Buy all your VW California Accessories at the Club Shop Visit Shop

Sports Styling Pack

JuanVecino2023

JuanVecino2023

VIP Member
Messages
683
Location
Minchinhampton
Vehicle
T6.1 Ocean 150
I have been asking loads of spec questions. Specifically as VW have kindly gifted £1.5k of options.

Aside from ProNav (mainly for aesthetic reasons), there are none that are deal breakers for me.

The Sports Pack gains Springfield black 18” alloys, black pillars between the cab & living area windows, black under trays and blacked rear lights.

Not sure the £2.5k price is justified.

Interested to hear thoughts.
 
If you go with Ascott Grey, think the sports pack is a great option, dark wheels on a light colour vehicle looks great. Also get the heated windscreen with sports pack.
 
Never quite understood the concept of a ‘Sports Pack’ on a motorhome, if I keep my van I’ll take it the other way and fit some BFG KO2s on Fuel Zephyrs BUT I must admit the Sports Pack sets off Ascot Grey really nicely.
 
JuanVecino2023 said:
I have been asking loads of spec questions. Specifically as VW have kindly gifted £1.5k of options.

Aside from ProNav (mainly for aesthetic reasons), there are none that are deal breakers for me.

The Sports Pack gains Springfield black 18” alloys, black pillars between the cab & living area windows, black under trays and blacked rear lights.

Not sure the £2.5k price is justified.

Interested to hear thoughts.
Click to expand...
You also get darker tinted windows, laminated glass in the front doors and the heated windscreen.
 
Also some insurers my increase your premium as the sports pack certainly makes the van more nickable!
 
I absolutely would go for the Sports Pack if you can stretch to it. Well worth the extra with what you get (wheels alone are worth £1,500 minimum) and it looks great. Wish I could have stretched to it. I’m currently trying to retrofit various bits to get the look. It won’t be that much cheaper and still won’t have things like smoked rear lights, darker tints, heated windscreen etc. absolute no brainer IMHO. Especially in Ascot Grey or Fortana Red.
 
Jimmylondon07 said:
Never quite understood the concept of a ‘Sports Pack’ on a motorhome, if I keep my van I’ll take it the other way and fit some BFG KO2s on Fuel Zephyrs BUT I must admit the Sports Pack sets off Ascot Grey really nicely.
Click to expand...
Interesting, this is exactly what I was thinking of doing.

If I flog the brand new Woodstocks & tyres, they likely fetch ca £600.

I can get some steel modular or mock beadlock wheels and BFGs for say £1400. Net cost £800.

Then some black wrap between the window pillars.

The sports pack is I think £2,600.
 
Last edited:
Barry Chuckle said:
Also some insurers may increase your premium as the sports pack certainly makes the van more nickable!
Click to expand...
I think only the increased value would lead to changes in insurance terms or premium. Would still be classed as an unmodified van. I’ve never been asked by an insurer to list any extras fitted!
 
andyinluton said:
You also get darker tinted windows, laminated glass in the front doors and the heated windscreen.
Click to expand...
The darker tint concerns me a bit. Kind of gangster.

Heated windscreen I am on the fence. Handy, but you can see the wires. And very expensive of it gets chipped. I concluded it does nothing blowers and the remote heater can’t do.

I’m intrigued by the laminated windows, what benefit does that convey?
 
JuanVecino2023 said:
Interesting, this is exactly what I was thinking of doing.

If I flog the brand new Woodstocks & tyres, they likely fetch ca £600.

I can get some steel modular or mock beadlock wheels and BFGs fir say £1400. Net cost £800.

Then some black wrap between the window pillars.

The sports pack is I think £2,600.
Click to expand...
But that’s only the wheels and b-pillars. I guess it depends if you value what else the sports pack gives you. Personal choice.
 
JuanVecino2023 said:
The darker tint concerns me a bit. Kind of gangster.

Heated windscreen I am on the fence. Handy, but you can see the wires. And very expensive of it gets chipped. I concluded it does nothing blowers and the remote heater can’t do.

I’m intrigued by the laminated windows, what benefit does that convey?
Click to expand...
They’re still not limo tint. Quite a subtle difference I think. But yes, that is the only thing I wouldn’t necessarily want/need.

I’ve had heated windscreens in a couple of Ford’s I’ve had and they are really great (again, IMHO). You don’t see the wires in normal use and you soon understand the benefit when the frost is hard. A couple of minutes compared with 20mins of blower or having to get out and scrap. I live in the NW so maybe would get lots more use out of the heated windscreen!

I wonder if it helps with condensation in the morning too? I’m sure someone will be along to confirm or otherwise.
 
Grigio Van Grigio said:
But that’s only the wheels and b-pillars. I guess it depends if you value what else the sports pack gives you. Personal choice.
Click to expand...
I’m really not sold on heated windscreen. Not sure what laminated windows ‘acoustic pack’ really do. The dealer says marginal improvement.

As for the black undertrays, I can barely see them on the configurator. Not sold on those.
 
JuanVecino2023 said:
The darker tint concerns me a bit. Kind of gangster.

Heated windscreen I am on the fence. Handy, but you can see the wires. And very expensive of it gets chipped. I concluded it does nothing blowers and the remote heater can’t do.

I’m intrigued by the laminated windows, what benefit does that convey?
Click to expand...
P.S. no real world difference in cost if chipped as you only pay insurance excess, which I don’t believe there is a difference if heated or not.
 
Grigio Van Grigio said:
They’re still not limo tint. Quite a subtle difference I think. But yes, that is the only thing I wouldn’t necessarily want/need.

I’ve had heated windscreens in a couple of Ford’s I’ve had and they are really great (again, IMHO). You don’t see the wires in normal use and you soon understand the benefit when the frost is hard. A couple of minutes compared with 20mins of blower or having to get out and scrap. I live in the NW so maybe would get lots more use out of the heated windscreen!

I wonder if it helps with condensation in the morning too? I’m sure someone will be along to confirm or otherwise.
Click to expand...
I think v useful if you’re camping and tons of condensation from sitting in the van then need to drive when it’s dark.

I’m wary if replacement time & cost though.
 
JuanVecino2023 said:
I’m really not sold on heated windscreen. Not sure what laminated windows ‘acoustic pack’ really do. The dealer says marginal improvement.

As for the black undertrays, I can barely see them on the configurator. Not sold on those.
Click to expand...
Some pictures here may help you decide. The undertrays (including side trims) are subtle!

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Sports package on Ascot or Candy!

Hi California on order with Sport pack option ticked. (first ever California Ocean, hopefully due spring 2022) The California is ordered, we are fine with the options ticked, it's just the colour! I'm just really undecided on the colour. I have looked everywhere, phoned garages too, nobody has...
vwcaliforniaclub.com vwcaliforniaclub.com
 
JuanVecino2023 said:
This I need to check. A few knowledgeable people whose opinion I trust have warned me off them.
Click to expand...
It makes replacement rather than repair more likely, leading to a larger excess being paid but I’m not aware of any other concerns. I’d be interested in what you find out here though as it’s been a while since I looked into the issue.

Also worth noting most but not all comprehensive policies have windscreen cover as standard.
 
JuanVecino2023 said:
I’m really not sold on heated windscreen. Not sure what laminated windows ‘acoustic pack’ really do. The dealer says marginal improvement.

As for the black undertrays, I can barely see them on the configurator. Not sold on those.
Click to expand...
The laminated windows make the cab a fair bit quieter at high speed, having had two vans without & the current one with them, its a noticeable difference when sitting at 89mph on the autoroute.

Also improves security on the front windows obviously doesn't do anything for the sliders which are the weak spot.
 
Grigio Van Grigio said:
P.S. no real world difference in cost if chipped as you only pay insurance excess, which I don’t believe there is a difference if heated or not.
Click to expand...
I tend to agree.
andyinluton said:
The laminated windows make the cab a fair bit quieter at high speed, having had two vans without & the current one with them, its a noticeable difference when sitting at 89mph on the autoroute.

Also improves security on the front windows obviously doesn't do anything for the sliders which are the weak spot.
Click to expand...
Helpful, thanks
 
We ordered the Sport Pack with Ascot Grey, selling point was the Springfield Alloys and Heated Windscreen - living in rural Aberdeenshire the heated screen was a must for us.

Our logic was put some of what we had saved on not ordering Starlight Blue towards the Sport Pack.

Not seen a van with a sport pack fitted , only having seen photos the other changes look quite subtle.
 
AscotGreyCali said:
We ordered the Sport Pack with Ascot Grey, selling point was the Springfield Alloys and Heated Windscreen - living in rural Aberdeenshire the heated screen was a must for us.

Our logic was put some of what we had saved on not ordering Starlight Blue towards the Sport Pack.

Not seen a van with a sport pack fitted , only having seen photos the other changes look quite subtle.
Click to expand...
This was kind of my logic. First I saved not ordering Fortana Red ~ £800, then I saved again changing from Candy White ~ £360 which I was going to wrap/spray two tone.

I suppose the FR - AG swap is ca 1/3 the price of sports pack
 
Now I’m conflicted. You were all supposed to confirm my logic of DIY sports pack accents & swamper wheels.

And save me some £!

If I delete the safe, extra drawer & 4 keys, that’s a big chunk of change toward a SP.
 
JuanVecino2023 said:
Now I’m conflicted. You were all supposed to confirm my logic of DIY sports pack accents & swamper wheels.

And save me some £!

If I delete the safe, extra drawer & 4 keys, that’s a big chunk of change toward a SP.
Click to expand...
The 4 keys and 80L fuel tank costs are minimal and the advantageous outweigh the price.
 
JuanVecino2023 said:
The darker tint concerns me a bit. Kind of gangster.

Heated windscreen I am on the fence. Handy, but you can see the wires. And very expensive of it gets chipped. I concluded it does nothing blowers and the remote heater can’t do.

I’m intrigued by the laminated windows, what benefit does that convey?
Click to expand...
Don't know about " Gangster look " more like " Funeral Director " . Our local Funeral Director has 2 black Transporter Shuttles with dark tints , one with seats in the back and one without but with a raised plinth.
 
JuanVecino2023 said:
This I need to check. A few knowledgeable people whose opinion I trust have warned me off them.
Click to expand...
I had a heated screen in my Skoda Kodiaq - I had to have it replaced on insurance due to a huge stone chip. There was no extra charge other than the standard windscreen excess. There was also no extra charge because the cameras/sensors mounted to the screen had to be calibrated. All done with no hassle.

My wife's Cooper S heated screen has just got a huge bullseye chip - again, we just have to pay the standard windscreen excess to get it fixed (booking it in this week).

In the Kodiaq (2019 model) you could barely see the very fine filaments and certainly did not notice them when driving - day or night. The filaments are a bit more noticable in the Mini but it is a 2009 model - still not noticeable when driving though. Both screens are brilliant in the winter and very effective at clearing condensation and ice very quickly.

I did not spec it on the Cali but would very happily have it if part of the sport pack.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Useful links

VW California Club

  • Comfort Insurance
  • VIP Membership
  • Comfort Insurance
  • CampervanBits Accessories
  • Conquest
  • Hire a Vw California

About us

The VW California Club is the worlds largest resource for all owners and enthusiasts of VW California campervans.

Our Partners

Our Partners

Back
Top