It’s not as simple as that. m1 is indeed a car. T28 Kombis are classed as N1 though but still get car speed limits as their GVW is below the threshold and they meet the criteria for a dual purpose vehicle. T32 Kombis you would think would be the same, but their GVW exceeds the limit and so they get van speeds. It’s a minefield and the subject of thousands of posts in the various forums. DVLA site is nearly clear on it now.
T28 Kombis are classed as N1 though but still get car speed limits as their GVW is below the threshold
You sure about that? T28 = 2.8t GVW doesn’t it? That’s way over the 2t limit and it certainly isn’t a “car derived van”. As said earlier, Caddys don’t even get into car limits (having had one myself)
EDIT: ashas just been pointed out, our Kombi was a T28 - definitely not dual purpose (however older ones were, just to add to the confusion)
If a Kombi is registered as a car category it can attract a car road tax, one of ours was £500 a year to tax as it was registered as a car. Better to have it registered as a van and most are these days.
"If a Kombi is registered as a car category it can attract a car road tax, one of ours was £500 a year to tax as it was registered as a car. Better to have it registered as a van and most are these days."
And in doing so you lose the car speed limits.
Horses for courses really.
Still not that simple, if you have dual purpose vehicle (rear seats, middle side and back door windows and less than 2040kg (i think) unladen then you get car limits.
We had an interesting weekend considering whether to trade our 150k t5 174 (lightly oomphed by Pendle) or to buy a more up to date transporter. To be fair, the newer stuff doesn't have either the presence or the noise of the 5 pot beastie. We're going for a respray and the mechanic to do what is needed to make out much loved dub last another 80k.
Newer stuff is greener to run, but they are really horribly expensive
Check mine out
Can someone tell me when the adblue was added to the T6? Looking at getting a late t5 or early t6 and wondering when the change happened. Thanks
T6 with the euro 6 engine is the one with adblue, all t5’s are euro 5.
Early t6 were euro 5, 66plate onwards is adblue, September 16 is when the law changed although you will see a few earlier ones with it.
If you want to check a particular van and it doesn’t say just bang the number plate into the London ulez checker.
Thanks Nick, that helps!
2016 the cahnge over happened there are some 16 plate euro 6 and some 17 plate euro 5 so check each van you are looking at.
Nice. Don't get too upset/angry when it repeatedly gets 'doored' in the supermarket car park though. Mine has 5 separate dents and a wheel arch scuff, all courtesy of others parking/getting out of their car. Such is life - I can't see them from inside.
no need to be bothered about the lower speed limits for vans, a lot of my mates(and me) drive vans and none of us take any notice of them(unless passing a camera van but it's not like you see them very often) and from what io've seen most other van drivers don't either. also even if the average copper knows the limits they don't seem to care.
no need to be bothered about the lower speed limits for vans
...until you pass plate recognition cameras. Especially in Scotland.
I’m on my holidays in Scotland so driving slowly anyway.
I have a T5 and it's great. All families should have one!
It's a bit trick (wheels, suspension) but also a bit dinged, so I don't worry about it too much. Once the kids get in they just chuck everything everywhere anyway. A mate also has T5 (LWB) with all the toys (steering wheel, cruise, stereo, rear seat/bed etc.) but I'm happy enough with the basic one.
Vans/transporters are great bits of kit. Huge overkill for a family vehicle but so what. the homes we live in, bikes we ride, food we eat so why should that matter? If you fancy one get one. You'll be accused of being woo'ed by the VW 'scene' and a mug for paying the scene tax...but you'll easily get it back when you come to sell and they are cooler than other vans....Ford Transit's possibly an exception. They're good motors and small enough to not be a significant inconvenience for normal day to day driving but large enough to get the benefit of a van over an estate and SUV so pretty practical. No more expensive to run than a VW Golf who's engine it shares and no worse to drive than an SUV so why not. Loved my T5 camper...kind of regret getting rid now but Ignore the haters. You'll enjoy it...
No more expensive to run than a VW Golf
Mine was. MPG mid 30's for the Transporter and mid 50's for the Golf. Tax was £250+ on transporter and nowt on the Golf...
Yep..mid 30'smpg on mine too...about the same as my old Golf maybe low 40's in the golf but not enough to make any real difference in fuel consumption costs. Same to service, tax similar. Obviously the same parts. tax in the same ball park too. Like I say, same engine same costs.
I loved my T5, but ended up getting rid as it was only really for my biking, amd was complete overkill, a bit selfish of me.
Ironically the wife has since rediscovered her live for the outdoors, hillwalking, running ultras etc, and a wee camper would be perfect for our needs now.
If I get another, it won't be tricked out, I much prefer the basic look on the outside now.
Even buying something with decent mileage and getting conversion done, struggling to see much change out of 30k.
I just sold my 2019 Beach before lockdown. I’d had a couple of Calis before and for various reasons had gone back to cars. We then decided a Beach would be good do factory ordered to a spec we wanted-LED lights and heater being main factory options that are useful. Anyway, ended up inheriting an almost new Motorhome in December which we would probably use more for camping so sold the van on. 1 year and 4000 miles cost less than 3 grand so held up well. I’m torn - I liked the practicality of it but the drive is pretty awful and the ‘scene’ is a bit OTT now. They arse a decent compromise though if you want a van and the beach to me despite being super basic spec normally and this expensive to get a decent trim level is a good all round van.
All I'll add is just make sure you get a test drive. I often drive our work kombi. It's a 19 plate 150 highline dsg with all the body kit, led headlights etc. Its a great looking beast and can fit loads inside, but if you're used a nice car, it's absolutely awful to drive and really dated inside. The 150 diesel and dsg box are lovely but the ride, steering, rattles, clattering, dash etc make it a miserable experience every time I have to use it. I notice they have just released a new one with a nicer interior but the looks seem to have gone backwards.
We got a 19 plate Kombi last summer after having a T5 Caravelle before that and an e Class estate before that. So in terms of refinement we've gone backwards, but I wouldn't swap it, the Caravelle was great, but we never used the 7 seats with having two dogs in crates, the Kombi just works for the four of us, two dogs, all our stuff for kids' activities and holidays where we pull a caravan. We (well I, with Mrs Spud's blessing) went for all singing, all dancing 204, DSG, 4 Motion and trimmed up. It'll be the last chance to get something like it I think, next time will hopefully be something with a hybrid drivetrain. So I'm going to enjoy this one. It's lovely, yes it's a van, but goes well albeit thirsty but you pass this way once and it's used much as previous cars.
