Fifth Gear Episode - Danbury T2 Versus T5 California...

As the presenter said of the T5 - its a van, no style - therefore no contest the T2 wins (we all knew that)

The California is a superb factory built machine and they do not have any of the problems we all experience with the build quality of our brazibays ( broken bolt on the r and r bed says it all ) We cant compare one against the other as they are two totally different animals. I personally would never ever consider spending £35K on a Brazibay however, I would spend that amount on a California. Good video though.

olive wrote:

The California is a superb factory built machine and they do not have any of the problems we all experience with the build quality of our brazibays ( broken bolt on the r and r bed says it all ) We cant compare one against the other as they are two totally different animals. I personally would never ever consider spending £35K on a Brazibay however, I would spend that amount on a California. Good video though.

Ok ... let's break this down:

The California is the product of a multi-million pound manufacturer that has the resources available to it to design, troubleshoot and build such a vehicle. You cannot compare Volkswagen with an independent cottage-industry type set-up. If you did, then in essence the California should probably sell for 4 times its retail value.

We don't 'all' experience problems with our BraziBays. What you tend to find is people who do need help, will detail it here as a means of sorting the issue out. People don't tend to shout about how happy they are with something. It's not in people's nature. It is natural to moan!

As the video shows, the Kombi is characterful in comparison to the California. The T5 is just a van with alloy wheels according to the presenter. I think that says it all.

Rather than listen to uninformed TV presenters, why not read an earlier topic written by a member who has owned both!

Vdubs and camping

Many thanks for posting Paul, good bit of fun!

T5 is great if you need to get places quickly and reliably, but if you want to have fun and be part of a great commuity our Brazzi's are the only way!

[quote="TimV"]

olive wrote:

The California is a superb factory built machine and they do not have any of the problems we all experience with the build quality of our brazibays ( broken bolt on the r and r bed says it all ) We cant compare one against the other as they are two totally different animals. I personally would never ever consider spending £35K on a Brazibay however, I would spend that amount on a California. Good video though.

Ok ... let's break this down:

The California is the product of a multi-million pound manufacturer that has the resources available to it to design, troubleshoot and build such a vehicle. You cannot compare Volkswagen with an independent cottage-industry type set-up. If you did, then in essence the California should probably sell for 4 times its retail value.

I am sorry Tim I dont understand the point you are trying to make here, I suggested you cant compare both vehicles as they are totally different

The T2 is designed and manufactured from the same multi-million pound manufacturer

I wouldnt say the suppliers of the camper conversion was a 'cottage industry' anyway there are only two designs of interior fit out and its not as though every order is a 'bespoke/special' fit out, the only difference is fabrics etc. So the quality coming out of these conversion companies should be as good as the California standard and as we know with this forum there are a lot of problems experienced with them

Dont see why you think the value should be 4 times more than the T2, I am sure the overhead of VW is far greater than the camper conversion companies.

We don't 'all' experience problems with our BraziBays. What you tend to find is people who do need help, will detail it here as a means of sorting the issue out. People don't tend to shout about how happy they are with something. It's not in people's nature. It is natural to moan!

I am happy with Olive but still have problems

As the video shows, the Kombi is characterful in comparison to the California. The T5 is just a van with alloy wheels according to the presenter. I think that says it all.

The T2 has the character however it is still a van like the T5 remember that is how it started way back, VW manufactured the van and the conversion companies Westfalia etc converted them to campers.

Sorry but the T2 is not "a van just like the T5" look at the advances in design and technology the T5 has. Plus compared to VW all interior fitters / designers are a cottage industry.
I would be surprised if there is someone out there that hasn't had a single problem with there T2 though.

kiteman wrote:

Sorry but the T2 is not "a van just like the T5" look at the advances in design and technology the T5 has. Plus compared to VW all interior fitters / designers are a cottage industry.
I would be surprised if there is someone out there that hasn't had a single problem with there T2 though.

Oxford dictionary description of cottage industry is 'one carried out at home'
I dont think Danbury with I guess a more than seven figure turnover or any of the other conversion companies would like their business to be described as a 'cottage industry'

olive wrote:

I am happy with Olive but still have problems

What are these problems and how could they be resolved?

The amount of fun, smiles, enjoyment and attention Ginger has given me has been worth every penny. Wouldn't even give a T5 a second thought.

Me neither. Sure, owning Max has not always been straight forward - particularly as he's an aircooled variant, but I've never had so much satisfaction out of owning a vehicle.

If I had the money, I'd buy an AquaBay today so I could enjoy both versions. Sadly the bank account says 'no!'

What I do know, is that today I've been planning my holidays this summer and I'm already starting to get that buzz only a T2 can give you when you're out on a Kombi Caper.

'Kombi Capers' sounds like that needs to be a new forum caterory

My whole life is a 'Kombi Caper' these days!

Well put Tim, 'Kombi capers' are the only way to travel!

As has been said the T2 and T5 are totally different animals, despite problems we have had, I would still not change the type of van. Our problems have been with the engine, designed and built by VW, Danbury have been very helpful.

'Mish' is a member of the family, loved and cherished, wouldn't change him for the world!

It was a good video, Dont think the T2 would be 35k now, not with the spec on it. I can see the reasons why people would go for both. For us there was not competition it was a T2 all the way, the only discussion was original or new brazilian, we opted for the newer for reliability with a little one. Our neighbours have a T4 and would a california as they go away at weekends and travel a long distance so comfort and a bit of speed is needed. I thin it is great that there is a van for everyone and one that will suit there needs as well.

Dilly

I love my T2 and they only problems I have had is a flat battery really. The looks is classic. who would have thought back then it would still be around now!! or even built for so long in Brazil. I cant go anywhere without someone stopping me to look and talk about it. I just love talking to people about the Brazil T2 and I am very proud to have owned one!!! brings a smile to my face and others!!

T5 California This is a great camper too. I am sure it wont still be built in the next 40 years like the T2 was. Also I bet if the T2 had not have been converted but so many company's Danbury included then VW Germany would never had come up with the idea to start selling Campers.

To me they are both great in different ways. its like comparing a Cat and a Dog!

ianclarke1970 wrote:

I love my T2 and they only problems I have had is a flat battery really.  The looks is classic. who would have thought back then it would still be around now!!  or even built for so long in Brazil.  I cant go anywhere without someone stopping me to look and talk about it.  I just love talking to people about the Brazil T2 and I am very proud to have owned one!!! brings a smile to my face and others!!

T5 California This is a great camper too.  I am sure it wont still be built in the next 40 years like the T2 was.  Also I bet if the T2 had not have been converted but so many company's Danbury included then VW Germany would never had come up with the idea to start selling Campers.

To me they are both great in different ways. its like comparing a Cat and a Dog!

I like both for very different reasons and you are of course right they are each in their own right great. I do,however, feel that the classic T2's have a closer tight knit and friendly fan base or community - I have looked at several forums for other campers and the T2 splities and or bays appear to have a better following.

Interesting Video and interesting comments. If nothing else it shows the passion that T2 owners have for there kombis.
My slant on it (for what its worth) is that i have been selling cars at the same place for over 30 years and last year mistakenly i purchased a Danbury Aquabay and then went to sell it at a VW festival.

While at the festival, the Missus and i enjoyed just a fabulous weekend and we had so much fun that we decided to keep the aquabay and sell the motorhome we had that was the size of a block of flats

At the festival we met loads of new mates young and old with T2's, T25'S, T4'S and... wait for it.....yes T5's. who we still keep in touch with.

As we were getting a bit stalled of car sales (as we had done it so long) we saw an opportunity to change direction a bit and have a renewed interest so...... we started buying and converting T5's into day/surf vans... and the odd camper. We now have quite a few going out the doors of varying models but the point i'm coming to is although we have the choice and opportunity to head off into the sunset in any of our T5's....we still wouldn't swap one of them for our Ronnie which we have now got an arm and a leg in with the personal touches we have enjoyed putting into him.

As Ronnie was and is still undergoing some work, a couple of weeks ago we took one of our t5's to the Lincoln VW festival and we still had a great time, but when you pull up at the camping pitch, although people still nod and say hi, no-one comes over to break the ice by saying "love the lines on that", or "how old is that then", or "my mum/dad had one of those" etc etc etc....... nor did anyone take any photo's of him when we stopped at the petrol station en route.

I think if your the sort of person that likes a bit of power wants to get somewhere fast, and you have a passion for VW's, then its probably the T5 club route.
But to be honest, we have that '' going somewhere fast'' every single day in our working life. and we've found that our Ronnie is one of the few things that really brings us back down to earth and helps us to a slower pace of life.

Just wish i understood them a bit more though!!!

Timmm - how on earth did you mistakenly buy the van? Thats definitely not an easy mistake to make!!

gordonmac, well iv'e always had big boys toys but when this came i didn't realise how different they were to drive!!!
our lass couldn't get to grips with driving it, and when i drove it, i thought it was Buggered lol...and nearly ended up off the road with the steering so loose.

Then, we got the Kombi disease............ and fell in love with it.

And on my way to work in it this morning, i got a wave from a chap in a yellow T4.
Bet that wouldn't have happened if i was in a T5 then?