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Is your van your only vehicle? (Poll included)

Is your van your only vehicle?

  • Yes

    Votes: 114 46.7%

  • No

    Votes: 130 53.3%
  • Total voters
    244
.Billy Ocean.

.Billy Ocean.

VIP Member
Messages
226
Location
South West
Vehicle
T6.1 Ocean 150
Hello all,

We are waiting very excitedly for our Cali Ocean to arrive - hopefully be here by the end of October.

As the delivery date approaches, it’s got us thinking about if we will need our existing car as well as the Cali. We previously owned two vehicles, but since the pandemic and working from home (which is set to continue), we sold one as we just didn’t use it… and haven’t missed having two vehicles.

I’ve read plenty of topics about people who use their vans as a daily drive without too many dramas which is great, but I just can’t currently imagine popping to Tesco for the weekly shop with my sleeping bag and portaloo in the boot!

I’ve created this poll (hopefully!), as I’m interested to see how many others have just the one vehicle and what your experiences are, is it really practical? I’m wondering if others like us sold a second vehicle in the last two years as circumstances changed and found they don’t miss it.

Thanks in advance for any input.
 
Re: threads on parking issues with Cali's at places like the seaside - having a Cali as the only vehicle may limit certain aspects of travel / parking ...
 
Buzz61 said:
Hello all,

We are waiting very excitedly for our Cali Ocean to arrive - hopefully be here by the end of October.

As the delivery date approaches, it’s got us thinking about if we will need our existing car as well as the Cali. We previously owned two vehicles, but since the pandemic and working from home (which is set to continue), we sold one as we just didn’t use it… and haven’t missed having two vehicles.

I’ve read plenty of topics about people who use their vans as a daily drive without too many dramas which is great, but I just can’t currently imagine popping to Tesco for the weekly shop with my sleeping bag and portaloo in the boot!

I’ve created this poll (hopefully!), as I’m interested to see how many others have just the one vehicle and what your experiences are, is it really practical? I’m wondering if others like us sold a second vehicle in the last two years as circumstances changed and found they don’t miss it.

Thanks in advance for any input.
Click to expand...
Like so many things it all depends on circumstances. We have van + car as that works for us. Just one vehicle would be tricky. But if we could get away with just one then why have two. In our house there are two drivers and sometimes one is away for several days. There is no right answer.
 
We have two vehicles but the Cali is my daily drive. My wife needs her own car for her work. The Cali the best all round vehicle have ever owned and really works well for me for work, carrying gear around for various hobbies and the school run etc. Never had an issue parking it - being 30mm lowered sorts it for vast majority of multi-story car parks and the footprint is pretty much identical to my last 6 series. I would say if you can manage with one car the Cali should work 99% of the time.
 
For over two years, I would not drive my wife's ford fiesta as I did not like it (it did not have all the creature comforts - especially adaptive cruise). The Cali was my primary vehicle even for daily use/shopping ... or long drives. No drama there.

With a new Tesla M3 having replaced the Fiesta, now both vehicles get used for what they are primarily built for.

Could we do with one - no - and that is because both vehicles now have their defined roles.
 
If you were ok with 1 vehicle before, then you'll be equally ok with 1 vehicle being the Cali, if you ask me. When you've got your Cali for a while, it's just like a normal car to you. No rpoblem driving it to get groceries. You'll just be happier to drive it then a normal car. We used to have a normal car and a cali. Then got a newer cali and ditched the normal car. The advantages of having 1 instead of 2 vehicles are huge, mostly financially.

The disadvantages of driving a cali as your primary vehicle is higher mileage / higher fuel usage on your campervan. But compared to having the cost of 2 vehicles, that's nothing. Other then that, I don't experience any disadvantages. Some people might find it a little bit harder to park it in tight spots, but that all depends on which car you're used to. Also, if it's your daily driver, you get used to that very quickly. And nowaysdays most people got sensors and cameras and what not.
 
It’s the best vehicle for supermarket shopping

open the sliding door throw everything in to the habitation area
(I have collapsible canvas crates that fold flat, open them up throw everything in to keep it where it should be on the drive home )

the wife’s car you’d be lucky to fit a couple of loaves of bread and a can of beans in the boot !
 
Last edited:
we did have only one car for the last few years after I started working fully remote and this was the case until we got the Cali in June. We don't need two cars and the Cali (only 500 miles on it) has just been sitting on the drive while we use the family car for most trips. We could definitely sell the family car and save a lot of money on running costs plus get a chunk back for the sale. I'm struggling to use the Cali as an every day car at the moment though cos I am too precious about it, haha. Also our Audi TDI does 50-60mpg and the Cali only 30-40. As you can tell, I'm on the fence same as you about what to do! It would make sense to only have the Cali but I can't get my head around leaving it to get dinged in the supermarket car park etc.
 
kurienp said:
For over two years, I would not drive my wife's ford fiesta as I did not like it (it did not have all the creature comforts - especially adaptive cruise). The Cali was my primary vehicle even for daily use/shopping ... or long drives. No drama there.

With a new Tesla M3 having replaced the Fiesta, now both vehicles get used for what they are primarily built for.

Could we do with one - no - and that is because both vehicles now have their defined roles.
Click to expand...

Did the same as you. Now 10k miles on the Tesla M3. Cali miles have dropped off as now only used for surfing / camping. Could make do with one vehicle but EV is super smooth, packed with safety aids / self drive & cheap to run with solar panels at home , Cali value will hold…so winning on both fronts.
 
I bought a further car to keep the miles down on our first Cali when it looked like I was heading towards 40,000 miles per year due to work.
The Mileage has since dropped off massively but having an Ocean enabled me to keep a far less sensible/ practical car as a second Vehicle.
Now I have changed to a GC I don’t have anything I can take to the station or go shopping in & am reliant on the wifes or one of the kids car being available.
 
Perfectos said:
It’s the best vehicle for supermarket shopping

open the sliding door throw everything in to the habitation area
(I have collapsible canvas crates that fold flat, open the, up throw everything in to keep it where it should be on the drive home )

the wife’s car you’d be lucky to fit a carpel of loaves of bread and a can of beans in the boot !
Click to expand...
... or get the wife to go in shopping, while you sit in the back and enjoy a brew and some downtime ;)
 
Just the California as a family and my everyday vehicle but my wife has a skateboard Smart for 2 that I never drive.
 
Ben Duncan said:
we did have only one car for the last few years after I started working fully remote and this was the case until we got the Cali in June. We don't need two cars and the Cali (only 500 miles on it) has just been sitting on the drive while we use the family car for most trips. We could definitely sell the family car and save a lot of money on running costs plus get a chunk back for the sale. I'm struggling to use the Cali as an every day car at the moment though cos I am too precious about it, haha. Also our Audi TDI does 50-60mpg and the Cali only 30-40. As you can tell, I'm on the fence same as you about what to do! It would make sense to only have the Cali but I can't get my head around leaving it to get dinged in the supermarket car park etc.
Click to expand...

Yes, I used to be like that. We had 2 cars and a new Cali I was afraid to use for anything other than camping trips. Ridiculous really. Our solution was to keep 1 car and and buy an older Cali which I’ll happily drive and park anywhere!
 
Sole vehicle here. It’s just the two of us and my partner takes the bicycle to work and I work from home most of the time and when I need to get into the office I can take the train. Use the Cali for visiting friend and family besides the camping trips of course. Would my work require me to drive a lot I would consider leasing a small car because costs per mile/km of the Cali are quite high (especially when taking depreciation into account).
 
Elmo3 said:
Yes, I used to be like that. We had 2 cars and a new Cali I was afraid to use for anything other than camping trips. Ridiculous really. Our solution was to keep 1 car and and buy an older Cali which I’ll happily drive and park anywhere!
Click to expand...
Haha, yeah! I'll get over it........maybe! :)
 
Mine is my daily drive. Her in doors has an F type mainly for work, nice drive but too low for me to get in and out in comfort. So most journeys are in the Cali. Parking has never been a problem so far.
 
Thank you all so much for your comments and votes, it’s made for very interesting reading, and it’s reassuring should we decide to get rid of the current car :thumb
 
1 of 9. (3 cars, 2 motorcycles, 3 ebikes)

Number of vehicles required = number of vehicles owned + N

Where N = vehicle wish list.
 
Yep, we had a van only for 5 years, no problem. Got a wee Up too as my mum can't get in the van now, perfect combo.
 
Buzz61 said:
Hello all,

We are waiting very excitedly for our Cali Ocean to arrive - hopefully be here by the end of October.

As the delivery date approaches, it’s got us thinking about if we will need our existing car as well as the Cali. We previously owned two vehicles, but since the pandemic and working from home (which is set to continue), we sold one as we just didn’t use it… and haven’t missed having two vehicles.

I’ve read plenty of topics about people who use their vans as a daily drive without too many dramas which is great, but I just can’t currently imagine popping to Tesco for the weekly shop with my sleeping bag and portaloo in the boot!

I’ve created this poll (hopefully!), as I’m interested to see how many others have just the one vehicle and what your experiences are, is it really practical? I’m wondering if others like us sold a second vehicle in the last two years as circumstances changed and found they don’t miss it.

Thanks in advance for any input.
Click to expand...
Hi! I have a Cali Beach and I live in North London and very near transport links. So really only do need the one vehicle.
 
My wife and I used to have a second car (BMW 3 series) sitting on the drive next to the Cali, but there was ALWAYS one vehicle on the drive. What a waste of money! Especially as I prefer to drive the Cali! It took 5 years to come to my senses :headbang
 
Strictly speaking no. I have a Cali, a motorcycle, and more bicycles than I'm willing to admit. I only got the Cali this year, but other than camping trips I have only taken it out once to go to the DIY store. My local supermarket is 5 to 10 minutes walk away (depending which one I go to), the local train station is under 5 minutes walk (train every 15 minutes), and unless the weather is too grim or cold, the motorcycle or a bicycle can take me anywhere as long as I don't have to carry anything bulky.

Would be nice to have a little runaround city car, perhaps, for when it's too nasty/cold outside, but it's certainly not worth it in my case when I have good alternatives available to cover most cases, and can just use the Cali if/when needed.
 
We've had just a Cali (just!?) for the past ten years, but as we live in London that's not a problem. We do our shopping & general getting around by bike.
 
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