The ultimate MTB transport

I’d really like a Caravelle but having looked into it recently, they seem to cost nearly double what a similar Transporter/Transit custom would cost and it would spend most of its time covered in mud with the spare seats in the (already cramped and dirty) garage. Seems a shame and a waste of cash?

I’d really like a Caravelle but having looked into it recently, they seem to cost nearly double what a similar Transporter/Transit custom would cost and it would spend most of its time covered in mud with the spare seats in the (already cramped and dirty) garage. Seems a shame and a waste of cash?

Not sure what age you’re looking at but for a 2017/2018 caravelle Vs kombi van it’s £40-42k Vs £35k.

Transit Vs tourneo of the same age is £35k Vs £30k

In the VW at least, there’s a gulf of difference in interior spec.

Eh ? I bought a 16 Transit (van admittedly) for £16k with 42,000 on the clocks… That’s a LOT less.

https://www.anchorvans.co.uk/van/44821-ford-transit-custom-crew-cab-lwb-l2h1-limited-alloys-air-con-park-sensors-heated-seat-euro-6-no-vat

17 Crew cab Transit custom with 47,000

I’d be looking at the facelift transit to get android auto, and an automatic – in comparison, the cheapest DCIV version on the same site as the above van is £26k + VAT, so £31k.

Edit: some for £28k no VAT.

Autos seem to be a lot more expensive than manuals in the transit/tourneo world.

i think the No VAT options in our position (assuming like me you’re private buyer) are really massively worth waiting for. It’s a huge chunk of change difference.

I don’t think you want a Transit Auto though. Couple of mates have them and get mid 20s… 23-26mpg regularly…. which lets face it, isn’t great.

I don’t think you want a Transit Auto though. Couple of mates have them and get mid 20s… 23-26mpg regularly…. which lets face it, isn’t great.

Hmm, good to know – having owned an auto since 2018 there’s no chance I’m going back to a manual.

For the Caravelle it seems around 35mpg is doable on a long run – figures on the forums are all over the shop, thanks to people with stupid 20″ wheels, or fully loaded camper set ups adding several hundred kg. Most of the caravelles seem to be the 204bhp BiTdi engine too, although not a huge difference to the 150bhp – they’re the same base engine.

I know I’ll have a sizable mpg drop from the easy 50+ mpg I can get with my Superb, I’ve accepted that – but dropping to half that would be a big no. On a long run up to Scotland with the wind behind me and cruising at 65mph I can get 55mpg without any trouble.

We had a manual T5 and hired an “auto” (dual clutch) Shuttle for a couple of weeks last summer. Fuel economy between the 2 was very similar (high 30’s) and the auto drove well enough that if I get a van again it’ll likely have one. Not sure what Ford are playing at if theirs are crippling the fuel economy

I know I’ll have a sizable mpg drop from the easy 50+ mpg I can get with my Superb, I’ve accepted that – but dropping to half that would be a big no. On a long run up to Scotland with the wind behind me and cruising at 65mph I can get 55mpg without any trouble.

Vito Dualiner it is then.

I half-follow a Transit Custom Owners Group on FB and economy in the autos is absolutely slated, but then a lot of folk on there claim mid-20s for manuals too so there’s a vast quantity of BS to wade through.

My Transit Custom is manual and 130ps output: mixed driving overall 35-36mpg, more town driving means 33mpg, best overall was 39.9mpg over 600 miles of motorway at 70mph but was over 40mpg until I hit the rolling hills on the A30. I use all the (relative) performance. Standard 16″ wheels, standard 215/65r16C all-seasons.

Nah, I’ve looked at Vito tourer, they’re not nice inside at all – no android auto either. Not interested in anything more than a year older than my current 2017 car.

I’d want a v-class for there nicer interior but they’re stupid money. They make a caravelle look good value!!

Not sure what age you’re looking at but for a 2017/2018 caravelle Vs kombi van it’s £40-42k Vs £35k.

Transit Vs tourneo of the same age is £35k Vs £30k

In the VW at least, there’s a gulf of difference in interior spec.

You are quite correct, not sure what I was comparing or if it is just my old age but I could have sworn the difference was greater. At the time I posted this thread I had looked at just about every car, MPV and van on Autotrader.

I have a 14 plate 2.0 bi tdi auto – I can easily get the average to 28mpg if I try. Sometimes it will go up to 37ish. Once over 40 (in about 5yrs of ownership).

If I can get closer to 40mpg than 30mpg on a typical drive up to the Lakes/Scotland (M25->A1->A66 etc so barely 10 roundabouts on the whole journey) I’ll be happy. I’m not expecting miracles though, the caravelle is 1000kg heavier than my car with the same engine, and has the aerodynamics of a brick, can’t break the laws of physics!

I have a 14 plate 2.0 bi tdi auto

Those are the ones which have EGR cooler issues and end up needing new engines, aren’t they? 😬

I’m glad the later t6 204ps model doesn’t have that issue!

Velle auto will do 23mpg around town, absolute max. On a run, if you are really, really kind to it you can get over 30. People behind will hate you: even Fred Dibnah in his steam roller would have been looking for an opportunity.

Mine weighs 2585kg empty – a full 700kg more than a similar regular t6.

If I were to buy one again now, I’d go for a 2wd exec with the 150bhp lump and DSG. The 199/204 is lovely, but by god it has a drink problem, especially in 4motion form. Get a warranty as they’re built haphazardly.

20″s are awful, unless you’re a chiropractor in need of clientele.

Yeah 4motion although a nice thought is a no, luckily they’re quite rare. I’d be going approved used, so 1 year VW warranty. The ‘standard’ of some regular used cars in dealers is shocking sometimes.

Don’t realise the caravelle was so much heavier than the standard van, I know the rear bench is about 90-100kg so I’m guessing all the rear seats combined is 200kg worth. Is there really an extra 500kg in sound deadening/glass?!

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.

Bike transport?
Go big or go home..



Image post FAIL.

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.

Drool.

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.