Yeah they’re so portly that if you put 6 rugby players in mine along with the driver then it’ll exceed the maximum weight!
It’s all cow hide, the huge sheet of ply that makes up the flooring system, the rear aircon unit and sound deadening. I also reckon that dsg/4motion adds about 2-300kg.
Interior is indestructible. Managed to have an engine I was carrying fall over and dump its sump everywhere. You couldn’t tell. Just it vaxed up. Mud, oil, vomit, football boots, wet dogs, surf gear. It just shrugs it all off. I reckon the carpet is nicked from the MAN bus factory.
I can confirm that Tourneo Auto MPG isnt great! I'll get 28MPG around town. 32 on a long run doing say 65mph.
I just got back from the alps and averaged 25mpg! But thats doing about 80mph. Fuel economy plummets over 65mph when pushing this brick through the wind.
Tourneo Custom 170 auto. 36k Average 29.6 mpg
Transit camper 155+ manual 54k Average 26.4 mpg
Tourneo Connect 150 Ecoboost auto. 45k Average 24.9 mpg
Non of them are good on fuel but that's the trade off
T6 Kombi. Dual purpose vehicle rules apply as mass in service just under the threshold. 2wd 2.0 TDI 150bhp engine with DSG box
It's not aerodynamic so if I'm doing 80mph then you're down to low 30s but at 70mph or below (I always use cruise which is less fuel efficient) then it's just above 40mpg, sometimes above. Also depends how much I'm carrying, standard load is probably 50-80kg of kit plus however many people I'm carrying (up to 5)
Personally I'm happier with DSG over manual. DSG wasn't part of the original plan, it just happened to be fitted to a van that had the right other spec. But I'd been hugely impressed with it, it's a much more relaxing place to be as a result (for a van!)
T6 Kombi. Dual purpose vehicle rules apply as mass in service just under the threshold.
My Transit Custom DCIV equivalent also sneaks into the dual-purpose vehicle thing* but I'm not brave enough to test out the theory in real life.
* well it would if I fitted a glazed window in the tailgate, that's the only point mine currently fails on.
I've been following this thread with interest. Looking to get some kind of van based MPV thing. I work from home so I won't need it as a daily driver. I've been looking at the Toyota Proace Verso. I'm assuming the 2.0d and 1.6d are PSA engines? Any ideas what they are like for longevity? Fuel efficiency seem good on both.
I’ve been following this thread with interest. Looking to get some kind of van based MPV thing. I work from home so I won’t need it as a daily driver. I’ve been looking at the Toyota Proace Verso. I’m assuming the 2.0d and 1.6d are PSA engines? Any ideas what they are like for longevity? Fuel efficiency seem good on both.
Yeah the engines are PSA group made, it's not a Toyota engine. If you're looking at the Proace Verso then you might as well look at the Peugeot Traveller, and Citroen Spacetourer - you do get a 10 year warranty on the Toyota though.
I've only looked at a couple myself but one had 40k miles and it was very tired inside - build quality definitely isn't up to the same standard at ze Germans.
I'd want the 2.0 myself, they're a good bit lighter than the caravelle which explains the better fuel economy but then that also explains the poorer build quality.
I'm going to try and have a look at a cheaper £27k-ish example (approved used hopefully) before I fully rule out going with the cheap option.
Edit: oh and don't expect a conclusion to my thoughts/upgrade/buying process anytime soon, I'm probably looking at months of deliberation/looking at cars/waiting for the right spec to come up. I doubt I'll have bought one before the end of summer 🤣 it does mean I'll have more money put away to go towards it though!
Those are the ones which have EGR cooler issues and end up needing new engines, aren’t they?
Think they were sorted by 2014... more affected the early 2010>2012 ones I think...
Thanks ta11pau1
We were originally looking for a VW Caddy Maxi Life, but my other half wants to go camping again and wants something bigger. Still weighing up euro 6 v an older van. We like the Transporter, but the better fuel economy, lower purchase price and lower VED tax rate of the Peugeot Traveller / Citroen Spacetourer / Toyota Proace Verso seemed like an interesting option. The Transporter gives you stronger residuals and better build quality though.
The 2.0d is that a newer euro 6 version of the old 2.0 HDI engine?
I've had a caddy maxi with a day/camper conversion for the last year, and it's been great, super comfy for me and the Mrs with one or two bikes.
Sadly having to sell it soon (stealth ad) but would recommend them. Great as they drive more like a car and are a bit more stealth when camping. Although nowhere near as comfortable as a proper camper.
I'm absolutely sick of looking at the big ugly van on my drive and my mind is starting to wander to more amusing alternatives...
Looking at what cars you could get for the price of a decent van/MPV is a very bad thing to be doing...
I'd love a GR Yaris, proper homologation special, one to keep for years.
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Drool.
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But not particularly great for camping in... 🤣
Looking at what cars you could get for the price of a decent van/MPV is a very bad thing to be doing…
DON'T. It's depressing and just highlights how much of a compromise I'm making to have a van as my choice of vehicle. But then I remind myself why I chose a van and it's all OK. Then I find myself on Autotrader/PH classifieds again...
LOL GFTO with it .... Get one bought and start enjoying it.
What do we reckon to the "Generation Six" special edition Caravelle?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302214494842?atmobcid=soc3
They only seem to come in red and white, but they do have loaded with all the options I want - LED headlights, Adaptive cruise control, app connect. And I like my cars to be loaded with options! Not so keen on the wheels, though.
Oh, and will the VW tailgate rack take a 1350mm wheelbase Geometron? I could do without a towbar if it can (for the odd time I don't put it inside the van).
Oh, and will the VW tailgate rack take a 1350mm wheelbase Geometron?
From memory, we measured the VW rack wheel channels at 130cm long/wide. For comparison, rack below on my Transit is 128cm with a 1341mm WB G15 on it. I'm happy with the security of it but appreciate the VW might be different.
(my bikes always go inside - it's only ever the kids bikes that end up on the rack occasionally, but nice to know mine fit)
Cheers, yeah I'd seen your post in the Geometron Facebook group. My current rack says up to 129.5cm wheelbase and it fits fine.
I don't see me using it much/if ever but it saves me from looking for a van with a towbar if the tailgate rack will take it.
Might stick my T5 Kombi sportline in the classifieds on the basis of this thread. Really cba to sell it but then it doesn’t really suit my needs anymore and maybe one of you lot will give it a better home.
What you got curto? (probably out of my price range but..)
I was offered my friends T5, so started looking into them, decided not to buy his, but am interested... it's a mine field, hugely varying specs & random pricing (ignoring the camper conversions), £600 tax on the 9 seaters but what seems to put them hand and feet above transits longer term is the galvanise body, they don't seemingly struggle as badly with tin worm unlike transits.
I’ve got a 14 plate SWB, 73k on the clock
It’s one of these so the spec is ace: https://www.whatvan.co.uk/news/vw-launches-flagship-sportline-to-mark-transporter’s-60th-anniversary
Spent a load of money on it (I’m the second owner) with a better sound system, satnav etc. just don’t need the space anymore.
Sportline 60's seem to be 27k for a 2015 model with similar miles.
Interesting. If I get round to putting it up on here it will be at mates rates.
The trend for everything to be some kind of SUV has removed a lot of options but I always think the most interesting Mtb vehicles are the less obvious ones - @RustyNissanPrairie being a perfect example. There just aren't so many flat floored removable seated people carriers about any more. Anyone can put a couple of bikes in a huge van but the challenge is really good smaller vehicles that can be adapted.
Caddy Maxi Life owner here. On our second - sold the old diesel on here and now have a 2018 1.4 DSG. It's a lot smaller than a Transporter to drive and park (even though it's the same length as an SWB). We can easily get 4 bikes in it and all our luggage for a big trip.
Things like the old Renault Espace were awesome for space and comfort but that was a big vehicle.
Someone I know has a Ford C Max which works well. For one bike it's middle seat out in the back and a fork mount in the boot. The Skoda Roomster with rear seats works well (I'm guessing the same would apply to the Yeti). But none of those are current models.
Got to try out a SWB Rifter, and the dealership let me take my bike.
Pretty much think it’s perfect for weekend adventures and off the cuff camping.
Will put some pics up once i get them on imgur
Things like the old Renault Espace were awesome for space and comfort but that was a big vehicle.
The old Renault Espace was like a Tardis. A 4.25m x 1.78m it was narrower and shorter than the current Megane but spaceous inside, however, people got their legs smashed in corner shunts.
b33k34
Full Member
The trend for everything to be some kind of SUV has removed a lot of options but I always think the most interesting Mtb vehicles are the less obvious ones – @RustyNissanPrairie being a perfect example.
My 'Blingo is good but I also have a Volvo XC90 that I'm removing the (two) rows of rear seats from that is massive inside and will easily swallow my 1351mm XL 29er. I'm planning on using it as a carcamper on a Scandi roadtrip.
It's £500 purchase price is nice when reading about the van prices on here.
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How about a Nissan Pathfinder? They are hoooge!
Pathfinder's basically a pickup though. I like the XC90 idea - they're not huge by modern SUV standards (and they're lovely inside) but ideally you'd do without the high ground clearance and 4x4 kit (which both eat interior space and add complexity and weight.
Generation 6 velle is a very nice thing indeed. Basically a launch special edition that bristled with kit. I think the only thing it lacked was the dif lock and parking heater.
Beware though. VW fitted some, but not all, with the old t5.1 180bitdi engine - the CFCA lump that ate its own EGR cooler’s dissolved fumes, boiled itself and generally misbehaved. They did this until they ran out of engines before the 204bitid was available. This has much better cooling (it’s charge cooled) and doesn’t have an aluminium EGR cooler, because that would have been an insane choice of materials for such a thing. The gen 6 CFCA engines do have the revision D EGR cooler which is less prone failure, but it still does happen and the engine is flawed elsewhere anyway.
Generation 6 velle is a very nice thing indeed. Basically a launch special edition that bristled with kit. I think the only thing it lacked was the dif lock and parking heater.
Beware though. VW fitted some, but not all, with the old t5.1 180bitdi engine – the CFCA lump that ate its own EGR cooler’s dissolved fumes, boiled itself and generally misbehaved. They did this until they ran out of engines before the 204bitid was available. This has much better cooling (it’s charge cooled) and doesn’t have an aluminium EGR cooler, because that would have been an insane choice of materials for such a thing. The gen 6 CFCA engines do have the revision D EGR cooler which is less prone failure, but it still does happen and the engine is flawed elsewhere anyway.
Cheers for that, good to know - I'll definitely check the engine code to make sure any 204bhp van I look at has a CXEB engine and not a dirty CFCA! 👍
Got to try out a SWB Rifter, and the dealership let me take my bike.
Pretty much think it’s perfect for weekend adventures and off the cuff camping.
Will put some pics up once i get them on imgur
So here's my Bird Aether 9 in ML (tyre edge to tyre edge 2100mm) in a SWB Peugeot Rifter. I'll be picking it up this weekend!
From the back
From the front; with the boot closed.
From the side - the wheel edge just comes a little in between the front seats - arms are not exposed to bare brake rotors
With the wheel off; theres plenty of room for car-camping for one; especially as the passenger side front seat can fold all the way flat if you remove the arm rest.
Here is the second row of seats; in this configuration is a bench of two and a single seat behind the driver.
You can remove the plastic guard highlighted in red; its only held down with 3 screws. You should then be able to unbolt the 2 seater bench from its pivot on the left and the main fixing on the right. Once done, you should have a completly flat surface from tail to footwell, which could be extended to the front seats with a bit of ply. This should allow easier bed building and bike transport, creating ceiling height by removing the rise the folded down seats create.
Nice pics, cheers.
So here’s my Bird Aether 9 in ML (tyre edge to tyre edge 2100mm)
Just clarifying this, because 10cm can make a huge difference in whether a bike fits or not. That's a Bird Aether 9 ML with a wheelbase of 1240mm according to the geo chart, right?
If so, unless you're running 3 inch tyres, it's not 2100mm from tyre edge to tyre edge.
This is my XL Geometron with a 1350mm wheelbase (11cm more!) and 2.4" 29er tyres and it is almost exactly 2100mm in length.
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It might be pedantic, but like I say, when trying to fit long bikes in vans 10cm can mean the difference between it fitting and not fitting, or the wheels being intrusive into the driving area that it becomes an issue, or not.
You're no doubt right - I've likely mis-remembered the measurement I took!
Its maybe closer to 2000mm then.
👍 no worries! Provided you're running 29er front and back, it's easy to work out tbh, a 2.4" 29er wheel is 750mm diameter - add this to the wheelbase and you've got the length.
Long bike problems - the shortest I can make mine is 1900mm with the bar turned 90 degrees! With the bar flipped 180 degrees it's about 2000mm long.
In your pics, the bar seems pretty close to the roof, what fork travel are you on? Thinking longer travel might not fit even upright!
That is a really nice gen6. I forgot they have the adaptive suspension. Possibly the only thing I wish we'd added. LED lights are an absolute must on any transporter - the standard halogens are awful. It might have a towbar (most do) in which case you could look at an atera strada rack (none of the other racks allow the tailgate to open, even then I have to turn my bars and make sure my pedals are at BDC nearest the car), as they're less of an issue aerodynamically than the tailgate racks. Though the geometron will hang off the ends.
That is a really nice gen6. I forgot they have the adaptive suspension. Possibly the only thing I wish we’d added. LED lights are an absolute must on any transporter – the standard halogens are awful.
Yep, LED's are on the must have list, I'm not paying £40k for halogen lights!!
It might have a towbar (most do) in which case you could look at an atera strada rack (none of the other racks allow the tailgate to open, even then I have to turn my bars and make sure my pedals are at BDC nearest the car), as they’re less of an issue aerodynamically than the tailgate racks. Though the geometron will hang off the ends.
I've already got a towbar rack for my superb, the Geometron fits ok but clearance might be an issue on a Caravelle then... Bars will be fine but it might not clear the rack! See my towbar rack below.
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Ahh, with 800mm bars it might not fit without hitting the rear window either...
At this rate I'll be forgetting about the towbar and just getting a tailgate mounted one if I find I need it!
In your pics, the bar seems pretty close to the roof, what fork travel are you on? Thinking longer travel might not fit even upright!
Thats a 150mm Pike Ultimate. The bike is unsupported in the pics; with it properly upright theres probably 10mm breathing room. It has to go in forwards though; if you put it in backwards the boot door can't get the bike in when the handlebars and fork are vertically aligned; but its fine if you go front first with the back wheel lower until the handlebars clear the threshold.
If you removed the seats as I described to make a totally flat, van-like bed, you'd easily gain another 30-50mm I reckon. You could even dispense with that and have the wheel nestled in the footwell.
And spec wise if I can not lose much from my current car I'll be happy, I currently have:
Keyless entry
Adaptive cruise control
Adaptive dampers
Android auto
'Canton' 12 speaker audio
Heated screen
Android auto
Active lane assist
Speed limit sign recognition
Reversing camera
All round parking sensors (front, back, side)
Tri-zone climate
Front and rear heated seats
Smart light assist on bi-xenon headlights
From the above list, I think all the executive/generation six Caravelle is missing, is:
Keyless entry
'Canton' 12 speaker audio
Active lane assist
Side parking sensors
Rear heated seats
Smart light assist
Do they come with an auxiliary heater as standard or as an option? It's not much of an issue with the heated screen, but there's a lot more air in the cabin to heat up on cold days than in my car!
Thats a 150mm Pike Ultimate. The bike is unsupported in the pics; with it properly upright theres probably 10mm breathing room. It has to go in forwards though; if you put it in backwards the boot door can’t get the bike in when the handlebars and fork are vertically aligned; but its fine if you go front first with the back wheel lower until the handlebars clear the threshold.
See, I knew there was another reason I'd discounted the smaller sized vans! My bike has 170mm forks with a 35mm bar so it'd probably be too tall! And I'd need to keep the seats in for carrying people occasionally.
I've got the auxiliary air heater, which is made by Eberspacher. There's a 7-day timer/programmer and a leisure battery under the passenger seat. There's also a remote control which is great on frosty days for preheating the cabin. This is all a single option so if they selected the aux heater then they get the full bundle. It's lush. The remote has a +1km range so when skiing or biking I can pause on the way home and get it nice and warm before I get there.
In addition to that they are all fitted with a Webasto thermotop-c as standard. This is used to aid in engine coolant heating and makes a massive difference to warmup times. As a result they're a lot less susceptible to DPF issues than regular T5/T6s. The thermotop doesn't come with a remote, but you can buy one to retrofit.
The heated screen is the regular ford sh1te that VW license off them. So expect moire and other random effects at low sunlight. Blind people claim you can't see it. You can. It's awful. I long for a retrofittable silver dissipated screen like skoda and the rest of VW have been using for donkey's years.
Transit van owners laugh at the mirrors which are flat, like a bathroom mirror. Side assist (blind spot warning) is consequently a valuable option.
There was a premium audio option. I seem to recall it was jokingly priced at £2500. A retrofit system would be a lot less than that. The discover system is ok, its embedded VW connect stuff is junk.
Awesome! Cheers - I've registered on the T6 forums but there's such a massive wealth of info on there it's hard to narrow it down!
If it's got the optional auxiliary heater it'll be easy to see as it has this control panel above the rear view mirror, correct?
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In place of the blanking plate:
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/02nk7SHM/Screenshot-20230224-154052-2.pn g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/02nk7SHM/Screenshot-20230224-154052-2.pn g"/> [/img][/url]
Might have to put this option towards the top of the list as it'll come in extremely handy when camping in the van.
I've driven a ford with the wires in the screen and didn't notice it too much so should be ok with thah, I agree it's a shame it's not the same tech as the Skoda though.
Yeah the control unit for the aux heater is in that space. there should also be two stickers on the driver's door: one for the thermotop and the other for the eberspacher. The intake for the heater is in the driver's footwell and the exhaust is in the b-pillar base:
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Should probably give the poor thing a sweep out.
As mentioned a few posts up turning the bars 180 degrees will make the bike shorter but judging by the pictures no one seems to be doing this.
I could fit a 1240mm wheelbase 29er in a crewcab transit custom L2 straight with both wheels on but had to turn bars 180, make a small cutout in the bulkhead at axle height to push tyre through and remove rear door plylining.
Having the bike completely straight helps when loading multiply bikes and fitting things round them
LWB Rifter owner here. L Orange stage Evo slots straight in, no bars turned.
