Yes, I have a complete love affair with Albert, my Camper, but sooner or later, despite the passion of our relationship, he is going to have to be replaced for a younger model, hence why I am here.
VW owners also have dealer problems, often blamed on the fact that VW sell the Cali through it's commercial vehicle network. Some of us have really suffered with the fact that the dealer/service manager sat opposite would really be far happier talking to a builder or plumber and selling 10 works vans than talking to someone who expects to be treated like a private customer exchanging lots of dosh for something that will be his personal, and much loved, pride and joy. The California, even though it is the most expensive vehicle by far in the showroom, is only a minor part of a commercial vehicle salesman's life and sometimes it shows. Equally the bloke doing the servicing, on occasions, is not too fussed about where he leaves oily finger marks and not many people driving a works fleet van full of greasy tools are going to complain.
That said their are also great dealers, great servicing and dealers very knowledgeable about the product and scope for doing a deal to sell it so it is not all bad.
I have been really disappointed therefore with the MB offering. The disinterest and total lack of product knowledge I have found on two occasions when I prearranged appointments to view has been quite sad. I want to see an alternative to the Cali, not because I am disappointed with what I have but because I want a choice and I have not been offered one so far. It has all the trappings of a half-hearted launch by MB, no decent staff training, no real efforts to punch a hole in the camper van market, a very limited range offering and even more limited room to cut a deal. It will get better as hopefully the range expands and dealer knowledge and experience improves, but it really should not be me, on a prearranged visit to view the vehicle, to have to point out to the Sales person where the light switches are and how the gas bottle fits in!
In terms of comparing the two vehicles, I can't. First, as I have said in other threads, A campervan lifestyle is one built on a shed load of compromises so it is totally an individual thing as to what compromises and solutions are best. The driving cabin of the MP is a delight, a real luxury car offering, and I love it compared to the VW more van-like offering, but then the VW cabin offers something that for some is priceless, lots of individual storage bins great for putting those often needed but sometimes hard to find items. Part of the price paid for the superb ability of a campervan to go everywhere is that the small space calls for a lot of careful and well-practiced packing or it becomes a misery of constantly moving everyone and everything around to get to the bit that you want and the more segregated spaces the better.
Having drooled over the driver cabin I also drooled over the leather seats. I despair with VW not offering leather upholstery and if I ordered another Cali, which to be honest at this point I am likely to, then I will just have to go through the faffing around of the basic upholstery being replaced by an after-market recoverer.
I cannot comment on driving it. My Cali is a superb, effortless, supremely comfortable long-distance cruiser and there is no doubt that the MP is also. I have a T5, much more agricultural than the Euro 6 diesel, so looking forward to whatever replacement I choose to a smoother engine, but when I turned up for my pre-arranged test drive another vehicle had been parked in front of the Demo and I was informed that it was all to much trouble to shift it to allow me to toodle off and go around the block.
The habitation again looks much more modern and sparkling than to the Cali. The Cali now is looking a bit utilitarian but hey, nothing that a few bright cushions and throws can't change. The Cali is also quite robust inside, it has to be, it has had me living in it for over 300 nights, but then Westfalia know what they are doing, they are noted for high-end quality so there is no reason to believe that the MP will be any less so.
Those back seats look oh so comfy for passengers compared to the Cali, who with me in front have to suffer in Grim silence behind, but then would I want those electric seats? There is enough to go wrong as it is, and the MP only has one leisure battery to the Cali's two, and when they were demonstrated to me it did not help that they folded down unevenly. I love the concept of split seats, I use my Cali as very much an outdoor vehicle and to be able to lower one to flop exhausted on to whilst leaving the other up upright as a seat would drive me into flights of ecstasy, but then I would like some reassurance that it is proven technology and would not fail on me at a bad time. I camp all year round in some pretty wild locations, in February 2015 I experienced three 90 mph plus storms in succession in Northern Scotland, no chance of having the roof up so the downstairs bed must be foolproof as best as it can be. However despite misgivings, the MP has a delightful rear seat offering.
Enough said about the table and chairs offering. Just what are MB/Westfalia thinking of? No problem in winter, just leave them behind, but Summer I quite like sitting and eating outside, it's what the camping experience is about, and I will just have to carry them, but that boot space, it's crammed full at the best of times in my Cali. I will just have to go back to the drawing board and replay my whole camper van experience
I would not comment on the mechanical bits. My Cali has proved to be as tough as old boots, on one occasion surviving a fearful airborne leap on an isolated Highland track landing with such force that my two nearside tyres blew. After being recovered, an epic saga in itself, and returned to an Ullapool garage where two new winter tyres had just arrived, I was able to drive away despite fearing that some parts of the underside must be damaged. VW supplied a safety check list, the thing was hoisted up, a technician spent forty minutes going through the check list, and all was intact and pointing in the directions that they should be. I do a lot of off-tarmac travelling and in four years nothing has come loose, broken or blown up.... except the two aforementioned tyres. I have no reason to believe the MP will be any different. I would be quite confident in MB to offer a seriously robust vehicle, sadly though they are not yet offering what I need most, 4WD.
So, in a very large nutshell, why I am here. I am also looking at conversions, Autohaus, Vanworx and Jerba in particular. I am in no hurry. Albert and I are off to East Anglia, then Belgium and then Scotland before our long continental trip next year, and only looking to replace after we come back From France in May 2018, so plenty of time, plenty to think about. The MP is a fine vehicle. The lifestyle though is the finest bit, and whether VW, MP, Mazda Bongo or a conversion it is the lifestyle that we all share and can all offer each other help and advice on.
Glad you're sorted now!