Considering swapping T6 Ocean for T7 Ocean

[chockswahay]

We had a T6 Ocean for 10 years and have decided that the T7 Ocean works for us. I'd say that personal situation, usage and preferences have a significant bearing. We do lengthy roadtrips of two months or more

You are quite right, it is personal. That’s probably why we’re all so divided about which is best Personally I like the Multivan but just too many negatives for us

 

[chockswahay]

That's the plan...

On a different subject, your avatar intrigues. Is that the day job?

It was, I retired from it 8 years ago

I just asked Gemini to offer up an alternative, perhaps I should change it to this

 

[Phil57]

Then I will be none the wiser never having had a T6 and will hopefully be happy in my naivety!

It depends how you camp - we have habits developed over years, if you are new to California’s then you will develop your own ways that will work for you. Whichever T7 or T6.1, go for it, you’ll love it.

 

[chockswahay]

Oh dear, @Why Not has sent me down a rabbit hole now

 

[WelshGas]

Yes. I noticed T6.1s are getting very close to T7 in price, even exceeding the petrol T7 price. FWIW, we use a Honda hybrid which is great - VWs hybrid T7 looks a terrible option. And the petrol option, well, has anyone actually bought one??

Obviously not driven or used the T7 Hybrid.

 

[Why Not]

Very good @chockswahay, given the only thing to remain consistent is the 'pilot' I can only assume it is of you.

Do you still fly GA?

 

[russmcp]

Yes. I noticed T6.1s are getting very close to T7 in price, even exceeding the petrol T7 price. FWIW, we use a Honda hybrid which is great - VWs hybrid T7 looks a terrible option. And the petrol option, well, has anyone actually bought one??

Yes, and I’m happy with it. Does 30mpg and I’m cool with that. I didn’t want another diesel.

 

[WelshGas]

Yes, and I’m happy with it. Does 30mpg and I’m cool with that. I didn’t want another diesel.

And you've avoided an expensive Adblue repair in the future.

 

[chockswahay]

Very good @chockswahay, given the only thing to remain consistent is the 'pilot' I can only assume it is of you.

Do you still fly GA

No it was entirely AI generated. I don’t fly anymore (can’t afford to!)

 

[2into1]

And you've avoided an expensive Adblue repair in the future.

I think this is the key point. Yes the petrol is a going to cost more at the pumps and loses for the first couple of years, but when the dpf, egr and ad blue on the diesel starts playing up, the cost balance could soon swing

 

[Skinnee D]

Interesting! We reached the opposite conclusion after 12 years T5&T6. That said, the option to remove one rear seat & two sliding doors was very attractive to us, and I do like a modern vehicle. Perhaps we will change our mind in the future.

We did too initially. Then we got to spend time with a T7 Ocean and look in more detail at how the storage could work for us personally and it was actually ok.
Also, we only ever used one gas ring in the van and had no need for a hanging wardrobe.
Van mode with both rear seats simply lifted out is a massive value to me at home.
It really is a personal decision

 

[Why Not]

No it was entirely AI generated. I don’t fly anymore (can’t afford to!)

That's a shame. My life would be so much less fulfilling without getting air under the wings, particularly those trips involving camping under the wing.

Anyway, priority now is to get camping in the T7 and try not to lose sleep wondering what it's like in a T6 . For various reasons I haven't managed to do so since collecting it.

 

[RedWhiteMonkey]

What Adblue issues are there really? The only problems I seem to have read about are the result of user error when topping Adblue up, which seems easily avoidable if one actually follows the correct procedure.

Like all these things, if you look on the internet you find horror stories but the reality is that 99.9% of petrol, diesel or hybrid engines run without ever experiencing any problems.

 

[temporarysecretary]

Alot of modern petrols have particulate filters and EGR valves now.

Plus the carbon build up in the intake from direct injection.

Petrol and diesel doesn't matter which. Modern is the problem.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/business/volkswagen-equips-petrol-cars-particulate-filter-technology

 

[chockswahay]

That's a shame. My life would be so much less fulfilling without getting air under the wings, particularly those trips involving camping under the wing.

Anyway, priority now is to get camping in the T7 and try not to lose sleep wondering what it's like in a T6 . For various reasons I haven't managed to do so since collecting it.

View attachment 152880

Oh 'Proper' but I can't quite tell what they are?

 

[Mansfieldman750]

Our diesel is 5 today, happy birthday van.
Engine wise, it’s been perfect. No warning lights of any sort, never needed to add oil between annual services. It’s on 49,000 miles.
It runs mainly on Shell V Power diesel, very few short runs, and occasionally I put it in 4th in manual for a few miles which is about 4000 revs at 70mph. So I’d say it’s been pampered a bit.
So hopefully next 5 years will be as trouble free. Time will tell.

 

[chockswahay]

Oddly enough ours ran perfectly until a few weeks ago, then (@48k miles) an engine management amber light came on………. turned out to be a faulty glow plug which was replaced last week together with associated plumbing (thank goodness for All-in warranty

 

[Why Not]

Oh 'Proper' but I can't quite tell what they are?

Those are Eurofox. Not fancy, but do the job of getting around some interesting places Did you ever fly GA SEP?

North Ronaldsay in August. The camper is for winter adventures

 

[Phil57]

Our diesel is 5 today, happy birthday van.
Engine wise, it’s been perfect. No warning lights of any sort, never needed to add oil between annual services. It’s on 49,000 miles.
It runs mainly on Shell V Power diesel, very few short runs, and occasionally I put it in 4th in manual for a few miles which is about 4000 revs at 70mph. So I’d say it’s been pampered a bit.
So hopefully next 5 years will be as trouble free. Time will tell.

Our local garage dealer swore by supermarket diesel for bringing him work. He always recommended the best diesel you could find. Looks like you’ve nailed it

 

[stoobthealien]

T7 not much more than a day can IMO. Was with dealer the other day saying they are very unpopular and 6.1’s increasing in price as a result!

Can confirm it will do 2.5 weeks in Europe with a family of 4 perfectly well

 

[RedWhiteMonkey]

As usual this all comes down to how people want to camp and what their expectations are. Ultimately, whether someone prefers a T5, T6, T7, etc. is a matter of personal choice. Get what suits how you want to camp and it really doesn't matter what others think. In the end, alll variants of the California are compromised in terms of being a campervans but I assume that for almost everyone on here the benefits of the more compact size outweighs the disadvantages.

The campers I don't understand are those massive ones the size of small house (Concorde, Niesmann and Bischoff, etc.) that I see driving around here in contintental Europe. Finding campsites they fit on or can even reach must be an issue. I've also yet to see a genuinely dirty off-road expedition (Unimog, Iveco, etc.) camper, they always look immaculate and completely out of place on normal campsites.

 

[chockswahay]

Those are Eurofox. Not fancy, but do the job of getting around some interesting places Did you ever fly GA SEP?

North Ronaldsay in August. The camper is for winter adventures

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They look nice I don’t want to hijack this thread anymore than I have already but yes all sorts from gliders to Embraer 145’s but my favourite was the KingAir for the Scottish Air Ambulance Service

 

[RoB5urf]

I quite like the T7 (if we're calling it that). The deal breaker for me (coming from a T6 Beach) is the boot kitchen in the T7 Beach. It's just a personal thing but I don't like those boot slider kitchen arrangements.

Re the AdBlue thing, I'm not sure it's definitely been proven to be an issue yet. Interesting that there are folk here that say it is, but would deny there was any issue with the 180 bi-turbo engine. Just saying.

 

[Why Not]

AdBlue thing? I'm beginning to regret buying my Cali, or maybe it's joining the forum?

Only kiddin'

 

[WelshGas]

I quite like the T7 (if we're calling it that). The deal breaker for me (coming from a T6 Beach) is the boot kitchen in the T7 Beach. It's just a personal thing but I don't like those boot slider kitchen arrangements.

Re the AdBlue thing, I'm not sure it's definitely been proven to be an issue yet. Interesting that there are folk here that say it is, but would deny there was any issue with the 180 bi-turbo engine. Just saying.

Depends which year regarding the 180.
Engines made between 2010/12 did have a problem recognised by VW with a TPI detailing which engines, by serial number, and the repair/replacement procedure.

Post 2012 we have the supposed EGR cooler problem. VW have been through 4 versions of the EGR valve/cooler since. If the problems happen with every 180 then one could point the finger at the EGR. Problem is it only occurred in a relatively small percentage of the total.
Yes, the cooler breaking down caused the damage but why do some breakdown and not others?

As far as the Adblue system. It was developed for a commercial vehicle. How many Californias cover 10-20,000 miles/year. The number of T6’s with Adblue problems has increased over the past year on this and the T6 Forum, and the majority, if not all, are used as recreational vehicles.