OT - the Volkswagen "California" Camper

Botch

Dammit!  The last line in this video is, "Too bad you can't buy this in America"....
Well then, DAMMIT, don't call it a "California"!!!?!?!?!?!!!!!
Bring it here, you damn germans, and then just TAKE MY MONEY!!!
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swtpoH-HZgY
 
(I owned a '77 bus for five years, regret having ever sold Her...)

GregW

That would be awesome. Too bad its not for the US market.

Carolina Q

You would think that a vehicle that's been around for 60ish years would LOOK different now. No?

nolaegghead

looks like the engine is in the front

Gulfcoastguy

They are waiting until the have the battery powered version ready for the US. The last date that I heard estimated was 2022.

nolaegghead

Gulfcoastguy said:

They are waiting until the have the battery powered version ready for the US. The last date that I heard estimated was 2022.

They must have put Elon Musk in charge of that project.

(seriously though, I really like the guy)

Gulfcoastguy

The reputation of diesels is irreversible poison. Diesels were their bread and butter. That means evolving in a whole new direction or going bankrupt. You might want to research the problems Tesla is having getting the Model 3 to the 400,000 people that put a deposit down expecting a $35,000.00 vehicle with a $7,500.00 tax credit. Tesla has almost used up the 200,000 tax credits that they are allowed and they are only producing the loaded versions that start at $41,000.00.

Legume

Gulfcoastguy said:

They are waiting until the have the battery powered version ready for the US. The last date that I heard estimated was 2022.

Battery version?  Electric only or hybrid?  I can’t imagine taking an electric-only camping.

Gulfcoastguy

Electric only, supposed to have about 300 miles of range. 

Ozzie_Isaac

Gulfcoastguy said:

Electric only, supposed to have about 300 miles of range. 

 Hope it has a generator.  At least with the camper you can sleep while you recharge it.

Eoin

The T6 is pretty close to the previous T5, looks almost the same. We've had T6 vans and sent them back because of the diesel engine faulting and going into limp home mode. Both the T5 and T6 are small vans and being front engined means that there's not a lot of space in the back once the bed folds down. We've camped in one and my brother owns a T5 California - he does travel / camp a lot. My old T2 (1972) feels more roomy in the back because the front cab is so much further forward with the rear engine. Seats 6 as well.

The T5 ran for a long time and there's a lot of businesses converting them into California look alikes. If you got the T5 in the US as a van, a conversion can be as good as / better than the VW original.

nolaegghead

Interesting, never really thought about it but @Eoin, having done so it becomes clear (at least the H4) an engine can fit in front, back or center, but it can be only 24 inches off the floor, which blocks a driver more than a bed in the back.

Legume

So the electric should have much more room, with batteries flat and down low.  But I wouldn’t venture off the beaten path with a full electric.  KOA maybe, but that kind of defeats the purpose.

mEGG_My_Day

Cool VW -  the closest I've owned is the lego model I put together 

blasting

Very cool.  That's gonna be a big hit when it hits our shores.  That could be a great retirement road trip vehicle when the time comes.

Had to laugh when he came out of the closet during the video.

unoriginalusername

Carolina Q said:

You would think that a vehicle that's been around for 60ish years would LOOK different now. No?

Umm hi, meet the Porsche 911, VW beetle, Jeep and hummer .... why mess with a good thing lol. 

#bestdesignjobever #convincethemitshardertonotchangeit 

northGAcock

Like yawl didn't think I would miss an opportunity to post a picture did you?

fishlessman

they took an iconic grubby dirty hippie mobile and turned it into a poindexter camper. guys walking around in it in 50 dollar chamois socks.  give me the old really cool version

YEMTrey

Legume

fishlessman said:

they took an iconic grubby dirty hippie mobile and turned it into a poindexter camper. guys walking around in it in 50 dollar chamois socks.  give me the old really cool version

Been meaning to ask, how’s that Range Rover?

fishlessman

Legume said:

fishlessman said:

they took an iconic grubby dirty hippie mobile and turned it into a poindexter camper. guys walking around in it in 50 dollar chamois socks.  give me the old really cool version

Been meaning to ask, how’s that Range Rover?

friggin police dept here is slowing things down, they still have not done the police report  and filed with crashdocs(carfax).  hope they get it done soon, i dont want to flip it over til after its fixed. im after them daily now

Eoin

fishlessman said:

Legume said:

fishlessman said:

they took an iconic grubby dirty hippie mobile and turned it into a poindexter camper. guys walking around in it in 50 dollar chamois socks.  give me the old really cool version

Been meaning to ask, how’s that Range Rover?

friggin police dept here is slowing things down, they still have not done the police report  and filed with crashdocs(carfax).  hope they get it done soon, i dont want to flip it over til after its fixed. im after them daily now

Look on the bright side, it can't break down while it's in the shop being repaired.

fishlessman

Eoin said:

fishlessman said:

Legume said:

fishlessman said:

they took an iconic grubby dirty hippie mobile and turned it into a poindexter camper. guys walking around in it in 50 dollar chamois socks.  give me the old really cool version

Been meaning to ask, how’s that Range Rover?

friggin police dept here is slowing things down, they still have not done the police report  and filed with crashdocs(carfax).  hope they get it done soon, i dont want to flip it over til after its fixed. im after them daily now

Look on the bright side, it can't break down while it's in the shop being repaired.

it cant be repaired til theres a police report so theres still a chance for a breakdown

SmokeyPitt

That is cool...but way to many moving parts to break considering it is a VW. I guarantee if it ever comea to the US it will be a money pit. 

northGAcock

SmokeyPitt said:

That is cool...but way to many moving parts to break considering it is a VW. I guarantee if it ever comea to the US it will be a money pit. 

Wonder the cost in US$$$? That thing can't be cheap off the lot either.

Eoin

Before sales tax $50,000 base model up to $70,000 top model. Plenty of extras to add whichever model you go for. 5 years ago my brother's T5 was pushing $70,000 by the time he added up the options. I think you can add $10,000 easily. It's not a cheap option.

Botch

Eoin said:

Before sales tax $50,000 base model up to $70,000 top model. Plenty of extras to add whichever model you go for. 5 years ago my brother's T5 was pushing $70,000 by the time he added up the options. I think you can add $10,000 easily. It's not a cheap option.

Yikes!  That sleeping bag on the back of my 2-wheel beemer is looking better and better.  
I paid $2,000 for my '77 Bus; sold it 5 years later for $2,000.  

Eoin

Botch said:

Eoin said:

Before sales tax $50,000 base model up to $70,000 top model. Plenty of extras to add whichever model you go for. 5 years ago my brother's T5 was pushing $70,000 by the time he added up the options. I think you can add $10,000 easily. It's not a cheap option.

Yikes!  That sleeping bag on the back of my 2-wheel beemer is looking better and better.  
I paid $2,000 for my '77 Bus; sold it 5 years later for $2,000.  

You won't buy a 77 camper now for $2,000, not even scrap value. Mine cost $5,000 from California 6 years ago. Solid body but it needed everything mechanical / interior doing. I stopped counting when the bills went over $30,000 .......

Botch

To be clear, mine wasn't a camper.  I did have to replace the clutch, but otherwise it was pretty inexpensive for me to maintain.  

Teefus

Gulfcoastguy said:

Electric only, supposed to have about 300 miles of range. 

Sounds like a great travel vehicle. Drive 4 hours, recharge for four hours.

"Daddy, are we there yet?"

northGAcock

 Eoin said:

Before sales tax $50,000 base model up to $70,000 top model. Plenty of extras to add whichever model you go for. 5 years ago my brother's T5 was pushing $70,000 by the time he added up the options. I think you can add $10,000 easily. It's not a cheap option.

Showed this to my daughter. She said she did not see a place for the. Apparently she didn't watch long enough to see the upper deck sleepin. 

@Eoin can I borrow yours for a week or so when I come over?