Pulling the trigger on a Caravelle – what to be wary of?

So, I think I’m going to pull the trigger on a used Caravelle. It’s a 2010 TDI SE Manual with 130k on the clock. Full service history etc.

what should I be wary of? The alternative is a slightly newer Bi TDI that’s about £4k more.

i can’t really afford the extra £4k and led to believe the BiTDI may be more susceptible to issues.

petrol (or should I say diesel) heads to the forum please…

corrosion front wings, theres a void between outer and inner skins that collects road poo

damp issues under drivers seat, common issue affecting central locking etc. T5 forum has lots of discussion and how to fix

Which engine is that? Not 2.5?

We have a 2010 LWB Caravelle Sportline. Old fashioned and clunky, I shudder when I think how much money we paid for it many moons ago. Check the headlining for past leaks etc, if it has a sunroof then make sure the drains have been cleared at some point, then it’s probably a game of what’s been done so won’t need doing for a while. If you can go for something a bit more modern then I would!

If it’s the 2.0 engine then EGR failures

If it’s the 2.5 then it’s kind of hit or miss – ours now has 182k on it, had it for 11 years and it gets regular servicing and a repair as needed. We like ours – it’s used all the way through from March to December – we generally get rust patched up in the winter every other year or so.

Rust is it’s biggest enemy – that and scene tax.

I wouldn’t buy one to camp in it (it’s too small for me and mine) but i know lots do…

BiTDI has all sorts of issues, particularly the early ones – which that would be

Oh – and check the speed limits permitted – for loads of transporters and vans its 50 on a single carriageway, 60 on a dual carriageway….

Rust on the arches and door handles.
Leaky sliding window.
Driveshaft went on mine at around that millage.

What is the budget ?  Looking at a Sellantis vehicle myself for next year. I get tempted by the VW vans, but the Pug Traveller is better VFM (not cheap)

Having a hole in it…..?

Leaking sunroof – need to clean out the exit grommets regularly. (Above wheel arches – rear needs liner popping off to access). Leaking sliding rear windows – clear miniscule drains/ give up and seal up/ nuke from orbit.

Rust – maybe on door corners/handles/ bonnet chip areas etc. Egr valve/ turbo/ turbo and exhaust manifold gaskets/ driveshafts etc as expected for age and mileage.

Electrics – there is a wiring loom area under the drivers seat that is vulnerable to water damage causing central locking issues. At 130k I would expect it’s failed already and been redone, but worth asking.

I had a 2015 bitdi and it needed a new engine at 70k. Wouldn’t advise anyone to get one. Cost £10k for a new engine.

I had a 2015 bitdi and it needed a new engine at 70k. Wouldn’t advise anyone to get one. Cost £10k for a new engine.

It’s this sort of thing that makes me consider a lease vehicle.

Mate had a 2014 bitdi, and his needed a new engine as well. Apparently there a particular variant that is a fricken nail. He said there’s loads about it on the internet and a private FB group you can only join with your VIN number about it. People trying to sue VW and stuff.

I think if you avoid that one yer ok….

IIRC It’s the early  2010/2011 180 bitdi that had the issues, but you’d think by now they’ve either died or had the upgraded egr cooler (model d)  or a bypass

What to be wary of….using the phrase ‘pulling the trigger’? You’re already wanting to buy something that looks suspiciously like a T5 – you don’t need to tick any more STW cliche bingo boxes. You could have got the full flush and just called the thread Caravelletrackworld and be done with it! 😉

I’m sure I’ll suffer the wrath for this, but. Make sure you have very deep pockets, enjoy slow driving and getting on first name terms with the mechanic. After my VW camper van episode I’ve always had large estate cars that take tents, bikes, surfboards, and everyting else. We combine camping with AirBnBs, hotels and it still works out cheaper and happier than a camper van.

What to be wary of….using the phrase ‘pulling the trigger’?

Who actually says that in everyday life? It’s such a strange thing to say.

I went to Morrisons earlier and pulled the trigger on some greek flat breads and £50 of diesel

WTAF!?!?!?!?

2011 caravelle here – bought 10 years ago with 160,000 miles on it. Now has 300k and in that time it’s had routine servicing, a DPF (due to cracked shell) and it consumed a few brake callipers during the Covid years when it wasn’t being used very often

it’s suffered barely any depreciation in those 10 years

Can’t imagine cheaper motoring was available

Who actually says that in everyday life? It’s such a strange thing to say.

It’s a hunting thing innit. You’ve got your sights lined up on [thing] and ready to pull the trigger. It’s just that like everything on here it gets memed to death in that way only middle aged folk can such that you can’t even say it ironically without feeling a piece of you die inside.

Sorry OP, as you were. I have a 2013 Vivaro if you want 60k miles of basic boredom to play with instead.

But very few people actually hunt nowadays

I go to the local butcher

There’s horror stories of any van on the interwebs.

IMO VW is no more reliable, and has it’s own quirks.

Our T5.1 2014 2.0tdi (115bhp) manual is apparently the one with a gearbox that explodes at random. Who knew.

Anyway, we are nearly a year/10k in and I have had a bulb go so far. But then ours only had 22k on clock when we bought it ?

I go to the local butcher

To pull the trigger on a pound of sausages?

2011 caravelle here – bought 10 years ago with 160,000 miles on it. Now has 300k and in that time it’s had routine servicing, a DPF (due to cracked shell) and it consumed a few brake callipers during the Covid years when it wasn’t being used very often

it’s suffered barely any depreciation in those 10 years

Can’t imagine cheaper motoring was available

I reckon most people could imagine cheaper motoring TBH.

But hang on? Previous owner had done 160k in 3 years?

And when you say it’s suffered barely any depreciation, have you tried to sell it? I know I wouldn’t offer much on a 14 year old/300k lifestyle bus whatever badge it was wearing. Got any ballpark figures you’d care to share? Or is this all “Dub-club confirmation bias” at work?

Note ALL 4motion Caravelle’s are BiTDI’s in the UK

2.5’s you must have a good service history.  Mega expensive if they go wrong.

bitdi’s are all risky.  I have one i should know.  Now i have a new vw engine and turbos, dpf and mapped out/blocked Egr, serviced dsg and 4motion, new sus and brakes, my old Caravelle now is going great guns.

This year we have done the french alps, mt ventoux and currently in Venosc on our way back from Corfu.  I wouldnt want to do this with three bikes, a tun of kit and four bodies in many vehicles

I own a 2011 T5 and have done for 10 years in September. Its been the most problem free motoring I’ve ever had. Rust on front arches – sh*t happens, they’re £130 for a new pair and less than £200 to get repainted.

Engine/mechanical problems since owning it:
– driveshaft at about 60k miles
– EGR valve/cooler at about 80k miles
– 1 full set of discs and pads about 5 years back and I think its approaching another set being needed now. £200 online and a few hours on the driveway to change.
– intercooler blew last christmas. £200 and another hour on the driveway to swap.

Nothing major on unexpected in 10 years/60k miles compared to other stuff I’ve owned.

The wiring under the seat thing I’ve seen mentioned before – never had a problem with any of the electrics apart from a weird battery drain which I traced back to a dodgy connection on a new stereo that’d been fitted.

Mines remapped and has been since I owned it and despite what internet hearsay will tell you, the engine/gearbox hasn’t blown up into a million pieces because of it. Will do York > North Devon > York on a single tank of fuel if you get a clear run loaded with stuff.

Sometimes think about getting rid but its awesome.

Firstly, don’t announce the fact on here. You’re buying a 14 year old van, lower your expectations, and then you won’t be disappointed . There are lots of VW haters, lots of VW lovers, both with valid reasons. A VW Caravelle is an excellent vehicle, as are many other such types, the only difference is you will pay more for a VW, but it will have problems as do the Fords, Renaults etc. Buy it, enjoy it.

And when you say it’s suffered barely any depreciation, have you tried to sell it? I know I wouldn’t offer much on a 14 year old/300k lifestyle bus whatever badge it was wearing. Got any ballpark figures you’d care to share? Or is this all “Dub-club confirmation bias” at work?

admittedly I’ve not tried to sell it (it’s a brilliant car so I don’t intend to do so) but if I search for a early t5.1 caravelle on autotrader 100 miles from Cambridge there are a couple of equally leggy examples at 12k and then they jump to 15k which is approximately what I paid 10 years ago- almost all of them have north of 250,000 miles on and plenty well over 300.
obviously I’ve no idea if that’s what they’re actually selling for or even if that represent good value today but mleh