Not out to cause a riot - but!

[Geezso]

Who cares what it costs, who cares what list price it is and what discount you get. If it was Half price and didn't suit your needs its pointless.
Too much snobbery over price, I bought it cause I fancied it, we will use it and if it doesn't get used so what. I thought some of the views expressed across the forum were solely attributed to performance car clubs built vs bought, stock vs tuned, production vs limited edition. Sadly it seems to be in all clubs
Can we not just drive them, sleep in them, share stories and help each other out?
Not to lower the tone but its like my xxxx is bigger than your xxxx sometimes and being what I consider a young and immature member (32) its wearing thin and not funny.

 

[Tommy Gun]

Morning all.....

SE, Ocean, Beach..... they are good for all ages.
Plenty 30-somethings + 2 kids with SE/Oceans (me, well, in a couple of weeks anyway)
Plenty pensioners with Beaches & thankfully all the above vice-versa.

No age labels please.

 

[Geezso]

Morning all.....

SE, Ocean, Beach..... they are good for all ages.
Plenty 30-somethings + 2 kids with SE/Oceans (me, well, in a couple of weeks anyway)
Plenty pensioners with Beaches & thankfully all the above vice-versa.

No age labels please.

I was referring to myself as an age and mindset. Maybe you should read my post again.

 

[Tommy Gun]

I was referring to myself as an age and mindset. Maybe you should read my post again.

Hi Geezso,

No - not referring to your post

See posts 20 & 21. Suggestive that the Beach is for young people with kids & the SE/Ocean for the older empty-nesters. I believe that both the SE/Ocean & Beach are good for all ages, that's all.

Cheers
Tom

 

[TwentyOneThirtyFive]

All the cool kids buy proper Westys. The 40k change buys a lot of coke and hookers.

 

[Geezso]

Hi Geezso,

No - not referring to your post

See posts 20 & 21. Suggestive that the Beach is for young people with kids & the SE/Ocean for the older empty-nesters. I believe that both the SE/Ocean & Beach are good for all ages, that's all.

Cheers
Tom

Phew, that's ok then thought I got my point wrong. Were a young family early 30's too. I agree that they are good for all. Just some people like to ruffle feathers.

Maybe there should be a new forum section 'Light the blue touch paper' as these posts crop up rather often.

 

[Tommy Gun]

All the cool kids buy proper Westys. The 40k change buys a lot of coke and hookers.

Let me know when you've had too much - I'll happily step-in & rescue you from that 'mild peril'

 

[Alan]

With me I just lived the dream of owning a half decent camper van when I was younger....just didn't have the cash
Guess it boils down to priorities as well
Maybe off topic here but I remember when I took my wife and 2 kids (years ago) to France in the firms decorators van smelling of paint the whole duration
Still a sore point with the misses

Alan

 

[Flood51]

Does anyone know what the Coast is like and what it has ? I definitely like the additional flexibility the Beach has. In my days of caravan holidays we all lived and cooked in the awning anyway and just slept in the van and the Beach clearly has a better bed downstairs. Pluses for both I reckon. Get what you want.

 

[Stuart]

Maybe there should be a new forum section 'Light the blue touch paper' as these posts crop up rather often.

I thought it was quite obvious that WelshGas was trolling right from the start. "I will now leave the room, and close the door." is quite a big hint

But maybe we do need a way to make it more obvious ... especially for those less familiar with internet forums.

 

[Dave bee]

Vw brought out a vehicle that can be used as a people carrier and can seat up to 7, that can be used as a campervan when required and that has enough room for a pod, kit and the family . Up til then it was se only, no more seating than an up!, or an extra seat for someone and nowhere to put it. As usual each vehicle has very different customers who all want an adventure in a campervan. Whatever you buy, enjoy it.

 

[T6 CFO]

I'm getting an Ocean. In different circumstances I could just as easily be getting a Beach. Thread topic name says it all and whatever the motive it was obviously going to cause division. Becoming a tedious discussion and I've not even got my Cali yet.


Mike

 

[Rhyddin]

I thought it was quite obvious that WelshGas was trolling right from the start. "I will now leave the room, and close the door." is quite a big hint

But maybe we do need a way to make it more obvious ... especially for those less familiar with internet forums.

Oh, that makes it ok then. Sorry to have bothered everyone by responding.

 

[Stuart]

Oh, that makes it ok then. Sorry to have bothered everyone by responding.

I guess it's up to everyone to decide if they think it's ok. I find such threads quite entertaining ... but other people obviously don't like them. The last thread WelshGas started was very similar:
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/standby.13561/

 

[Alan]

I can't see anything that was derogatory in WGs.'caption that was intending to be negative
It certainly has got us communicating on here,which is what's good about this forum,after all that's what our big players are intent on doing !

Alan

 

[Rich20]

It was only an observation from WG as far as I was concerned. A bit too much sensitivity about the whole Beach/SE debate. Worse things happen at sea, as the saying goes.

 

[X4 VWC]

I think it's a great question and helpful to buyers trying to understand both perspectives.

I've ordered a T6 Ocean but used to own a T5 Caravelle with the sleep pack (the same board arrangement as in the Beach). I would have been happy with either but, from my perspective, this is what swayed me toward the Ocean:

(1) easier to stay organised and keep everything out-of-sight,
(2) easier to spec if wanting a high specification,
(3) availability of 204 DSG 4Motion, the deal breaker for me.

There were some things I preferred about the Beach too:

(1) manual roof = silent and reliable, I would have chosen this over the electric roof on the Ocean,
(2) bigger bed,
(3) potential for more seats,
(4) even more versatilty as a daily driver, though perhaps more unpacking between uses.

Hopefully that helps someone who's looking to buy. I still can't believe how many decisions have to be made between thinking 'I would like a California' and 'Okay, I'm placing the order now!'

 

[calimera]

The last similar thread on this theme :
" I don't Get the Beach. Tell me what I'm missing " .
Certainly got us "thinking " . Created a list for the Ocean v Beach with positives for each. We're going to use the Cali as a second vehicle ,as well as camping & day trips to go surfing/ walking.
Initially definitely thought the Ocean was the way to go but can really see the merits of the Beach ,especially the extra seats, the flexibility & the manual roof.
Priced both options up.
Difficult decision,we went for the Ocean. Still wonder if right choice. That's the trouble waiting for delivery, too much time to ponder.
Happy days .
Will be very happy if delivered " complete " with all the standard features & our options( & they work)

 

[Romke]

Does anyone know what the Coast is like and what it has ?

The Coast isn't available in all countries but in France it has great standard features, including the electric roof and the overnight heater. The white wood kitchen looks very nice too. The French Coast misses the bling of the Ocean but costs 6,600 Euros less. I tried to buy one in Spain but the Coast doesn't exist there either. Shame, because Spanish Calis are ridiculously cheap, on average 5,000 Euros less than in France.

 

[WelshGas]

Not ' Trolling ", just asking a question, based on an observation regarding recent posts and still not really answered.

The obvious answer would have been - I want 5 or 6 or 7 seats as a daily driver and the capabilities of a self contained camper van for weekends and holidays. Cost is immaterial, Function is all important.

When the children were a lot younger the the Beach would have fitted the bill perfectly but it wasn't around so we had an 8 seater Midi Executive made by Bedford. The rear 2 bench seats made a massive 8' x 6' bed without encroaching on the boot that carried all the camping gear and tent - No drive away awnings then.
I just couldn't envisage fitting storage cupboards, kitchen pods and iKea units in it as it would have just compromised how we used it. Eventually, as the kids grew we bought a caravan so we could all sleep indoors in the caravan and the Midi and didn't have to load up the Midi every-time we went away as the Caravan was already loaded.

 

[GrannyJen]

The last similar thread on this theme :
" I don't Get the Beach. Tell me what I'm missing " .
Certainly got us "thinking " . Created a list for the Ocean v Beach with positives for each. We're going to use the Cali as a second vehicle ,as well as camping & day trips to go surfing/ walking.
Initially definitely thought the Ocean was the way to go but can really see the merits of the Beach ,especially the extra seats, the flexibility & the manual roof.
Priced both options up.
Difficult decision,we went for the Ocean. Still wonder if right choice. That's the trouble waiting for delivery, too much time to ponder.
Happy days .
Will be very happy if delivered " complete " with all the standard features & our options( & they work)

I went through the difficult decision-making cycle as you describe.

I opted for the SE eventually as firstly I do not need the capacious people-carrier properties and secondly I could see myself cluttering the thing up with so many accessories that in the end I thought that I might just as well ask the factory to do it for me.

I've used every bit of my Cali as it turns out, my initial perceptions have gone by the wayside, my intended use has changed considerably.

Whichever model one thing is sure. When it comes to doing the job and delivering a smile it is worth every penny then a little bit more

 

[jts46]

Not going to reply to this debate, because no doubt I will upset someone, as I have done before.


John

 

[Batmobile]

Having owned a Beach for a month, filing it with equipment, rubbish, furniture and people, I cannot imagine losing the space that a kitchen would take up. I guess everyone has their own needs.

As for people adding to a Beach, rather than removing from a SE, I think it it pretty simple: you can. Adding pods/units (in most cases easily removable) to a Beach is a different proposition to removing the factory fitted 200Kg 'lifted in on a special crane' kitchen in a SE. What would the interior trim and seating solution then be on the SE without kitchen and wardrobe? Exactly... its a non-starter I think.

It is easy to see why people wanting to add to a beach decide to 'have a go, because we can always swap units out or reverse it entirely'. It is equally easy to see why removing the kitchen and fittings from the SE is perhaps best left to VW and specialist garages, after which you would still be left with interior trim and seating problems.

As I see it, the SE/Ocean is an always will be what it was made as. The Beach can be make functionally similar to an Ocean or left as is. The owner has the choice. I think I will be keeping my Beach as is. For me it is perfect. I will find ways of crating up the ancillaries I need and organising it in such a way as to be easily moved from house to car and back again afterwards. For medium duration trips 3-4 days), I plan to move pre-copoked meals from my kitchen to a Waeco fridge and heat them through on a burner. I'll also bring lots of cold food. I can't imagine cooking a serious meal for me and two teenage boys on that little kitchen anyway. Each to his own!

 

[daveyboydanger]

Not going to reply to this debate, because no doubt I will upset someone, as I have done before.


John

you've upset be by not joining in.

 

[GrannyJen]

Not going to reply to this debate, because no doubt I will upset someone, as I have done before.

John

You can always get it out of your system by popping over to the CC forum and telling everyone what a great job the Chairman is doing with COTY.

So far nearly 1,000 posts of which about 95% want to lynch the committee.

Not so much as light the blue touch paper as "put key into lock, turn to "ARM Missile".... press red button........ "