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Infotainment - is upgrade worth it?

Azteccamper

Azteccamper

VIP Member
Messages
1,151
Location
Swansea Valley.
Vehicle
T5 SE 140
Thinking of going for a new Ocean. Is it worth the extra £750 to upgrade to ‘Pro’ media package? What am I getting extra for my money or is just a bigger screen basically?
 
I didn't get it and slightly regret not having the digital instrument cluster instead of the analog one. It would have been nice to have. I don't regret not spending the extra money however so all in all happy without it.
 
pluc99 said:
I didn't get it and slightly regret not having the digital instrument cluster instead of the analog one. It would have been nice to have. I don't regret not spending the extra money however so all in all happy without it.
Click to expand...
The digital instrument cluster is standard on the Ocean.

I didn't bother upgrading to the Pro version since the standard one was big enough for me + I like having the tactile buttons instead of digital versions embedded into the screen. Also, I felt that the gesture controls are a bit gimmicky.
 
Azteccamper said:
Thinking of going for a new Ocean. Is it worth the extra £750 to upgrade to ‘Pro’ media package? What am I getting extra for my money or is just a bigger screen basically?
Click to expand...
Mainly the bigger screen. Worth every penny IMHO. No-one ever said they wished they had a smaller screen…

9/10 we have Carplay on it. Where the larger screen really comes into it’s own.
 
Went large screen as well, had a hire van with the smaller screen and notice quite a difference. But like all options it’s a case of personal preference, and I wouldn’t say it’s a must have option.
 
I would say very much worth it. Had a rental with standard nav. Screen real estate noticeably smaller.

Lack of knobs not really an issue. My dad wagon BMW has a large touch screen with an analogue knob mounted on the dash underneath it. 95%+ of the time I use the steering wheel buttons or the touch screen.

I pretty much only ever use the knob to turn it off on a hurry.

It’s probably the one option which would be a must have if I was sourcing a used van.
 
Last edited:
I have The pro, and it’s much larger clearer screen, with modern, no button look.
 
For balance; I have the standard screen with the Ocean (which is still bigger than the standard Transporter screen) and it’s absolutely fine. I’ve never found the size lacking. No regrets here.
 
RockinNRollin said:
For balance; I have the standard screen with the Ocean (which is still bigger than the standard Transporter screen) and it’s absolutely fine. I’ve never found the size lacking. No regrets here.
Click to expand...
Thanks. That is good to know as we haven't specified the Pro for our new Ocean build. :thumb
 
You could always go for an aftermarket option from Kenwood or Alpine. They retain all the functionality of the OEM units ie reversing camera etc but will be better featured and probably sound better if you aren’t going to upgrade the audio side.
 
Definitely makes for a cleaner, more modern look. But that trend could change in a heartbeat
 
Azteccamper said:
Thinking of going for a new Ocean. Is it worth the extra £750 to upgrade to ‘Pro’ media package? What am I getting extra for my money or is just a bigger screen basically?
Click to expand...
My standard screen on Coast is perfectly adequate.
 
I went for Pro for the bigger screen, and happy with it.
I know some like the physical knobs, but you do have haptic buttons permanently available on the screen, and buttons on the steering wheel that perform the same function.
 
Better options to spend it on in my opinion.

Never thought I’d like it but the electric sliding door would be near the top of my list and. I’d have it over the Pro stereo every time
 
reserves said:
Better options to spend it on in my opinion.

Never thought I’d like it but the electric sliding door would be near the top of my list and. I’d have it over the Pro stereo every time
Click to expand...
Interesting.
When is it useful?
I have a mate spec’ing a Beach and I’ve never understood the benefit, seeing it as something to go wrong
 
66tim99 said:
Interesting.
When is it useful?
I have a mate spec’ing a Beach and I’ve never understood the benefit, seeing it as something to go wrong
Click to expand...

Honestly I never really understood the electric sliding door.

Then I brought a used Cali that had one and would put it top of the list.

Can’t necessarily explain every reason, it’s just one of those things you end up using day-to-day and get totally used to it, and all of a sudden find it a pain if you don’t have it.
 
We hired two vans before collecting our own van. The first, a brand new Cali with 600 miles on the clock, from Leicester VWVC, was great, and had the standard infotainment system. At that time we didn’t know there was an option, so no problem. We loved the van. We hired the second the following year, after we’d placed our order. It had the Pro system installed, and it made a significant difference re Car Play, plus it seemed to have all the bells installed (assistance pack etc). We updated our order, as there was plenty of time (11 months in all, and 5 months from our order change to delivery!). The only thing we miss is the physical volume knob, otherwise we’re happy. From memory, we needed to add the Pro option to also order the drivers assistance pack.
 
The bigger screen when used with Apple Play means you can have maps, phone and music all showing on the screen simultaneously.

My family BMW has this and it’s really useful.

Plus to my eye, the aesthetic is far more modern.

That said, as mentioned above, it’s a high price for the upgrade and there may be other options you value higher.

I like the sliding door. The issue is, whilst you can override it manually, you shouldn’t. It wears out the engine. Which means press & beep every time you enter & exit. I see it as hugely useful and also hugely annoying. And another thing to go wrong.

One caveat, all VW infotainment is a bit substandard (biased, but I think BMW are the standard bearers now)
 
JuanVecino2023 said:
The bigger screen when used with Apple Play means you can have maps, phone and music all showing on the screen simultaneously.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure this is a standard feature of CarPlay, nothing to do with the size of the screen.

I have CarPlay in my Cali and another car with small screens and they both have this feature.
 
reserves said:
Pretty sure this is a standard feature of CarPlay, nothing to do with the size of the screen.

I have CarPlay in my Cali and another car with small screens and they both have this feature.
Click to expand...
But does it have the screen real estate to have all three visible simultaneously & a large enough map to be useable?
 
I have the standard in my golf and the pro in my California. I prefer everything about the pro but have had significant issues with car play and there’s a battery inside I needed changing after 12 months. It still isn’t right, car play crashes after a while, iPhone 12.
The golf is bullet proof
 
thomasamoht said:
I have the standard in my golf and the pro in my California. I prefer everything about the pro but have had significant issues with car play and there’s a battery inside I needed changing after 12 months. It still isn’t right, car play crashes after a while, iPhone 12.
The golf is bullet proof
Click to expand...
My pro has never crashed, or needed a new battery.
 
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