VW GRAND CALIFORNIA - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly !

In our time with the VW Grand California we discovered some real pros and cons in its design and fit out, enough to help us make a decision if it could be our next choice of campervan.
#campervan #vwcalifornia #motorhome #camping

@BreezeCampers
@breeze_campers

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So Who are Campervan Journey?

We are JT, Harry, Claire, Sam and Ben, oh and Hunny the Dog. We discovered campervanning in 2015 when we bought our first Volkswagen T5 Combo after seeing many at our favourite campsites. We were staying with our tent, and dreaming that one day we would have our own Campervan. After much research, we bought and converted our own T5 Kombi to suit our requirements, check out the video on the channel. We soon discovered that owning a Campervan is a way of life and it is not just about amazing trips round Europe, it’s as much about great days out and family time…

We have been lucky enough to visit some amazing places with our van, many of which we know we wouldn’t have seen if we had not owned it. They instil a sense of adventure and where shall we go into your life.

After 3 years with the T5, we upgraded to a Volkswagen T6 California Beach, our current van, and we continue to enjoy travelling and visiting some amazing places. You can check out our latest videos and adventures here on the channel !

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#vwcalifornia #campervan #camping #motorhome #vanlife

[seanfallon]

Westfalia vans are far better than the G, California, i think some of their new models are on the Mann platform which is basically the same as the VW crafter, i.e., the Westfalia Sven Heden model
i guess everyone is different but i think the Grand California is not very well designed at all
Ghank you for the very informative video

[soulstyledevon]

I’m glad you rented JT. There’s a lot said similar to my experience with bigger vans. But I have to say, our Blue Evo Hymer looks a lot better than the GC.

There’s no escaping the fact, once you add a bathroom to a van, it eats up loads of useable space.

I’m now 8 months into ownership and still haven’t used the shower.
I’m about to do a Euro trip and once we get back. The hymer is going and we will convert a Crafter without a bathroom.

Keep searching, keep posting 👍🏾

[mrbigtime]

Me and wife are 43 years Olds. We are thinking to buy a van. Grand California or California. We want to make a Europe tour. We will stay at hotels. We will use van for travel purpose. And time to time stay in van for sow scene view, countey side visiting. I can stay at the van indeed no issue there. For Time to time purpose, California itself sounds enough 🤔. But wc and shower sounds useful in need. What's your opinion please. Thank you for this great video.

[natols]

We rented the california this summer and we disliked the beds, way to hard to sleep on both places. And The kids bed feels lika a small prison.

[sinewaymusic]

As a new owner of the GC600, I pretty much agree with every point you made. I wish the storage was a bit more thought out, especially in the kitchen area. Coming from a caravan, we have to really rethink our kitchen needs and probably buy smaller pans and pots. With two kids, it would have been way too much work to go with anything smaller than this so for us, the California Ocean wouldn't have been a viable option anyway, but Fiat Ducato-based vans would have. There are some interesting options in that world that we considered, such as the Globe Traveler Voyager ZS. However, that model is nearly impossible to come buy where we live so the choice was obvious in the end. We've only owned our GC600 for a week and have yet to make our virgin trip. Fingers crossed it will be a pleasant experience. 😊

[Daddyfixit]

I’m upgrading from a self converted T5.1 to a GC680 4motion.
I spent 2 hours with a GC600 today locally before heading 250 miles to check out a used 680.
I found the catches tricky but it took me under 2 seconds to work out how to operate them reliably. They could be much better.
I agree the kitchen space is odd but you didn’t mention the top cage drawer or the wee freezer. I have a 65L vitrofrigo compressor fridge that will potentially live under the bed.
I found the 600 to be oppressively claustrophobic but the 680 looks really open and airy in comparison.

On the basis that everything is a compromise, I need a long distance wild camp tourer, and a car show tow and live Motorhome. Top of the list is an inside loo and inside kitchen and as a good used van the value for money is excellent.
I’m a solo traveller, and travel very light (former biker) so I doubt I’ll fill even half the space.

Campervan Tetris; it’s a thing.
Enjoyed the review and especially relieved at the mpg. I get 48mpg from my T5.1 if I try and anything above 30 for the GC is Good News

[markdami]

Solution to the storage: pack Harry off to boarding school and get a 680 😎

[dcrilley]

Thanks for the review. I've kept an open mind and this afternoon been to test drive a 600 with your review in mind. It's a sweetie to drive. That is not where the van struggles at all. It is the interior fittings. I can only echo the several major problems in the design and layout of this van that you have itemised.. It is a colossal disappointment. The wall mounted cabinets are abysmal. In principle, splitting the cabinets to upper/lower should help with organisation but every one of the upper cabinets has a 2/3 inch beam running through it. The beam is two inches on its top side, three inches on its lower side and ruins every one of the lockers. The beam means that items are necessarily pushed forwards and renders all of them substandard. It is easy to see why a net is placed in the rear locker. The reality is that every locker needs some restraining device. The catches are pitiful and temperamental from the outset. The kitchen is a dud for the size of van. There are just two little cuboid drawers which will not fit big pans or much at all. The fridge system takes up a disproportionate amount of the kitchen block for the volume of cold storage on offer. The lower slide out section has low walls and I can easily envisage items getting thrown backward into the rear of the fridge void when in the mountains. The reality, sadly, is that the kitchenette in my T6 California is not only easier to use but has more storage space than this disappointing version. The whole kitchenette unit jibbered noisily throughout the test drive even on the smoothest bits of tarmac. The only reason to buy and compromise is that there is a demo fleet out there with nearly no miles on the odometer being sold at 66-72k via the VW dealers and, tragically, in the current market that is starting to look 'reasonable'.

[FrancesWoodcock]

I agree with your point about storage in the kitchen area & the need for a step up to the bed but despite those points we love our GC 600

[colinsavidge]

Good review, confirms my view that the T6 cali is the sweet spot.

[johnsydenham]

Thanks for the information. My wife and I are awaiting delivery of a two Berth 600, having changed from a T6.1. I agree with all points good and bad but came to the conclusion that the cons can be overcome. I am hoping there is room to secure one narrow, very narrow step to the board under the bed. We think the windscreen blind is an extremely poor design. How did you guys find it ? I am pondering whether to buy an aftermarket internal thermal blind before taking delivery, something I would normally not do. I also think the van is better suited to a 2 berth from a storage consideration. I was amazed at only one leisure battery hence we will consider changing the leisure battery to lithium and hopefully add an additional solar panel, we mainly wild camp. The game changer for us was: full headroom, fixed bed and as we are well into our seventies the ability to pea in the middle of town without pulling the blinds down. Also no inverter and levelling guide. We definitely require an inverter and have been advised the conversions mentioned are doable, hay Ho more expense.

[TheLittleRedCali]

Apart from letting me go the toilet in peace I’m not really sure why I’d go with the Grand over the Ocean. Hiring one first is definitely the way to go though when investing so much money. Great review. 👍

[Goldenretrieverandacampervan]

We are delighted with our Adria Twin, if it’s still on your shortlist would recommend you hire one 👍🏻

[jeremysymonds]

Very interesting review and to hire before you buy makes perfect sense. IMHO you have revealed some genuine problems around the bed/toilet access, general storage and particularly kitchen storage which when combined with some of the feedback from owners about water ingress and the dealers ability to remedy problems I think I would be looking elsewhere. Malibu, Westfalia, Hymer, Dreamer and Knaus are all good options and it appears that availability is starting to ease a little. I purchased a new Weinsberg CaraBus 600 MQ with a pop up roof 11 months ago. We wanted a wide fixed rear bed (152cm) and the option of the pop up roof means we can take a couple of grandchildren away. The pop up Is heated by the blown air system but probably won’t be great in the winter… yet to be tested. We have a 150 litre fridge and have had to buy a folding step to ease entry to the rear bed but thankfully the step doesn’t interfere with the toilet door or fridge opening (The fridge has a slide out bottle drawer at the bottom). So far we are thrilled to bits and no issues. Out Ducat is the 140hp manual, would have preferred auto but none around at the time. Goos luck with decision making, will be interesting to see which way you go.

[jandeweerdt]

Wij hadden een T6 california en rijden nu sinds 2 jaar een GC 680. Tip, maak in iedere grijze kast een extra legplank. Hierdoor wordt het opbergen een stuk makkelijker. Kijk ook eens naar de YouTube filmpjes van Fan4van

[chrisken]

Big deep fridge is good. Imagine driving through wilderness with no shops on the way.
You can always turn your fridge off and use it as a regular shelf.
Definitely rent before buying !!!

[benlamachine]

Hi JT, we rented this "Grand cali" summer 2021, 2 weeks ( Family of Three, Mix of wild and camping pitches ) just before delivery of our T6.1 COAST . Fully agree about Storages lakes and crazy lockers ... Bath not so Pratical and upper bed access not easy, even for 12 old Son ! And during night, wake up for bath facilities with Mezza bed Scale on place, well .... But Driving experience is a very good surprise, and this VW is catch eyes ! Finally VW is only a "newbee" in this kind of proposal, not as smart as T5/T6 . There is a strong competition indeed ( Fiat Ducato, Ford transit ) with more Easy access features in general ( dual space bath, pop up roof like T6 )

[juanamestoy]

Hermoso video Gustavo! Gracias por compartir!👏👏👏👏👏😎👍🤩

[ABC-ydnd]

Thanks JT, I appreciate your efforts to present your experience with the GC 600.

[thecaravandad]

Good review. I agree the drive is great and there certainly are some positives over similarly sized alternatives. We owned a GC 600 and unfortunately had a lot of issues with it which include, failed kitchen tap, failed step (x2 ongoing), failed external toilet flap, failed roof window blind, hand brake issues, and water ingress through the seal that joins the van body to the GRP roof which resulted in water pouring into and through the van and coming out of the handles on both 'A' Pillars. It took VW some 5 months to source and attempt to resolve the water ingress which involved a total reseal of the roof. A common issued we learned through the forums.

In our experience the dealerships are still not up to speed on how to resolve issues with the vehicle. There are also so many design oddities, one of which you mentioned in your review (ie limited accessible storage, poor fastenings etc) and with the need for a step up to the rear bed impeding the toilet door. We also found that the ladder location to reach the upper bed also impedes the toilet door and access through the van. The lounge uncomfortable with the narrow bolt upright rear chairs and limited leg room, and the table way too large/heavy with no logical to store it. VW solution lug it to the rear bed every time to travel!. Clothes also fall out of the small shallow overhead lockers when opened. Water inlet flap in the location where the sliding door opens, matter of time before the flap is sheared off.

All in all a great base vehicle, however not very well thought out with some significant design flaws (roof seal problems). We did have our seal replaced, however it was poorly done by the dealership and did not look like the factory seal. With the amount of other owners with the same ongoing issue we were concerned that this would be a reoccurring problem.

We owned a beach previously and loved it. Just replaced the GC 600 with an Ocean and no regrets.