VW California

[Alan D]

Has anyone got a VW Cali ? Is it true they have severe problems from new with driveshafts? and worst of all blistering paint.The rising roof is aluminium and there has been a chemical reaction to the bodywork apparently causing the paint to blister. At £50k this is no joke from what a thought was a premium maker. Looking to downsize I thought it a bit small but the 180 dsg auto drove like a dream. I am not looking for problems at that price ( I could buy a fiat if I was !).

Alan .

[Muswell]

I was talking to someone who has one last year. I can't remember the exact details but the fridge had failed. His VW dealer, from whom he bought the van, said they couldn't deal with it. The place they sent him on to was proposing to change a part, at mind-boggling cost...I recall thinking that you could buy a new Dometic for that, and then if that didn't work thery would change another,at similarly m-b cost. He did research, bought some diagnostic device, diagnosed the fault and at least minimised the cost.

 

He was not impressed by the attitude nor the cost implications of having vehicle-specific components.

 

 

[Alan D]

I was surprised too at the attitude of the dealers and Vw in particular over the problems I raised. I have never owned a Vw but I expected much better. I thought maybe that a motorhome all built on site at the factory would alleviate a lot of problems. Just goes to show, you pay your money ...

Alan

[Muswell]

My first van was a T4 auto with all the extras which I bought from the local dealer and then had converted. The gearbox failed after 500 miles but I managed to get it to a dealer in Newcastle who confirmed this. VW Care tried to tell me that since it was at a dealer thery didn't need to recover it to London, but the dealer convinced them. My local dealer couldn't say what was wrong so it would be replaced. VW could not say when I gearbox could arrive. After weeks elapsed I got them to take the box out of a demonstrator Caravelle...and the next day the box arrived. Talking to VW Care would really wind me up... but eventually I got a free service and £200 compensation.

 

I had an intermittent problem with the ABS over a long period which they couldn't trace. At one stage they changed a rear brake caliper to solve it????!!! I kept telling them it was a problem with the reluctor rings, which I found out from the internet very quickly, but they didn't listen. Eventually I managed to get it into the yard while the problem was happening and insisted on speaking to the chief technician rather than the check-in person. Oh yes, he said when he drove it and then read what I had printed off, that describes it well. At least they gave me some money back for abortive work.

 

Then when I had a major loss of power it took two separate visits to get the power back to where it should be.

 

And I got it back from a service then received a letter the next day recommending the brake fluid should be changed.

 

And the paintwork on the roof had big runs near the hinges.

 

VW have good marketing.

 

 

[Derek Uzzell]

If I remember correctly, there were problems with water leakage through the side windows of California models.

 

I would have thought the best place to discuss design/build faults would be via the Owners' groups

 

http://vwcaliforniaclub.com/

 

http://www.thevwcalifornia.com/

[t5topcat]

Perhaps a Fiat is not such a bad idea after all (lol)

[ips]

Muswell

Wow what a catalogue of disaster that is. Its enough to make Ford dealers look good.

 

Incidentally and a bit off thread, Just bought a brand new citroen works vehicle and citroen UK and the dealer have been excellent so far pity all mfrs and dealer network were not as good.

[Alan D]

It was on the Owners Forum that I found the faults. There is a video posted from You Tube of the complete roof blistered all around the edges. There was also talk of a contingent of German owners prepared to drive to the Vw factory and park up in protest. A big shock for me as a test drive from new seemed like a really nice van but no , nothing would entice me to a Fiat thanks, I was looking to get away from problems.

Alan.

[Muswell]

Alan D - 2013-03-19 4:49 PM

 

I, nothing would entice me to a Fiat thanks, I was looking to get away from problems.

Alan.

 

I don't think that is possible, a bit of research shows that in spite of the quality image even Mercedes have known problems.

[Rod_vw]

I've owned VW Campers since 1977 the last five being three T4s and two t5s, these spanning the past 16 years. The last T4 and both T5s have been new or ex-demos and self build campers. Never owned a Cali but I do suspect the more complex a vehicle is the more chance there is of problems.

 

Miles covered with the first T4. a 2.4 diesel, were 75,000 - problems one cylinder head gasket.

 

Second T4, a 2.5TDI (102ps) still owned at 85,000 miles - major costs glowplugs, window winder mechanism and normal service items.

 

Third T4, a 2.5TDI (102ps), 37,800 miles - eberspacher heater fault fixed under warranty.

 

First T5, a 2.5TDI (174ps), 46,400 miles - no problems

 

Current T5, a 2.0 Common Rail TDI still owned at 29,500 miles - sliding window leak repaired under warranty currently not recurred.

 

All the above mileages are those travelled in my ownership, the first two T4s were purchased second hand. All in all a total of over 280,000 miles of VW camper motoring with very little costs above normal maintenance.

 

All campers have been LWB Hightops and have returned the following average fuel consumptions respectively, 29.12MPG, 33.6MPG, 33.3MPG, 30.29MPG & 31.3MPG

 

I hope that gives you some idea of what can be expected, not to say that there can never be a bad vehicle off the production line!

 

 

[Muswell]

Clearly from time to time a vehicle comes off the line with a fault, such as my gearbox. My main problem was VW service. Also, the mileages for your vehicles are actually quite low for a commercial vehicle It's interesting to read courier drivers' comments on the various manufacturers' efforts....and those guys do serious mileage.

[Rod_vw]

Muswell - 2013-03-20 9:08 AM

 

Clearly from time to time a vehicle comes off the line with a fault, such as my gearbox. My main problem was VW service. Also, the mileages for your vehicles are actually quite low for a commercial vehicle It's interesting to read courier drivers' comments on the various manufacturers' efforts....and those guys do serious mileage.

 

Maybe I am lucky, I have a very good relationship with my local VW Van Centre at Shrewsbury. The Eberspacher problem which I had eight or so years ago did cause a bit of fuss as they were not equipped to diagnose it but otherwise they have been good. I did get some compensation from VW and the dealer for the extended faulting and repair period.

 

Mileage, yes I appreciate that my mileage quoted is low for commercial use although the total vehicle mileage on the earlier vehicles is higher than my figures. I did point out that those figures were only those covered in my ownership.

On the other hand campers on average do not cover extended mileages, even mine are often frowned upon as high at an average of 15,000 miles per year.

 

I too have heard of gearbox problems, even down to multiple gearbox changes in the same vehicle! I personally look for a common denominator there and to me it does not look like the gearbox is the prime problem. I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions on that!

 

[Guest JudgeMental]

T3 the last great VW camper, rear engine layout and sguare'ish body near perfect for a compact camper..had our American import 2.1 petrol westfalia for 6 years and best van we ever had. I would not touch the front engined vans built since as they are to smalland wrong shape. A ducatto a far better base vehicle that allows for all mod cons. A van without a comfortable bed, shower room, large fridge, decent water and gas does not a practical camper make.... new german vans from around £30,000 *-)

[Muswell]

Rod_vw - 2013-03-20 9:22 AM

 

 

I too have heard of gearbox problems, even down to multiple gearbox changes in the same vehicle! I personally look for a common denominator there and to me it does not look like the gearbox is the prime problem. I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions on that!

 

I think the failure of an automatic gearbox at 500 miles has to be down to the manufacturer. I suspect the problem that I had was of a faulty solenoid, but they just said they would change the box...which was fine by me except VW couldn't actually say where there was a gearbox in their supply system, and when they could get one. Just remembered another gearbox problem when I had great dfficulty getting it out of park. Eventually managed it and got it all the way back from mid-Wales without turning off the engine or taking it out of Drive. It turned out that the brake light sensor, which is interlocked with the gearbox to prevent engaging drive without your foot on the brake, was faulty after 15 000 miles. The Transporter was by a long way the most unreliable vehicle I have had...including a couple of French cars even. The best was a Nissan Bluebird which we bought 14 years old for £500 to withstand the cut and thrust of London. Now that was totally bomb-proof, but a dog to drive.