How Grand California came to us and what happens next

How did the VW Grand California 600 come to us and what will happen next?

Last summer, 2025, together with Mairold, when we had free days and as a passing thought, we immediately planned a 3-day trip in a camper van.

Jumping into the water in a completely unknown place – but we were enthusiastic and wondered what could possibly go wrong.

We searched for rental ads based on price rather than other details - the size, amenities, type, and age of the car didn't seem that important at the time.

So our first home on wheels for three days was a rather shabby Fiat with an alcove. Relatively compact, but we couldn't even get the fridge to work in it. The alcove seemed like a classic solution and so we immediately drove to Southern Estonia. We visited RMK areas and also rattled along forest roads – the car is still big, wide and high, but the forest roads are sometimes quite narrow.

With this first trip, our future desires were not yet fully clarified, except that one day we would have our own camper. We had a small dream. And that an alcove might not be quite it.

At the same time, we had already booked the next and longer 10-day trip in a few weeks. This car was already 7.5 m long, with 6 berths and also an alcove. Although it would no longer have been the first preference, the booking was made and enthusiasm was shared.

We traveled to Estonia, visiting places every day, and hosting food-related webinars with home cooks and food masters alongside Mairoldld. A total of 11–12 webinars, including visits made on the first trip.

It was a memorable and life-changing trip. The emotion lasted for several months and has lasted to this day!

Here are my greetings to all the awesome hosts!

After that trip, we knew for sure which car we would like to rent next. We didn't have any plans to buy it at that point, but I bought and attached the keychain in the picture to my car - because that little dream still existed somewhere.

Since the fall of 2025, I've been looking at cars online on a relatively daily basis. Let's be honest - they just kept popping up everywhere, in the information feeds. You know how it goes. I also registered on various sites and was an active information seeker.

What did I find out?

First of all – we probably won't get the car we want. Except for the "dream cars" offered on scammer sites. The internet is full of beautiful sites and tempting offers.

Common sense helped though – I communicated with them, but a certain amount of caution (and maybe a little paranoia) came in handy. I also looked into offers from Finland, Sweden and Germany. A very interesting experience.

So – to be honest – I didn't look at van-type cars at all for several months.

Until at one point, when I expanded my search, I ended up there too.

Oh well – the original budget increased slowly but surely: +5,000, then +10,000, and finally +15,000 euros.

It also seemed like a completely viable option to buy a van and have boho-style content created for it. This led me to many pages and ideas again – it was very exciting!

But there was no ready-made solution to be found anywhere. And honestly – my patience was slowly running out. It seemed that finding peace of mind felt like it would take forever.

By now, I was pretty sure that renting was the most reasonable option.

So what was I looking for?

Integrated and semi-integrated campers (not caravans)

Length up to 6 m

Suitable for at least two people

Automatic transmission

Age and mileage are important

Van type: around 2020

Camper: from 2010+

Price up to €35,000 (ideally)

If you add €7,000–10,000, the choice would be significantly better.

At the same time, I also looked into Estonian Facebook groups and got a lot of great answers – people are very helpful in this area!

At the end of February, I found information that matkasuvilad.ee would organize a Spring Fair at the beginning of March.

Of course we went there.

Honestly, my state of mind was already such that if I just got a little new information, that would be fine. We definitely didn't plan on buying anything from there.

Our French bulldog Triinu came along and we went exploring. We moved separately – I looked around at my own pace and Mairold somewhere at his own pace, between the cars.

My eyes fell on the campervan parked outside. The sign said it was a used car. The price tag should have put me off… but it didn’t.

I opened the door, looked in the drawers, took pictures.

It later turned out that the same car had also caught Mairold's eye.

As I walked further, I got to talking to Meelis Adamson, one of the leaders of matkasuvilad.ee . I got a lot of valuable information and honest feedback from him.

He immediately said:

This money can't buy you what you really want.

this is for searching for “worst price range”

either cheaper or more expensive – and add at least +10,000 € (Well, I already knew that, but when someone smarter put it in a certain way, it was, well, let's say, inspiring!)

Clear stories.

We went back to look at that campervan…

And then there was the “dela tehniki”.

The decision was made there that same day. We went looking far away, but our car was actually right here, we just needed the right moment!

And anticipating the question:

Why does this page have such a name?

Yes – we rent it out too.

We're taking it slow, but the possibility is there.

PS A category C1 driving license is required.

Dreaming means a journey.

What are we actually doing when we dream?

We prepare ourselves for the moment when opportunities arise –

because by then we have already come so far in our thoughts, considered and felt,

that we can seize the right opportunity at the right moment.

This also increases the likelihood of making the right decisions in life.

To new adventures!