Hillside’s California

[sticky1]

Hillside California
These guys aren’t far from me and I have to say I think this is a really good option based on the Multivan platform with many of the VW California base van benefits. Good to see VW allowing some flexibility for established converters.

 

[Lakes_Puma]

I watched this last night, it's good to see a VW approved company delivering more options for the customer.

Personally I didn't see anything that would sway me away from my Cali.

I think the MVX is even more of a day van than the current Cali.

 

[Ian in Leicester]

I watched this last night, it's good to see a VW approved company delivering more options for the customer.

Personally I didn't see anything that would sway me away from my Cali.

I think the MVX is even more of a day van than the current Cali.

Agreed, I don't see any significant improvements over the new California - in fact, IMO, it highlights the great job VW have done in creating a camper from the multivan.

 

[owen_h]

Also discussed here earlier:

Hillside MVX conversion on Multivan base

This has started appearing in my SM feeds recently: https://www.hillsideleisure.co.uk/landing/hybrid-campervan-conversion/ A conversion on the Multivan base vehicle by Hillside who are already one of the VW approved converters. Not many details on that website but it looks to me as if VW are...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

After watching the video I thought it was a missed opportunity and there was nothing that would make me choose the MVX in preference to the MV California Coast/Ocean. Its a shame that they couldn't utilise the hybrid battery to power an induction hob & 240V inverter. Ford have done this with their Pro Power Onboard. I suspect VW don't let converters access the hybrid battery.
He didn't seem to have much headroom while sat in the back (roof closed). And virtually no rear visibility. Maybe that RIB bed on rails is higher than the VW seats. If it had an airline style rear locker there would have been zero visibility to the rear.
Why was the hob burner lower than the run of units ? Regulation for height above burners possibly ? With a longer run of units it seems strange that they didn't address at least the single burner complaint people have been making against the California.
From the video comments it doesn't have chair storage in the tailgate. I didn't spot a table but presumably is one somewhere. No wind out awning.
I did like the full length worksurface though.

Nothing on the website yet about price, I would have thought they will need to undercut VW Coast to get sales.

 

[thehoggmeister]

Also discussed here earlier:

Hillside MVX conversion on Multivan base

This has started appearing in my SM feeds recently: https://www.hillsideleisure.co.uk/landing/hybrid-campervan-conversion/ A conversion on the Multivan base vehicle by Hillside who are already one of the VW approved converters. Not many details on that website but it looks to me as if VW are...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

After watching the video I thought it was a missed opportunity and there was nothing that would make me choose the MVX in preference to the MV California Coast/Ocean. Its a shame that they couldn't utilise the hybrid battery to power an induction hob & 240V inverter. Ford have done this with their Pro Power Onboard. I suspect VW don't let converters access the hybrid battery.
He didn't seem to have much headroom while sat in the back (roof closed). And virtually no rear visibility. Maybe that RIB bed on rails is higher than the VW seats. If it had an airline style rear locker there would have been zero visibility to the rear.
Why was the hob burner lower than the run of units ? Regulation for height above burners possibly ? With a longer run of units it seems strange that they didn't address at least the single burner complaint people have been making against the California.
From the video comments it doesn't have chair storage in the tailgate. I didn't spot a table but presumably is one somewhere. No wind out awning.
I did like the full length worksurface though.

Nothing on the website yet about price, I would have thought they will need to undercut VW Coast to get sales.

I didn't see any opening windows in the sliding door either.

 

[2into1]

The link doesn't appear to have been shared.

I was optimistic but regard it as a bit of a disaster after watching the review. "A luxury car with facilities" seems to be the go to excuse for any shortfall.

 

[owen_h]

List prices from the brochure I’ve just been sent:
£71k for the 150 diesel
£79k for the hybrid

Various options from VW & Hillside, Awning a £1595 option. The IQ lights mentioned in the video also £1595.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[stoobthealien]

List prices from the brochure I’ve just been sent:
£71k for the 150 diesel
£79k for the hybrid

Various options from VW & Hillside, Awning a £1595 option. The IQ lights mentioned in the video also £1595.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Given the aggressive VW finance offers and discounts available on the Cali I think they might struggle - VWs access to cheap credit goes a long way....

 

[wildslammer22]

Bench seat and more worktop the only plus’s I can see vs the MV California. The Cali has better storage and for similar money you’re getting a manufacturer warranty for car and conversion.

I assume Hillside have worked out how to charge the leisure battery, if so perhaps they can advise VW on how to do it ;-)

 

[2into1]

I saw the actual van at the NEC today. Of course all the vans are shown with the roofs and beds elevated. Based on the normal size chap who was in there with me, I suspect there is close to zero headroom in the rear (It's an RIB bed with a taller rear piece to give a longer bed than normal for RIB).

 

[Lakes_Puma]

I've watched a couple of videos on it now, and will see it at the show on Friday, and I don't understand why some people are raving about it, one of the things that everyone moaned about on the Cali T7 was the lack of storage compared to previous models, and the MVX looks to have even less storage.

Couple that with the rear seat observation by @2into1 and the fact that it doesn't look removable like the Cali T7 ones are, you have lost a lot of the practicality the T7 has with it's flexibility.

Plus the loss of one of the rear doors as a usable entry/exit.

Don't get me wrong, it looks like a nice conversion and does offer more options to the buying public which is always a good thing, but I don't understand how anyone who said the Cali T7 was lacking can say this looks like a better option.

 

[Magic Bus]

When we bought our Cali Ocean in 2019, we had previously looked at Hillside conversions, as they are just down the road from us on the outskirts of Derby. They were then doing something equivalent to a California, but with a Rock and Roll bed and a manual roof. They were also using underpowered vans for some of their conversions, 96 and 130 bhp, whereas a Cali is 150 or 204. They were only about £4000 cheaper than a new Cali Ocean, so we decided to go with the factory built California Ocean in the end. I’m not sure how well these conversions hold their value either. We paid £52,000 for our brand new Ocean, over 6 years ago and it’s currently valued at £45,000 on Motorway.

 

[sticky1]

I didn't see any opening windows in the sliding door either.

Manual roof as well. Definitely a reduced specification.
I’m not sure they have addressed any of the criticisms of the California.

 

[stoobthealien]

Lots of people prefer a manual roof, less to go wrong.

We have a manual on our new t7 beach - it's really not much effort to use!

 

[Theopenroad]

I watched this last night, it's good to see a VW approved company delivering more options for the customer.

Personally I didn't see anything that would sway me away from my Cali.

I think the MVX is even more of a day van than the current Cali.

Agreed, I think if you want a daily car with some camping/living facilities this might be ok for a bit. For longer trips definitely T range of Cali's are much more useable.

 

[Theopenroad]

I watched this last night, it's good to see a VW approved company delivering more options for the customer.

Personally I didn't see anything that would sway me away from my Cali.

I think the MVX is even more of a day van than the current Cali.

I think once you have experienced a T6.1/6/5 California anyone would find the new T7 far less useable and practical for anything more than the odd overnighter.

 

[stoobthealien]

I think once you have experienced a T6.1/6/5 California anyone would find the new T7 far less useable and practical for anything more than the odd overnighter.

I think that's a bit of an exaggeration - plenty of people are taking T7 Cali's on big tours

 

[Dixiewixie]

I think that's a bit of an exaggeration - plenty of people are taking T7 Cali's on big tours

Certainly our plan for this summer. Took our previous t6 CamperKing conversion all over Europe with 4 of us, then down to 2 as the boys got older and it had less storage space than the ocean T7 (we sat for hours in VW Birmingham comparing before committing!)

Suspect it’s more what you get used to. Everyone has a different perspective and we are all correct!

 

[Theopenroad]

I think that's a bit of an exaggeration - plenty of people are taking T7 Cali's on big tours

I didn't actually say that people were not taking T7 on big tours.

 

[Theopenroad]

I think that's a bit of an exaggeration - plenty of people are taking T7 Cali's on big tours

I think once you have experienced a T6.1/6/5 California anyone would find the new T7 far less useable and practical for anything more than the odd overnighter.

A matter of opinion is a fundamental right that we have and to express it. It doesn't have to be right or wrong and no one can tell you such as it is a personal opinion. Not always a popular concept but it's been around for a while so probably going to be around a bit longer

 

[Theopenroad]

I watched this last night, it's good to see a VW approved company delivering more options for the customer.

Personally I didn't see anything that would sway me away from my Cali.

I think the MVX is even more of a day van than the current Cali.

Agreed.

 

[Theopenroad]

Certainly our plan for this summer. Took our previous t6 CamperKing conversion all over Europe with 4 of us, then down to 2 as the boys got older and it had less storage space than the ocean T7 (we sat for hours in VW Birmingham comparing before committing!)

Suspect it’s more what you get used to. Everyone has a different perspective and we are all correct!

Yes we are.