ford nugget vs vw californiawooden frame mirror full length

For dining outside, Ford provides two Westfalia-branded folding chairs, which store behind the rear seat backrest and a folding table which clips to the tailgate. The iconic Volkswagen California, and a relative newbie, the Ford Transit Custom Nugget both offer car-like levels of fit and finish, space for four to live in comfort and modern, efficient base vehiclesdirectly from the manufacturer. These two campers are based on two of our favourite mid-sized panel vans they have high-quality interior conversions, pop-top roofs, room to sleep four and similarly premium price tags. Underneath this theres a large cupboard suitable for a Porta Potti. The wardrobe is fore of this, just about accessible from either side of the rear seat. H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No. But which one is better? It makes the Nugget more satisfying to drive than the California, though both are impressively stable on long motorway runs. That means you can carry up to five people in here for travelling, rather than just four in the California. Despite the cost, the build quality and the strength of the VW reputation results in staggeringly good residual values, which is ultimately better value. Theres a large wardrobe area opposite the kitchen with a hanging rail and the ladder for the roof bed stored within. Theres no boot area either, so its more difficult to use the Nugget as a second car for larger loads. The California is based on the latest Volkswagen T6 Transporter van, a robust choice with its car-like cabin. The rear bench is narrow and hard, though, so better suited to kids who wont complain too much. Coast and Ocean models have the same properly-fitted kitchen layout, with the former making do with slightly less equipment to achieve a lower starting price. For a start, the roof is manually-operated, and has a tendency to billow out when youre lowering it, potentially leaving you with canvas flapping about in the breeze while you drive. There are sliding doors on both sides, so accessing the rear seat is as simple as can be, while the kitchen can be accessed by a narrow walkway to the side of the rear seat or through the lift-up tailgate., Also like the California its up top where youll find a more comfortable nights sleep, with a thick mattress topper and plastic springs. Also round the rear youll find a tall storage cabinet, underneath which sits the gas bottle. For a start, the roof is manually-operated, and has a tendency to billow out when youre lowering it, potentially leaving you with canvas flapping about in the breeze while you drive. It makes the Nugget more satisfying to drive than the California, though both are impressively stable on long motorway runs. A full-width drawer under the sliding rear bench can be used for bulky items, such as bedding, levelling wedges or simply the front door blinds. The roof is front-hinged, to allow for standing room over the kitchen, which means the lounge area is a little lower. The canvas is also very thick and dark, letting in very little unwanted sunshine so you wont immediately wake up at first light. Because everything on the California is done in-house, Volkswagen has a greater degree of control. Once this section lies flat, you need to deploy an infill that folds up from beneath, before finally sliding the whole assembly back once more. The Nugget generates a bit more wind noise, but the rowdiest is the California, with the most wind noise and a lot of suspension thump. The lower bed is far more of a pig to make up, though. Thats right: were talking camper vans. Though Ford does provide a sort of safety net, we couldnt figure out where it hooked up. On the other, a troupe of lanky twentysomethings with an ancient Volkswagen, surfboards, a barbecue, and three pages of advisories on their MOT. Yet, due to the swivel mechanism theyre set rather high and cant be lowered. Its an effortless cruiser, soaking up bumps well yet the steerings light and accurate enough to make town work easy. This makes for a nicely convivial lounge area. The kitchen has plenty of storage for small items A big cutlery drawer, tall cupboard and low-down compartment is suitable for pots and pans. The California is the least potent, with 148bhp, while the Marco Polo is a bit punchier (161bhp) and the Nugget tops the table with 182bhp. We like its feeling of solidity and its car-like cabin, though next to the Nugget based on the Parkers award-winning Ford Transit Custom it does feel rather heavy and staid to drive. The front seats are comfortable and supportive with have twin armrests. True, it gets a little floaty along undulating country roads, but youll be more than happy to cruise on up to Scotlandfrom the south of England in it. Theres a tall cabinet next to the door which also has storage for a large, Ford-branded umbrella; a nice touch. We already know that the Touran is a practical choice, but does this MPV still impress when you live with it every day? It too has a pop-top roof. Volkswagen leans in to the retro vibe such a camper brings, and as such offers it with plenty of chrome as well as some very eye-catching two-tone colour schemes.. Its much less forgiving for the larger frame than the Californias kitchen, however. The Nuggets cabin is well-built and laid-out much like Fords smaller cars, such as the Focus. The lower bed is far more awkward to make. Where Volkswagens rocknroll configuration is an effortless, three-step process, the Nugget is more of a challenge. The Californias fresh and waste water tanks are 30 litres each, and it can accommodate a 2.8kg gas cylinder. Underneath this, theres a large cupboard suitable for a Porta Potti. For our privacy policy go to, The 70 year history of the Volkswagen Transporter, Parkers award-winner in the medium-sized van category, Fancy something bigger? During our testing, we easily matched that fuel economy figure, and on lightly loaded longer runs it crept over 40mpg with little effort. As for price, our test model a 200hp Ocean comes in at a hefty 72,235 after a few optional extras. Their appeal has skyrocketed even further with all that 2020s thrown at us. The California is a heavy camper, so Volkswagen offers only its two higher-powered engine choices. The front seats are comfortable and supportive and have twin armrests, but due to the swivel mechanism theyre set rather high and cant be lowered. With the best-laid plans for international adventures mainly cancelled by the Covid-19 pandemic, so-called staycations have come back into fashion, and interest in campervans has increased dramatically. Though you feel the Californias weight when cornering or braking, the powerful engines make short work of moving it along. However, once you remove the Californias paint and step down to the still perfectly acceptable 150hp engine, theyre more or less the same price. Both of those are ingenious storage solutions for what are usually very bulky and awkward pieces of equipment. With loose body control, it bounces so dramatically over bumps that it can make even front seat passengers feel queasy. The kitchen is an L-shaped unit, situated at the rear with the rear travel seat directly ahead of it. Its kitchen storage that makes the most sense, as you get two wide, shelved cabinets and a capacious cutlery drawer. They measure 200x120cm and 200x116cm respectively.. Theres also a permanent home for the awning winding handle in here, clipped securely in place. While Westfalia no longer builds the California, it does take care of Fords camper. There are two double-sized beds here, making for a total of four berths. Once the lower bed is made up, youll find your feet rest underneath the kitchen countertop, in an area usually situated behind the backrest. With a family tree that stretches back to the 1950s, the California Ocean certainly has experience on its side. The engines in the Nugget and California sound rather gritty, leaving you in no doubt about their commercial vehicle origins. Space heating is powered by diesel and blown air. They require insulated screens to be fitted using suction cups, leaving marks on the windscreen and falling off in the night. Its also set higher so you can comfortably cook while standing up necessary, as unlike the California theres no easy way to sit while cooking. The latter is available with a six-speed automatic and the one we had on test. The California is based on the latest Volkswagen T6 Transporter van. Also like the California its up top where youll find a more comfortable nights sleep, with a thick mattress topper and plastic springs. Were the Nugget much cheaper than the California, wed be more tempted to forgive its foibles. Better yet, the parcel shelf can sit upright to allow you to carry taller items or even come out entirely. Company Number: LP003328 Registered Office: Academic House, 24-28 Oval Road, London, NW1 7DT. Volkswagen leans in to the retro vibe such a camper brings. So, what if you could just load all of your holiday clobber straight into nice, clean accommodation and drive it and your family anywhere you like? Fords design enables the top of its wardrobe to double as a bedside table. CO2 emissions of 230g/km just trail the California, too. The Nuggets cabin is well-built and laid-out much like Fords smaller cars, such as the Focus but it doesnt feel as solidly built as the Volkswagens, nor does it have quite so much impressive equipment. With the lid of the fridge lowered, it does provide a decent slab of workspace but unfortunately its located in an awkward spot its much easier to simply use the dining table as a temporary food preparation zone instead. CO2 emissions of 230g/km just trail the California, too. Bed makeup is where the California starts leaping ahead of the Nugget, however, as the Ford makes life rather awkward in this area. The VW California was originally introduced in the 1980s it was based on the rear-engined Volkswagen T3 Transporter and converted into a motorhome by camping giant Westfalia. This van has the best steering on the market its naturally-weighted, accurate, and dare we even say dynamic?. The roof is front-hinged, to allow for standing room over the kitchen, which means the lounge area is a little lower. The canvas is also very thick and dark, letting in very little unwanted sunshine so you wont immediately wake up at first light. All registered in England and Wales. Truly impressive. The devils really in the detail, though, especially when it comes to the conversion. All you have to do is lower the rear headrests at the touch of a button, slide the seat forward slightly and lay the backrest flat. Though our test van was in a very subtle dark grey, its also available in a rather more eye-catching bright orange which were big fans of. The California is the least inclined to dive under braking and feels comparatively stable, but the Marco Polo is able to stop in a shorter distance. Two campervans available from regular main dealers, Perfect for exploring the glory of the British Islesand beyond. A cute little fold-out portion above the fridge holds a shaving mirror and a tiny shelf ideal for holding toothpaste and toothbrushes so you can brush before bed. There's a good chance that the events of the past year and a half will have made you rethinkyour holiday plans. Now, with our benchmark in place, lets meet the rivals. Both the VW California and Ford Transit Custom Nugget can be ordered in a main dealer. A claimed fuel economy figure of up to 36.2mpg wasnt achieved this during our time with the van. Around the rear youll find a tall storage cabinet, underneath which sits the gas bottle. Our test van, a 200hp automatic with front-wheel drive, claims to return up to 38.7mpg and emit 223g/km of CO2. The Ford Nuggets fresh and waste water tanks are larger than the Californias, at 42 litres apiece, and it has space for a 2.8kg gas bottle. First, you need to move the seat forwards using an incredibly stiff lever on the front. You have to step up on to the front seats in order to get up. Some users will definitely prefer the Ford to the VW. The roof bed is the larger of the two, and the more comfortable Volkswagen provides a deep foam mattress that sits atop plastic springs, making it forgiving enough even for side-sleepers to get comfortable. Its an effortless cruiser, soaking up bumps well. The largest storage compartment is under the rear bench, which is square and useful but awkward to access, as the seat base wont stay up on its own and its very heavy. A notable omission is storage for a Porta Potti. Nowadays, its based on the very latest T6 Transporter. This is where wed struggle to recommend the Nugget. Accelerating up to motorway speeds on a short slip road is a slightly more fraught experience in the Marco Polo. At the same time, it fidgets over smaller surface imperfections, while pothole impactsreverberate through the structure. All other models use a seven-speed DSG automatic, and on top models you can even specify four-wheel drive. This is a tricky manoeuvre thatll take several attempts to get into your muscle memory. The most useful by far is the large boot area at the rear. Fords front seats are just as supportive as Volkswagens, and the Nugget plays its first trump card over the California by having a three-seater rear bench. Next to the Nugget, which is based on Parkers award-winning Ford Transit Custom, the California does feel rather heavy and staid to drive. You can expect it to be a little less efficient than the California overall, even though its less powerful. Its a very favourable starting point. You can have a 150hp or 200hp turbodiesel the former is available with a six-speed manual gearbox in Beach or Coast forms. The California uses the most traditional layout for a mid-sized campervan. Its available in three distinct flavours. None of these campers feels scary when performing an emergency stop from 70mph, although the Nugget suffers from the most nose dive and requires the longest stretch of road in which to stop. The sense of quality within the Volkswagen is impossible to ignore, and every fixture and fitting feels more solid, better integrated and easier to live with than those in the Nugget. The conversion is at least as obvious as the Californias, though the Nugget and Westfalia branding on the sides and the leading edge of the rising roof are a little more on-the-nose. It provides seating for four in total, while the Ford Nugget is a full five-seater. Weve got the shorter of the two versions with the punchiest engine on offer, Does a posh badge mean a luxury holiday experience? Like the California, the Nugget is a four-berth. Conversions have become more fashionable, better-equipped and less dowdy, and the vans themselves have come to be pretty cool items in their own rights. Similarly, its gearbox is less hesitant than the sometimes slow-witted Californias and feels less old-school than the slurring Nuggets. Deploying the table isnt as easy as it is in the California you have to lift up the seat base to access a separate screw-in leg and table top. Once youre up in the roof bed, theres no shutter to pull across beneath you, and though Ford does provide a sort of safety net, we couldnt figure out where it hooked up. Without these, its a more reasonable 66,643. Driving the Nugget is very much like driving a standard Transit Custom though, and thats a good thing. Given that its based on the V-Class MPV, can its driving experience and interior live up to the posh image the three-pointed star brings? But which one is better? With the best-laid plans for international adventures mainly cancelled by the Covid-19 pandemic, interest in campervans has increased so dramatically, sales records are being broken year-on-year. What Car? The Ford Transit Custom needs little introduction. Theres plenty of room underneath to store bulky items, and if youre not using the downstairs bed then the top becomes available too. Its also a treat to dine al fresco, which is easily accomplished the California stores a freestanding table on the interior of the sliding door, and two heavy-duty and comfortable folding chairs within the rear tailgate. VAT no 918 5617 01 Its based on Britains most popular van, with an interior layout that diverges from the camper van norm, as well explain. There are two double-sized beds here, making for a total of four berths. The steerings light and accurate enough to make town work easy too. And its worth mentioning that unless your three children are happy to share a double bed, this is still only a four-berth camper. DIY conversions have become more fashionable, better-equipped and less dowdy, and the vans themselves have come to be pretty cool items in their own rights. Theres plenty of room for cutlery, crockery and foodstuffs, and its all easily accessible. Volkswagen expects you to splash out on the larger Grand California for a toilet facility. The kitchen has plenty of storage for small items a big cutlery drawer, tall cupboard and low-down compartment suitable for pots and pans. All told, its a thoroughly awkward process thats difficult to accomplish without stepping out of the vanno fun if its raining outside. Read our full Volkswagen Grand California review, >> For a different take on luxury camping, heres the Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo review, >> Volkswagen launches Motorhome Qualification Scheme. They have high-quality interior conversions, pop-top roofs, room to sleep four and similarly premium price tags. Its aimed rather more at the chef, though, with a little extra counter space. Thats one of the Californias most useful features. The five-seater interior is an undeniable plus point. The Nuggets kitchen is L-shaped and has the same appointments as the Californias; two gas burners with spark ignition, a 40-litre top-loading compressor fridge, and a small sink with hot and cold running water. Your email has been successfully submitted! Its available with a wide array of diesel engines, but for the Nugget you can select from two a 130hp or 185hp 2.0-litre diesel. Deploying the table isnt as easy as it is in the California. Were testing two such vans today the iconic Volkswagen California, and a relative newbie, the Ford Transit Custom Nugget. 845898) During our testing we easily matched that fuel economy figure, and on lightly loaded longer runs it crept over 40mpg with little effort. Another annoyance is privacy. Its an ideal spot to put suitcases, bed linen or even groceries, and the lack of a similar spot in the Nugget reduces its utility outside of the world of camping. A notable omission is storage for a Porta Potti Volkswagen expects you to splash out on the larger Grand California if you want any sort of toilet facility, though it would have been nice to have the option especially for families with young children. All of our protagonists are fitted with 2.0-litre diesel engines and automatic gearboxes. This is subdivided by a parcel shelf of sorts used for making the bed but also functioning as a very handy storage divider. Access isnt the most elegant, though you have to step up on to the front seats in order to get up, and once in bed there are no convenient spots to leave a charging phone, glass of water or pair of glasses unlike the Nugget, which allows the top of its wardrobe to double as a bedside table. Its square and useful but awkward to access. Were the Nugget much cheaper than the California, wed be more tempted to forgive its foibles. Thats not forgetting the scores of vans that came before it camping in a Volkswagen Transporter goes all the way back to the T1 and iconic splittie campers. In fact, the Westfalia Nuggetbased on the Transit Customhas been around for years. For the Nugget, you can select from two; a 130hp or 185hp 2.0-litre diesel. The latter is available with a six-speed automatic, and our test van was specified thusly. Thats fine in practice, but this same area is used to store the Nuggets two folding chairs while on the move so youll have to find somewhere to stow them if you want to use the lower bed. The Ford Transit Custom is ubiquitous across the country. is part of Haymarket Automotive, a division of Haymarket Media Group Haymarket Media Group 2022. It provides seating for four in total, while the Ford Nugget is a full five-seater. As a Parkers award-winner in the medium-sized van category two years running you can be assured its a VERY good product. The basic California Ocean comes as standard with a high-definition touchscreen, virtual cockpit digital instrument panel, climate control and LED headlights. First up is the Ford Transit Custom Nugget, a name that is no doubt intended to conjure up images of gold but instead makes us rather peckish. You have to lift up the seat base to access a separate screw-in leg and table top. Such is their popularity that theyre not just the preserve of bit-part conversion companies any more some motor manufacturers are getting involved and putting campervans on sale right alongside their standard model line-ups of cars and vans. However, it also controls its body movements the best, feeling the least like a ship in a storm. Our test van is a 185hp model, and after a few optionsincluding some wed consider essential, such as a rear view camera and the so-called ICE Pack 25 (adaptive cruise control, touchscreen navigation and FordPass connectivity)comes in at 65,816.