HOW MUCH?? - We Reveal How Much Our Volkswagen California Cost To Own! 

With all the memories and enjoyment it's given you both & the dog ( plus us subscribers), that cannot be taken away from you, it was worth every penny. Look forward to new ones being made with the little one & of cause the dog 👍

Can’t wait to see what are you guys getting next!!!

Thanks you so much for posting that film, super useful and remarkable value once all concluded

great breakdown of information and very helpful,. thank you for taking the time

That was SO helpful, thankyou! Quite reasonable when worked out on a yearly basis, less than many cars. I'm now back in the potential campervan purchasing game after previously thinking it was a huge money pit. Thanks again!

That was a really well put together presentation and your clear explanation about the process of owning a campervan was covered superbly. It actually looks like an affordable and viable option to go for one of these high end vehicles. Thanks for taking the time to make the video.

Thank you for sharing your costs, very honest and helpful advice. I wish you both, Harvey and Bentley of course the very best in your travels in whichever vehicle that you purchase next. Looking forward to your review on your new purchase and reason for choice.

I’m a caravaner but get great inspiration watching the videos and thankyou for your honesty pal.

very good to hear, I think you've just fueled the campervan craze even more!! It's like you said these vans aren't cheap and they'll always cost more than a package holiday, but they give you the opportunity of endless adventures 🙌

Another great video, looking forward to many more! It was awesome to bump into you guys this morning whilst out with our puppy 😁

Great breakdown Shaun. Price hike is a killer after seeing this! Any chance you and lizzy can make a video about the various clubs and tips for cheaper camping fees? Discounts on ferries/eurostar? What apps and stuff? Can't remember if you've already done a video on it.

Really interesting insight of the costs involved owning a campervan. I've just bought one so it was especially helpful. Good luck with your next venture

Excellent and informative video. Well done.

Perfect. Been looking at a decent review of ownership costs. Much of it is translatable to other countries. Really nice.

how refreshing to see such candidness and openness in a video, really insightful stuff! personally could never get my head around how expensive the VW's are but deary me they hold their value !! are you sticking to VW? looking forward to finding out!

Thanks for the update really useful. Agree with you, the cost was reasonable over the 4 yrs.

Great video, very informative. Thanks for sharing!

Great content in your video and good cost indicator.Thank you

It's good to look at all the options !

The most useful campervan video on the web! Thank you 🙏🏼

Great detailed breakdown of the van costs over 4 years. I'm astounded at how cheap it was over the time you had it with everything factored in. That is because you had the foresight to buy a van which would hold its value - well done. I'm looking to buy outright, which will not incur the PCP costs and hopefully I will get as good a resale as you did. Thank you

Forget the money!! Worth all the memory’s can’t wait to see your upgrade

That was such an eye opening video, seems like a great way to do it.

Great video and thanks for explaining that so well. Owning a VW Transporter is a no brainier!

Thanks for the info 👍👍 Fantastic way of owning a California, wish I had done the same when I bought my T5 but was too scared to go for finance lol 😱 really pleased it’s worked out for you both 👌 love the videos and reviews by the way 👍 🚌

Brilliant video and thanks for your honesty. I've watched a few of your videos and this one has encouraged me to subscribe. I think you've both done an amazing job. I certainly haven't got 50k to throw around either. Just bought a T5 and nearer 20K but love it. Can't wait to see your next addition, Cheers, David. 👍🍺

Great value for such a versatile vehicle. Well presented Shaun, thank you. I'm very optimistic my T6 4Motion DSG 204 camper will serve me well, value and memories wise.

Thanks for taking all of us along for the ride! Now your next long term expense is Harvey. Very long term but worth it.

Thank you for that, great to understand the true cost. 👍

Thanks for this. The Camper really held value well as you'd expect.

I think you did a great job with that !! Looking forward to see your next move 👍 I own a 17 plate Cali it was Nice to know. !

Thanks for taking the time to do that . All the best from a nosey kiwi.

Yes it’s a lot of money but you can have so many more trips away than just an annual big holiday for £3.5k. Really great that you put all that information out there. Well done🙂

Bought our Ocean in 2017 for £48,000 sold last year after 3 years and 30,000 miles for £42,000

Great vid for people thinking of campervanin,looking forward to your next vehicle.

A precise video on cost aspect of vw camper. Very clear and to the point. I like the way you presented this subject. Kudos !! Thanks

Very interesting vid. Basically 350 a month over 4 years = holiday as often as you like (plus petrol/expenses). We are chewing over this (have been for a long time), just got to get the head around a 50-60k van. Thanks for sharing. Matt

Brilliant value for money, the memories and experiences you’ve had in those 4 years are priceless. We have a California, had it for 2 years, yes there are comprises with a smaller van but positives too we wouldn’t be without ours. PS we are having Bentley withdrawal symptoms ☹️☹️

Well done I think it's really helpful to know , like you say if you can use it as a daily runner a campervan makes a lot of sense as its one of the few vehicles that hold its value especially from new and they are good to drive.

Really interesting video, thanks

Thank you really good, never really considered PCP before but for a campervan definitely a good option, you did very well and must be pleased the adventures you've had too worth every penny ☺️

Really good video. I think for a camper and every day car it was really good value. Thanks for sharing

I think it is very reasonable when you consider the enjoyment you got from it. You used it a lot too, it’s not as if you garaged it for 10 or 11 months of the year, just for an occasional holiday, you used it as anyone else would use a normal car. Nice vid. 👍

You did well. Perfect storm of events to sell, well done.

Thanks for being so candid. The costs really stack up - I would prefer 10+ camping trips a year Vs 2x Tenerife!

Great video. Thanks 👍

That's amazing value bearing in mind it can also be used as a daily driver!

So if cash bought £48,990 less sold £43,950 divided by 4 years = £1,260 depreciation per year. I think that’s great value for money. Thanks again

love your honesty

I found your Chanel after discovering your reportage on the Nissan E-NV 200 electric camper. I think your depreciation is relatively low given the utility and amenity the van has provided you with. Its also provided you guys with a subject mater for content on your channel and then there’s the memories you folks have created that will last a life time! Thank you for sharing your journey with the world, I have very much enjoyed binging your back catalogue, good luck with your future adventures. I’ve hit subscribe too, so as I don’t miss anything! Lol

Very interesting video ! Defo the bargain of the century, look forward to what you get next hurry up!!

really interesting, thanks for sharing

What you gained by having this and the adventures you had are well worth the annual cost. I would love one and looking to save for a deposit. I need this in my life.

V interesting. Thank you for the breakdown of the numbers Somewhat what I was expecting as I knew someone that sold a non camper version of the same van and hardly lost anything at all

Thanks that’s really useful. If you work out how much running a car would be, obviously it depends what car you go for but some of those costs are diminished considerably so the cost of *that* vehicle and the holiday opportunities it affords you seems even less daunting. Thanks for being so candid.

Brilliant video...we are seriously thinking of getting the Ford Nugget and this video as helped, we are thinking of a 5 year pcp

Getting shot of before the warranty ran out was a good move, going by my experiences with the 150 bhp diesel a few years ago, still can't bring myself to go near one, and I was not alone.

Loved the detail and showed its not far off attainable

Awesome video. We spent 8k on a T4 velle long nose. 62k on the clock. Full VW history. Spent 7k on conversion. Had him for 11 years. The trips holidays and adventures we've had, also the kids have grown up with him are priceless. Will never sell him part of the family. Best thing we've ever bought.

Don't apologise for all your the figures, it's just what we wanted to know. Thanks very useful

Great Video. With any aspirational purchase people can often be blindsided with hidden costs. So glad you went into every detail. Now everyone that asks “I would love one of these; Do you mind me asking how much you paid for it? I’ll just be forwarding them this video 👌

It's absolutely amazing how little it's actually cost when all is said and done, I think over that period I would definitely say you got your money's worth. And if you add in your RU-vid earnings??????

Thank you that was so interesting to watch and thank you for your honesty. Its given me a greater understanding of PCP than I had already. I can now see why people opt for it and yes your right the cost per year could buy you a great holiday but as you said you also have a great vehicle to use for the rest of the year. If you think that my 04 T5 with 200k on the clock has just cost me £900 for a new Turbo then your running costs look even more remarkably cheap. Oh and thanks for the insurance advice as mine is about to be renewed with AF so I will now get a quote from Comfort given your experience with them. Ted

One persons “expensive” is another persons “good value”. It’s all a matter of perspective, how it fits your individual needs, and your personal finances. I’d say it gave you excellent value, the only negative for me would be needing to change a cambelt on a vehicle that frequently - my own Ford 2.0 diesel is every 10 years/125,000 miles.

Thank you for the info. Thinking of ditching my company car & getting a camper van instead. Seems like a great deal

I think the cost of something is relative to the value and enjoyment you get out of it. I think that is a great price considering the enjoyment you had using it. Ant that is only your business , there will always be the begrudgers. Ignore them and continue to enjoy the freedom you have from having your holiday start right outside your door. Thank you for all your videos. They are great.

As a family, just one holiday abroad a year has been at least 4k. We have not only our daily ride but every weekend away if we wanted it, and several holidays a year. It's just a perfect family investment!

Shaun sitting there with a book .. Auditioning for Jackinory ?? .... and the memories can't have a price

I’m using this video to convince my good lady that a new camper makes perfect sense😃, wish me luck !!!

Good video, maybe others have asked but would be interested to hear what your thoughts are on the various vans that are out there and prices, new Vs used etc. Especially with the increased demand due to the pandemic. Cheers!

Thanks Sean. Very interesting. Your early video of why you bought it was a key inspiration for me buying one. I'm a Brit but living in Belgium, so some differences. Pros and cons. I think California's are generally cheaper here, and I was able to get 15% off full new price from a dealer who had hired it out a couple of times, thus 'nearly new' at just 3 months old. I was also able to buy it as a 'company car' through my own limited company, thus saving on 21% VAT and reporting it as an expense. Ex VAT, I paid about €50k (in 2018) for 200 HP DSG with a good range of options. All legal. It's classed as a 'utility vehicle' which saves on some tax. But insurance in Belgium generally is very high. I pay €2000/year for comprehensive! A key factor to consider is that it also serves as my 'normal car'. I used to own a BMW Series 3 and then a VW Passat. This is every bit as good as those as a 'luxury car' and excellent for long distance. Thus at least a 3rd of the value covers the cost of my 'other car'.

Well presented

I think it is very good actually. As you say, you could go on holidays but then again you can move around quick abs easy enough on a little house as it is

Good of you to share the financials, not as bad as people think, I have had MB’s for work, lose over 50% over 4 years lol.

Great video

Love you honesty brilliant

Thanks Sean, a very interesting breakdown of the costs and you definitely bought your California at just the right time. This will be really useful for people looking to buy a Motorhome - we found your other reviews like this invaluable when making our decision to buy, especially the financing one with Lizzie 👍 Also if you factor in the California can very much be used as your first or second family car during the week you would also save those running costs so makes it even more affordable with a little planning 💷💷💷 Can’t wait to see your new vehicle, bet you are very excited - we found looking for our van as much fun as owning it 😂 Thank you - Iain, Caroline & Mollie 🐶

Thanks, this was so helpful breaking it down like that. I think they were expensive before the pandemic, they have gone mad now. Still don’t think I would get a VW, but helps put buying vans in context. I wonder how prices of diesel vans will hold up with electric vehicles now coming on line?

We ve got a t2 which requires money , it's working out what works for you , income lifestyle , you did well .

Thankyou very interesting .

I’m 22 and I would absolutely love a camper but them figures are just mind popping crazy how much vehicles cost, I can only dream of having a Volkswagen camper one day

Thanks for sharing.. Debunks the theory that it's an expensive option.. Seems pretty reasonable to me for a "car" you can use every day and have the flexibility and spontaneity it offers..

Thank you for sharing the costs, very interesting. Did you use the van as a day car for work etc for just trips ?

Good vlog. The cost has helped due to covid how ironic. Not a bad price at all . I would still like to know total cost of accessories that stayed with it when you sold. As you may well need to buy them again with your new fixed bed motorhome 😁😁

Yes you have done well

Brilliant break down of costs if you had gone on holiday to all the places you went in your van the cost would have far more with perhaps less enjoyment 🚐

Really interesting

Very good value, considering it’s your daily ride, you’d normally be paying for a car which could be deducted from the total. Can also just head off anytime for a quick break! Pity the oceans aren’t a similar price now 😁😁

Turns out that it was cheaper than I thought. I think it was extremely worthwhile financing that way. Great break down on video btw.

great video tks for taking the time mate. yeah you certainly couldnt buy any car and have that lower depreciation, makes you think. obviously without a pandemic the resale would be less but likely still better than a luxury car. at the end of the day mate you had good times and memories abd that worth far more than money, good luck with your new ventures.

We bought our Ocean in late 16, our insurance is less than £200 with CMH, tax is just over £200, only fault was a split awning fabric, Breeze replaced the whole shebang under warranty,. A house down size ensured a cash purchase, easily the best buy of any vehicle ever on a financial basis and for just the pleasure of ownership. A glorious 6 week tour of the continent in the autumn of 2019 was just the icing on the cake. The Cali is definitely not for sale, hope to leave it to the kids when I am past it.

Great video. Had it not been for the extended family, do you think you would have kept the California? Or have you always wanted something a bit bigger?

If you look at the initial cost it is scary but breaking it down it is very, very reasonable. Unlike that two weeks in Tenerife you still have equity in the van rather than a few photos/videos. In our world the real cost is priceless, only one life, live it!

Thanks from one of the “nosy” 😂 Worth every penny x

Very reasonable costs, especially if you consider its use as a 'normal' car as well.

Thanks .

thats pretty good. I must admit I thought it would be far more, although I'm going to stick to building my own

Much appreciated. Van purchase has been a bargain.

Great videos ! What happened to the defender videos ? Thanks

Nice cost breakdown Sean, did you have any MOT costs, or did she fly through without issues?