I must have been in my early 30s, when a good friends of ours arrived one day for a walk, in a VW T3 Devon Campervan. In that moment, I had no doubt we had to own one. It seemed to be the perfect solution to continue outdoor adventures as a family. We bought a T3 2.1 Injection Auto Sleeper high-top, which drove like a boat, and easily swallowed all the gear for a growing family. We toured the UK, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, Switzerland and beyond and had amazing journeys until my work took me abroad, and it had to go. In this website I cover Orkney, Shetland, the Outer Hebrides, the entire Coast of Ireland, and the now infamous North Coast 500.
On my return to the UK, I must have taken a week, before I placed an order for a new VW T4 California, from Deepcar Motohomes, in 2001. We have now owned that vehicle for 25 years. In the early days, it was rare to see another California, but now #vanlife has gone ballistic. Our van is a 2.5l 5-cyl 150hp manual diesel, and labelled as the ‘Event’ edition to celebrate the 50th-year of the VW campervan. It is rare to see a T4 California on UK roads, although they were common in Europe.
This one is a keeper. I see little reason to change, other than on a day when such diesels are removed from our roads due to changing legislation. At the time of purchase, she was seen as the most economical and environmental clean option available. After 250,000km she runs well and has withstood all manner of abuse. We have probable spent over 1,000 nights sleeping in it, at sites around Europe and Britain. It is a keeper, partly because it continues to work, but mainly due to the fact I struggle to find a replacement. Horror stories of damaged engines in bi-turbo T6.1s, and cheaper materials, makes me wonder if this is progress. A combination of emission regulations and computer aided design set to build in obsolesence, results in vehicles that no longer last. That is a discussion for another time, but I am hoping to keep it until a true EV alternative arrives.
I have acquired a good working knowledge of this vehicle now and would be happy to help owners with any problems, with advice and guidance. I am not sure how many people will take me up on this offer as I have only seen 2 other California Westfalia T4s in Britain, although T4s have a cult following, specifically this AXG engine. There are lots of blog articles, just select the VANLIFE category.
Martyn.
Nice to meet you in canterbury. Hope walking going ok. My Silver screen arrived today, after two amusing phone conversations with mad yorkshire man ..
Have read lots of your blog. Inspired us to go to Ireland in early April .. Last time there was in 1990 for a two handed yacht race into Crosshaven. Yachting Monthly Triangle. Will take ages to plan route
Hi Andrew,
Nice to meet a fellow T4 enthusiast. I reached Dover and will come back to the ECP in November I hope (weather being reasonable). Can you use the CONTACT section of this website to send me an email and then I can respond with my contact details, as I am sure to pass your location at some stage. I can tell you about the WAW in detail.
Martyn
Hi Martyn
As a follower of your blog, I have just received these comments in my Inbox and hope you don’t mind but I thought that my WAW trip in 2019 might be useful to Andrew to supplement your conversations with him. It’s not in a T4 but a T5 but the roads are just the same 🙂 There are 5 articles the first of which can be found at https://britishlandscapesphotography.co.uk/wild-atlantic-way-donegal/.
If it’s a problem then apologises and just delete it.
By the way just about to buy the Kindle edition of your new book “Tales from the Big Trails” sounds like a great read and just up my street spending so much time travelling and photographing the British Isles.
Derek
Epic pictures. I should slow down and take time to get into my photography. Ireland and the WAW are wonderful subjects to study.
Thank you very much, Martyn. I must admit even I was rushed and missed some locations I wanted to visit. I only allowed 15 days and that included visiting the Mournes and the Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland. Needed at least 3 or 4 weeks to do them both justcie. Still, it’s always a good excuse to go back again.