The £109,000 VW T6.1! Is this the best Volkswagen camper ever?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2022
- Meet the new Ecowagon Expo+. It could be yours for £37,995 if you supply the VW van for conversion, but this one has a whole load of toys and gadgets that take the bill up to £109,000!
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◼️ REVIEWED BY: Peter Vaughan, Group Motorhome Road Test Editor for MMM magazine and What Motorhome magazine Editor. Peter has been writing about motorhomes since the age of 14, has a love of touring France and is mad about old Italian sports cars.
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It's comforting to watch this when your lying in your bed with rain tapping against the window
A year on and this is still one of the best Transporter conversations I’ve seen
Definitely. Only a few others come close
Prices have become silly for mostly a basic camper. I can think of a lot more van conversions with a full bathroom for the same or even less money. Thanks for a balanced review Peter, great as usual.
Most comprehensive camper reviewer on TH-cam! Excellent! Thank you!
Thank you! We try to give the same quality here as in print (MMM magazine)
It’s a huge amount of money for a van without a shower room, but has some lovely features. I’d love to have hot water in my T5 - and that levelling system is awesome. Love the California bed - I’ve got that in my van too and it’s awesome, but as you commented in the T5 , it needs a duvalay. Wish they’d put the spare wheel under the vehicle though, so you can get a bike rack on the rear. Also I’d prefer if that roof bed to had a second hinge to put it straight up at the rear, which gives better headroom, but a really excellent, fair and balanced review. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed the review. Hope you've subscribed to the channel!
There's another spare wheel underneath - the rear wheel and jerry can was really just a bit of show for when the camper is at 4x4 events.
I'm a T6 owner - wish mine had that air suspension system!
Boil the kettles👍🤣 hey presto.,. hot water in your van. Simple ehhh
I am always amazed that anyone would pay that sort of money for any small camper when you can buy much better for half that price. It is the old "label" thing - - in this case a VW badge.
You can buy much, much bigger, but bigger is not necessarily better. Depends how you'll use the 'van
cost and value meaning something isnt worth what it costs to make, personally speaking i think thee autotrail 68 is a far better van.
If I had the money this is what I would buy as I wouldn’t want anything bigger.
I think it's what you call a cult following 😏
I just need the smaller van as it’s way more easier to manoeuvre in the big cities
If only I had the money, perfect setup guess I can keep dreaming... one day 🙌🏻
A great video! Again. I do like the style of them but like anything else, they are not for everyone. I can appreciate the design and the functionality. But if they were £20k I wouldn't be having one because they are not right for us. I do like the fact that you always detail how any vehicle actually drives and I think that important. I've made my first motorhome video so I'm looking forward to being up to your reviewing standard one day!
Quite right. This sort of camper isn't for everyone but, if you like VWs, this is one of the very best
I love you and I love your channel. And I love the way are you delivering your information. You really make me want to embark on van life
Do it, you won't look back!
And thank you so much for your comments!
We have an Ocean 4motion 204 with normal alloys and Michelin latitude cross AT tires. Never been stuck and normal road noise. Also have the vb air system, it's just perfect. Love our van!
Very nice! Sounds like a great camper.
Fantastic. Thank you so much. The only common thing separating all you great van campers from us normal, humble human beings is that you don't have, and never need, a toilet. You travel, cook, grill, make food, eat, drink and enjoy your gadgets and "huge" storage, chat, make videos and sleep. But you don't have "a must"! WOW. I would like to be like that one day. HOW wonderful it will be never using, or needing, a toilet - like you! You are SO lucky! 🙂 Please teach us how you do that. Thank you again for the GREAT video. 🙂
There is a toilet in this camper, even if it's not a private compartment. Look at my reviews of bigger vans and you'll see lots of loos!
What’s not to like - thank you 👌
There comes a point when a product prices itself out of the market. Surely this is it.
Ecowagon is selling all it can build and other converters are competing at similar prices. You can see it as an expensive camper or the same price as a Range Rover, which is a lot less useful
The price of this vehicle may seem very high, but I think that this is missing the point somewhat. These are bespoke conversions so when you place your order, you can do away with the £6k air suspension, the sound system, the boiler, the shower. You can get a SWB rather than a LWB - in essence, this is a showcase for what is possible. Some subset of these options will appeal to a particular buyer who wants a particular combination for their purposes. The resulting conversion will likely be somewhat less expensive, but it will be tailored to you. For those who must have a toilet or shower, then whether the van is £25k or £109k, you are never going to buy it. This is NOT like buying a washing machine where the complaint would be "look at all these programs, I only want cotton and wool wash". It makes no sense to build a bespoke washing machine for each person because of mass production cost savings. This is bespoke so you can remove the stuff you don't want/need and perhaps add stuff you do.
You've hit the nail on the head. You don't have to spend £109k to get an Ecowagon but this one sold secondhand for nearly £100k and I bet the new owner is very, very happy!
Eco? 100k+?! Hmmm, surely this is a joke.
I love it. 🤟💯
I do have concern about condensation in the roof box, especially if you sleep up there. With the sides being fabrics I'm sure it wouldn't take much for it to accumulate and end up wetting the blankets? I'm not sure I'll have to sleep in one myself and find out.
I would also like some lights outside of the van so i can see what I'm doing outside at night. And maybe a small security camera.
There's plenty of ventilation in the roof, so that shouldn't be an issue, but it's always a good idea to try hiring a campervan before buying - especially at £100k!
Ecowagon would be able to add exterior lights, etc, as every build is bespoke.
Thank you Peter and an entertaining video about how the other 1% of campervanners live, a bit like Top Gear reviewing Lambos, Bugattis etc.
However our 2021 T6.1 California Coast cost a "mere" £51k with discount from Drive the Deal, and although it might not have the extravagant toys of this Ecowagon, I would say that it is about 95% as good, and unlike this VW, won't depreciate horrendously. In fact its value appreciated the moment we took it out of the showroom.
As ever an excellent review, thanks so much.
You're very lucky - the Cali Coast is one of the best campers out there. So good that VW can't supply one at all at the moment! Enjoy it.
But some folk will always want something more bespoke.
VW in Chelmsford had a 1yr old gold-coloured Coast on their forecourt about a month ago. I blinked, and someone snapped it up. Damn.
Peter I really enjoy your reviews. Here we have more money that sense conversion. I will be buying my first to coincide with retirement. I shower and toilet are non negotiable. £109k for a portable potty and a outdoor shower. Good luck to those who write a cheque for that lifestyle.
Thanks - I hope you've remembered to subscribe to the channel!
The price here reflects the spec, not things like a shower and cassette loo (which cost pennies relatively but wouldn't fit in a T6).
Good luck with buying your first 'van. Can I recommend you watch our recent reviews of campers from Pilote, Laika, Globecar and Dreamer?
@@MotorhomeCampervan kind of you to reply, much appreciated. Of course as a subscriber I watch your reviews. My favourite so far is I think it is an RS 4x4 van. Just so well done and by them, great design and great review.
Best motorhome/campervan channel on TH-cam and have watched for years !! This van looks awesome but for the price I’d rather have a VW Grand California 680 or a top spec Crafter with a shower and toilet however this is one of the best Transporter I’ve seen but I’d like to have seen a built in cooker/microwave as well also not that keen on the spare wheel and Jerry can on the back I’d also go for a short wheel base especially with it having rolling back seat
I'm sure Ecowagon could fit a microwave, maybe even an oven. The rear spare wheel and jerry can were part of a BF Goodrich promotion, so you don't have to have those.
Thanks for your support on the channel!
If I had the money I would definitely buy one of these
Me too!
This one was our favorite van so far ,it would suit us 2 and our dog ,But the price is too steep and we are in Australia .We would have to import it more $$$$$$$$ love this .One can only dream .
If you have the VW Transporter in Australia, something quite close could probably be converted
Peter the great
One of the most bizarre things to come out of these pandemic years is that fact that ANYONE would be willing to spend over £100,000 of real money on a VW transporter VAN. They deserve to lose every single penny and more besides 🤯 🤦♂️
Why? Loads of people love them and, if you want the best...
This is certain to keep its value better than an SUV that cost similar money.
@@MotorhomeCampervan the old vw camper vans are allot nicer than this one
@@MotorhomeCampervan Why? Because it costs as much as a typical 1 bed apartment? Don't get me wrong I think it's insanely cool but I personally find it weird how so many people on the internet normalise ordinary poeple getting into insane amounts of debt over a depreciating asset like this... the average UK salary is 25k, the sort of middle class people that tend to buy campers are probably on 40-60k, it's frankly irresponsible to spend twice your annual salary on a car/van no matter how veratile it is.
@@rhidiandavies1991I bet your fun at parties😂
Relax eco wagon are just showing off they're top end product nobody is forcing anyone to spend this money
Wow! £109,000 for a VW pop top campervan. That’s at least £50,000 overpriced.
But it's £52k just for the empty T6.1 panel van in this spec!
@@MotorhomeCampervan and a very high price for a works panel van too.
Great review! However, I genuinely wouldn’t have this over my cali coast! Half the price and twice as nice I believe! Like I can’t believe they would dare charge double for this when you can pay half for a coast which in my opinion is a superior vehicle in every way
I love the Cali Coast (one of the best VW campers) but this has a lot of spec that you can't get on the Coast. I'm not saying it's twice as nice but those features - from lithium batteries to 4Motion to air suspension - are all pricey.
That's more than I've ever paid for a house! Pretty impressive but I wouldn't want to rely on hi-tech luxury. Unreliable is VW's middle name. I paid 470 bucks for an all manual 1965 split window westfalia in 1977.. Out of the 40 odd vehicles I've owned, including a 1995 diesel euro wastfalia, the '65 camper was the most fun and unique, maybe because I added a humungous sliding sunroof from an old microbus. The van was so simple that doing your own maintenance on the road was a given. The good old days! long before the world went insane. 😁
Bet you wish you'd kept that Westie! It would be worth a small fortune now
Hopefully at that price it should be!
Lovely van. But a far more reasonable price would be £45,000.
You can't even buy the empty van for that from VW!
😂
Clueless comment
@@pauldavies7251 l drive a Niessman and Bischoff Arto. There is a limit where tech has to give way to space .🤔
Just because it's not for you, doesn't mean it's not worth the price. Like every other commodity, it's worth what people will pay for it. From what Peter says, they are selling these as fast as they can make them, so you are clearly wrong.
you can get slideouts to make bigger wagons wider. Can you get ones that make them longer - perhaps to give you SWB for driving/parking/daily driving, and extending to give space for internal toilet/shower/more space?
There have been rear slide-outs - such as the Danbury Doubleback see th-cam.com/video/SxHJfxO0VdY/w-d-xo.html and the Adria Compact - but none has really been a success
£109k for a small van is a lot and I would not pay that much for any van (However big) but even a 4-5 year old less well spec'd conversion is coming in at 40-50k second hand now even if not this good a quality (and not just if its a VW). For those who keep saying can get far bigger for the cash you are correct but the problem is it costs almost as much to fit out a small van as a large one (still need fridge, gas hob, sink etc etc and just because they are smaller does not make them cheaper) and as much labour. Having said that VW campers do hold their value better than most other makes which means in the long run it may cost less than it appears it will. It really is surprising how much there is put into so little space and for 2 people (or 2 + small kids) in a lot of ways it is far more useable and will get used far more than a 7 metre plus monster thats sole purpose is to drive from home to a camp site stay there for a week and then drive home (Yes I know there are people who do more than this but this is what most owners do). Not forgetting the collecting and returning to its storage yard as its to big to park outside. Another advantage a transporter has is it can go pretty much anywhere a car can go with none of the hassles of driving a vehicle that is restricted in where it can go and planning accordingly. And finally there is the"VW Scene" which does not really exist for any other vans (at least not on the same scale) with shows, campouts and festivals all year round.
Totally agree with you. People forget the cost of items like the pop-top and crash-tested sliding seat system, too, which you don't have on a big 'van. I'd rather have this than any coachbuilt - at least until I retire and can go off for weeks or months at a time...
They hold value like crazy. My sister just traded in her 2019 T6.1 multivan in for a new T7 (not my choice, but that aside) at the exact price she bought it for (39k€). Now that alle remaining production slots are filled, T6's are becoming very sought after. I have had my T6 4motion on order since jan 2022, latest delivery update is July 24...
Great review Peter but for that money I'd want a shower & toilet. The porta potti just doesn't do it, where's the privacy. Just sold my camper, going back to caravanning so much more space and a private shower/toilet too, oh the luxury!!
Shame to lose you to caravanning - hope you'll still follow the channel!
Here, it's the age old compromise - car-like size & drive for day-to-day use or bigger with an on board shower, etc. Pity there's no TARDIS camper!
its a big pay check but i love it
Falken Wildpeak tyres are very similar, but silent
This van has some expensive and clever options however those aside its just the same as all the other VW vans with more bells and whistles. In my opinion the interior layout of the Westfalia Joker is far better, you even get a fixed toilet and a more comfortable bed.
If you're referring to the Joker City, it's woefully short of storage space. The high-top version is much better but also rather ugly!
@@MotorhomeCampervan - My point was the interior layout of this van has not changed since the VW Camper was brought out 50 years ago.
An expensive conversion but it still has cabin surfaces covered with adhesive carpet liner rather than bespoke or properly upholstered mouldings that you would expect in a quality conversion.
Only the likes of Westfalia (building thousands of campers exactly the same for OEMs) can afford to invest in mouldings. I've just had another Ecowagon on test and the quality is as good, if not better, than anything else in the VW market.
Another highly professional review and thank you for it. I am always amused when you refer to a levelling system as "Chocks". Try telling that to a Spitfire pilot as in "Chocks Away"
Never thought of it like that. I'll shout "chocks away" now when we're leaving our pitch!
really
I am amazed at how many negative comments “you must be bonkers to spend so much money on a van like this” etc. so what! If they can afford it, what’s it got to do with anyone else. If that’s what they want to spend their money on, let them. No different to a HiFi buff spending tens of thousands on trying to find the purest sound, only to change it up again the following year, when you can buy some fantastic at a few hundred quid. That’s their choice.
We’re quite a jealous nation aren’t we? Can’t stand it when others have more than us or spend it on things we consider frivolous or ridiculous for the money, when given half the chance, we’d probably do the same thing.
Spot on!
Some people spend lots on clothes, or shoes, or long haul holidays... if you've got the money you can do what you like with it!
Lesson here is we need to be incredibly grateful that Sevel Group chassis cabs are so relatively affordable.
Yes, but the Sevel feels like a van, the VW much more like a car. Agree, though, that the Fiat/Peugeot makes for some great value coachbuilts - as does the Ford Transit
@@MotorhomeCampervan Agreed but the VW is a Swb whereas the Sevel product is a chassis cab conversion. Bigger the van the more clumsy they can be to drive.
CAD200,000 (twice my house cost, or my house and van plus a whack of cash) for a mini van???? Insanity
Welcome to the asylum! 😂😄😆😁
That's a cheap house in UK standards though, you're looking at least £150,000 usually
I wonder if anyone spending 100k plus on one of these has had a full lobotomy. That money buys a seriously high quality motorhome
Yes, but a big motorhome won't be used as a versatile daily driver, like this can, and it won't fit down Cornish lanes or into town centre car parks. All depends on how you'll use it.
They do fit down Cornish lanes and I don’t want to park my MH in a town centre car park
@@laddie-1479 then this isn’t for you then. It would be a huge waste of money.
@@laddie-1479that's your choice but other people do,
We're caravan owners thinking of switching to a campervan, but not for 109k! Fantastic review though and lots of food for thought if I convert one myself. Thanks
How about a VW California for £75k, then? We've reviewed that, too, and loads of other models. Have you subscribed to the channel to see all our latest reviews?
The value of my house fantastic 😅
Extremely overpriced for a small campervan. I would take a little autosleeper harmony over this any day.
Very different vehicles, with very different spec. They haven't made the Harmony for quite a few years but a Symbol is now close to £70k (similar money to a California). All depends on your priorities
Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
They missed a trick on practicality by not putting the heater in the rear cupboard as Peter pointed out and if the cupbouard doors were sliding, as in a Cali, you could get into the cupboard with the seat forward.
Look out for my review of the latest version with a different hot water system!
Great video. Can't help but think if you had that much money to spend - you'd buy a motorhome or a thosand nights in hotels
If you like campervan you probably don't like hotels. And this will go to loads of places that a big motorhome simply won't fit. You can use it as a daily driver, too. This one is now sold!
Thank you Peter. A fantastic van with such an amazing spec comes the price tag. The perfect camper? My experience of looking around over the last year as I am about to retire to full-time Vanlife is that the subjective nature of it all means that if I had 10 must have points of specification, I can generally get between 5 and 7 of them dependant upon the van, size, price etc… but from one option to another, the score might be the same but it is not the same 5 to 7 items… in other words, there is always but always a compromise. My ideal at the moment would be a VW Crafter with a pop top, 4 birth and 5 belted seats… it is not an easy combination to find and might mean getting a Transporter until I get the vehicle and conversion done at a later date… then again, the Grand California 600 almost does it… but it has the ‘Elvis Quiff’ over cab bulge… its that compromise again… thanks for your work though Peter… by far my favourite vehicle reviewer for some years now.
The Grand California 680 is much nicer however for the £75,000 price tag for one of those you can get a really nice spec VW Crafter for less money
@@Coaster_Crazy Yep, I can see that. Availability and time are difficulty factors. My retirement is not until the end of April and that is when the funds become available...the lead time is huge for conversions atm... So that only leaves private sales +risky or retail availability which seem to be near non-existant
@@Coaster_Crazy ... And of course the incongruous situation in which the 680 is only 2 birth but by far the more handsome vehicle...
Thanks for your comments.
The Crafter is a very different proposition size-wise to a T6.1, so be sure what you want/need. Have you tried hiring first?
There seem to be a few issues with the Grand Cali, so maybe the Knaus or Westfalia conversions on the MAN would be a better bet, but a lot depends on what you can find without a 12-month lead time...
@@MotorhomeCampervan Thanks for your reply. In short, I have two sets of requirements - the here and now and the ideal. I have committed to this as a lifestyle for at least 12 months or so dependant upon how life goes… for those 12 months ideally, I would like the ideal van as described earlier - but for now, I can live with a Transporter. Interesting to hear about the Knaus or Westfalia but you also mention the main problem, availability. So, for now it is a question of finding the right Transporter to which I might be able to add some value and enjoy and look to get a larger van down the line. I am tempted by the Chausson X550 and the Pilote or Knaus… at the moment, I am still firmly in the camp of Panel Van conversion rather than Motorhome… for now at least. Thanks again… I avidly await your content…
Good review, but For £109k I would expect electric doors , maybe twin slider, comfort dash…you can get better for less.
VW doesn't do the Comfort dashboard any more. Twin sliding doors wouldn't work with this layout. You can get an Ecowagon for less if you forgo some of the extras
@@MotorhomeCampervan was the comfort dash really that great? When did they stop doing it?
Not worth `£100k way over priced
Unbelievable price !
There are other VW campers now at this price point, which you'll reach with all the extras here. Ecowagon can sell you a more affordable one but look at the price of luxury SUVs now, especially electric ones...
Can you confirm there is a front window blind similar to the side windows?? Thx.
The windscreen has an external silver screen, which also covers the cab's side windows
4motion with those heavy duty tyres long wheel base mpg please😀
I'd expect 28 - 30mpg
My 20 yr old Mazda Bongo has a soft close sliding door and an electric elevating roof all for £12K
And slightly less street cred! 😂😂
Absolutely love it👍 when I was 18 years old (32 years ago) and just a new driver, I went on a road trip with my dad's VW combi and my dad as passenger from the French riviera, Italie, Austria, Germany, Switzerland.
I've been in Australia for nearly 3 decades now and would love to get this beauty and travel a bit...but a newly grandma so, I have a question 😊 is there a possibility to have an add on seat, to bring it to 5 seats and one that could be removed anytime? This way when not in use for camping, it could be use for everyday use...with the whole family etc...😊
I guess you could probably have it with a double passenger cab seat. Or VW used to offer an extra single seat in the back of the California, which might work here. Or you could look for a VW with a wider rear seat (three belts), such as the HemBil Urban that I have.
@@MotorhomeCampervan Thank you for your suggestions 😊 much appreciate it. God bless you🙏
Joli !
Another good video, stupid question time... Why do VW campers need a gas system. I am certain Lithium Battery system could easily run this van for days on end. Less weight, no hook up but i know high cost initially. Am i missing something is Lithium not an obvious option. Kev
Gas is the simple, traditional answer for cooking. Fortunately, fridges (generally) moved to compressor types years ago (so 12V) and heating is usually diesel now (with 12V for the fan).
But, if you want to cook on electric, you need a more expensive induction hob and then a way to power it away from campsite hook-ups, so bigger batteries and an inverter. It all adds cost.
Thank you. After being a motorhome for 5 years and living in a motorhome for 2 I am struggling with such a small space idea. However I think I might take the plunge, payload is a massive issue but I will go for lithium and inverter for off grid needs at the extra cost. I may keep any van I have for for at least 10 years as I treat they exceptionally well. The price of the lithium ect.. and not having to worry about gas should easily pay for itself over the years. Keep the videos coming you have a good manner and cover some of the important issues.
Wow absolutely awesome machine but yet again another one that I can’t afford 😢😢😢😢
I'd really like to know the weight here please, as that's a lot of Kit inside & it "appears" to sag at the rear?
😂😂😂 my sides are splitting at the clueless comments
@pauldavies7251 you'd be a "Rocket Surgeon", no doubt!
The Ecowagon Expo+ is a very nice camper if you are really determined to go off roading but most of us don't do that very often and so far I have never been stuck. Having done a lot of research it seems the base VW is showing its age and is nowhere near the ride or control of say the Renault Trafic Sport automatic which has far surpassed the Transporter, not just me saying that but many motoring critics have too. That aside, for me it's all about the living area inside and the obsession with Rock & Roll beds to me is lunacy. Who wants a bed that blocks off over 50% of the storage space when it is down? Who wants a drivers seat that is blocked off when turned around by furniture and as for a £109K van using a porta potty???!!! My camper comes from Sussex Campervans in Horsham Sussex. It is called the Paradise Deluxe based on a LWB Renault Trafic Sport Auto. It has a sensible two single rear seats that can be converted to two single beds or a double in seconds and does not block any cupboards!! In two single bed configuration it is a dream to use the proper flushing toilet at the rear without waking your partner, at my age a necessity!!! The front seats rotate and are not blocked by furniture! I only found out about Sussex Campervans by chance and found the Paradise Deluxe ticked just about all my boxes. Mine has 640watts of solar on the roof so I never need a pitch electric hook-up saving loads of pitch fees, an oven, built in LPG for heating and cooking, hot & cold running water etc. etc. I suggest you take a look at the Sussex Campervan website. They build and customise the vans to your specification and also do Rock & Roll beds as well if you want one, but they are not for me. Best of all I can park in nearly all height barrier restricted car parks as it is less that 2.1mtrs high and you save about £40K.
I know Sussex Campervans but they aren't unique in converting the Renault, or offering the type of layout you describe. One of the best of these is the CMC Multi Style. However, these rear kitchen layouts rarely have anything like as much storage as a good side kitchen layout. It's horses for courses.
I love the idea of saving on pitch fees as I, too, have little need for hook-ups, but most UK sites seem to include them in the price.
@@MotorhomeCampervan Thanks for the reply and yes, I have seen the Multi-Style but for quality it just didn't do it for me. The finish on the Sussex Campervans that has CNC machined woodwork is exceptional compared to many I have seen and in many cases other conversions have looked very DIY to me. As for storage I seem to have stacks of space and my wife and I take loads of stuff and often have our two dogs with us as well. My problem with the Rock & Roll beds is the waste of space it causes in the centre of the van and the restriction on cupboards when in use, add to that the Renault has two rear sliding doors so you can set up with exits either side or both, all very versatile. I am sure Sussex Campervans aren't unique in converting the Renault but I really do think they are the best. Like you say it's horses for courses. The prices for electric may be included in the price but grass pitches with no hook-up prices are between £5 and £10 a night cheaper than with a hook-up.
What is it? It’s a VAN and it’s over 100 thousand pounds, and you have to sleep in a field, or a car park, and walk 200 yards to the toilets or showers. It’s madness!
Sleep in a campsite and use their lovely heated facilities? Thousands have discovered the joys of campervans since Covid - so much better than a package tour and queuing for hours for a budget flight!
@@MotorhomeCampervan Lovely heated facilities? You’ve clearly never visited the continent in your Van. A lot of ‘sites’ have facilities that are nothing short of a disgrace. if people want to drive them around the UK and park up on nice sites (Caravan club eg) then good luck to them but you’re still in a field, usually miles from anywhere and having to walk across the field in your dressing gown to use the loo!
Wasn't expecting to see an OEM spare wheel too.
I think most people will balk at the price, but once to add air, before the rest of the options it does add up. Not a van for everyone admittedly.
Definitely not for everyone but rather special nonetheless
That’s an insane price. We have a 204 T6/ 4motion DSG converted by Volksleisure in 2016 @£60k . I thought that was expensive but £50k more? The base vehicle is brilliant and provides effortless trans continental travel and I wouldn’t have one without all wheel drive. I would have the electric latching sliding door and tailgate though. But £111K , wow!
That shows how prices have changed! The base vehicle from VW here is nearly as expensive as your complete camper was in 2016!
Don’t like the need to clamber under the van for water filling etc., not good for those with mobility challenges. Also, the wheel on the outside looks ugly, adds weight and does not allow for the flexibility of a bike carrier. Big oversight on VW part of using the larger base cupboard for the boiler, like you say the cupboard nearer the bench would have been a better option. Why have a heater with only one heat setting, far better to calibrate it with an ideal cabin temperature. I think the Ocean is better IMHO, although do like the levelling system on this model.
The wheel on the outside was just for this show model.
Unfortunately, the boiler won't fit in the other locker, I'm now told.
And Ecowagon can fit a heater with alternative settings.
It's a much more bespoke build than an Ocean, and long-wheelbase too, so plenty of reasons to choose this over the obvious Cali.
For 109k I'd want adjustable shocks at the rear to allow me to level the van seeing as the builders can't be arsed to do it
Err its in auto level mode 😂😂🤣
Doh! It has £6k of self levelling, you clearly didnt watch much of the video.
It's on air suspension you plumb
What other van can you lower and get 20" alloys and a huge amount of extras from main dealers? Always looked the best van for size !!
And for half the money you can get a long wheelbase Ford Transit Nugget with toliet and shower ;)
The Nugget Plus is £74,164 in automatic form. That's 150PS v the VW's 204PS and the Ford doesn't have a 4x4 option. Then there are all the options here - an Ecowagon doesn't have to be £109k.
Nugget Plus video coming very soon!
Eco wagons are gorgeous Expensive? If you get several years out of one? When will you be doing a test of a VISIONTECH conversion. These conversions are arguably as good as eco Techs one of the few companies that can be genuinely compared with Eco Tech and dare I say it cheaper. Again it depends on the spec but great conversions, writing this sat in my VISIONTECH conversion at Ellsworth Fold in Amblerside in the lakes. All credit to the Essex Gisers
We've not yet been offered a Visiontech for test...
Very few VWs that we've seen match the Ecowagon for quality and design.
204hp version needs extra oilcooler and a better (Wagner) intercooler
Please can you assist. Can you buy a Ford Nugget Plus High Top in the UK?
Only the pop-top versions are sold in the UK
@@MotorhomeCampervan thank you. Such a shame it would have been perfect.
What is the VED and insurance group for something like this? I'm really impressed with the review. I've seen them around but never driven one.
Try a specialist like Caravanguard for insurance - probably cheaper than you'd think. VED is motorhome rate £280 per year
All that money to do exactly the same you can in a vehicle a fraction of it's price - and no doubt the buyers of such a ludicrously priced van will actually use it far less.
Plus, absolutely let down by a 'tent' roof!
The 'tent roof' lets it go under height barriers - a big selling point of this and other VW campers.
Arguably a Ferrari and a Fiesta do the same job, but I know which I'd rather have. This is unarguably a very expensive camper but, in its class, it's definitely one of the best
@@MotorhomeCampervan Understood - but I feel there has to be something better than the current 'pop-top flimsy tent roof.'
Getting out to go to the loo. 109 K, a Tardis with a toilet please.
Pop top is still low and not bifold. There is a new brand which has super high pop tops so more suitable for 2 adults to sleep. Not just kids
Would you trust a new brand? Is it TÜV tested? Reimo has decades of experience in this sector
They bought over a well established brand so yes I would trust it. A lot of new campervan pop tops at Newbury motorhome show had bi fold pop top so giving more head space. This one is just a plank moving up so less headspace near the hinges. Also no mattress support springs underneath for more comfort. Better to spend money to give living comforts
Definitely one of the best I’ve seen, however with the size of wallet required to pay for it clearly only a minority of people could afford it.
Certainly at the top of the VW market but you don't have to have all the extras on this demo. You could still have a great Expo + at £85k
A sub 6m VW pop top 4x4 for 109k, 🤔 or a 7m Rebellion 4x4 sprinter for 140k, 🤔 with shower and toilet plus much more. Let me think, oh there's no need to I've already put the deposit down. 🙂
Try driving the rebellion up/down the hardnott/wrynose passes in the Lake District. Or parking in a single bay in a car park. Don't get me wrong 109k is stupid money but it is horses for courses.
@@garrybox1495
Hi, have you seen the RP Rebellion on this channel? I totally agree both are eye watering prices, I was only talking about what you get in the vehicle build. But if the money was no object, and you are looking for that type of vehicle, which one of those two would you choose. The Rebellion is £139,000 OTR + £10,000 in extras, I still prefer my Rebellion 🙂
@@karlevans1862 I would not buy either at those prices (Although I am sure if money was no object i could easily spend that much on a van to the spec I want) This does not mean that someone else should not if its the right van for them. Everyone sees different values in their choices and has different needs. May you have many years of enjoyment in your choice.
Dose it have a habitation heater?
Yes, diesel-fired blown-air. Hot water, too
Its like rappers an there chains , its just a badge, this is called cramping
Great review from Peter. Another example of the ‘scene tax’ that VWs seem to be plagued with however. Realistically it should be in the £55-60k price bracket.
That`s 20K less than a Cali Ocean.
@@TheMilford99 which is also ridiculously overpriced
@@bield7 But there`s a waiting list. My mate a car dealer, bought the California Ocean, new in 2017, 54K, now 74K.
Not for plebs or chavs.
PS, after 5 years, he`ll get what he paid for it.
You know it`s what everyone aspires to, when they ` always` use them as a benchmark.
The van was £52k before Ecowagon touched it... A top-quality VW is £75k-plus now, without all the features of this one.
@@MotorhomeCampervan I rest my case
£109,000 Blimey is the steering wheel made of Gold ?
No, but it does have a LOT of extras on it. You don't have to spend £109k
@@MotorhomeCampervan I have 6 Landrover 110 Expeditions Kitted out for long Distance Journeys, Two Fuel Tanks with a 1800 Mile range Roof Racks , Tail gate Tents ⛺️ Rear end showers etc, Carries 6 people in each one with ease. Two of my Landys didn’t even cost £109,000 . Its crazy Money 💵
Very nice but you could buy bricks and sticks for that price!
That's true! But I think someone spending this much on a camper will already have a very nice house!
@@MotorhomeCampervan Probably but you would imagine someone with a very nice house and a spare £100k would stay in some very nice hotels and for that money you would get a lot of hotels! It just blows my mind that a car can cost as much as a property 🤷🏼♀️
It would need to have wings for that price. Ill keep my t5.1. I'm fitting a u shape bed now. R&r beds are too heavy and space wasters. Time we're finished we could've bought a nearly new van 😔 🤣.
For that price I would expect a good toilet and shower, thought it was disappointing for the price.
You're paying for other stuff, like the 4x4, air suspension, etc, etc
Wish someone would change layout to make bed wider , it looks seriously small
There are models with a wider bed, including one from Ecowagon, called the Slim. Also look at the CMC HemBil Urban. Or the Coast from CJL Leisure has a bed the full width of the van.
£109.000 . Did you forget to mention the lavatory and shower or does the price include hotel accommodation or a bag of tokens for the public loo?
.
Yes, it's a LOT, but so is a Range Rover or a Tesla... and you can't sleep or cook in those
It is great but if you went on holiday with someone that owns a £60k coach built, whose van are you going to spend time in?
Hopefully, between the two 'vans, sitting outside around the barbecue in the sunshine!
When you walk out of the dealership you have a big lump on your head were the salesman has hit you when you got mugged,£110,000 what a rip off,🏴💯✌️
Or you could spend more on a 4x4 car and get a lot less back at trade-in time. Sorry, where's the rip-off exactly?
And there is no dealership. You buy from the factory where each Ecowagon is careful hand built to your spec...
@@MotorhomeCampervan ok you get mugged when you come out of the factory,still getting ripped off for 50 grand of add ONS which really is only worth 15 grand ,buy elsewhere and don't end up with a lump on the back of your head
When is this model being launched in India
Doubtful, it's a small company that only sells - and sells out - in the UK
Why do VW not go back to the old style of van as in the high top there would be no need to covert them as there was no need to raise the roof. Which could still sleep 4 and had more storage space above driver and passengers seats
Most people prefer the looks of a lower van and the fact that they can go in car parks with height restrictions.
High-tops are still available from a few converters.
Nice van...however I think I'd rather save £50k or even £60k and get a older bigger motorhome with more accessories
It all depends on priorities. This could be a daily driver and it'll go almost anywhere with its 4x4
Lovely van but the price tag is crazy
All those options are v expensive but you don't have to have them all
An Adria compact has a bathroom , more storage , bigger bed and is narrow enough for uk roads and parking. ,,, and.. is 30 grand cheaper..
But it's too big to do the school run or the shopping, isn't 4x4 and doesn't have air suspension. All depends what your priorities are.
For a whopping £109000 pounds just watched the video of the Clubman motor home for about the same money with much more room and higher spec with Mercedes engine. No brainer really unless you like smaller mobile home's.
Different 'vans for different buyers. Today, I'd rather have the VW Ecowagon, when I've retired probably the Coachman!
The T4 was the last cool dub. If you have the money for one of these, why the hell aren’t you taking your holidays in the Caribbean?
Because you don't want to queue at Stansted and you prefer living in your own space, with your own gear. And you can take a break any time you feel like it
For £109,000 I would rather buy a BAILEY AUTOGRAPH 79/6 where you can stand up in it and it has a proper fridge freezer and shower in it assell and is about 30 grand cheaper
Yes, but the Bailey won't fit down the Cornish lanes where this will go and it'll get stuck where this VW's 4x4 and off-road tyres will see it through. The build quality here is really top-notch, too.
In reality, just different 'vans for different buyers - like comparing a Range Rover and a Porsche 911.
Love the 109,000 price tag, not 100,000 or 110,00.
It's awesome, but for the money I'd buy a sprinter, Kit it out; big bed, shower, toilet, and space for a couple bikes in the garage and put the change in the bank
You'd probably spend more on a professionally converted Sprinter, especially if 4x4. But the big plus of the VW is its day-to-day usability
@@MotorhomeCampervan agreed, but I'd trade that day to day usability for a better travelling experience.... but then again I don't have a sprinter or a T6 or the money to get either....
And you still have to piss in a bucket! Still I wish I had one at that price for sale 😂
There's a chemical toilet, rather than a bucket, and surely you'll stay on campsites mostly and use their nice heated facilities?
When i first dreamed over having this van, and what adventures i was gonna make the van costed 40k guilders. Now.... years later i finaly have my 40k guilders. But now the van is more than 100k euros. Thats 5 times the money. Ridiculous, these vans are only for the very rich.
The best things usually are...
£109k !!! and it's finished off with cheap 4 way stretch trunkliner and doesn't even have an auto switch mains/ battery inverter and when drivers seat is swivelled it faces the cabinet with no room for legs, what's the point in it swivelling?
Shower fitting under van so covered in muck most of the time
109k lol seriously got a converted camper thats 15k that gotta be honest puts that to shame. And we've a actual toilet room big tv full double bed id pick our lwb boxer over that 👍
A long-wheelbase Boxer wouldn't make a great daily driver, not is it 4x4. That base van here is over £50k to start with... But it's horses for courses, of course. Remember, too, that the cheapest NEW campervans are £60k or more these days.