57 plate T5 here. 187K miles.
It's got the VAG 1.9 engine, so no DPF, less to go wrong etc.
Previous owner had a replacement gearbox.
In my ownership, I've had to replace the steering rack, pump, tensioner, 1 glow plug, plus general wear and tear items.
If you think side windows are leaky, you should try having a sunroof!
I didn't pay much for it, so I'm generally ok with paying a bit to keep it on the road.
Factory LWB Kombi plus OEM bulkhead, I don't think it can be beaten for a family biking vehicle.
Anyone ever gone down the route of getting a Shuttle and heavily tinting the rear windows? I loved our Kombi (and the Vito before it [probably moreso], and the Caddy before that) but van tax/speed limits/tolls are bit irritating
Speed limits? You had to mention that didn't you. Aren't the kombis boderline between vans and cars based on the GVW? So t28 end up as dual purpose vehicles (cars) and t32 as vans?
Can, worms, all over the place.
But in answer to your question, yes, that's what I do with our velle. Take the two captains chairs out, put in a big load liner and user the van space to carry bikes. Except I don't, I use the Giulia.
I thought it was clear. Your V5 says whether it's M1- car or N1 - van. Some combis are M1, some are N1. Mine is a t30 and M1.
Taxation category doesn't impact the speed limit applied. You can use it as a rough guide, but it's not infallable.
Hmm. I have always assumed I have car speed limits with it being a M1. Or do some N1s have car speed limits too?
Caddy, Vito and Kombi were all on van limits for me, at the time pretty much the only things that were on car limits were the likes of ("car derived vans") Berlingo's with old Kombi's being a weird outsiders
A kombi might easily be below 2040kg ULW, which would make it a dual purpose vehicle (like a pickup truck) and give it car speed limits. Depends on how many options it has - 4motion and a spare wheel would very likely tip this over that threshold. 4motion Velles and shuttles are 2442kg ULW, 3050GVW but have no goods carrying capability so get car limits.
I'm so sorry for mentioning speed limits
See. Told you. 😀
2040kg ULW
Yeah, mine is under.
I always thought our 2010 t5.5 Cali pulled to the left despite tracking etc.
T5 especially complicated Diesel engines are a lottery. One which I have up as it was too much of a risk. Now have a Ducato based motorhome instead of the Cali.
If someone told me 20 yrs ago I’d have felt a Fiat was more reliable than a Vw I’d have told them they were mad!
2011 T5 I've owned for 8 years this summer. Apart from a driveshaft and normal servicing stuff its never needed anything and thats despite me "playing" with it and doing stuff that many people would consider silly.
So since the thread question is “what age transporter shall I get” and daveyboywonder and I are the only voices saying “mines been faultless in several years” whilst everyone else has garage bills of maranello proportions - the answer seems to be a 2011 one
My shout would be to find an unmolested T30 2.0l 140hp van from around 2010 (when the tax rate was dropped to £140). It is the best engine in the best state of tune with the best gearbox (6 speed). On the continent with big motorway miles these vans are regularly clocking well into 300K km territory (I spent a lot of time looking for my van, including considering bringing one in from the continent). Most options like cruise control can be cheaply retro fitted to base spec van s. BUT, very few came from the factory with aircon and it is always worth holding out to find one with it fitted. Remember these vans are extremely popular and common so if you can't find the one you want..... just wait a bit. Don't be too keen to compromise by thinking you must have the first one that takes your fancy even though it is missing a couple of things you would really like.
^^
having a van without aircon, I wouldn’t buy a van without aircon now.
So since the thread question is “what age transporter shall I get” and daveyboywonder and I are the only voices saying “mines been faultless in several years” whilst everyone else has garage bills of maranello proportions – the answer seems to be a 2011 one
I'd agree. A single turbo T5.1 in any shape/form seems to be a pretty good choice I reckon. As long as its been serviced properly etc I'm (touch wood) hoping mine will continue to be faultless for many more years. We've recently had the choice whether to chop ours in (4-berth camper conversion) and could have got a newer kombi but given how reliable its been, we're just ripping the camper interior out and converting it to a kombi ourselves instead. Regardless of the engine, its part of the beauty of owning a(ny) van. Our situation has changed so change the layout of the van to suit our changes. I'd never be without a van now...
most non white transporters seem to have aircon. I'd say it was essential but mine hasnt worked in ages.
I have a 1.9pd T5 and it's mostly reliable, just niggly crap like shit trim and its just showing it's age tbh. Luckily my mileage is limited
Yes it is a known issue. VW’s official statment on the matter:
Oooh, I have a similar letter somewhere confirming that the design of the Mk1 Touran boot strut mount is a 'feature' and replacement necessitates cutting off the bodywork to access...
19 year old T4 208000 on clock is running fine. New clutch 2 years ago only big issue. Looked at new VW but may buy a house in my favourite Spanish village insted.
Anyone ever gone down the route of getting a Shuttle and heavily tinting the rear windows?
My Kombi has rear windows - I've made panels to protect the glass on the inside.
Anyone ever gone down the route of getting a Shuttle and heavily tinting the rear windows?
You can just replace the window with a fake window (one you can't see through) I replaced my friends window on his shuttle last week and with the right tools it was a really easy job. He's currently converting it to a campervan.
There was a mint T4 on the T4 facebook selling group yesterday, 47,000 miles £20,000. Under half your wifes budget and way more reliable than a newer van.
2008 T5 (Caravelle) here, owned 8 years, 240k km, 1.9tdi, only vehicle but not used for work.
Really hasn't been much to fault it. Biggest outlays have been all the wheel bearings, a stuck glowplug (front needs to come off the van to get the extractor tool in), leaking caliper. That's it - not including cambelt/pump as that's a service cost. Haven't had the dreaded DMF problem yet, but you could also argue that's a consumable on cars these days.
The side window leaks, of course (sealed it up with sikaflex, I never open it anyway) causing the seat bases to rust before I noticed. Aircon is long gone. Being an import from a cold bit of Germany, there a fair bit of surface rust underneath.
Will be sad to see it go next month to make way for a camper (another VW natch). It would've been a great base van for conversion, but it's a nightmare to do that in Spain, every change needs to be inspected (i.e. €€€)
Hmmm, why don't you just task the missus with finding and funding the thing, it sounds like she's the one setting most of the requirements. Will she be the one driving it mostly?
Who's actual idea was it to get a lifestyle bus?