CONFIGURING & ORDERING MY OWN CALI!

I have to be honest, the decision to buy a Cali was not easy for me and for sure not taken overnight. I can however hardly describe the joy that I feel now. I’ve made the absolute right decision and can’t wait to have the Cali parked in front of my door. But first I must go through the process of configuring and ordering it (and I’m quite sure, before receiving the keys, they also require me to pay for it).

I already made the choice to go for the California ‘Ocean’ model. As I will hopefully use this campervan for many, many years to come, I want to go for the most complete version. Not that the Beach and Coast models are less appealing, not at all. But in the way I intend to use the Cali, the Ocean is the best fit for me. If I think that the configuration stops with selecting the model (the Ocean in my case), I’m mistaken. The configurator that was put on-line by the Volkswagen Camper dealer shows an almost endless list of additional choices that I have to make. Different as in most of the countries around me, I can only select one type of engine. The diesel and petrol version are not available in the Netherlands. And even if they would have been, I really want to have the Plug-in Hybrid version. So that’s an easy one, the ‘PHEV’ it will be.

The next choice to be made is that of the colour. The first T7 that I ever saw was on the fair in Düsseldorf in August 2024. This was a dual-tone version, with the beautiful colour-name ‘Starlight Blue Metallic and Candy white’. Supplemented with the ‘Glacier Blue’ pop-up roof it looked splendidly. Shall this then be the colour to choose? On the follow-up fair in Utrecht the T7 was presented in what I call ‘cherish red’. Also, this one was magnificent! It looked beautiful in this colour. Then again, in one of the commercials (I think it was a YouTube promotion) I saw a dual-tone orange-grey version. In short, what I thought would be the easiest choice, turned into something very difficult (however, don’t let me fool myself, also a nice to do). What colour would I go for? What could help me in making this choice, other than the advice from my dear family and friends? So, in addition I looked at old books and videos of the earlier models, from the original T1 up to the T6.1. Although over the past 70 years they came in a broad variety of colours, it was obvious that the dual-tone versions were the most popular. And in all honesty, I must admit that the dual-tone version is the most appealing to me. Well then, that narrows down the choice to only two: blue-white or orange-grey. As a good Dutch citizen this is of course an easy one, one would think. If you see the Netherlands competing in sport matches, you will always see that the Dutch supporters are dressed in orange clothes and hats. The so-called ‘Dutch army’. And why in orange? Because the Dutch Royal Family is called ‘van Oranje’ or translated in English ‘from Orange’. It’s a long story where this originated from. For those who are interested in history, in the south of France, in the Provence, there’s a city called ‘Orange’. In this city, a little bit hidden behind the Roman Theatre, there’s a stone describing the link between this city, the name Orange and it’s link to the Dutch. Orange is therefor – as a city and as a colour – one to one linked with the Dutch royal family. But let me go back to the configuration of my Cali. As I’m Dutch, orange-grey should be my final choice. A beautiful combination. But every time I look at different colours, I’m drawn back to the first T7 that I saw in Düsseldorf: the blue-white dual tone. A ‘timeless’ colour combination that will never be ‘out of fashion’. Hence my first real configuration choice is made: blue-white it is. And for that, I also want to have the pop-up roof in the matching Glacier Blue colour. 

What then follows is an almost endless list of features. It’s like being a kid in a toy store, the one feature being even more appealing than the next. But then as in the toy store, it’s also a fact that adding everything to your list drives the total price sky-high. It’s amazing to see what some of these simple feature’s cost. Moreover, if you realize that a lot of them are programmed in software (and therefor may add a lot of value, but do not actually cost a lot more). Nevertheless, knowing that I’m intending to use my Cali for the next fifteen to twenty years to come, I put my ‘cross’ behind a large variety of both ‘must haves’ and ‘nice to haves’. To end up with the Cali of my dreams!

The nice thing about an on-line configurator is the fact that you can change your choices and immediately see the impact on the price. More important, you can do this sitting in the comfortable environment of your own house. And in my case, whilst enjoying a glass of my Pas si Vite red wine. Not being disturbed by salespeople. Not being pressured by time. No, just you and the configurator (and in my case, the glass of wine). It’s a lot of fun to play around with the choices you make and even see how they look in ‘real-life’ in the pictures that you get presented. Like how the colour looks from all sides. And also, whether the seventeen inch (or larger) wheels look better in silver or black polished (I decided to go for the latter). As a final step I push on the ‘store configuration’ button. That’s done! Next, I pick up the phone and make an appointment with the Volkswagen Camper dealer in the Netherlands to discuss my configuration and to then hopefully order it…

I’m very lucky that I live in the Netherlands. Not because it’s a very nice country to live in. It for sure is, but that has nothing to do with ordering a VW Cali. The reason that I’m lucky is the fact that the Volkswagen Camper dealer in Amersfoort in the Netherlands is unique. It’s the only VW dealer world-wide that is fully focused on VW campers. In over more than twenty years it has build-up a phenomenal good reputation. Not only because they know every VW campervan model inside-out. Of course they do. With their knowledge they are able to keep both the ‘car-part’ as well as the ‘camping-part’ in top condition. All maintenance is done in-house with a very experienced and passioned team. This is however only one element of their good reputation. The other one is that you’re not ‘just a customer buying a campervan’. The moment that you’re in touch with them, you’re part of the VW camper community. For me it already started with talking to one of their team members on the fair in Düsseldorf. Although it was extremely busy, he took all the time to explain the new model to me and to answer all my questions. Something that he repeated at the fair in Utrecht and when I – during my ‘try-out’ renting a T6.1 – visited them in Amersfoort. Needless to say, that I asked for him when making the appointment to order my Cali. The feeling that they’re not just ‘only’ selling campervans is further enhanced by the brought variety of services and experiences that they sell and share: next to selling and maintaining all VW camper models, they also have a rental service. And the most interesting part: they organize a wide variety of camper-holidays where you can enjoy the ‘caravaning’ with other Cali owners. A true family-feeling!

Saturday morning, December 7th, 2024. This is the day that I’m driving from my hometown to Amersfoort in the Netherlands. A ride of slightly more than one-and-a-half hours. To discuss my configuration and, of course, also the total price that I would need to pay if I would decide to trade-in my current car. Today – and during the past two days – they’re organizing an event to formally ‘introduce’ the T7 in the Netherlands. And what a nice event it is. As there are no traffic jams on my way to Amersfoort, I arrive way too early for my appointment. And luckily so I would say, as when entering the showroom, my attention was immediately drawn to the T7 that was on display. Not for long however, as next to the T7 I see a completely different but not less beautiful vehicle: a ‘tuk tuk’ (the famous motor-powered autorickshaws that you see all over Asia) converted into a barista-bar. With the long drive that I’ve had this morning to get here, I’m absolutely in need for a good double espresso. And that is exactly what the experienced barista produces for me. If I would have had hair on my head (some rumours go that I’m almost bold), it would be standing straight-up after sipping this expresso, delicious! Espresso number two is just poured when my by now well-known VW salesman asks me to take a seat at his desk. In the more than one hour that follows, we discuss the total configuration. On his advice, I take out two features that do not add any true value or functionality, but that do add additional costs. In all honesty, also the salesman had to admit that he had no idea why these features were in (something to do with extra steering support). His best advice comes when we talk about the position of the awning: on the right side (how I had configured it) or on the left side? Traditionally, you’ll always see them as I had configured it, on the right side. He however makes the more than valid point that now with the second sliding door on the left – and with the direct access to the kitchen and fridge from this side – and awning on the left side would be the most comfortable choice. And right he is! I think it takes us all in all less than one-and-a-half hour to conclude everything. Trading-in my car is no problem (he had done his homework on the trade-in price) and with the discount provided, we end up with an agreement on the price. Knowing that I will use the campervan for many many years, it still is a lot of money, but over the long period of time worth every penny (or as I pay in euros, every eurocent).

December 7th, 2024. Yes, I’ve just ordered my own Cali! I’m not sure the smile will disappear from my face. I do need to wait a long time before I will have it stationed in front of my door. The production will start in the first week of May 2025 with the final delivery expected in four to five weeks thereafter. So, as it looks now, I expect to receive it early June. Let’s hope that there are no delays and that I can take my Cali with me during my summer holiday in 2025. I’m for sure going to start planning for this. 

On my way out, in front of the VW centre, is an old T1 transformed into a snack-stand. I order my French fries and am on my way back home. Let the (long) waiting start. Carpe diem!