So looking at your video again (good review by the way and first review by an English reviewer too, I think!). We chose this over the GC for several reasons - mainly the proper double bed over the habitation area. We have a very tall 10yr old who would’ve outgrown the GC relatively quickly. We also have a 2yr old who is too small for the top bunk bed (at the moment). He sleeps on our bed at the rear during the evening and then we put him to bed on the 5th berth when we turn in. It works perfectly and not an option for the GC. Another big plus (which was unfortunately missed) was that the half dinette slides to create an extra 20-25cm shoulder room between the two rear passengers. The infill cushion for that was in the wardrobe in the kitchen. It makes travelling with car seats a lot easier and creates a bizarrely more useable “sofa” when not travelling. Again, with the fixed seats in the GC, it was a bit tight back there for the kids. IMO, the fit and finish is better than the GC and although wood is a bit marmite, I think it creates a softer ambience to the stark white wood. This of course is subjective and for all who prefer wood, there’ll be the same who prefer the white. Like all vans, lead times are the issue. We wanted a factor order but were told 18-24m from May this year. We were lucky to get our 4x4 4.180 as a stock van from a dealer who’d just received it from factory. Not missing much. We’ve had a LifePo4 battery, 130W solar panel and 2k W inverter fitted for offgridding so pretty much the perfect van for us. For anyone in the market for an occasional second car, space for a small (but diverse aged) family and super camper van, I think it’s difficult to overlook. Although there’s some negativity that the layout is samey, I would disagree - it’s the only real package that truly works for us in this size of van. I’m hoping if we were to have another child that I could fit a rotating double bench seat in the cab; we’ve enough payload in ours. Then we get 5 belts and 5 berths. Thanks for the great review and good luck with your build! :)

Very useful video, i work at a renting company and i watched this video before the presentation and it went great.

Great review as always, thank-you! It does look really nicely finished too! 😀

Great conversation, well thought out

Great video, thank you, can you please review a similar IH campervan? Their design in a VW looks interesting. Cheers.

No outdoor shower or stored chair and table for outside but I still prefer this to the VW GC600. Does the inverter mean you can use your three pined plugs off hook up? How big a battery set up does it have for of wild camping? 👌😊

Is the water tanks winterised? Is the heating diesel? Can the fridge run without hook up?

That is fantastic, what a beautiful campervan… great it has 2 double beds.. thanks for the review .. top van

My biggest bitch with hi tops is they won’t fit in a garage so you need space in your yard for a real barn with 12’ door unless you want to leave it out in the yard. The space looks pretty killer. It’s very long. Is that 6 meters long? These long vans have really nice storage. I’d love having a shower in my Vanagon but the options I’ve found are only good when it’s hot outside . They all involve showering outside. The downstairs sleeping space is very nice. Loads of space at $88K is a great price for what we have in the states.

The bunk bed is impressive quality. MOD Vans is using lighter weight cabinets, which for an old guy like me, are much less painful in the dark. Configured for solar - optional?

Very biased but I have to say, it’s a fabulous van. Took delivery of our 4x4 4.170 version 6wks ago and suits us perfectly as a family of four. Came at it from a T6 Ocean and Concorde Charisma before that. Perfect all round van! :)

Having seriously considered a GF after our T6 Cali we just thought it was poorly configured and seemed to have been designed by individuals that knew little about 'Van Life.' We eventually went for a Adria Twin (Family) but still miss the VW ride quality when comparing it to the Fiat Ducato. Perhaps this Knaus would fit the bill-thanks for the video.

We loved the camper van but our requirement is to have 4x4. Is it possible for you to show us vans wih 4x4, automatic? Thanks

This one over the GC although I have been looking at the Hymer free with a pop top

I love your content 👍🏻…but suggesting that the Grand California is the PVC to beat seems a bit bonkers! I’m a huge VW nut but sadly the GC is nowhere near the van that it’s smaller sibling is…apart from anything else it’d be like holidaying in an MRI scanner! 😂

Hi Shaun, didn’t hear the cost of this motor home, compared to the Volkswagen one.

Very well thought out interior for a mwb! Seems real quality too The exterior is too OAP spec for me 😆 with some all terrains and decent wheels could look good

Great video. Good to see different designs. However, when you say “sat” I can’t help shouting “sitting” 😂

Great review as usual! Sink and hob better than either GC. A lot more space there. Second bed much better than GC. On the downsides: Not keen on the exterior. Too many decals. The loo cassette surround is an eyesore (why can't converters do the same as the GC and properly colour code the whole thing?). The Knaus price needs to cover the profits of three companies (VW, MAN, Converter) rather than just one for GC (VW). The customer is also paying for transfer friction between VW-->MAN and then MAN-->Converter. Split level floor is a compromise, I assume because the top bed is lower and bigger than in the GC 600. Small thing that would annoy me. Even with the split level floor it seems like there's less headroom than in a GC. Not sure... just looks that way on the video. The fridge looks small, although I remember from your GC videos you're not keen on the VW alternative! But the real killer for me is the interior. Wood effect laminate. Every join is a right angle. The wall carpet looks a little cheap. Nothing I've seen in any other crafter-base or in any ducato, looks as integrated or up to date as the GC interior. By the way I ordered a GC 680 last year purely on the strength of your extended review. And I bl00dy LOVE it, so thank you for that 😊

Seems to be a whole bunch of MAN based Knaus campers and motorhomes on the U.K. market at the moment. Our local dealer said they’d had them on order for up to two years.

No oven or a microwave/ grill which is a shame. The laminate in the bathroom fills me with dread. I’d want a sealed unit with a flip shower toilet like the van reviewed. Brilliant review I like the MAN vehicles. But the main problem is the bed. I like to walk around. Great review.

Thanks. I’m still for the GC

That van is a beauty I love it PS. Bring back the old theme tune

That is a great van some new ideas from Germany.....better than the Grand C. 💯

Love it!

In the main bed area, it’s not possible to sit up in bed. Surely everyone sits up in bed to read etc. Too many storage cabinets prevent this.

Great Video, Shaun. Ignore the grammar police!

Obviously owes "a lot" to the GC design but an interesting evolution and some nice high-end touches. Your move, VW!

Not sure on having a 80k+ van and then having to drag some tarp over the roof as an awning. If they could have come up with a Thule style wind out side awning then it would be hard to dismiss this.

Looks like the pole/leg to convert the table into a bed can be stored in the clip within the cupboard under the rear seats @6:44

Nice van

Understood these MAN TGEs were very reliable?

Nice van 👌

The rear looks like a speed camera van

A great review but I’m disappointed that only four people can travel in this van. The Ford Nugget and Nugget Plus can carry Five passengers and sleeps 4 but that’s on a 5.3 Ford Transit Custom Van. I really think there needs to be more innovation with the larger vans to accommodate families. Thanks for sharing another interesting review.

Why are we/shower rooms so common? We spend no more than 10 minutes a day in them yet they take up huge space. W.C. In a deep edged shower tray with curtain to pull up is the way to go. Also prefer a Murphy bed. Comments on my comments???

Are you in US or NZ or Australia

How crap are the front window blinds plus that vent is for a gas truma and definitely not a diesel/ electric water/ space heater. I should know, ,my motorhome has the said heater 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽

Much better... simply because its not all VW grey inside So expensive though once you add the extras.. i would prefer a motorhome with more space

Not a chance im afraid more e expensive than the cali and quality of in side is way below imo..

And the important Q...unloaded weight?!!!

@2:50 rear looks like a skewed face! 😕

Is it just me or does the back look like Darth Vader 🤔

Nacht

They are great to drive . But just so unreliable from the engine side of things

Boring layout, they are all the same.

bog standard. no originality.