 4WD, high lift beauty with snorkel..

 

[PatH]

Looks pretty rugged, whatever floats your boat...

Saw a Talbot Express 'Autosleeper' today, a high roof camper, with a 'wildcamping' sticker.

Like this...



Still worth money even though it was built in 1992...

I am really taken with the club joker, and could possibly stretch to getting one, but having priced up a 'reasonable' spec it's an eye watering amount of money.

I will stick with the 'preloved' Cali plan, see how I get on with that.

 

[paul.roberts]

Hi Cali guys and recent Joker owner---
I have just met with Matt at Lowdham's (at the NEC) and I referenced the forum posting of your new joker arriving, naturally - he remembers you !) I am a recent Cali owner and would like to say (with tin helmet firmly donned) - boy does the Cali get a serious run for the money with both the new pop top joker and of course the hardtop versions shown here in your photos. No doubt - the Cali is a thoroughbred. What it has achieved over the decades in its previous guises and of course along with those unbelievable residuals, give it its due place in the hall of fame for a clever, compact camper...

Like a fair few of us, I recently viewed the NEC offerings amongst which I quickly stumbled across the Hymercar Capetown (I expected so much from it but just couldn't grasp the lack of hot water and a bed mounted over the kitchen just looked too radical for the average weighted married couple)

The Joker pop top was impressive (a shower, real loo and hot water - all in a pop top shorty ?> - bonkers but amazing. But if truth be told, if you are going for all of those things, an argument lies with just go for the Elvis roof and LWB platform - 400mm longer and yep, its taller but the compromise over functionality VW size anomalies is in my opinion, and it is merely that - bloomin' marvellous... I have my name down with Lowdham's for one to come up pre-season next year, but there are only 4-6 sold in the country (since early 2014) as we speak so I guess they are specialist and a touch unique... (for now anyhowz).

still California dreamin for now - but well done Westy ! .

 

[KernowLad]

The bigger T5s and motorhomes really make sense abroad; when free camping in particular. But if you use your Cali as a runabout too (like most do), I just think the compromise of no loo/shower is worth it for a ease of use. A footprint the same as a large estate car is so very handy, especially on our narrow roads and little car parks.

 

[Paul1]

For me the extra length of the LWB makes no difference because on my Cali I had to have the Fiamaa cargo box on the bike rack to carry the extra gear ( toilet, toilet tent, etc) and in a car parks their much the same length. Of course they are the same width so I can go anywhere I went in the Cali, providing there are no low bridges.

 

[Andresz]

The French offer, if anybody interested...


http://www.leboncoin.fr/caravaning/719279852.htm?ca=12_s

 

[larrylamb]

Congratulations on your new Joker, i was very impressed with it at the NEC. Gorgeous kitchen and bathroom made like a luxury kitchen with soft closing drawers and brilliant lighting, dimmable too. Top bed looked very nice, comfy and cosy in that hard top but i was disappointed with the downstairs bed, too small for me but great as seating/ dining with the kitchen behind it. Very well made and up there with the Cali but with a slightly different purpose. Shame the one i saw at NEC started at about £46995 but with all its extras ended up about £58000 or so.

 

[Paul1]

Agree about the downstairs bed, I think its only suitable for one child. Its an option which I don't have preferring the extra width without it and extra hanging storage behind the seat. Thanks Paul. :hello