Anxious new owner Cali T5 2005

[angelainitalie]

We bought a used Cali from 2005 last year. Now on our first trip to Italy and experieng our first hazards. Like the board computer doesn't function well, it seems to lose connection with the battery one in a while.
The interior trim is coming loose at the sides; can this be fixed? And the sliding panels are no longer in very good condition; the edge above the driver's seat has already broken off.
Did we make the right decision, or is this going to cost us a lot of money?
By the way, the trip is great, weather is good and this way of camping suits us.

 

[TripleBee]

A few pictures that show what you mean would be very helpfull.
I am not really sure what you really mean.
Also in my van, newly bought in 2010, there are things that are beginning to fall apart. As long as the engine, gearbox and roof are still fully functional, all the rest are just peanuts. In most cases, you can fix things easy and cheap.

 

[angelainitalie]

Happy to say engine and gearbox are oke. So only small interior hazards

 

[Perfectos]

What you show In your photos is age related.

You can get remedial work done to put it back to as new

Have a look at the link for an example, not used this company and not recommending them , purely showing what can be done.

https://www.totaltrimsolutions.co.uk/vehicle-headlinings/

 

[dspuk]

Without being a ar5e, it is a 21 year old van - unfortunately most vehicles deteriorate rapidly after 10 years, however well you look after them. You can see the age and treatment of this van evidenced in the wear on the buttons you can see in the image.

It’s the cost vs upkeep scale vs a new vehicle that my daughter is just starting to learn all about with her 10 year old car...

Self repair as much as you can, reality is there is not a lot you can’t do yourself outside of the engine and even then with some avid YouTube all entirely possible.

 

[pchmlk]

Without being a ar5e, it is a 21 year old van - unfortunately most vehicles deteriorate rapidly after 10 years, however well you look after them. You can see the age and treatment of this van evidenced in the wear on the buttons you can see in the image.

It’s the cost vs upkeep scale vs a new vehicle that my daughter is just starting to learn all about with her 10 year old car...

Self repair as much as you can, reality is there is not a lot you can’t do yourself outside of the engine and even then with some avid YouTube all entirely possible.

What’s your basis on the 10 year comment? Just your daughter I’m assuming.

 

[dspuk]

What’s your basis on the 10 year comment? Just your daughter I’m assuming.

27 years working for Nissan 5 of which was leading the parts return and inspection for all European warranty. Endless meetings and conversations with suppliers, designers and engineers for years on built in obsolescence and parts lifetime cycles through Six Sigma analysis ( we called it V-UP).

There is a saying about assumptions I believe…

 

[pchmlk]

27 years working for Nissan 5 of which was leading the parts return and inspection for all European warranty. Endless meetings and conversations with suppliers, designers and engineers for years on built in obsolescence and parts lifetime cycles through Six Sigma analysis ( we called it V-UP).

There is a saying about assumptions I believe…

Oh I think I remember having a similar conversation with you before about this, and still disagree.
Luckily I’ve never owned a Japanese car.

 

[dspuk]

Oh I think I remember having a similar conversation with you before about this, and still disagree.
Luckily I’ve never owned a Japanese car.

Since the 90’s the brand doesn't really matter anymore. The process is so homologated globally and the production so systemised, with most if not all parts, and even full sub assemblies, being built offsite (by the same suppliers for everyone) that the most striking difference is looks and the workforce who assembled the final vehicle. Even that latter part is fairly rigorous and much the same globally.

Most Japanese vs French vs German conversations remain rooted in 70’s and 80’s thinking, mainly from the more elderly crew, think 70 plus, when plants used to resemble the floor is lava and the Mondeo was king of the jelly moulds.

Even back in the 80’s I’d have rather driven a Datsun Sunny over an Austin Montego any day of the week.

That said, there is always someone who will say that they had a 20 year old xyz and it never let them down and was built by Merlin. Statistically though, they are very very lucky. Parts are designed to be warrantable for 5 years of continuous use, and last for 10. They can do more, can do less, depends on use and maintenance.

Buy hey, whaddoo I know. Always up for a good reasoned debate.

Ps - I missed Army VM B Mechanic for 5 years off the CV you asked for - apologies

PPS - not to hijack the OP’s post and to quote George - it’s all fixable, some of it is more fixable than others.

 

[Mrb08]

That’s just the headlining, this is to be expected in a 20 year old vehicle.
These are still available through VW at around £400 or if you’re really lucky as I was 2 weeks ago through a breakers for £75. Easy job to change one, around 1.5hrs

 

[Christine Kirk]

We can see that some of the above assumptions were just open to scrutiny:
Our Skoda Yeti is now in its 15 th year and apart from regular serving seems to be relatively cheap to repair as it only needed a new battery and pair of front discs in the last year which was typical of the ongoing costs in running this car!! A lot less than funding a new vehicle
Our little sports car is now 15 years old and apart from servicing (£200 last month) hasn’t cost us much, although two years ago needed the engine out to repair the clutch so at the time had other work done like replacing belts hoses etc, total bill was just shy of £2000 but fades into little if taken over serveral years; again not much when compared to shopping for a new one!
The real argument comes with the life time costs of our 2002 T4 caravelle which over the years has cost an average of under £1000 / year to run including service, goodness knows how much it is now worth but the initial purchase cost of £17500 makes depreciation less than £1000 / yr and people keep enquiring if it is for sale so we think it must still be worth a few grand! At 300k miles!
Our really expensive car is the T6 California which thankfully has up until this year has had VW extended warranty and for which we are grateful for! ( the oil leak champion) ! Looking at current market prices it has lost a fair few thousands in depreciation which if we traded it in would be lost capital, so buy wisely and keep it right is the way forward for us!
As a foot note hubby has had his other car for over 50 years!

 

[pchmlk]

Yes, agree Christine.

Just because parts are warranteed for 5 years that doesn’t mean the vehicle useless thereafter. Houses come with 10 year warranties….


Thanks for the post dspuk, you’ve not convinced me. As a qualified engineer I’m also fully aware of product lifecycles. I remain opposed to the idea that after 10 years vehicles deteriorate rapidly. It’s not my experience at all, if the vehicle is looked after.

 

[Alexlex85]

This might sound a bit blunt, but if you’ve bought a 21-year-old van and are surprised or concerned about cosmetic issues and trim pieces falling apart, it may not be the right vehicle for you. At that age, wear and deterioration are to be expected.


Realistically, every trip you complete without a breakdown is a win. Most other issues are fixable with time and effort.


Regarding the roof liner, the only proper way to repair it is to remove it entirely, strip it back, and apply new material. There isn’t a quick or cheap fix, the foam backing between the board and the fabric has degraded, which is why it’s failing.

 

[WelshGas]

Any vehicle can last if looked after and we'll maintained. Just like Triggers Broom.

Take a look at this video, 'everlasting broom' https://share.google/hOCB6Kt33e69srC2q

 

[dspuk]

Yes, agree Christine.

Just because parts are warranteed for 5 years that doesn’t mean the vehicle useless thereafter. Houses come with 10 year warranties….


Thanks for the post dspuk, you’ve not convinced me. As a qualified engineer I’m also fully aware of product lifecycles. I remain opposed to the idea that after 10 years vehicles deteriorate rapidly. It’s not my experience at all, if the vehicle is looked after.

Don’t disagree with anything you have said, I just say the design principles by auto manufacturers and stats don’t back it up. Whatever you are a qualified engineer in, I bow to your knowledge in your expertise area. This is (was) mine, agree or disagree, your prerogative, always.

Most cars won’t last longer than 10 years, some cars last longer, others, as WG points out, are rebuilt piece by piece. One post agreeing is confirmation bias, but I’m super happy for Christine. More will be along of course. That’s how forums work.

Of course everyone treats a car differently and a small minority last for a long time. They garage them, service them, clean them and cherish them. Replace the parts that wear out or become brittle and age worn. I have a 60 year old car that I maintain myself and it starts every time first time.

It truly is triggers broom though and I have no idea what remains on it that could be truly classed factory fit in 1963.

 

[pchmlk]

Most cars won’t last longer than 10 years

The average age of a car on UK roads was 10 years as of 2025 with 16-20 years before being scrapped. Just to add some facts the thread.

 

[dspuk]

The average age of a car on UK roads was 10 years as of 2025 with 16-20 years before being scrapped. Just to add some facts the thread.

This fact and my statement of how the car industry design cars are not mutually exclusive.

I like that graph below, that shows both sides of the the pictuire and the changing model. Now, is that economic, reliability, 2008 crash, pandemic and or wars, well, likely all of the above.

Personally, it shows we are both right - people keep cars longer, but not much longer than 10 years because of all the things I pointed out.

I do like to come back to the OP so as to not hijack their thread - a 21 year old car, in general, will be pushing it unless impecibly maintained. Looking at the buttons, that would be in doubt. They are going to need to get the spanners and glue out.

 

[Christine Kirk]

Sounds like joining the flat earth society might be satisfying.
We’ve run loads of old cars that were satisfactory, SAAB’s , Diahatsu’s ,Austin’s and Fords.
The 300k Caravelle is substantially the same as it left the factory, engine gearbox and running gear , interior is the same possibly needs a new drivers seat cushion!
We regularly drive it down to Bristol or Farnham to visit family with no worries!
The tyres seem to last about 50k before the internal steel bracing gives up and they go out of shape, the real Achilles heel of the T4 is the hand brake mechanism which seizes up if not attended to at servicing, a thing that VW franchise garages are not very good at!

 

[angelainitalie]

This might sound a bit blunt, but if you’ve bought a 21-year-old van and are surprised or concerned about cosmetic issues and trim pieces falling apart, it may not be the right vehicle for you. At that age, wear and deterioration are to be expected.


Realistically, every trip you complete without a breakdown is a win. Most other issues are fixable with time and effort.


Regarding the roof liner, the only proper way to repair it is to remove it entirely, strip it back, and apply new material. There isn’t a quick or cheap fix, the foam backing between the board and the fabric has degraded, which is why it’s failing.

I knew what I bought, so I wasn't surprised. Only a question for more Cali-specialists than I am. It would be great if it can be fixed (easily). But otherwise, no problem. Engine did great at our trip to Italy and that's the most important. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Alexlex85]

If you were any where near me and could leave it for a week I’d be more than happy to fix it for free. Just cost of materials less than £100.
I’m based in Aldershot

Done loads much larger and intricate.
Bonus points for who can guess the car