New VW Camper - Volkswagen California 2019 in-depth review
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- Опубліковано 28 тра 2024
- This is the new Volkswagen California Ocean! This camper van comes packed with a host of features and gadgets that make it a perfect accompaniment to a camping trip. But when you add a couple of extras on, the price can easily top £60,000! So the question is, should you consider the California Ocean when there are so many motor home options already on the market? Join Mat for his latest review to find out!
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To everyone saying this has a shower, what I meant is that it doesn't have a built-in one with warm water. You can get a shower hose option to hook up to the water supply. But you have to shower outside and the water is cold. Lovely...
your socks match your sweatshirt!! smart Mat 😎
Sausages
Cost lots of money...but a beautiful car !!
Hey mat why did you stoped your vlogging ?
Westfalia Kepler One and Six or Joker City, VW T6's with optional hot water and shower (some inside the van). Transit version, or Nissan version, from other divisions of the Rapido Group (Which includes Westfalia). Citroen version from Possel. VW only one with Haldex AWD. Main selling points 4.9m to 5.4m long, under 2.1m high. Means it fits city multistorey and underground parking - so you have the running costs of 1 vehicle not 1 plus a "proper camper". Expensive - yes. Cheaper to stay in a hotel, probably, if you go to the same places as everyone else. But who wants to do that? Interested if you compared some like the 7 seater Kodiak to the 7 seater VW Beach though. Price vs Practically vs Flexibility vs Space.
People dream about lamborginis, rolls royces, bmws and benz etc... But this is my dream vehicle.
t c Yes but that’s all aftermarket stuff where is this is from the factory.
@@nathanpetrovski7525 Doesn't mean that's worse, yeah?
@@nathanpetrovski7525 As far as I know this 'from the factory' was developed by Westfalia, so... Does it really make a difference? + I've been looking around and I'm more and more convinced that the 'aftermarket stuff' seems to be more in line with what you actually need. Check out Kompanja's take on Traffic or Possl Campster. Much more versatile than this.
I hear you
I dream about range rovere
It's a silly name.... I would prefer something like Volkswagen Mönchengladbach...
João Reis lol haha
Or the Volkswagen llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
Kein Mensch, der aus MG kommt, würde den haben wollen.
Yes why people think California is a cool and special name ? Not at all
@@zonarii5800 stell dir vor dennoch haben welche.
You got it all wrong. Buy a tent or a motorhome? A motorhome can not be used for anything else than camping. This cali i can use for camping, away days football, a day to the beach. I can use it as a daily car. Gone fishing, taking my mbt along, I can do my shopping and park almost everywhere. I can park it at home easely. And it drives way better and cheaper than a motorhome. And when i want a hotel with a nice bed, i drive to a nice hotel and park my cali in front of it. This is the whole point of the cali. Freedom. It can do all you want. Where a motorhome is only useful for long holidays. I can be in spain, next day italy if i would like. Now, do that with a motorhome. Have fun driving, parking etc.
I agree. Vehicles like this have a place, but this one is overpriced.
Exactly my thoughts: this is not an incapable motorhome, it's a versatile everyday car!
How’s life working for VW?
Ryan Carmichael lol. You really think that?
Agree, I use mine for the daily commute to work/gym/shops/school run, with the added bonus of just getting away with the family, Got trips planned to Jeslo in Italy this year along with a few days down Cornwall. What I like about the VW is that it fits in a normal car parking space, you can't do this with the bigger motorhomes or even the LWB version VW T6(we always forget something, when were away so always, need to pop to the local Asda/Tesco). We also use it to take stuff to the tip and anything you can do with a car/van!! As for being overpriced, yes its expensive but have a look at the prices of the older T5 California, they still hold there value pretty well as will the new T6!!!
What happened to that olive oil? You said more on that later, don't leave us hanging with a bottle of olive oil Mat!!!!
I guess you can store it in that middle storage box...
I guess he was gonna use the oil to fry the egg but that didn't work out
Might not want to know what the oil is for.......
It wasn’t oil, he had to pee and there was no toilet....
Just Google:
”Oil van Mat”
Vw Sleep- the license plate 😂
Stop
romanii si placutele... eu am 69RUP
He is getting around 32 mpg
Andrea Devetak Not bad⛽️
Alexandru DragomirescuOctober
"The storage is actually not baddd"
*proceeds to show 47 storage compartments within arms reach*
'You often think you'd be better off with just a large tent'
And everyone who's ever tried camping knows at an instant that you have absolutely no clue what you are talking about :)
Exactly! I remember my camping trips to Greece (in a tent, a few meters from the beach but not on a camping-ground) and after a week to 10 days in my 2-man-tent, I would've killed to be able to sleep in the most basic of camper-vans.
Exactly .. Trying to put a tent up has brought me to tears on many occasions.. give me the vw van anyday
A good roof tent, maybe...
VW California: _has features_
*Doug DeMuro would like to know your location*
Nice
Mat. We had a 6m camper with all the bells and whistles for twelve years and down sized to a California. Do not ask me to reason why but we absolutely love it and love spending time in it. It is not something you can reason out. I agree on so many levels with a lot of your criticism but generations who have owned a VW camper will only tell you they love it. You have to own one to know what I am talking about. If I had to sum it up in one word it would be "freedom".
Good on you mate
But people don’t like to admit their mistakes, so you’re unlikely to find someone who will spend £65,000 on one of these and say they don’t like it.
@@Si1234321 Very good point Loki. This way is not every ones way and after twenty years of camping it does amaze me how people rush out and spend money on a motor home without renting first to see how they get on with it. We bought our with 1500 miles on the clock from a main dealer for £45,000 after a chap bought it for £60,000 new and decided after 2 trips he did not like it. There was still plastic protection on some of the fittings.
WALKABOUT It is not uncommon to believe something will be great only to discover that it isn’t. Similarly, I thought camping would be awful but discovered I really liked it, for all sorts of reasons I never anticipated.
I can see why someone would think that the luxury of a motorhome compared with a campervan is great without realising the practical cost that comes with it.
@@misterg1157 Hit the nail square on the head pal.
I love the honesty of this review. When Mat said “avoid”, I burst out laughing, I was that surprised - he’s the first professional reviewer that I’ve heard say so. And I say that as someone who is looking at buying a campervan the size of a California.
There must be some people who buy one and wish they hadn’t - who romanticise about living in such a small space and then decide it doesn’t work for them.
Got to agree. I'm very undecided on what to do. Mat is right about one thing and that is the VW fanboys out there will buy one no questions asked. There is a very heavy "scene tax" associated with these campers and the basic vans they're based on so a quality conversion can cost almost as much so no magic work around there unless you're happy with something older.
I think my strategy is to look around and see what the other manufacturers are offering and take if from there.
C 50 I’ve spent far too long looking at campervans on UA-cam. There’s lots of conversions which in my opinion are better than the California. I’ve also noticed that lots of UA-camrs have converted Sprinter vans (or equivalents) - often high tops, and often long wheel base. They seem to want the extra room. My feeling is that something the size of a California is fine for two but if you are wild camping you may find it cramped.
One advantage of buying a California is the low depreciation. But you have to factor in the higher purchase price.
If you get a conversion, consider the pop-tops with a zip so you can drop the fabric between van and roof. Good when lying upstairs on a sunny day. But having a high top means that space can be used to store your bedding and other things while driving - an advantage in any van where space is at a premium.
Take anything I say with a pinch of salt as I don’t yet own a campervan so I haven’t got the practical experience.
Well I'm not a tall person, neither are most of the people I know whom I would want to go with for a camp-out, and I'm not a big fan of driving around with a tank of feces in my car anyway so this little campervan would be the ideal choice for me as I would use it also for normal everyday driving and it wouldn't be any more expensive than the regular van I drive right now. I very much appreciate the honesty of this review, but I also appreciate that smaller mobile homes exist for us who doesn't have a bunch of kids or want to necessarily pay for and drive a big house-on-wheels :)
Your reviews are far better than all the others. Well done Matt🧐
Perfect van for Vegan nomadic yoga instructor 👌🏼🧘🏻♂
Dean G i thought they used donkeys
I thought they flew around on magic yoga mats
@@redcrystalsoul no if they're vegan
The fact that is even a thing lets me know the world has already ended but no ones told us yet
@A real petrol-head take a pic, i wanna see
Here’s the big twist, they don’t sell it in California, nor rest of the United States
I think it is too small for the US market I mean their RVs are pretty big
This would be the perfect weed smoking in the backwoods vehicle.
Varun Narain Yeah #Type2Bus
Stefan I can’t imagine why except the TDI is no longer marketed in the US. I have friends who are fanatics for the Westphalia stuff and there’s definitely a market. Normally VW bring their product to N America two years after Germany.
A real petrol-head I see your point
#MercuryMilan
This was fun to watch! I love the cute humor and the honest end :)
humorous, just enough details and objective, I like it. cool dude
60k and they give you halogen headlights?!
And manual sliding Windows, and manual tail gate
And manual seat controls on and no parking sensors as standard. Oh and no satnav as standard as well lmao what a load of rubbish. A motorhome is so much cheaper!
@@TheFlyingClutchman :O
@A real petrol-head It's not a van though, it's a £60k motorhome. It should have every option VW offer for that price!
Compared to other cars 60k isn't even that much tho...
Drag race this against Yianny's Aventador S, I've got my money on this.
I would watch
Aventador in reverse maybe? :D
Yeah, if they stop and have a picnic in the middle.
This thing would blow past. In the practicality review.
Mohammed Hussain you my brother have been taken over by Car wow how can this win a lambo wake up man
Respect to Mat Watson . not scared of the manufacturers ,the fact you just tell straight is a rarity .
Keep up the good work .
Another brilliant review Matt!
The cost of camper vans is criminal! £60K??? Why does adding a sink, a couple of beds, some gas piping and a water tank to a van make it cost £60k? Bonkers.
A lot of handcraft and low sale numbers.
Yeah, if you would do it yourself, it would be a lot cheaper, it's all the working hours you have to pay for.
It's almost like a custom car.
Because enough people will pay that much
It have shower but its extra
VW camper scene tax. Volkswagen campers have always been expensive even used.
Definitly more worth to just buy a good quality tent for 500 euros than paying 60k lol
It does have a toilet, it’s disguised as a window washer fluid bottle under the bonnet, it takes number ones AND twos!
A shower head too, concealed in the back. You can even hang it on the tailgate, if I recall correctly.
It's a public loo too, so if anyone sees one of these out and about then happy squatting!
L9l
IT DOES HAVE A URINAL; ITS THE ASH TRAY. YOU CAN DO A POO IN THE ARM REST CUBBY.
Retro Collected r/whoooosh
your reviews are so spot on
ON FIRE!!! About the show pumping out quality content
yes! never thought you'd review this, thank you!
What an amazing van. It's like a swiss army knives.
nice caravana
@Yule Calma what?!
I think people comparing this to hotels isn't giving it justice. The point is to be able to travel anywhere at anytime and it's actually more luxurious than camping. The amount of innovation on this thing is incredible. Yes the price is steep, but will be a bargain when depreciation hits and you buy one that is 5 years old :)
This guy is an amaizing car presenter. Enjoying your reviews.
Lots of stuff in this tiny van. love it
Interesting take on a camper van from (I’m assuming) someone who doesn’t have or regularly uses a camper. The key to it is flexibility. Finish work, jump in, and get away for a day or two without any planning (hopefully). Yes, even for a camper van, it’s expensive. But there is peace of mind with VW backup and it’s well put together (in comparison).
We have ordered our one, can't wait! I suppose it is all depending on your need, it is not large, no build in toilet or shower compare to a proper campervan or caravan BUT it is easy to drive, 4 motion (this is great for New Zealand's twisty and gravel roads), car alike which you can go to almost all parking buildings, travel around the city with ease and - so much fun with kids etc. We have shopped around couple of years to decide what to buy - caravans, proper motorhomes but this best fits our needs. The only downside I would say is its price. However as Matt mentioned, these things hold there value quite well. Good review as always!
Great review as always Matt. I love these things... The two tone retro paint work just adds to it (at a crazy price) I enjoyed this review more than the sports cars... But the price of the vehicle .... Ooouch!!!! They really are getting so expensive...
I would just get the normal van and take all my other camping gear with it, Actually wait: that is what we are doing.
That got to be better than what I did, Im an Australian and our cars generally tend to be pretty large but I camped in my Ford Falcon Sedan by folding down the rear seats, putting thick blankets and one of those camping matresses partly in the boot itself and partly on the folded down seat, that's what I slept on, wasn't too bad but could have been a lot better. At least I possibly stayed warmer than my mates in tents and I was certainly dryer and no insects or falling branches bothering me. The back of a large 4WD would have been much preferable given the flat space.
I'm in love with this thing😭😭😭
Fun video and great introduction of the van
I love camper van. Please review more. Thanks.
It has a shower in the rear near the storage for propaine gas. It's literally right on top of it. I really wish this was in the USA
That is so cool for travelling and touring
We have this vw campervan. And it is very good. We use it for everything . And it is just not too small and not too big. And lovely to go camping in it
BEST VIDEO SO FAR
Apart from some features like the electric roof, this rolling pile of money is exactly the same as my grandparent's 1995 California...
this van has more features and is of better quality than my college dorm
Enjoying this review while it's rainink
This is now my favourite campervan
I’ve got one of these and yes VW charge a fortune but resell values are also extremely high so you really need to consider the cost of ownership and not the cost of purchase. You really didn’t use the vehicle the way it’s intended. You wouldn’t remove the rear parcel shelf and push the seats back whilst camping. You remove the rear parcel shelf and move the seats forward if you need the vehicle to become a van with a large load in the back. The beauty of the Califiorna is its versatility, on a recent drive to work the RDS was reporting two hour delays up ahead so Ieft the motorway at the nearest junction, pulled over, got the laptop out on the table and made a brew whilst I waited for the traffic to clear. Try doing that in a car with a tent in the boot! You rushed this review and clearly was misinformed, that net in the boot is not for securing luggage or to be used as a dog screen, it’s actually used if children sleep in the pop top roof and prevents them from falling out.
Darryl Fryatt you super trendy 40 plus year old you.
Also there is a shower in the back left hand cupboard for outside use
Totally agree he rushed the review like he’s taken something! You get someone who’s into camping to review this..…he’s just so false and annoying. He stayed in a hotel for god sake. Says it all
They have literally thought of everything with this van.
What if you want a shit?
Waited so long for this
Great review
Can you do a review on the Mercedes Marco Polo so we can see how they stack up against one another?
Check out his personal channel he did it for you !
Your wish has been granted (on personal channel)
They've just uploaded a video on the Marco Polo
Check it out on Mat's personal UA-cam channel
Done
Updated 23-window van.
Mat have the best job in the world!🤩👍🏻🔥
Nice review, very fresh. Don't usually see much review of motohome
Impressive!
Very
@@lorberdcruz3813 nice caravana
And expensive!
He missed the point, it’s versatile car, for traveling, outdoor activity, ocasional one night sleep with possibility to prepare simple food or hot drink and still daily driver..
This is my dream company car😀.I drive a lot, trips up to 500miles a day. 3 times a week in high season. Many times i had to stop and sleep in the car,, coz I could’t go any further, I was falling asleep. If you spend 12-18 hrs on work trip in one day, you woud appriciate this comfortable van.
Look for Leisure B+ vans. They cost $120-150k but are significantly higher in quality.
These are good for a pretty good reason. The transporter is quite low so it might get on a ferry as a normal car.
And many places have no campers allowed to park but these you can park in any mall.
Love the reg!
the car of my dreams.
I like the idea that it's stealthy. It has a low profile. if you didn't pop the top you could pull into any parking lot, have a sandwich and a nap you nobody would now the difference.
Kennerth Allen Been doing just that since March - in a Golf hatch 😁👍🏼
That torch is cool
I will go on holiday in one this year!
I was I bit disappointed when I thought the roof didn't have a bed put then (pauses dramatically) plot twist it did
A lot of hate for this california but I think it's awesome. Come on guys I know it's expensive but don't knock vw for making something unique.
@@adrenalinejunkie3828 that's true. You make a good point.
@@adrenalinejunkie3828 you've never been in one, have you?
@@michaelkenny4124 except you can't use an RV as a daily car and it sits on the drive for 50+ weeks of the year - this is for people who dont want a car *and* an RV and want to be able to drive it through the streets of Mevagissey or halfway around Europe to Montecatini Alto without getting stuck. There's a reason it's not available in the US.
@@bluecenturion7105 Yeah, me personally would choose this little california over an RV for the reasons you state.
Can you please make a reviews in Grand California 680 and 600?
Thanks mate.
Great video. I totally agree.
This somehow reminds me of that caravan holiday episode from the old Top Gear 😂
one of their best!
Oh god, that dashboard...
Who else watcing this in 2000?
Great Video Review. The Infotainment System needs upgrading to feature sharper graphics
Great video
So...what do you do with your luggage and bits and bobs you put behind the rear seats when you slide that rear seat back? Stick it all in the living space to trip over?
If you're a family of 4 and need both bets, you're pretty much stuck with shoving the luggage onto the two front seats and whatever space remains under the trunk part of the bed.
If was able to spend that much money on an automobile, I will definitely buy one of these instead of a sports car.
it's the ultimate all-rounder. It gives you ultimate possibilities And your friends are gonna be jealous. Thats just my experience I'm selling these vehicles and everyone wants them
I would love one of these. Smokin wagon with the bois
😍😍😍🥇
One of the best vans I ever seen I want to buy one of these
This MPV is pretty pretty good
No it’s a camper van
Hotel California...over priced, but able to keep you outside.
Welcome To The Madness just like actual California!! Lol
How is it overpriced?
@@justasking2171 £47303 - £63927.
J024
Dude that ain’t over priced with all the things you can do
@@justasking2171 Just wanted to show you the price range.
So many nice features
Good advice. Jack of all trades. Master of none.
Nice honest review and not someone blowing smoke up vw arse
£60k+ for this van, yet you get a better infotainment system and parking sensors as standard in a polo ! Rip off.
Daniel Collins you get a fucking house for 60 k. Polo cant fit 5 people, wtf are u talking about
Can you make a bacon sarnie and a coffee in a Polo. Nope. Can you go touring to remote locations and kip over night in a Polo. Nope. Oh wait a minute you cant do stuff all in a Polo (or any other car) other than drive it.
Wow what fanboys, I don’t see what your getting at ? Are you saying this is good value for money ? there is no excuse for a brand new model to not have the latest infotainment especially when it’s available in a much cheaper vehicle and parking sensors cost the manufacture’s buttons, again it should be standard in such an expensive vehicle.
@@dan123collins guilty as charged, a fanboy. And yes, £60K maybe a bit much, better off buying a converted T6 van. And yes a bit stingy of VW to not fit the latest system. But still getting a truly versatile vehicle for the money. If that's what you want. And only has the footprint of a Ford Mondeo. But understand why you would bulk at the price considering that buys a BMW M2 or Porsche Cayman.
@Russell Hawker Stop whining, you are a fan boy. A
2016, 27 ft. Coachman Leprechaun RV which has 11,000 miles on it and pretty much
everything with it, has an asking price of $59,699. This piece of shit is
overpriced, period
the california is so great that you feel like using it as a daily driver really (as long as you don't need to parallel park)
Top of the range version in 2021 is around £90,000 but they do hold their value very well.
when can we see the e63s vs m5 competition drag race??
I was wondering the same.
The whole saying goes "A jack of all trades is a master of none but better than a master of one." I just learned about this this week, thought I'd share it.
Thanks for sharing it.
This phrase doesn't always work. Being a master of something is actually quite hard, and often times makes you more valuable than being just good at a bunch of things that everyone can do.
Khaled Hossam Advanced economies are based on as many people as possible being masters of 1 thing. Expert soccer players like Lionel Messi are far more valuable and earn far more money than they would if they were average at a load of things and working as some painter/plumber/electrician/mechanic/carpenter/builder handyman. The same applies to other masters too. Specialised surgeons, master comedians etc.
It's got the best name a vehicle has been given in a long, long while!
I am in love with this car
I prefer my old rusty vw 1976 tin top bus :)
When a car named the “California” isn’t sold in California 🤔
When a car named "Mustang" doesn't come with any horses..
”Swedish massage” that exists in many countries isn’t offered in sweden....
That's what I was thinking but was the Ford Crown Victoria sold in Uk
mark i like your videos very much it is very intresting and useful that u are talking everyday lifestyle... can u do the video about mercedes marco polo... best of lucks... your fan from Georgia not state country in Europe!!!
God i want a VW camper so bad! It's great that theyre still making them!
I love it, I need incase I lose my house 😂
If you lose your house I doubt you will be able to afford this van!
But can you cook meth in it? Asking for a mate
Don't do that. Cook meth in a secret lab under a washing center, no one can find out
It's awesome. I want one!
I just love this VW. 👍👍
Staying in B&B’s is not the magic of camping. This guy has no passion for the great outdoors so is the wrong person to do the review. Also he was being handling the VW roughly. To have any credibility the California needs to be reviewed by a Motorhome/ camper enthusiast who can compare and contrast across the spectrum of available models. I felt frustrated watching this review.
When you will grow up you will understand what he meant.
Is this a vehicle for someone with passion for the outdoors? Sleeping in a van with all the mod cons
Fly North Wales ....you don’t half sound butt hurt....it’s only an opinion & he obviously is not a very fanboy like yourself
It’s lovely ! .....but eye watering expensive ! ....
At first I thought wow, that's cool. It'd be awesome to have a second, go anywhere home for travelling then I realised that's about $120k in New Zealand. You could certainly stay in some nice hotels for a long time with that much $$
Finally a great vehicle tutorial channel that isn't American
I disagree that it’s uncomfortable I spent the weekend in one with the wife and little girl it was great our one wasn’t this one it was a 2016 conversion one
I think as a weekender or a trip to the beach it would be pretty good, not so much for longer periods, I would want something with a toilet and indoor shower but for the money you would be far better off renting a motorhome or staying in hotels.
@@MaZEEZaMMost people who'll go away for longer periods will likely be camping on proper campsites so the lack of a toilet and shower wouldn't be an issue.
I missed the bit where a van became more expensive than an actual house.
Paul Hawkins where is your house ?
@@johnwilkinson9153 North Wales
if your house is a apartment, basement I’d understand but like I’m sorry, 60k for a house is NOTHING, with 60k you can get land as big as 8 of those Volkswagen camper vans
You guys dont understand. It is basically a home, bed, kitchen, and its also a new car.
@@chris_85 I still see it as a van with a mattress in the back and a few other posh bits. Not worth the money in my opinion, I'd rather have an actual house, more space and less depreciation.
great and to the point
Man this van is so cool