Goodbye 6.1, hello T7, Goodbye T7 hello 6.1

[RedWhiteMonkey]

I have a T6.1 but have decent experience with the T6 (their previous van which frequently borrowed from my in-laws before we had our own) but only as the Beach variant.



My own opinion was that like most of these types of things there were some things better and some things worse. Off the top of my head:

- The 150hp engine in the T6.1 seems smoother but I am comparing a manual T6 against a DSG T6.1.

- The full colour control panel in the T6.1 is a big improvement over the dot matrix one in the T6.

- The sliding door on the T6.1 seems to be a big improvement over the T6, smoother and the T6 one was prone to breaking, but that could have just been my in-laws bad luck.

- The dashboard and dashboard storage on the T6 is much better than the T6.1. Too many small and useless cubbies/shelves on the T6.1 and the omission of the lidded storage on top of the dash on the T6.1 is not good.

- The infotainment on the T6.1 is much better than the T6 (Apple Carplay & Android Auto) but that is just a simple consequence of being newer..

- I can’t remember which way round it is but one had hydraulic power steering and the other electric power steering. I prefer the power steering on the T6.1, but that is just personal choice.



I don’t think there is a huge difference between the T6 and the T6.1, I would buy on individual specification and overall condition.

 

[Bluestone]

- The 150hp engine in the T6.1 seems smoother but I am comparing a manual T6 against a DSG T6.1.

- The full colour control panel in the T6.1 is a big improvement over the dot matrix one in the T6.

- The sliding door on the T6.1 seems to be a big improvement over the T6, smoother and the T6 one was prone to breaking, but that could have just been my in-laws bad luck.

- The dashboard and dashboard storage on the T6 is much better than the T6.1. Too many small and useless cubbies/shelves on the T6.1 and the omission of the lidded storage on top of the dash on the T6.1 is not good.

- The infotainment on the T6.1 is much better than the T6 (Apple Carplay & Android Auto) but that is just a simple consequence of being newer..

- I can’t remember which way round it is but one had hydraulic power steering and the other electric power steering. I prefer the power steering on the T6.1, but that is just personal choice.

Yes, I agree on all the above points, I went from 150hp DSG to DSG and the engine was noticeably smoother and better, also oddly (I thought at the time) the side door was much smoother action - didn't know it was an issue. There are some nice T6's, it would have to be a 69 plate as these had loads of options on them as they were end of the line. But maybe 199 would be better? 150 is fine IMO but hated that spurt off the line with the T6

The dashboard was the big hit for me - I know why they did it to save cost but seemed a downgrade - didn't like the digital dash but this is a personal thing, I'm sure others will say it's much better, I think the lack of google maps (common VW thing and other makes include it - even the new little Renault 5E!) meant it was kind of useless in that regard.

Infortainment - 100% agree I have a Golf 7.5 and it is the same and much better, I'm pretty sure it can be retrofitted though.

Yes, agree about the steering, I guess it is just a facelift at the end of the day.

I only bought my Golf 7.5 last year after returning to the UK from living in Denmark and wanted a 2020 7.5 as this was the last year and far better then the MK8, I actually paid more for my 7.5 (it only had 12K miles) than I would have done for a 2 year newer MK8 which shows how poor the early MK8's were!

Still debating, heart says yes, head says no

 

[RedWhiteMonkey]

I have physical dials in my T6.1. I guess I'm not posh enough for the digital dash, or it was more a case that the overall cost of all optional extras was starting to get painful and as nice as the digital dails looks it is just a gimmick on a van really. I agree with you, if you could show Google Maps on the digital dails I think I would have gone for it, but as you can't I have to endure the pain of glancing sideways to the infotainment head unit!

 

[Bluestone]

That's odd, I don't remember ticking an option for that at the time, maybe it came part of a pack? The trick I missed was missing the privacy glass option, totally put me off having it and couldn't live with it, I did go for privacy glass but clearly ticked the wrong option

 

[Roger Boeken]

I have physical dials in my T6.1. I guess I'm not posh enough for the digital dash, or it was more a case that the overall cost of all optional extras was starting to get painful and as nice as the digital dails looks it is just a gimmick on a van really. I agree with you, if you could show Google Maps on the digital dails I think I would have gone for it, but as you can't I have to endure the pain of glancing sideways to the infotainment head unit!

I don't understand this need for Google Maps at all. Are there fewer roadworks or shorter traffic jams on Google Maps? Are travel times or distances shorter? With every update, I see improvements in the infotainment system and regularly discover new features. I suspect the desire for Google Maps stems from long-gone times when Google Maps stood head and shoulders above other maps.

 

[RedWhiteMonkey]

I don't understand this need for Google Maps at all. Are there fewer roadworks or shorter traffic jams on Google Maps? Are travel times or distances shorter? With every update, I see improvements in the infotainment system and regularly discover new features. I suspect the desire for Google Maps stems from long-gone times when Google Maps stood head and shoulders above other maps.

Are you saying you prefer a physical map book?

Google Maps is just the default standard on Android Auto for me (I know others are available - Waze, Sygic, etc.). Sat nav being available via smartphones is possibly one of the best advances in that area of technology, no more days of having door bins full of maps.

 

[Roger Boeken]

Are you saying you prefer a physical map book?

Google Maps is just the default standard on Android Auto for me (I know others are available - Waze, Sygic, etc.). Sat nav being available via smartphones is possibly one of the best advances in that area of technology, no more days of having door bins full of maps.

I use the VW GPS and display detailed look at the steering wheel and overview on infotainment screen. I also do not use data from my mobile phone while navigating.
Zoom in and out with the buttons on the steering wheel, convenient and safe.
And I also have physical maps in the car in case the electronics should fail.

 

[Bluestone]

I'm having a massive clear out at the moment and found some old map books, one or the whole of Europe fairly recent, I think 2009 ish from when I used them to navigate Europe.

I think with everything, it's personal choice, to be fair I haven't done a recent comparison between google maps and in the in built VW system, I have it in my Golf but for me, the VW system seems slow and clunky and google maps seems to have more features and I much prefer the overall look and feel of it so never use my in built one.

Funny really, back in the day I could never really justify the option of Sat Nav and now it mainly comes and standard and I never use it.

I will do a comparison in my Golf though nest time I go somewhere and see if the routes are the same etc.

 

[sidepod]

I don't understand this need for Google Maps at all. Are there fewer roadworks or shorter traffic jams on Google Maps? Are travel times or distances shorter? With every update, I see improvements in the infotainment system and regularly discover new features. I suspect the desire for Google Maps stems from long-gone times when Google Maps stood head and shoulders above other maps.

My understanding is Google maps is more real time accurate as it uses feedback data from other users (it can tell when there are 500 users stationary in a jam) whereas as other systems rely on radio traffic report data (RDS?) so it always out of date by up to an hour?

 

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Just to clarify, my T6.1 doesn't have a digital dash and I don't have VW sat nav on the infotainment. No direct experience of VW's sat nav but inbuilt sat navs generally can't be as up to date as the likes of Google Maps, Waze, etc. on a smartphone. I personally find using a smartphone hooked up to act as the infotainment to be a significant improvement over the original experience.

 

[Bluestone]

So did a quick inter web comparison, kind of what I thought and experience really (I wasn't sure about the VW system)

Are there fewer roadworks or shorter traffic jams on Google Maps? Are travel times or distances shorter?

In a word, yes

Google maps is much better at updating live traffic, sometimes this can backfire, but generally, very good at knowing what's ahead and offering options, to be fair this has saved me many hours of being stuck in jams! The VW one doesn't do that, this alone for me would be why I would always use it over the VW one

 

[Bluestone]

Just to clarify, my T6.1 doesn't have a digital dash and I don't have VW sat nav on the infotainment. No direct experience of VW's sat nav but inbuilt sat navs generally can't be as up to date as the likes of Google Maps, Waze, etc. on a smartphone. I personally find using a smartphone hooked up to act as the infotainment to be a significant improvement over the original experience.

I also don't in my Golf, ok if I have the appropriate display up in the centre bit of the dash it gives me arrows but I prefer to leave it on MPG or sometimes media for a quick selection.

So agree, but even with the digital dash, I still prefer Google maps and have the dash on another setting, although I actually prefer analogue dashes.

PS @RedWhiteMonkey pretty sure you can get yours upgraded to the digital dash at places like Hazzy Dayz...

T6.1 Virtual Cockpit Upgrade

We are pleased to offer the genuine Volkswagen virtual cockpit as a retrofit for your T6.1 2020 onwards Volkswagen transporters. It s suitable for

www.hazzydayz.com

Not sure it's worth it mind you, kind of expensive, although most factory options can be retrofitted so if there was something you missed when ordering...

 

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Not really bothered about digital dash to be honest. Yes, it looks nice but I don't think it really adds anything worthwhile so there's a lot of other things I'd spend my money on first. Now, air suspension is still tempting if I ever have any spare cash.

 

[WelshGas]

My understanding is Google maps is more real time accurate as it uses feedback data from other users (it can tell when there are 500 users stationary in a jam) whereas as other systems rely on radio traffic report data (RDS?) so it always out of date by up to an hour?

The latest Infotainment system can use Google Maps, via the Volkswagen App to send destinations to the built in system which also uses RDS and info from V2 equipped vehicles for real-time traffic conditions with real-time route calculations based on that data.
Also it doesn't depend on phone data or signal which can be poor in some areas.

 

[Bluestone]

The latest Infotainment system can use Google Maps, via the Volkswagen App to send destinations to the built in system which also uses RDS and info from V2 equipped vehicles for real-time traffic conditions with real-time route calculations based on that data.
Also it doesn't depend on phone data or signal which can be poor in some areas.

You mean for the T7 onwards or was this an update for T6.1? It makes sense, but I still prefer the look of Google Maps over the VW system to be honest, kind of wish I didn't as I can massively see the benefit of using the inbuilt system. at the end of the day its what you're used to and personal preference

 

[Bluestone]

Not really bothered about digital dash to be honest. Yes, it looks nice but I don't think it really adds anything worthwhile so there's a lot of other things I'd spend my money on first. Now, air suspension is still tempting if I ever have any spare cash.

Yeah, I wouldn't bother either, I actually prefer the analogue dash. Yes air suspension would be a good upgrade.

Now looking at VW California T6.1's, so question about this, the rear tinted glass, different options? Seen lots where it looks like what I got rid of my 6.1 in the first place, the latest T6's seems to have more tinted?

 

[Bluestone]

Think I found the answer, well that's disappointing, loved the green tinted glass option on the T6

 

[RedWhiteMonkey]

I suspect an aftermarket tint would be cheaper, and possibly better.

 

[Up10]

You mean for the T7 onwards or was this an update for T6.1? It makes sense, but I still prefer the look of Google Maps over the VW system to be honest, kind of wish I didn't as I can massively see the benefit of using the inbuilt system. at the end of the day its what you're used to and personal preference

I can through Google maps from my android phone to the T6.1 infotainment system. It shows up on the main screen and also navigation directions are provided between the rev counter and speedo which I think is very clever.
I frequently use the VW navigation but sometimes find it handy to use Google maps for alternative routes and in that instance, just throw it onto the screen from my phone.
For context, I have a 2024 Ocean with Weconnect.

 

[Bluestone]

I can through Google maps from my android phone to the T6.1 infotainment system. It shows up on the main screen and also navigation directions are provided between the rev counter and speedo which I think is very clever.
I frequently use the VW navigation but sometimes find it handy to use Google maps for alternative routes and in that instance, just throw it onto the screen from my phone.
For context, I have a 2024 Ocean with Weconnect.

Very interesting and thanks for the info. I'm looking more towards 2024 - the latest T6.1's

 

[WelshGas]

Very interesting and thanks for the info. I'm looking more towards 2024 - the latest T6.1's

Don't forget the boot space is shorter on the T6.1 compared to T6.

 

[Up10]

Don't forget the boot space is shorter on the T6.1 compared to T6.

Do you know the reason for that? It seems strange that as there hasn't been a change in body shape between the two, this would be the case.
Is it to do with the rear seat position and is it noticeably different?
Just interested.

 

[WelshGas]

Do you know the reason for that? It seems strange that as there hasn't been a change in body shape between the two, this would be the case.
Is it to do with the rear seat position and is it noticeably different?
Just interested.

Confirmed by @sbmcd , and Campervanbits. 5cm difference.

Folding Carpet from Campervan Bits

Hi, Caution if you are purchasing one of these folding carpets, despite what it says on the advert they do not fit the 6.1 Pity I liked the idea.

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[sbmcd]

Do you know the reason for that? It seems strange that as there hasn't been a change in body shape between the two, this would be the case.
Is it to do with the rear seat position and is it noticeably different?
Just interested.

Just the seat position, doesn't seem much but it feels better to me, I certainly prefer it that way, don't notice the change in the back.

 

[Bluestone]

Just the seat position, doesn't seem much but it feels better to me, I certainly prefer it that way, don't notice the change in the back.

Yeah agree, depends on seat position, I took a 15HP Honda 4 stroke outboard and a 3.5M SIB in the back of my T5.1 to Greece once and the seat wasn't all the way forward, find it pretty flexible to be honest, although can also be a pain and feel super small!!