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▼ MOTORCARAVAN MOTORHOME MONTHLY APRIL 2003 137 TEST REPORT EXTRA Back in the sixties, people who owned motorcaravans were often referred to as ‘having a Dormobile’. Although a brand name, it had become a word synonymous with motorcaravans and I still have a picture in my mind’s eye of the classic Bedford CA Romany, complete with sliding cab doors. These days things have changed, but say the word ‘campervan’ to your non-motorcaravanning friends and they’ll probably say ‘oh yeah, one of those Volkswagen things’. In their mind’s eye will probably be a T2 - you know, the one with a lawnmower engine in the back and next- to-no heater. (I’ve never been able to work out why a vehicle designed in a country that has very cold winters has such poor heating!) Volkswagen realised (eventually) the drawbacks of the rear engine and air-cooling and launched the T4: it has a good heater and the engine in the front (driving the front wheels). One thing most T4 campers have inherited from their T2 predecessor, however, is the internal layout. Cabinets ranged down one side and a forward-facing bench seat were necessary in the old vee-dub with its space-eating engine hump in the rear. This layout proved so popular that it survives to this day and nowadays the lack of an engine in the back produces useful storage behind the rear seat. Freestyle guru Volkswagen products benefit from design- and-build qualities that are the envy of many an automotive manufacturer, and the T4 - in its current guise - is no exception. Supplied by Volkswagen in Kombi form with side windows already fitted, high levels of equipment, and Caravelle-style trim in the cab, the Freestyle oozes class. Add to this metallic paint, alloy wheels and colour-coded mirrors and bumpers, and you have a package that can hold its own with the latest CALIFORNIA CRUISIN' Westfalia California Freestyle on SWB Volkswagen T4 2.5TDI Dave Hurrell tries the ultimate incarnation of the classic VW camper The roof pops up in a trice, although more care needs to be taken when putting it down. 137-141 test xtra 3/12/03 12:43 PM Page 1
Transcript of CALIFORNIA CRUISIN'
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MOTORCARAVAN MOTORHOME MONTHLY APRIL 2003 137
TEST REPORT EXTRA
Back in the sixties, people who ownedmotorcaravans were often referred to as‘having a Dormobile’. Although a brand name,it had become a word synonymous withmotorcaravans and I still have a picture in my
mind’s eye of the classic Bedford CA Romany,complete with sliding cab doors. These daysthings have changed, but say the word‘campervan’ to your non-motorcaravanningfriends and they’ll probably say ‘oh yeah, one
of those Volkswagen things’. In their mind’seye will probably be a T2 - you know, the onewith a lawnmower engine in the back and next-to-no heater. (I’ve never been able to work outwhy a vehicle designed in a country that hasvery cold winters has such poor heating!)
Volkswagen realised (eventually) thedrawbacks of the rear engine and air-coolingand launched the T4: it has a good heater andthe engine in the front (driving the frontwheels). One thing most T4 campers haveinherited from their T2 predecessor, however,is the internal layout. Cabinets ranged downone side and a forward-facing bench seatwere necessary in the old vee-dub with itsspace-eating engine hump in the rear. Thislayout proved so popular that it survives tothis day and nowadays the lack of an enginein the back produces useful storage behindthe rear seat.
Freestyle guruVolkswagen products benefit from design-and-build qualities that are the envy of manyan automotive manufacturer, and the T4 - inits current guise - is no exception. Suppliedby Volkswagen in Kombi form with sidewindows already fitted, high levels ofequipment, and Caravelle-style trim in thecab, the Freestyle oozes class. Add to thismetallic paint, alloy wheels and colour-codedmirrors and bumpers, and you have apackage that can hold its own with the latest
CALIFORNIA CRUISIN'Westfalia California Freestyle on SWB Volkswagen T4 2.5TDIDave Hurrell tries the ultimate incarnation of the classic VW camper
The roof pops up in a trice, although more care needs to be taken when putting it down.
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batch of MPVs on the school run, and still behip enough to get twenty-something surfing-dudes drooling.
Beneath the short bonnet is a five-cylinder,turbocharged, intercooled, diesel engine and,even to the untrained eye, its looks arereassuring. The intercooler casing announcesthe fact that you are looking at a 'VW TDI -2.5' engine and the whole feeling is of avehicle that is - in mechanic-speak - ‘wellscrewed together’.
A special relationshipHave a good look around, under, and in this’van, and you quickly realise there is far moreto the design than you would expect to find ina normal Volkswagen camper conversion. Thetransition between base vehicle andmotorcaravan is more seamless than in anyother I have tested, and the quality andattention to design detailing is remarkable.Things such as a centralised electroniccontrol system, rear passenger heating, andharmonious design could have you thinkingthis ’van had not been converted at all - buthad rolled, complete, off Volkswagen’s ownproduction line.
TDI motoringIn the cab you have all the modern motoringtoys you could ever want, with only theslightly square styling of the dash remindingyou that the T4 has been around for morethan a decade. Facilities include electricwindows and mirrors, twin airbags, ABS anti-lock brakes, air-conditioning and remote
central locking. A radio/cassette with CDautochanger will help to ease boredom onthose long motorway journeys.
The cab seats benefit from green and greyupholstery which, with its embroideredFreestyle logo, integrates stylishly with therest of the interior. Meanwhile, in the back, theforward-facing bench seat has three-pointbelts and removable head restraints toprovide safe travel for two. One of two floor-mounted outlets provides rear on-roadheating, complete with dedicated temperatureand fan control. Luxury indeed!
The potential drawback driving-wise is thefact that Westfalia only produce left-handdrive vehicles. However, you can soon getused to this new driving style (positioning onthe road, overtaking, and changing gear withyour right hand are the main considerations). Iwould recommend an extended test drive tosee if piloting a left-hooker is for you. Ofcourse, if you plan a lot of Continentaltouring, having the steering wheel on theother side gives you a distinct advantage.
With a car-style driving position and a highstance, the Freestyle compares well to anMPV. With the internal space of a large estatecar, it should be high on the list of anyonelooking for a ’van with sole vehicle potential.
The on-road experience can be summedup by saying that in no way do you feel youare driving a commercial vehicle. Car-likelevels of comfort and noise (with not a peepfrom the caravan component) are enhancedby excellent brakes and handling. If I were nit-picking, I’d say that the power steering was,maybe, a bit light and the gearchange a bitrubbery - but that’s about it.
The still-tight 102bhp 2.5TDI performedwith gusto, making for effortless progress, ifsounding slightly harsh when pushed hard. Itgrowled at me as I accelerated to the legallimit with ease, and once there providedsmooth cruising mile after mile.
Pop-top-tasticWestfalia describe the rising roof as a pop-uptop - and it pops up in a trice (thanks to asystem that holds it down at the front with abonnet-type latch). Rear hinged, with a GRPtop and grey canvas sides, this pop-top is alow-line device, giving height-barrier-beatingpotential in many situations, thanks to anoverall height that just beats the two-metremark.
Once pitched, you operate a lever in thecab headlining to release the latch. Gentlepressure on a handle inside the front of theroof sees it rise easily on twin struts toprovide impressive headroom throughout thestanding area. Lowering was slightly moredifficult, as it was necessary to check that thecanvas sides were properly tucked in beforepulling the roof down hard to engage in its
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Design integration extends to the comprehensive caravan instruction manual: every bitas good as the one provided by Volkswagen.
Rising roof has flyscreened vents with zipped covers.
Cab has luxury car-like feel, though dash looks dated.
‘Toys’ include electric windows and mirrors.
On the road, rear passengers have their own heater controls.
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latch. The sides benefit from zipped meshpanels to aid ventilation, great on those hotsummer nights.
Climb aboardAs with many Continental motorcaravans, themain entrance - in this case the side slidingdoor - is on the UK offside. When parkednormally in Britain, rear-seat passengers willexit into the road rather than onto the kerb:not much of a problem when camping, butmore of a consideration if you intend toregularly carry people in the back when usingthe Freestyle as an everyday vehicle.
Once aboard, there are few surpriseslayout-wise. The main cabinet run extendsdown the UK nearside and consists of kitchenfacilities hiding under two hinged lids with atwin access wardrobe taking up the rearcorner. The transverse bench seat slides onrunners set into the floor, making it veryversatile when living aboard (and givingpotential extra load space behind when slidforward).
Loungeability Lounging space for four is amply provided, byvirtue of the fact that both cab seats swivel.
Good engineering has produced seat basesand mechanisms that are easier to use thanmany (they are an integral part of the seat,and not add-ons). The driver’s chair is slightlymore difficult to operate, owing to theproximity of steering wheel and kitchencabinet. I found it necessary to open the cabdoor to get it to turn fully. Once swivelled, it isthis driver's seat that suffers from being snugup against the kitchen. It was stillcomfortable, but its movement was morerestricted than its partner on the passengerside.
The sliding bench seat begins to show itsmettle here - slid back it provides maximumspace, but it can be moved forward to createa more intimate feel or give better access tothe table.
Camp kitchenStrictly Continental and grill-less, the kitchenbenefits from twin hinged worktops. Onecovers the manual ignition two-burner hoband sink (both stainless steel). To the left, thesecond is the cover and lid of the modestlysized, top-loading fridge. Beneath this unitthere is a large two-door cupboard with twoshelves and a sensibly sized cutlery drawer.
Cooking in here will have its limitations,but there is plenty of storage in that bigcupboard - and one of those stovetoptoasters should keep the marmalade-and-Marmite brigade happy. I loved the dedicatedwashing-up bowl fitted in the sink. It has ahost of uses, many outside the ’van. When onsite I would add a decent-sized tray toprovide a draining surface while washing up.
The top-loading fridge is going to be aboon and a bane. Number one boon is thefact that it is a 12V compressor model.Combine this with the fact that there are noother gas-guzzling appliances in this ‘van and
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Rear bench makes a comfortable sofa for lounging, and has two three-point belts fortravelling.
Typical VW ‘camper’ layout places all the furniture units in a bank down one side.
Being left-hand-drive, this ’van has the side sliding door on the UK offside.
Cook’s domain resides beneath twin hinged lids.
Two-burner hob has no grill or spark ignition. Sink is cold water only but has nifty multi-use fitted washing-up bowl.
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it becomes clear that the single Campingazcylinder supplied will last for yonks, as itonly has to supply the cooker. The otherboon is early morning access. Wake up, sit
up and you can fill the kettle, put it on, andreach into the fridge for the milk - nogrovelling required. Remember to get theCornflakes out the night before and it’sbrekky in bed too!
Bane time with the fridge comes whenyou’re cooking and you need some chilledingredients. Guess what? You’ve got a load ofstuff on that worktop fridge lid! Oh well, theysay there’s no such thing as a perfectmotorcaravan. Personally, I liked the top-loading cooler: things don’t fall out when youopen the door and there's no crash of spiltcontents when you drive round the firstroundabout and blame your partner for notshutting the door properly!
Perfect for fondueAs the dining table clips to a rail that runsalong the front of the kitchen unit, you arenever far from the cooker when eating - youcould keep your fondue pot warm on the hobwhile you experience melted cheese heaven!Seriously, though, the table - which has safestorage under the bench seat - is really onlybig enough for two to dine, either side-by-side or opposite and offset to each other. Onthe plus side it is excellently engineered andits extending single leg locates in one of therunners in the floor, making it very stable andsafe to use in a limited space.
The partnership of sliding table and benchseat gives many combinations when it comesto getting your ideal seat-to-table distance -there aren't many motorcaravans where youcan ‘pull up a chair’!
Upstairs downstairsSleeping accommodation in short wheelbaseVolkswagens tends to follow a well-provenformula. The forward-facing rear seat folds flatto form a double bed, and some provision ismade in the roof for two further berths(usually only suitable for children). Here, thatformula prevails with an easy-to-flatten benchseat and bed boards in the roof.
The upstairs bed is easy to deploy, as therearmost board is fixed and the front one ishinged and suspended from a strap in theroof when not in use. Simply unhook it fromthe strap and let it down to form a berth thatbenefits from excellent head-end headroom,owing to the shape of the rising roof. As withall these designs, it is really only suitable foroccasional use by kids, as access is limitedand there is no ladder. Most people willprobably leave the front board at home anduse the narrow space above the rear one tostore the duvet.
The fold-flat rear seat seems wellengineered and the downstairs doubleappears in a flash. Simply slide the seatforward and lift the squab until the seat backis horizontal. The squab then drops down tocompletely flatten the seat and - along withthe permanent mattress section at the rear -forms a long, comfortable bed. It takes farlonger to tell you how than it does to actually
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Four diners could probably do coffee and sandwiches but this table is best for two.
Comfortable low-level double bed is ultra-quick to makeand nicely flat.
Under the rear bed board is a useful boot - great for allthe bulky outdoor stuff.
The underseat storage drawer - my home for kit such as hose, mains lead, wedges andtools.
The gas locker is accessible from the boot. It holds one Campingaz 907 bottle – but withonly the hob to power this should last a while.
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do it, and you’ll be snoring while the guy in thecoachbuilt on the next-door pitch is still tryingto work out where all his infill cushions go!
The storage storyStorage follows a proven formula too, withspace grouped into three main areas - therear corner wardrobe, the boot areaunderneath the rear bed section, and beneaththe rear bench seat. Coupled with the largekitchen cupboard and a shallow locker underthe roof at the rear, storage is very good forsuch a small ’van. Westfalia have added tothis by installing green and grey fabricpockets on various vertical surfacesthroughout the interior, creating a kind offisherman’s gilet look. The pockets are verystylish and will be useful for all those bits andbobs that would otherwise be rolling aroundin one of the lockers.
The wardrobe has access points from frontand rear and a small hanging rail, althoughdepth is limited (owing to the presence of thefresh water tank in the bottom). The rear ofthis locker has a couple of T-shirt and shortsshelves as well. At the rear, under the bedsection, is a useful boot. This is the naturalhome for chairs, barbecue and other bulkyitems. Under the bench seat is a capaciousspace that would be my home for kit such ashose, mains lead, wedges and tools. All thesestorage areas remain available while using the’van.
The area on top of the rear bed section,behind the bench seat, offers more capacity,but bear in mind that you’ll need somewhereelse to put this stuff when you make up thebed. This is usually home to bedding or softbags for additional clothing.
Service with styleA big contribution to the practicality of anymotorcaravan is made by all those hiddenthings that have next-to-no showroomappeal but become the essentials of lifeonce on the road. Westfalia have put a lot ofthought into designing a practical camper,and one of the stars of the show is thecentralised control panel. It is mounted in thecab roof and gives you all the usualinformation (such as tank levels and batteryvoltages). In addition to this it allows you toset the fridge temperature and provides atimed programming function for the otherstar of the show, the Eberspächer heatingsystem.
Mounted under the bonnet and deliveringwarm air to one of two outlets in the rear floor,the Eberspächer will never have youwondering when the gas is going to run out,as it is powered by diesel from the vehicle’smain fuel tank. Being able to return to the’van after a long winter walk knowing youhave set the heating to come on an hourbefore your ETA could see all those home DIYjobs you left for the non-motorcaravanningmonths under threat! In fact, winter trips withthe Freestyle are a distinct possibility, as itbenefits from inboard-mounted water andwaste tanks, allowing you to populate frostycampsites, albeit with the canvas rising rooffirmly closed (or you could order the high topversion).
The sealed gas locker has capacity for onlyone Campingaz 907 cylinder, but as it only
supplies the hob, this should not be aproblem. Mains hook-up feeds electricdistribution and leisure battery charger in thenormal way. The RCD safety circuit breaker,12V fuses and the single Continental-stylemains socket are neatly mounted on the wallto the right of the kitchen.
Lighting consists of two U-tubefluorescents in the main living area and aflexible stalk lamp in the roof that can beaimed down to provide task lighting whilecooking. Curtains are hung in the caravanarea and press-studded into the cab at night.Mesh ventilators in the roof provide fresh airduring times when biting bugs are present.The excellent stereo system benefits fromfitted rear speakers and works with theignition off, so evening entertainment isassured.
West failure or victoriousVolkswagen?There’s a pretty good choice of shortwheelbase rising roof Volkswagen campersout there, most of them with this traditionallayout. The Westfalia Freestyle stands apartfrom other makes - with design integration,quality, and attention to detail giving it ahead-and-shoulders lead over much of thecompetition. Based on style alone it has the‘wow’ factor that will make you want to driveand own one. When testing for MMM, thegood 'vans have me sitting in the backsmiling. In the Freestyle I was simply grinningmy head off!
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In briefBase vehicle: Volkswagen T4 SWB KombiEngine type: 2.5-litre, five-cylinder,turbocharged, intercooled, diesel Output: 75kW (102 bhp)Gearbox and drive: Five-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Make and model: Westfalia California Freestyle Body type and construction: Panel vanconversion with glass fibre rising roof capConversion NCC approved: No Electrical equipment: Mains hook-up feedingRCD and miniature circuit breakers. Leisurebattery charger, one Continental-type mainsoutlet and one 12V outlet Lighting: Two U-tube fluorescents in living area,one halogen stalk-lamp in rising roof Cooking facilities: Two-burner, manual ignitionhob Refrigerator: Top-access, 12V compressorfridge, 40 litres capacity Water heater: Not fitted Fresh water tank: Inboard mounted in base of
wardrobe. Capacity 50 litres (10.9 gallons) Waste water tank: Inboard mounted in base ofkitchen unit. Capacity 27 litres (5.9 gallons). Drainvalve operated from within kitchen cupboardSpace heating: Eberspächer diesel-fired blown-air heater fitted with timer control Gas locker capacity: One Campingaz 907 cylinder Rear restraints: Two three-point belts fitted toforward-facing bench seat Additional features: Electrically heated andadjustable mirrors, electric cab windows, ABSanti-lock brakes, power steering, twin airbags,engine immobiliser, cab air-conditioning, remoteoperated central locking, fog lights, cycle rack,removable carpets, colour-coded mirrors andbumpers, alloy wheels, detachable towbar
DimensionsOverall length: 4.79m (15ft 9in) Overall width: 1.84m (6ft 5in) Overall height: 1.99m (6ft 6.5in) roof closed,2.80m (9ft 3in) roof open Interior height: 2.21m (7ft 3in) max, 1.35m (4ft5in) min
Bed dimensions:Roof bed 1.84m x 1.06m (6ft 0.5in in x 3ft 6in)Main double 1.94m x 1.06m (6ft 4in x 3ft 10in) Max authorised weight: 2800kg Load capacity: 660kg
PriceStandard model (as tested): £29 000 on the road
Optional extras Base vehicle options: Cruise control, fresh airfilter, GPS navigation system, removable frontfor radio, headlamp washers, mud flaps, wood-effect dash Caravan options: Sunroof in rising roof, awning
Westfalia California Freestyle kindlysupplied for evaluation by:Deepcar Motorhomes International,Manchester Road, Deepcar, Sheffield S36 2RE (tel: 0114-288 2660; web site: www.dmiuk.com)
Freestyle package includes a fitted bike rack.
Centralised control panel allows timed control of thediesel-fired heater and regulation of the fridgetemperature.
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