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VW Grand California

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  • 27-11-2019 4:30pm
    #1
    MJohnston
    Registered Users Posts: 10,526 ✭✭✭✭


    Has anyone heard anything about when this might start becoming available in Ireland?

    The general vw.ie website is aware of the model:
    https://www.volkswagenvans.ie/en/models/grand-california.html

    But none of the retailer websites mention it yet, so it's hard to find details. I want them to take my money already!


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    #2
    autumnalcore
    Registered Users Posts: 828 ✭✭✭autumnalcore


    To each their own. I think the roof looks really aftermarket reminds me of a wheelchair taxi grp job, you'd expect vw to do a much better job of fairing it into the body work. Should hold its value well on secondhand market though.


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    #3
    MJohnston
    Registered Users Posts: 10,526 ✭✭✭✭MJohnston


    I don't care much about the exterior tbh - I think the interior is where it wins hands down. Little details like the airplane overhead compartments and all that.


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    #4
    autumnalcore
    Registered Users Posts: 828 ✭✭✭autumnalcore


    MJohnston wrote: »
    I don't care much about the exterior tbh - I think the interior is where it wins hands down. Little details like the airplane overhead compartments and all that.

    Was thrashing this out with someone at work who is of the - never had a camper but dreams of owning one and is unlikely to use on if they get one - camp so forgive my devils advocate observations :pac::D

    The plastic moulded interior is sleeker and rounder profiles more ergonomic than the usual vohringer board interior but the first thing I thought is - injection moulded adria twin. It wouldn't be worth the 50% extra price premium over an adria to me.

    The only newish thing I can see is the bulbous projections either side of the 600 model for the rear bed to make up for it being a narrow base vehicle to begin with.

    I am over 6ft and that 600 model bed with tall lockers over head and feet looks really claustrophobic to me I'd be guaranteed to bash my head and toes on a regular basis.

    The top lockers are visually nice but in terms of headroom and storage volume I'd rather a slightly taller top locker than the addition of the single file tin of beans ones underneath. But if you are short I could understand neither of those being an issue.


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    #5
    CJhaughey
    Registered Users Posts: 14,906 ✭✭✭✭CJhaughey


    Is Westfalia building them for VW? It looks to have some Westfalia about it.


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    #6
    MJohnston
    Registered Users Posts: 10,526 ✭✭✭✭MJohnston


    CJhaughey wrote: »
    Is Westfalia building them for VW? It looks to have some Westfalia about it.

    No I believe this is entirely in-house, like the recent VW California model was.


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    #7
    Alkers
    Registered Users Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭Alkers


    Not a terrible price when you see the amount people are looking for for some of the conversions.


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    #8
    Mefistofelino
    Registered Users Posts: 1,763 ✭✭✭Mefistofelino


    Its a heavy beast. The FWD 600 would be borderline on a B licence (3100kg unladen, giving only 400kg payload). The larger 680 is 3880kg GVW, so a C / C1 licence jobbie.

    If the pricing structure is anything like VW cars, €77K is just for starters. Would a 680 with options be North of €100K?


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    #9
    ianobrien
    Registered Users Posts: 2,756 ✭✭✭ianobrien


    MJohnston wrote: »
    No I believe this is entirely in-house, like the recent VW California model was.

    A lot of the details look VERY much like Westfalia details, like the mouldings on the base of the seat (Columbus dinette bed option), bathroom sink & shelves, pop out pod at side for bed, etc.

    Then again, I may be wrong.....

    Edit. If I was spending that much for a high top, I'd look at the Ducato base. It's a wider van....


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    #10
    MJohnston
    Registered Users Posts: 10,526 ✭✭✭✭MJohnston


    lol, I wasn't really looking for a critique of my choice, I'm pretty sold on it already! I have a converted T5 at the minute and I enjoy it a lot, but I like the idea of it being engineered and converted by the same people who built the actual van that it is created from. I think they've got a lot of details in there that I don't see in conversions. Added to that, the VW Crafter is considered to be the best van of its type on the market, and this uses that as a base.

    I was just wondering if anyone had heard any details about it landing in the Irish market yet!


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    #11
    bogman
    Registered Users Posts: 1,327 ✭✭✭bogman


    You can get a get of a lot better value than getting this "icon"
    was very interested a year ago but nobody could tell me when they were due to come on stream, bet the release date is no clearer, they were on display at the National Ploughing Championships but were off limits to the public unlike at Motorhome shows in the UK and Europe where you could have a look inside, that did it for me, maybe they didn't like the idea of farmers with muddy boots walking inside, for 80-95,000 euro far better value is to be had as I found out.


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    #12
    CJhaughey
    Registered Users Posts: 14,906 ✭✭✭✭CJhaughey


    The old saying holds true, There is an Arse for every seat. :)


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    #13
    Day Lewin
    Registered Users Posts: 4,615 ✭✭✭Day Lewin


    Seventy-six grand???

    Whistles softly.


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    #14
    CJhaughey
    Registered Users Posts: 14,906 ✭✭✭✭CJhaughey


    Day Lewin wrote: »
    Seventy-six grand???

    Whistles softly.

    I think that will be a base price.


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    #15
    spaceHopper
    Registered Users Posts: 3,970 ✭✭✭spaceHopper


    Video is pure comedey it's markets at grannies and yummie mummies, on actual deacent views inside the vans or what the layout is like


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    #16
    MJohnston
    Registered Users Posts: 10,526 ✭✭✭✭MJohnston


    Yes, it's been heavily reviewed by the UK press:
    https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/volkswagen/680-auto/road-test
    https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/volkswagen/california/108033/new-volkswagen-grand-california-review
    https://www.practicalmotorhome.com/reviews/motorhome/92799-vw-grand-california

    grand_california_20190504_038.jpg?itok=rw9p9mXS

    grand_california_20190518_043.jpg?itok=KyxjFJAh

    23252-vwgrandcalifornia68023.jpg?itok=kdI81xp2

    8221009-vw-grand-california-3.jpg

    8221011-vw-grand-california-4.jpg

    8221013-vw-grand-california-5.jpg

    8221015-vw-grand-california-6.jpg

    8221017-vw-grand-california-7.jpg


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    #17
    Alkers
    Registered Users Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭Alkers


    Have you seen this: https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volkswagen-grand-california-the-grand-california/22675377


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    #18
    MJohnston
    Registered Users Posts: 10,526 ✭✭✭✭MJohnston


    Alkers wrote: »
    Have you seen this: https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volkswagen-grand-california-the-grand-california/22675377

    Yeah! Annoyingly they don't list it on their website, although the general volkswagenvans.ie does now have a product page for it, but of course no configurator yet to look at the different options.

    I'm sure this is widespread, but it's extremely frustrating that it's available in Germany for nearly €20k cheaper. My wife is German, I'd be severely tempted to make the trip...


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    #19
    CJhaughey
    Registered Users Posts: 14,906 ✭✭✭✭CJhaughey


    I don't think you'd find a RHD one in Germany and VRT will add a fair bit to the landed cost, possibly making it the same price as here.


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    #20
    MJohnston
    Registered Users Posts: 10,526 ✭✭✭✭MJohnston


    I'm not sure LHD would bother me too much in a campervan, especially with all the radar guidance features.


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    #21
    Car99
    Registered Users Posts: 2,530 ✭✭✭Car99


    Could the one that weighs 3.8 tonne be classed as commercial for vrt purposes?


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    #22
    CJhaughey
    Registered Users Posts: 14,906 ✭✭✭✭CJhaughey


    That loophole was closed years ago.


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    #23
    Car99
    Registered Users Posts: 2,530 ✭✭✭Car99


    Damn Revenue typical they would be the most efficient state department.


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