ford nugget vs vw californiagold necklace for teenage girl

Its only with this latest conversion that Fords decided to take a greater hand in the process, giving the Nugget its blessing, selling it via main dealers. Underneath this theres a large cupboard suitable for a Porta Potti. The steerings light and accurate enough to make town work easy too. 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. Not necessarily a bad thing! Better yet, the parcel shelf can sit upright to allow you to carry taller items or even come out entirely. >> Read our full Ford Transit Custom review. Once in bed, there are no convenient spots to leave a charging phone, glass of water or pair of glasses, unlike the Nugget. The Ford Transit Custom needs little introduction, but as a Parkers award-winner in the medium-sized van category you can be assured its a damn good product. It would have been nice to have the option though, especially for families with young children. All told, its a thoroughly awkward process thats difficult to accomplish without stepping out of the van no fun if its raining outside., Another annoyance is privacy. 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. As a Parkers award-winner in the medium-sized van category two years running you can be assured its a VERY good product. No longer merely the go-to motor for surfers, bearded types and amateur detectives, staycating families, solo adventurers and those trying to avoid massive mortgage rates can benefit from the evolution of the humble, yet happy, camper. If youre interested in a specific aspect of either van, click the links below to jump straight to the relevant section, or read on for our full review. While Westfalia no longer builds the California, it does take care of Fords camper. Its one of the best-selling vehicles in the UK, let alone the best-selling panel van. Where the California has really premium-feeling roller blinds which can be lowered in an instant, the Nugget has curtains with popper-fittings which are incredibly fiddly. As mentioned earlier, the interior table requires a bit more faff than the Californias, but once its in place its easily reachable from all seats. Although its obvious that the Marco Polo, too, runs on diesel, its engine is easily the smoothest. During our testing we easily matched that fuel economy figure, and on lightly loaded longer runs it crept over 40mpg with little effort. 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. 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. 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. You can expect it to be a little less efficient than the California overall, even though its less powerful. Volkswagen leans in to the retro vibe such a camper brings. Yet, due to the swivel mechanism theyre set rather high and cant be lowered. Based on the ambience of the Marco Polos leather-lined, wooden- floored interior, youd certainly think so. As for the California, that'sthe firmest of the three and proves the most prone to thumping over humps and holes around town. You have to step up on to the front seats in order to get up. Though you feel the Californias weight when cornering or braking, the powerful engines make short work of moving it along. The Transit Custom Nugget takes a more traditional approach. 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. These features are all missing on the Ford. This makes for a nicely convivial lounge area. Theres also a permanent home for the awning winding handle in here, clipped securely in place. H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No. Registered Office: Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough, PE2 6EA H Bauer Publishing, The California is based on the latest Volkswagen T6 Transporter van, a robust choice with its car-like cabin. Access isnt the most elegant, though. 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. The Californias also suffers from plenty of whooshing from the turbocharger. 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. Like the Nugget, the Californias kitchen appointments are basic to say the least. Whats more, their warranties and maintenance will be guaranteed by the car brands themselves. Also like the California its up top where youll find a more comfortable nights sleep, with a thick mattress topper and plastic springs. Its available with a wide array of diesel engines. Some have pointed out that its highly useful for families with small children one parent can cook at the rear of the van while another entertains the younguns at the front, away from hot pots and pans. Theres no boot area either, so its more difficult to use the Nugget as a second car for larger loads. In 2003, Volkswagen decided to revive the name on its T5 Transporter, but instead of handing off camping duties to Westfalia it took them on itself, building a specific factory just for campervans. Its also a very firm mattress, so if you prefer a softer bed youll have to provide your own topper. Another annoyance is privacy. Its only with this latest conversion that Fords decided to take a greater hand in the process, giving the Nugget its blessing and selling it in main dealers. The Nuggets cabin is well-built and laid-out much like Fords smaller cars, such as the Focus. The rising roof is rear-hinged, while behind the rear seat theres a good amount of boot storage. Some users will definitely prefer the Ford to the VW. Where once there seemed little to fear about cramming into a metal tube with a few hundred strangers and jetting off to a supposedly clean room abroad, you might well be looking for an alternativeapproach in future. Our test van, a 200hp automatic with front-wheel drive, claims to return up to 38.7mpg and emit 223g/km of CO2. 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. Its kitchen storage that makes the most sense, as you get two wide, shelved cabinets and a capacious cutlery drawer. 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. You have to lift up the seat base to access a separate screw-in leg and table top. This is a tricky manoeuvre thatll take several attempts to get into your muscle memory. CO2 emissions of 230g/km just trail the California, too. For the Nugget, you can select from two; a 130hp or 185hp 2.0-litre diesel. Driving the Nugget is very much like driving a standard Transit Custom though, and thats a good thing. 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. The front screens dont even have that they require insulated screens to be fitted using suction cups, which leave marks on the windscreen and have a tendency to fall off in the middle of the night., 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.. Were the Nugget much cheaper than the California, wed be more tempted to forgive its foibles. Coast and Ocean models have the same properly-fitted kitchen layout, with the former making do with slightly less equipment for a lower starting price. 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. Volkswagen expects you to splash out on the larger Grand California for a toilet facility. The Ford Nuggets layout is startlingly different to the Californias, and not at all traditional not that thats necessarily a bad thing! 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. Dining indoors is easy, as the table slides to reach all four chairs. 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. With a more sophisticated rear suspension layout than its rivals and relatively soft springs, it has the most cosseting ride. Thats right: were talking camper vans. They measure 200x120cm and 200x116cm respectively. 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. Because everything on the California is done in-house, Volkswagen has a greater degree of control. Its where Ford expects you to store many of the Nuggets little necessities, such as the front window blinds, the awning handle and the interior table. Theres also a longer Nugget, which is based on the long-wheelbase Transit Custom and includes a washroom at the rear with bench-style cassette toilet. The Transit Custom Nugget takes a more traditional approach and so 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 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 seat base wont stay up on its own, and its very heavy. California owners have assured us, though, that this isnt really much of a problem theres step-through access to the front, so rear passengers can easily exit through the front passenger door if theyre parked on a busy road. Youll find no digital dashboard or LED headlights here, for example. With loose body control, it bounces so dramatically over bumps that it can make even front seat passengers feel queasy. Its a very favourable starting point. 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. You can have a 150hp or 200hp turbodiesel the former is available with a six-speed manual gearbox in Beach or Coast forms. Because its more settled than the others, passengers who get carsick easily are likely to prefer the California. These two fast freighters combine power with practicality, but which is the better buy? The Nugget offers plenty of storage spread across a few useful areas. Even the vans themselves are further apart than we feel they ought to be the basic California Ocean comes as standard with a high-definition touchscreen, virtual cockpit digital instrument panel, climate control and LED headlights. Beach models are more basic and utilitarian, doing without a full kitchen and thus barely qualifying for campervan status. There are sliding doors on both sides, so accessing the rear seat is as simple as can be. There's a good chance that the events of the past year and a half will have made you rethinkyour holiday plans. 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.. 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. In fact, the Westfalia Nuggetbased on the Transit Customhas been around for years. Its an effortless cruiser, soaking up bumps well. The basic California Ocean comes as standard with a high-definition touchscreen, virtual cockpit digital instrument panel, climate control and LED headlights. Its a heavy camper, so Volkswagen offers only its two higher-powered engine choices. This is subdivided by a parcel shelf of sorts used for making the bed but also functioning as a very handy storage divider. The lower bed is far more of a pig to make up, though. All other models use a seven-speed DSG automatic, and on top models you can even specify four-wheel drive. However, once you remove the Californias paint and step down to the still perfectly acceptable 150hp engine, theyre more or less the same price. The Ford Nuggets layout is startlingly different to the Californias, and not at all traditional. The devils really in the detail, though, especially when it comes to the conversion. 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. 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. They measure 200x120cm and 200x116cm respectively.. 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? Without these, its a more reasonable 66,643. Lights in the roof panel illuminate the bed area nicely, and there are three zip-open windows to let in a cool breeze. 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. Next to the Nugget, which is based on Parkers award-winning Ford Transit Custom, the California does feel rather heavy and staid to drive. Once the lower bed is made up, youll find your feet rest underneath the kitchen countertop, in an area usually situated behind the backrest. The Californias fresh and waste water tanks are 30 litres each, and it can accommodate a 2.8kg gas cylinder. 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. It doesnt feel as solidly built as the Volkswagens, nor does it have quite so much impressive equipment. In fact, the Westfalia Nugget based on the Transit has been around for years. This van has the best steering on the market its naturally-weighted, accurate and, dare we even say, dynamic? Access is granted through the use of a short ladder, which hooks onto the kitchen countertop. Were the Nugget much cheaper than the California, wed be more tempted to forgive its foibles. It also has highly useful open storage bins on top of the counter perfect for salt and pepper, washing-up liquid or any number of useful kitchen items. These features are all missing on the Ford. Fords design enables the top of its wardrobe to double as a bedside table. 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? And when we say the word camper, the first brand that springs to mind is probably Volkswagen. Both of those are ingenious storage solutions for what are usually very bulky and awkward pieces of equipment. On one hand, youve got a great white fibreglass whale dawdling down to Devon at 3mph, loaded to the gunnels with sandwich spread and questionable velour upholstery. Your email has been successfully submitted! They consist of a two-burner gas hob with spark ignition, a small sink with hot and cold running water, and a top-loading 42-litre fridge that runs off the mains or 12V electricity. For dining outside, Ford provides two Westfalia-branded folding chairs, which store behind the rear seat backrest (not as tidy as VWs solution in the rear door) and a folding table which clips to the tailgate. This is where wed struggle to recommend the Nugget. Theres plenty of room underneath to store bulky items, and if youre not using the downstairs bed then the top becomes available too. Space heating is powered by diesel and blown air. Campervans tend to conjure up one of two images in most peoples heads. No camper test would be complete without a Volkswagen. The front seats are comfortable and supportive with have twin armrests. 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 engines in the Nugget and California sound rather gritty, leaving you in no doubt about their commercial vehicle origins. Some users will definitely prefer the Ford to the VW. Theres a large wardrobe area opposite the kitchen with a hanging rail and the ladder for the roof bed stored within. All registered in England and Wales. The roof is front-hinged, to allow for standing room over the kitchen, which means the lounge area is a little lower. 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.