I am going to be controversial here and throw in "my two cents worth" with regards to the current delays. Please remember that my experience is based in Australia and I have had the 'pleasure' of living in the most locked down city in the world - Melbourne, Australia. Also I need to add a caveat that I have no affiliation with VW at all. I am simply a customer who placed a $AUD5,000.00 deposit for a T6.1 Transporter in Oct 2020 with a reputable camper van conversion company.
It has been fascinating to read the various posts. I can share in the frustration. I believed I would be setting off in my new van in April 2021. At the moment there is no confirmed factory production date but the prediction is that the vehicle will not arrive until at least April 2022 ( so at least a 18 months waiting) and it then needs to be converted. So what is it all about? Well having experienced 262 days in Lock down since March 202 has given me plenty of time to reflect! One interesting point is that even if the van had arrived by now, we still have state border restrictions in Australia and it is not until the middle of December that I would be able to travel anywhere!
So what are my musings (based on a lot of red wine ordered over the internet)? I think it is important to have a little perspective about the current world situation and the effect COVID-19 has had on the world. In Australia we have seen a significant increase in the gap between the well to do and the not so well to do. Some people have profited due to COVID-19, some have remained relatively unchanged whilst others have lost significant income, security and even health due to no fault of their own.
I have friends who have had to close their businesses, sell their houses and cars and take their children out of their chosen schools. I have friends whose loved ones have passed away or fallen seriously ill. A significant number of people are challenged with mental illness at the moment.
I am very lucky and consider myself blessed. I am a school teacher and I was able to continue my full time employment during the extensive lock downs via Remote Learning. OK. It has been challenging. I went from working an average 10 hour day (don't mock me...I teach 196 students in seven classes from Years 7 to 9) to working 12 hour days because of the challenge of following up with all these students online. Boy it has been great to back in the physical classroom again (even with masks!) so that I can actually see and talk with my students and walk around and follow up on all the usual teaching strategies.
I am also lucky in that I live in the outer suburbs and was able to walk around some nice parks and walks within the 5 km restricted exercise limit from home. I also had good internet and a good wife who was able to put up with being stuck at home with me. In addition, because we could not go out or travel I have actually saved money! The same cannot be said for many who work in entertainment, hospitality, and many service industries.
So my point? Firstly I apologise in advance to those reading this post who are waiting for a T6.1 that they want to use for commercial reasons for their business. Obviously you are being impacted. However, it would appear that the majority of us who use this post are using our VWs for leisure mostly as camper vans. I am not sure what the situation is in Europe and the UK but if you own a new VW camper van in Australia then you are privileged to own a luxury item. Please don't howl me down! I do not want to seem judgemental about anyone who has worked hard and saved their money and made the well deserved choice to own one of these!
However, we need to realise that we are indeed privileged even if this is delayed at the moment. Indeed the fact that we can still afford to buy a new VW despite having been through the economic effects of a global pandemic is something to be grateful about. So what about all these VW dealers we have all been lamenting about? Well once again I can only talk from the Australian experience. Due to no fault of their own these businesses have seen a significant reduction in income due to lack of stock. However, they have still had continued expenses to pay despite this (Don't forget the conversion companies also). Then there is the reality that time has marched on, inflation has kicked in, and production and transport costs have significantly increased in the last 18 months. So who bears the brunt of this unpredicted and unexpected situation? That my friends is the "sixty four million dollar question"! (to quote my late grandfather).
I cannot answer that question. I imagine there is going to be a lot of negotiation between VW HQ, VW dealers and VW customers. Then there is the fact that the expenses will have increased for the conversion companies also. I am not happy about the prospect of paying more than I was quoted, especially considering the delay but I am grateful that I am still in a situation where I can afford to pay a little more if necessary (I did save money after all). I know some of you will not be in this situation and I feel sympathy for you, but I also think we should feel some sympathy for the VW dealers and trust that they will endeavour to do the best they can for their customers given their current economic circumstances. Take care, travel soon and be safe! Regards Ian.
That is quite shocking reading 
