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This monthllews and uiews

Welcome The VW badge adds value

News Want a gasJree campervan?

Next month 15 high{ops compared

lnterview Jean-Paul Fassinotti, Chausson

Competition Win a week in a Bomahome

Road testsWhich test Westfalia Club Joker

Exclusive test of VW T5 with a washroom

First sight Adria Sport S 690 SC

lsland bed low-profile at an amazing price

First sight Cloud 9 Comfort

VW T5 camper with a unique bed system

First sight Hymer Exsis-i 504

Baby A-class with massive payload

First sight VW Caddy Camper

An MPV with bed, awning, coolbox

Star test Bilbo s Celex LWB

0ur Campervan of the Year 201 3

Showdown Budget French beds

Escape 662 v Marquis Majestic 155

Long-term test Swift Sundance 6445D

Fully winterised? We find outl

20

Accessolis$ll New gear The very latest accessories

72 Which kit N/otorhome cleaners

Buying75 lnsurance Our annual survey

How to save over a grand I

9l A to 2... Tag-axle coachbuilts

The biggest'vans for long-term tours

9$ Deals on wheels This month's bargains

Save f6,497 on a VW T5 camper

98 Pre-owned Adrra Vision A-class

lll2 Glassified advertising Buy and sell

motorhomes and accessories

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Joker inthe packWestfalia is under newownership, back in Britain

and it has returned to VWconversions at last. Enter the

exciting Club Joker on its veryfirst UK road test

trre@. PBICE FR0M f49,336 (BHD)

. BERTHSfiRAVEL SEATS 3/4

W:::J# i l;il: ilfi * Ji::TJJ"::Tffi :original splitscreen VW and 1970s bay window Tlpe 2 are

the most desirable of their genre. And yet this is the first

Westfalia camper to be based on the T5, a decade after the

latest generation of Transporter van went on sale. Delve

deeper into the history of this iconic brand and you'll

discover that from 2001 to 2008 it was owned by Mercedes-

Benz, so it's no surprise that Mercedes Vianos and Sprinters

figured strongly in its motorhome range and perhaps

even less of a shock that arch rival Volkswagen decided to

take the California camperi construction in house.

Now, though, Westfalia has entered a netv era, under

the ownership of French motorhome maker Rapido. And

having a Volkswagen back in the range was a key priority

of the new management - alter all, the two brar.rds go

together like Ant and Dec. The resultant Club foker(reintroducing a model name associated with the rear-

engined T3 of the 1980s) is no California rival, but

instead complements VW's own camper range. Iti a long-

wheelbase high-top model with more than a hint of

Westfalia! prestigious (Mercedes Sprinter-based) James

Cook about it, just in 2/3 scale. If you're a California

owner looking to trade up to something a fraction bigger

(with an onboard rvashroom), it's likely to be the van

youve been dreaming of. And soon you'll be able to buy

a right-hand drive one in the UK via Roy Wood Transits,

who formerly imported Westfalias Ford based

conversions. Right norv, though, we're the first UK

magazine to test the left hooker prototlpe, fresh from its

debut at the February NEC show. Few road tests engender

as much anticipation and excitement as this, even if itisnt the prettiest campervan around.

Those who know their Westfalias will not be surprised

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Amongst the mostfamous na.nes in

c?mpervans, wESTFALIAVVeSfialra rs nowowned by Bapldo,but a change ofownership has not diverted the companyfrom its core products superblydesigned, l-igh-quality van conversiors.Apart f rom the Club Joker, Westfalia srange 1ow ircludes three tixed bedColumbus hightops on Fiat Ducato(long-wheelbase with transverse bed,or extra-long with fixed singles or alengthways French bed). A new camperbased on the new (TS-srzed) Ford TransitCustom is expected to debut laterthis year.

Both the ail-new Ford and the Fiats(wh ch real y are class-leadirg designsand include your Editors favouritemotorhome at the last Drisseldorf show- the Columbus 600 D, see photo above)are expected t0 come t0 the UK thr0ughRoy Wood Transits, whose associationwith Westfalia goes back to 2007. BWTbrought us right-hand drive versions ofthe Ford-based Nugget and Big Nuggetconversions before launching its ownAuto Campers brand. Now Roy WoodTransits has debuted the Club Joker here(with right hand drive models expectedaround the middle of June), though theFiat C0lumbus is expected t0 create evenmore demand when that lands here.

to find that the marque's latest camper wears a big high-

top designed to accommodate an adult-sized double bed.

It certainly isnt the sleekest of roofs and that peak over

the windscreen is sure to divide opinion as much as the

baseball cap-wearing youths that it evokes, but in optional

Natural Grey metallic the Club loker still manages toseem quite handsome. Don't order a white one ("it'll look

like a smurf'l remarked one observer), but then with 16

colours on offer (including yellow and orange, as well as

more subtle metallics like Toffee Brown) theret no need.

In fact, getting the spec ofyour Club Joker right could

be a bigger challenge than deciding to buy one in the firstplace. There are 83, 101, 138 and 178bhp motors (all 2-

litre TDI), manual and DSG gearboxes and even four-

wheel drive. And that's before you consider parking

sensors (€589), alloy wheels (four styles - up to [,2,241),

and even details like a sliding door with powered closing

(€141), bi,xenon headlights (f,1,397) or Servotronic

speed-sensitive steering (f,393). And dont forget that

every option ticked will add notably to your final bill -VW knows horv to charge. But we're getting ahead ofourselves because you're sure to be looking at the Club

Joker because it's a VW and because the T5 still drives

like no other comparable campervan base vehicle. There's

a unique fluidity to its handling, an almost limousine-like

i ,,}EE . Superb buiid quality . Wide range of options. Great t0 drive . Large and c0mfortabie upper bedo Diesel heating with blown-air and convectors. Stylish design . LED lighting with dimmer switch. Automotive rear travel seats . Rear underfl00r storage

":::ImE o No TV provision . Tiny wardrobe. Shower doors on prototype . Price of fully loaded model

ride quality, and ofcourse, its famed build quality. Build

that is matched here by a conversion that's virtuallydevoid ofrattles and built to last.

Even though this is a left hand drive example and I am

driving on unfamiliar roads, being at the wheel of the

Westfalia is like meeting up with an old friend. youtl neyer

tire ofowning a T5 and always feel relaxed driving it, but as

I head up the Ml I wonder what effect an extra 800mm ofheight will have on its behaviour. On a calm day, passing

trucks at 70mph, I can barely perceive a disadvantage but

on a blustery day on the Fens that could be a completely

different scenario. As for performance, the prototype

boasts a 1 l2bhp Bluemotion engine that is not on the price

list, but suffice to say that the (€1,348 extra) 1Olbhp unitcould possibly be adequate for some owners and the

138bhp motor (with si-x speeds or super,slick DSG auto

an additional L3,4991L5,544) is likely to be the best bet.

Avoiding the 83bhp entryJevel unit seems essential, too.

Inside, there's less choice to worry about. The sole

upholstery is a grey automotive fabric called Tasamo and

the only major option is the downstairs' bed, which

effectively turns the Club foker into a three-berth. The

main bed is 'upstairs' a massive 7ft long double withcomfort-enhancing Froli springs on the half where your

upper body will rest. With plenty of ventilation (twin side

Shower needs refnement ofih bi-fold doors

Outdoor chairs can slide under raised rear floor Neat vanity unit isftted over the;t'ridge

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PRICE FROM I49,336 (RHD)

AS TESTED t52,796 (LHD)

0PT|ONS FITTED Upgrade from 3,000k9to 3,200kg (f770), cab air con (f1 ,296),sunvis0r with mirror (f53), folding grabhandles and sunglasses holder (f88),

metallic paint (181 7), Exterior Pack

- c0lourcoded bumpers and door handles,f ront fogllghts (f 948), wheeltrims (f 1 1 1),

low- evel bed (f758), radio (l4BB).

Note RHD models priced at f1,869 aboveLHD versrons

TYPE APPROVAL European WholeVeh ic le

BERTHS 2 {optional 3)

TRAVEL SEATS (INC DRIVER) 4

DIMENSIONS 5 29m L, 1 90m W,2.80m H

INTEBI0R HEIGHT 2.08m lounge,1 .84m kitchen/washroom

MAXIMUM WEIGHT 3,2OOKg

13,000k9 as standard)

PAYL0AD 660kq (460kq as standard)

BEDS Roof bed 2.T5m x 1.25m withheadroom of 0.61 m, ow-level bed 1.77mx 0.98m max, 0.83m min

FRESH WATER 70 ,il es { nboard)

WASTE WATER 70 litres (inboard)

TEISURE BATTERY sOAh

MAINS SOCKETS 2

ffiVW TRANSPORTER T5 LWB

fruCttttfZ li'. B reMor'on, II2brp.front-wheel drive, five-speed manual(83,101,138 and 178bhp enginesavarlabie, as well as DSG gearbox andfour whee drive)

MPG 0N TEST [stimated 28-30

C00KlNG Smev two-burner with push

button ignitron

FRID G E lsotherm 9o_-ll!q jor1llgS!,GASl ^272(gCarpingazHEATING Eberspeicher 4 BkW dieselJiredb own-air with three convectors

B0l[EB Eberspeicher diesel-powered,1 0 I itres

Auto-Sleeper Topaz

Hi lside s new model - corning soonl

windows and a roofvent) and easy access via a fold alay

step, the only fault I could find here was that the two

sections ofmattress parted slightly in the night, opening

up a small but annoying gap in the middle of the bed.

The optional (€758) low level bed requires the rear seat

backrest to be tipped forrvard and then a panel unfolds over

this area and into the cab. It's a generous single bed (as long

as you're not too tall) ar.rd much more comfy than its thin

mattress suggests (l overslept to prove it), but the layout of

main bed above secondary bed is obviously flarved for

families that dont all go to sleep at the same time.

Perhaps then, the Club Joker is best viewed as a two

berth - after all it is still considerably smaller inside than,

say, a LWB Fiat Ducato van conversion. But when you

need to travel four-up, rear seat passengers will be better

catered for than in just about any other n.rotorhome. The

double passenger seat (by Aguti) is simply superb in its

shape and support. Itt just as luxurious on site too, and we

served a light lunch for four adults around the small wall-

mounted table without a problem. Equally neat is the table

storage on the inside of the sliding door, though it's a

shame that you'll need a second table for aly'esco dining.

Not that you'll be short of room for outdoor furniture,

as there's a raised floor at the back (also hiding the

onboard water tanks) and the rear tailgate not only

provides access to this space but allows the shower to be

used outside and the toilet serviced as well. Ah yes, the

shower, the ace in the Club Joker's hand compared with

most VW campers. Sited in the rear corner is a washroom

with not just a shower, but a mirror, shelves and swivel

cassette toilet (no washbasin, you'll have to wash your

hands in the kitchen sink). It's less ofa complete bathroom

than you'lI find in an Auto-Sleeper Topaz but the rest of

the living space is much less compromised as a result.

Here, the shower tray (which will come with a cover in

production models) shares floor space with the galley in

a clever design that only requires refinement of the way

the shower doors work to become a real success. There's

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"Please remember that it's a prototype",is the phrase that we hear so often aswe drive off in a new test vehic e. ltcou d easily translate to "we haven'tqurte finished it yet" and is often a weakresp0nse to unresolved design. ln theClub Joker it simply meant that thewater system wasn't fully operationaland the shower doors wouldn't cliptogether as they should, both to hide theloo on site and to enclose the showercubicle. We' I f orglve Westtalia thatbecause we were impatient t0 get awayln this new camper - and because theshowers at the Teversai Camping andCaravanning Cllb site were the bestwe've evP seer. Ard despi e bei g

"genuine prototype, this Club Jokerteeked of tle cast ror b-i c qral r' o

whlch the firm has burlt ts repuiati0n forover 60 years. Nothing in this campervanfeels flimsy, nothing rattled or squeaked.It's not a cheap conversion but you'

Westfalia may be a decade late in

launching a T5 camper but there's stilan option for those who can't find f60kdown the back of the sofa. Based on theprevious T4 generation of VolkswagenTransporter, the California Exc uslveoffers a broadly similar layout to the newClub Joker. The Exclusive also benefitedfrom double beds 'upstairs' and down,though of course jt lacked the modernsophistication of a Euro V base vehicle.More importantly, perhaps, rt was onlyever built in left hand drive form, thougha 2.5TDl automatic version mightovercome the objections of even themost anti-LHD drivers.

Despite never being sold here new, thismode (which was popular in Germany)has appeared in Britain in small nurnbersat importers and VW specialists. Wefound a typical example at Go European

first registered in 1 997, this 79k-mile,white campervan complete with bikerack. awning and towbar could be yoursfor f1 4,995

Alternatively, if you need m0re space,how about a James Cook on MercedesSprinter? Again, a four berth high{opthats LHD only, we found one on

wwwcampervans4u.com - a 2004 modelwith the desirable 156bhp engine atf30,995

no shortage of room to shower or to use the loo, but the

latter is tucked under the top of the tailgate so the very

long of body may not fit comfortably on the throne.

The tall may also notice that therei less headroom in

the shower/galley area, though it'll be fine lor the majority.

Cooks will also find a modicum of (glossy black) worktop

alongside the two-burner hob and stainless-steel sink.

This is a German camper, of course, so be grateful for the

hob's ignition and cut your carping about the lack of an

oven or grill. More useful, after all, is the plentiful storage,

in drawers that soft close like in an expensive domestic

kitchen. The white gloss finish looks pretty tasty too.

Opposite, theret more storage, including a very slim

wardrobe (just enough room for a couple of coats), a 50-

litre compressor fridge at a convenient height and an

unusual vanity unit rvith make-up mirror. Nolv I think I ve

got the Club Joker buyer sussed - not short of a few

pennies, they wont worry about the simple (but stylish)

kitchen as they'll eat out more often than not, and the lady

will will want to check her looks before her (trlichelin

recommended) dinner. Superior sustenance consumed,

the Club ]oker will provide a cosy apartment kept I'arm blits 4.8kW diesel heater, which not only boasts blol-n-air

but three radiator-style convectors too. In some realh'

dismal weather, I was able to simply dial in mt. desired

temperature on the control panel (which looks iike a car

radio) and thaw out in anlthing up to sauna-like heat. The

fact that this clever unit also operates the fridge and hot

water and can be upgraded to include a timer (€1,104) is

better still, and streets ahead of the multiple messr'

controls that seasoned motorhomers contend with.

So the CIub loker feels like a sophisticated design and

itt certainly stylish and well built. But most of all it's a

VW camper. It'll still fit in the Waitrose car park and not

look out of place, but it offers just that bit more living

comfort than conventional pop top models. Westfalia has

returned to VW with another classic that collectors will

be seeking out jn 40 years time.

@ . The return ol a VW by Westfalia results in perhaps the ultimate T5 camper.n0f01fi0m8 Say$ * * ** The risht spec will cbst you over f60k but blub Jbker is in a ctass ot iti own.

Compressor.fridge and very slim wardrobe

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