Hi Ched,
There is some good advice winging its way at you here. We have a twin axle for bigger breaks which we used to tug with a Discovery. In the meantime, we had my 2012 California Beach as a “fun” car.
Life moves on and we had to consider what we were doing car wise! So, we flogged the Disco and decided to upgrade the Cali for a 2018 DSG (sticking with the Beach) on lower mileage while picking up a low mileage 2018 Mini for the school run.
The net result is that we have a very versatile “family car” to accommodate 2 x kids and 2 x dogs and a run-around Mini. The Cali has LED lights, heated seats, camera, tow bar, folding mirrors ie all the toys you’d want on a car! In addition, we bought a “kitchen pod’ that we can clip in on the rails for days out! Best of all, we can still pull the twin-axle!
it seems to me that you too are making “lifestyle” decisions so I would agree with the advice you are given to “spec it up and haggle like crazy”. Remember, the van you are creating is going to hold its value way more than a regular car! Don’t feel that you are “tied into” the first reasonable deal on the table. Use this forum to get ideas and opinions, then make up your own mind!
However, I must say that as someone who enjoyed his “flash” cars in his day, I wish I’d bought a Cali (or it’s ilk) when my first was born (8+ years ago) as the kids (and dogs!) ABSOLUTELY love it!
While you are at “paper and pencil” stage, it is costing you nothing to think it through!
Finally, I really hope this note doesn’t read like I am patronising or lecturing you! I thought my experience of VW purchases might help!!!
regards,
JOG