Hi Steve as you know I'm always out and about in my van every 2nd weekend of every month we go away for at least one night with our van . 100 miles in any direction for a quick getaway. Last night we was in Norwich seeing some friends so we plugged in the van and stayed overnight, with the diesel heater on we was cosy and warm . We are off to Staffordshire tomorrow to see family then off to mid Wales to see in the new year camping for 4 nights ,then the 2nd weekend in January we are off to glencoe for 3 nights for our wedding anniversary. Having our van we have been to so many places and been abroad 5 times with the van in just over 2 years and now the van has covered over 30,000 miles ,seeing as it on had 11 miles on it when we collected it from Van Haven. I couldn't justify spending as much as I did and only using it occasionally. Having our van has totally transformed our lives we are away more than we every been before in our lives ,I honestly can't remember how many holidays we have as we are always away in the van . So this month we have been to Hastings, Norwich, Staffordshire and Builthwells and Scotland in the new year and I'm already planning the Isle of skye for our next big trip in may for the wifes birthday. Best decision we ever made was to get a new transporter 🤟we haven't looked back since.
Just waiting on our new T6.1 LWB conversion from camperking. Love your content,giving a balanced view. Merry Christmas and fingers crossed we have a belter of a year ahead travelling 👍
One question re older vans 🤔🤔 with the roll out of more Ulez and anti driver/car restrictions etc and increases in VEL duty how long before many older vehicles have too many restrictions placed upon them as to where you can travel. Changes to MOT testing is also another worry. Am I being paranoid or is this something we all should worry about? We had a T3 transporter van converted by Richard Holdsworth in the early 80s and loved the freedom and fancy investing in this lifestyle again but!
What changes to MOT? Tax hasn’t (yet) seen any drastic increases. The new rates are for new vehicles. With older vehicles there is always a risk of something could change, however now there are hybrid campers (more soon) and electric campers on the way. I have a Euro 5 van and I’m not concerned at the moment
Happy Christmas and thanks for your content. We are buying our first camper in 2025 and it needs to also serve with car duties, so a smaller one. Currently we have shortlisted either a new VW Cali Ocean (Multivan version) or a slightly used T6.1 Cali Ocean. We saw lots of conversions of the new transit and T6.1 Transporters at the NEC show in October and nothing grabbed us. Our main gripe is the height of the RIB bed seats when being used as actual seats. We have teens to transport, often on very long drives to the Alps, and they hate those seats. They also hate the T6.1 bench, hence we might splurge and get the new one. Having said that, we are looking forward to what converters will do with the new VW Transporter. We will be cash buyers at the October show in case anything grabs us. If not, it will be a Cali Ocean, most likely a T6.1 with some cushions on the back bench and grumpy teens on long trips! By the way these teens won’t be sleeping in the van, they’ve made that clear. Sleeping trips will just be for my wife and I. Have a good one!
A serious question? Why on earth would you spend so much money on a california? There's so much better vans on the market for a fraction of the cost, you could even get one built to your specification!! Your paying a huge premium just for a badge, The door is on the wrong side & the interior is pathetic compared to the hand built conversions that top converters build
@pauldavies7251 Have you seen the price of the Cali? It’s far better value now than it ever has been. The amount of overpriced vans at the moment are no comparison to the Cali. The Cali has always held its value far better than any conversion. However there are some very good conversions, like you say, which can be made to a buyers spec and requirements. All should be looked at, but you can’t write the Cali off.
Take your time and make sure it’s right for you. Try and hire them or long test drive. It’s a lot of money whatever you buy, so you certainly want to make it work. Ecowagon can build to individual requirements and can use the Cali bed. They don’t just build expensive vans either. Most of the NCC approved manufacturers use the RIB bed, so that’s why there was so many at the show. The Feb show will feature some alternative beds. However, if you won’t all be sleeping in the van, you could be in the poptop as it will have the wider and more comfortable bed (if you go for a sprung one) the seating downstairs could be different. You could opt for a totally different layout
@@pauldavies7251 as Steve has answered below, there isn’t a huge gap between Calis and conversions now in terms of price. The Calis also hold their value and give a lot of comfort to the buyer over safety vs many conversions. We looked at so many vans at the NEC last year and about the only ones we really liked more than a Cali were the £140k Eco Wagon and surprisingly the Swift Monza version of the new Transit. The Eco Wagon is far beyond what I’m willing to spend and my wife is dead set on a VW, so we were back at Californias. Maybe there will be some good inspiration from converters at the October show this year with the new Transporter, providing I can get past the probably vastly overstated and overplayed “wet belt” issues people bang on about online.
@@StaycationLifestyle thanks Steve. We have hired vans before and spent a month in one doing the Great Ocean Road and other bits of Victoria some years back. Always wanted a van but company cars have meant we haven’t had the space for one. I turn 55 next year and will retire in the next 2 years so won’t take another company car and will finally have the space to get a van. It is an expensive purchase but we have saved long and hard for retirement - as long as it’s at around new VW Cali Ocean money we have the funds. Obviously we want to be sensible, hence watching your excellent content! The £140k Eco Wagon was certainly a beautiful thing but not an amount of money I could justify spending on a van!
Even used ones are too expensive. You would need to be using it every weekend to justify the cost. You would also need to wild camp a lot of the time. For most people having a cheap car and booking budget hotels will work out much cheaper and the vehicle will be more reliable. I've lived in a motorhome in the past. These days though I have small car and use cheap hotels and can sleep in car the odd night if needed.
There are loads of people who have the lifestyle having spent considerably less. A couple of grand in some places. I understand what you say, but it’s the lifestyle, sleeping in the vehicle at these different locations.
Hi Steve as you know I'm always out and about in my van every 2nd weekend of every month we go away for at least one night with our van . 100 miles in any direction for a quick getaway. Last night we was in Norwich seeing some friends so we plugged in the van and stayed overnight, with the diesel heater on we was cosy and warm . We are off to Staffordshire tomorrow to see family then off to mid Wales to see in the new year camping for 4 nights ,then the 2nd weekend in January we are off to glencoe for 3 nights for our wedding anniversary. Having our van we have been to so many places and been abroad 5 times with the van in just over 2 years and now the van has covered over 30,000 miles ,seeing as it on had 11 miles on it when we collected it from Van Haven. I couldn't justify spending as much as I did and only using it occasionally. Having our van has totally transformed our lives we are away more than we every been before in our lives ,I honestly can't remember how many holidays we have as we are always away in the van . So this month we have been to Hastings, Norwich, Staffordshire and Builthwells and Scotland in the new year and I'm already planning the Isle of skye for our next big trip in may for the wifes birthday. Best decision we ever made was to get a new transporter 🤟we haven't looked back since.
You certainly use yours to its full potential. I look forward to the day I see it in the flesh. Have you had the extra work done now?
Great content. You certainly helped me along my journey to my van. Have a lovely Christmas, wishing you and yours all the very best from ne and mine 🎉
🎉 Merry Christmas and happy new year to you and your family. 🎉
Thank you. Merry Christmas to you too 🎅
Just waiting on our new T6.1 LWB conversion from camperking. Love your content,giving a balanced view. Merry Christmas and fingers crossed we have a belter of a year ahead travelling 👍
Merry Christmas to you too🎉
Merry Christmas to you too 👍🏼
Long wheel base VW Transporter is the perfect daily.And the extra 1 metre makes all the difference but doesn’t effect the parking. 😎
@@elfred8821 It’s only an extra 40cm, yet internally makes a big difference.
@@StaycationLifestyle yep. ‘Massive’ difference to the layout. Have a great Christmas 👍😎
@@elfred8821 the cubic area increase makes a huge difference. Merry Christmas to you also 🎅
*affect
Merry Xmas Steve
Merry Christmas. Thank you 🎅
One question re older vans 🤔🤔 with the roll out of more Ulez and anti driver/car restrictions etc and increases in VEL duty how long before many older vehicles have too many restrictions placed upon them as to where you can travel. Changes to MOT testing is also another worry. Am I being paranoid or is this something we all should worry about? We had a T3 transporter van converted by Richard Holdsworth in the early 80s and loved the freedom and fancy investing in this lifestyle again but!
What changes to MOT?
Tax hasn’t (yet) seen any drastic increases. The new rates are for new vehicles.
With older vehicles there is always a risk of something could change, however now there are hybrid campers (more soon) and electric campers on the way.
I have a Euro 5 van and I’m not concerned at the moment
Euro 6 is where it ends, there won't be a Euro 7 to worry about
Happy Christmas and thanks for your content. We are buying our first camper in 2025 and it needs to also serve with car duties, so a smaller one. Currently we have shortlisted either a new VW Cali Ocean (Multivan version) or a slightly used T6.1 Cali Ocean. We saw lots of conversions of the new transit and T6.1 Transporters at the NEC show in October and nothing grabbed us. Our main gripe is the height of the RIB bed seats when being used as actual seats. We have teens to transport, often on very long drives to the Alps, and they hate those seats. They also hate the T6.1 bench, hence we might splurge and get the new one. Having said that, we are looking forward to what converters will do with the new VW Transporter. We will be cash buyers at the October show in case anything grabs us. If not, it will be a Cali Ocean, most likely a T6.1 with some cushions on the back bench and grumpy teens on long trips! By the way these teens won’t be sleeping in the van, they’ve made that clear. Sleeping trips will just be for my wife and I. Have a good one!
A serious question?
Why on earth would you spend so much money on a california?
There's so much better vans on the market for a fraction of the cost, you could even get one built to your specification!!
Your paying a huge premium just for a badge,
The door is on the wrong side & the interior is pathetic compared to the hand built conversions that top converters build
@pauldavies7251 Have you seen the price of the Cali? It’s far better value now than it ever has been. The amount of overpriced vans at the moment are no comparison to the Cali.
The Cali has always held its value far better than any conversion.
However there are some very good conversions, like you say, which can be made to a buyers spec and requirements.
All should be looked at, but you can’t write the Cali off.
Take your time and make sure it’s right for you. Try and hire them or long test drive. It’s a lot of money whatever you buy, so you certainly want to make it work.
Ecowagon can build to individual requirements and can use the Cali bed. They don’t just build expensive vans either.
Most of the NCC approved manufacturers use the RIB bed, so that’s why there was so many at the show. The Feb show will feature some alternative beds.
However, if you won’t all be sleeping in the van, you could be in the poptop as it will have the wider and more comfortable bed (if you go for a sprung one) the seating downstairs could be different. You could opt for a totally different layout
@@pauldavies7251 as Steve has answered below, there isn’t a huge gap between Calis and conversions now in terms of price. The Calis also hold their value and give a lot of comfort to the buyer over safety vs many conversions. We looked at so many vans at the NEC last year and about the only ones we really liked more than a Cali were the £140k Eco Wagon and surprisingly the Swift Monza version of the new Transit. The Eco Wagon is far beyond what I’m willing to spend and my wife is dead set on a VW, so we were back at Californias. Maybe there will be some good inspiration from converters at the October show this year with the new Transporter, providing I can get past the probably vastly overstated and overplayed “wet belt” issues people bang on about online.
@@StaycationLifestyle thanks Steve. We have hired vans before and spent a month in one doing the Great Ocean Road and other bits of Victoria some years back. Always wanted a van but company cars have meant we haven’t had the space for one. I turn 55 next year and will retire in the next 2 years so won’t take another company car and will finally have the space to get a van. It is an expensive purchase but we have saved long and hard for retirement - as long as it’s at around new VW Cali Ocean money we have the funds. Obviously we want to be sensible, hence watching your excellent content! The £140k Eco Wagon was certainly a beautiful thing but not an amount of money I could justify spending on a van!
Even used ones are too expensive. You would need to be using it every weekend to justify the cost. You would also need to wild camp a lot of the time. For most people having a cheap car and booking budget hotels will work out much cheaper and the vehicle will be more reliable.
I've lived in a motorhome in the past. These days though I have small car and use cheap hotels and can sleep in car the odd night if needed.
There are loads of people who have the lifestyle having spent considerably less. A couple of grand in some places.
I understand what you say, but it’s the lifestyle, sleeping in the vehicle at these different locations.
Oh the excitement of sleeping in a Travelodge........good luck with coping with all that adventure 😂
@@K9Weddings to be fair, sleeping in an Ibis next to a French motorway is not quite the same as sleeping in a campervan next to an Alpine lake!