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VW California
Planning on getting one of these shortly - possibly by the end of the week if negotiations go well tomorrow...
Silver, 06 reg, 20k miles, 174ps (295lbs/ft), fridge, cooker, beds, etc. About as "Scoob" as a Perodua Kelisa but means we can be on the beach more often and do some fun travelling. It's funny that they are considered really fast - 0-60 takes almost 13 seconds!!! Guess vans really are very very slow! Planning to get shot of the Jimny. No more gay driving...:lol1: They look like this and yes, I have just bought a copy of MMM magazine...!! http://www.insuremysportscar.co.uk/w...5365391860.jpg Oh and the roof does go down...! |
Do you know what? We've said lots of times how handy it would be to own one of those :D Does it have a loo compartment?
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Can't remember the company (They advertise in Evo) but you can get a modern VW Campervan with an interior designed to your spec.
Would look a lot cooler than the Van above. |
Stilover - this is the only factory made camper you can get and it's very well made. Lots do conversions but this is better made than all the rest. And it has a cool electric roof!
SC -no loo but I hate camper bogs anyway! |
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They look nice but are incredibly crap to drive/use/own.
Awful brakes, no room, horribly slow, etc. They do T5s too but not as well made as a proper California. |
My parents bilbo conversion (T5) is a dream to drive, and for a van it aint slow. Handles well too when the underslung water tank is full :D
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MMM- don't knock it, a proper impartial grass roots mag :D :thumb:
You do realise you'll keep having to tell fellow Motorhomers that its a California and not a Devon moonraker :lol1: The only problem with caravenettes is they often don't have a bog/shower. I can get plug and play tuning boxes for them (well the PD version at least) that'll get it to over 200bhp and over 360lb/ft. Not too shoddy for a van. |
Bilbo's are very good aren't they? Pricey though and based miles away so not so good for any warranty issues.
My folks had a T25 Bilbo van - it was a good un. What model have they got? Ali - indeed easy to chip but as we are unlikely to be able to source a 4Motion, I think I'd leave it stock! They already have a habit of spinning the wheels even with 170ish bhp. |
Bu66er - the one we saw just sold! Went on the net on Saturday, sold at 9am this morning.
That leaves a much newer (59 reg) tiptronic (not sure about that) one with low miles but big money. Hmmmm.... |
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that looks cool id love to own one...not the bm ;) id love to just get in and drive off into the sunset and maybe one day id pop back for the wife :D
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Originally Posted by Matteeboy
(Post 9271860)
Mac |
I've had two, T4 campervans. a holdsworth conversion and one I did my myself from a caravelle, into a full camper.
buy well and you'll sell them on in years to come for very little, if any loss. to be honest I wouldn't buy a fully converted van......... I'd start with a high spec caravelle and self convert- you get a higher spec vehicle, designed to what you want. plus you'll be quids in too. mind you the vw california will have a good spec. got to say, more miles per smile than any fast car, scooby included !!! |
Bluenose - you can sleep in the back of it - just...!
Austin - the California appeals because it's factory built so fully covered. All the decent conversion bods are miles away (Danbury, Bilbo, etc) which isn't handy. Tempted by the almost new one but it's almost £10k more than the one we had our eye on. Hmmm... Seeing it (the pricey one) tomorrow. Anyone want a (gay) blue 55 reg softop Jimny with 20k miles? Thought not. It's going to have to go. |
I was down at Bilbo last year, they were very nice but the California is beautifully done. Are they still r/h sliding door only though?
I was considering renting one in Scotland next year to see how we get on with it. I like the idea but have a real aversion to camp sites! I'd love to hear how you get on with it. Plenty of pics too please! |
Simon - will do - if we manage to get one before they all sell.
Two are of interest - one in Taunton (got a meeting there tomorrow) that's 59 reg, 7k miles, tiptronic, silver, a few extras, £38.5k. Doable but really that's over budget. The other is way up in Edinburgh, 19k miles, dark grey (which we prefer) 06 reg, £29k. Wouldn't have time to drive/fly to Scotland then drive it back so would have to pay for it to be delivered but it would mean a "blind" purchase. Both main dealers but that's still a bit scary. A slightly newer shape has just come out - almost the same but with a 4pot bi-turbo 2.0 litre 180PS engine instead of a 5 pot 2.5 with 174PS - the earlier engine is known to be nuclear bomb proof and I like the idea of a five pot more. A new one to our spec (we'd spec 4Motion) would be £45k. Ouch. And we'd miss the Summer with it due to build times! |
Originally Posted by Matteeboy
(Post 9271860)
What else have you got? show us, go on! ;):) You can actually get the old style camper van brand new as its still made in Mexico but it would be a left hooker and they are about £30k :eek: |
What you really need is one of these..... Proper California
:thumb: |
Well you quoted the pic so that means you wanted to see it AGAIN... ;)
Old style campers look good but really are sh1te in day to day use. For the wannabee surfer only. I'm a proper surfer so don't need one ;) |
Originally Posted by Matteeboy
(Post 9271860)
Just joking Matteboy :thumb:. Is a nice finish that. Must have taken a while? |
Stilover - not really - it was Supagarded and seems to take little effort (at the moment) to get nice and shiny - quick clean, dry and a spot polish of a few little scratches (no idea how any got there - a few have appeared on the bonnet and drivers side recently) and it's done.
I'm sure it won't last long and any rain means instant dirtiness! |
Checked out a California today (only seen them from the outside - I assumed I'd love it - and I am a person that bought the BMW blind with no test drive - which worked fine!) and was strangely underwhelmed. Looks rather dull from the outside and the interior is VERY plasticky and souless - a bit like a mobile clinic. Plastic blinds instead of curtains, plasticky wood, etc. Does some interesting "tricks" like an electric roof and lots of neat touches but it felt like a hospital kitchen. About as homely as a Little Chef too. Used campers that are far more "homely" - even curtains would help. Oh and the fridge is just a "cooler" - it needs electric hook up or the engine to be on. Most camper fridges run off gas too when the van is parked up. This means you HAVE to stay in campsites with hook up if you want the cooler to work...
Think we leave it for now and spend more time in beachside hotels/cottages. And get a big tent (got free use of a 5 acre secluded field in Rock - those in the know will realise that's rather handy!). Glad I didn't buy one blind! |
Thats EU built campers for you; Murvi are the same. If you want the homely chintz and wood you may need to look at a British built conversion.
Although I belive the EU built counterparts do tend have better quality insulation and fittings etc. Burstner, Knaus and Eura Mobil are nice if you manage to find any. Must admit; If it aint got a bog/shower/washroom, I don't see what it gains over a decent tent and an air bed, maybe a heater and not having to pack away. |
So, what you are saying, in essence, is that you want a mobile Wendy house/Gypsy Caravan ?
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I take it was a moment of madness Matty .
To even contemplate spending best part of 40k worth of your savings on a rather small mobile home .!!!!!!:nono::nono::nono: It took you ages to decide to part with the cash for the Bimmer . Stay of the sauce son !!!!:thumb: I do like the pimped versions of the T4/5 myself but only as a useful tool for shifting the bikes etc around and maybe cruising down to France in . |
Jacko - possibly...!
njk - received and understood sir! Not really a chintzy wood person but was surprised at the lack of anything remotely "homely" - a bit like camping inside a fridge. The "cooler" option also writes it off. Oh well - fun looking. Think it'll be regular hotel/cottage stays as near to the beach as possible and a decent tent to pitch in Rock. Well that's until the Bimmer gets stuck in the field! |
Originally Posted by Matteeboy
(Post 9274931)
Checked out a California today (only seen them from the outside - I assumed I'd love it - and I am a person that bought the BMW blind with no test drive - which worked fine!) and was strangely underwhelmed. Looks rather dull from the outside and the interior is VERY plasticky and souless - a bit like a mobile clinic. Plastic blinds instead of curtains, plasticky wood, etc. Does some interesting "tricks" like an electric roof and lots of neat touches but it felt like a hospital kitchen. About as homely as a Little Chef too. Used campers that are far more "homely" - even curtains would help. Oh and the fridge is just a "cooler" - it needs electric hook up or the engine to be on. Most camper fridges run off gas too when the van is parked up. This means you HAVE to stay in campsites with hook up if you want the cooler to work...
Think we leave it for now and spend more time in beachside hotels/cottages. And get a big tent (got free use of a 5 acre secluded field in Rock - those in the know will realise that's rather handy!). Glad I didn't buy one blind! For £38k Quality Motorhomes For Sale at Oak Tree Motorhomes Limited in Sutton-In-Ashfield, Nottingham UK For £43k Quality Motorhomes For Sale at Oak Tree Motorhomes Limited in Sutton-In-Ashfield, Nottingham UK Much better alternatives. May not be Brand new, but I know which I'd rather spend £40k on. |
Have you ever driven a motorhome?
Utterly hideous. Plus I'm 34 and wife is 31, not 54 and 51! The T5 is actually quite a decent vehicle to drive and "sort of" quickish. Interesting to check it out though. Lots of other options available though. I think the next time I have an idea on a vehicle, I'll shut up until I actually BUY it! I think the Beemer idea took about two years to come to fruition! |
Originally Posted by Matteeboy
(Post 9275535)
Have you ever driven a motorhome?
Utterly hideous. Plus I'm 34 and wife is 31, not 54 and 51! I'd rather have a proper one than a Porper one. |
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