VW Transporters what do I need to know?

There you go. Unmodified* and at last years Bonty24:12 up on the hill. Mostly obscured by our pit though – sorry 🙂 , but the only pic to hand.

* fitted a rear seat cover though. Saves the seat from getting ground-in mud from little urchins’ shoes.

I am 2 weeks in to my T5.1 ownership, its a SWB 2011 140bhp which has plenty of poke to keep up with the traffic, not filled up yet, so no idea of MPG. It drives great and can chuck it round the twisty roads.
I am going for a Campervan Lite conversion, basically enough Camper parts to allow the change of class to a Motor Caravan, but leave a big enough boot to carry a couple of bikes.
So far I have fitted roof and side rails, removed bulkhead and ply lining, fitted side windows, insulated with thermoliner, and will be carpeting at the weekend, and fitting Rock and Roll bed on Monday.
Its my everyday transport, although we also have an estate car and a couple of other toys.

We’re picking up our new van next week and I can’t wait.

We had a T4 caravelle for a couple of years and loved the versatility but wanted to go back to just one car. We’ve really missed it so now we’re getting ourselves a new one and this time know exactly what we want. It’s to be a reasonably low mileage 130bhp, speed 2.5tdi T5 caravelle with some trimings, such as the multiflex boards that convert the rear bench into a bed.

This way it’ll be the family car (7 seats with belts, air con, insulated and carpeted) when it needs to be and the camper (swivel seats, bed, awning, kitchen pod, bike rack and table) for the holidays. I’ll post some photos once we’ve got it and have had the inaugural Easter trip!

LWB 2.5 TDI T4 owner here. IMO there’s a big difference between the T4 and T5 having driven both. The T5 is a nicer cab to be in and drives more like a car. When I can change my work car I’ll likely sell the car and the T4 and get a newer T5.

Back to the T4, it’s now done 210,000 on the original engine and is going strong. I get about 500-600 miles to a tank depending on driving. Costs about £90 at the moment to fill. Not too fussed on exact mpg as I don’t use it daily.

T4 or T5, they are very addictive.

New t6 should be out soon

If only I had the budget for a new t6 I am guessing mpg will be greatly improved with a new engine

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image[/url] by carbonfiend[/url], on Flickr

“..from my dead cold hands..” Or until next year when I get a new one 🙂

Just got a new T5, got a late low mileage panel van and got it converted, it was ply lined so i have what i want for my toys in the back and seats for the family with windows. Recently I’ve been through a 2006 90 hp which I foolishly sold (it didn’t have A/C) and that gave me a 5-600 mile range on a full tank which cost about a hundred quid give or take then i had this LWB shuttle 2.5 which blew up but only gave me about 350 miles and was pretty knackered with 180k on the clock.

This new one is a 140 1.9 6 spd, they tell me it should give better consumption but I haven’t done a tank full yet so I’ve no idea what I’m going to get, but there is a remap apparently you can get which improves it 20%.

They are the only van to have, there’s a forum somewhere with loads of intel.

Kombi’s are what to go for if you have a family, or just get a panel van and either convert it yourself or go to a specialist which will give you a near factory lookalike for a couple of grand.

T6……

Drool.

I bought Rickmeisters t5

Runs at 33mpg average (I’ve been a bit of an anorak)

Each Saturday it has a couple of mtb in the back, it will swallow all 5 of our bikes 3 bmx, 2 mtb ok (a wheel off sometimes) plus a big dog. Should have bought one years ago.

Rubber floor is awesome, ours is lined and insulated. It rocks

/me waves to Rick 😉

Hi Chris, pleased your happy with the van….. Hope it’s still running well.

I really really miss it. Shoving bikes in a touran is a pita… Caddy next for us…

I’m a new owner of a t5 and after 3k miles I love it to bits! That new t6 tho… There’s my next imaginary sorted 😉

New T6 looks like a fat Transit
Oh dear

Really hope that isn’t the new T6 its minging, looks like something from the far east.

Before you make and decision on a new van take a look at these .

This is the state of my two doors and sills on my 2007 174 kombi. The paint is falling off as well as rust on the back doors and around the sliding door handle. Vw aren’t interested at all despite me being the original owner , always serviced by vw and its only done 42k. Its not an isolated issue either check out the brickyard site as well for a more realistic perspective on these vans.

When I bought it I thought the higher price was for a premium product, how wrong was I.

All that said I’d find it hard to change to another manufacture as they do look the best and with the 2.5 174 have the best engine.

Hmmmm thought that they had a paint warranty that would cover that… but at least it wont get Vito Acne as the body is galvanised…

It’s fascinating how people berate environment killing 4×4’s that return low 30’s mpg, yet embrace VW vans that return low 30’s mpg.

I’d love a LWB Sportline Kombi to replace my Navara pick-up btw, but just can’t justify the ridiculous price tag.

In tight urban areas its like having a neighbour with a large commercial van.

For me- if you need it for commuting too- actually how many days a year is it better than a estate-20 days over 365?

It’s the bloody scene tax that puts me off.

And if those 20 days are 3 weeks of adventure around Europe?

Personally, I’d have no issue commuting the 50 miles in mine, and often do.

And if those 20 days are 3 weeks of adventure around Europe?

You can do that in an estate you know. If you want to sleep in it fine but camping in Europe is nice and you wont feel as claustrophobic. Unless you have the luxury of owning two cars in your household I couldn’t commute daily in one.

I know the fanboi’s will disagree but it is a compromise whichever way you look at it.

In tight urban areas its like having a neighbour with a large commercial vanestate, chelsea tractor or MPV, as the footprint is about the same (assuming we’re talking SWB)

FTFY

actually how many days a year is it better than a estate-20 days over 365?

Better? Maybe 20-30, for when you’re chucking bikes in easily, getting changed in the warm and dry in the back, off camping in it etc etc. And that occasional move of big a load that an estate would struggle with (washing machines, furniture etc)

Worse? Probably occasionally (although I can’t actually think of an example of when a comfy van is worse than an estate. There are times when the Mrs’ little hatchback is more convenient for nipping about)

The same? The rest of the time.

Paint warranty is 6 years rickmiester and I’m 7 months out of that but was hoping for goodwill from them. Body corrosion is 12 years you’ll have a fight on your hands to get them to pay out .

You are driving a commercial vehicle at the end of the day and estates aren’t as tall and slab-sided as a van.

When people say ‘its the most car-like’- its basically its not as good as a car to drive but its the nearest one.

And that occasional move of big a load that an estate would struggle with (washing machines, furniture etc)

If you’ve decked it out why would you want to damage your interior anymore than your pride and joy car?

Only on two cars I’ve owned have a struggled to get a white goods in.

My old Forester got a packed up double fridge freezer in no problems.

I too would like a van but it’d be my only vehicle so its a car every time.

Camping – you can get any camping kit into any car too.

Generally, the corrosion warranty is only valid if the main dealer has done the annual inspection AND stamped the book. This is usually done during the service at the main dealer, if they can be arsed sstamping that section.
So if like most people you go elsewhere once the mechanical warranty expires they’ve got you by the short and curlies. It happened to me with a Mitsubishi.
Good luck

When people say ‘its the most car-like’- its basically its not as good as a car to drive but its the nearest one.

This is true, admittedly.

If you’ve decked it out why would you want to damage your interior anymore than your pride and joy car?

If you deck it out with a bit of thought (decent floor etc), you can carry stuff like that without damaging the interior. And damage from carrying stuff (and to the stuff itself) is most often done getting the stuff in and out, and as this is much easier in a van the risk is much less.

Camping – you can get any camping kit into any car too.

Yeah, true, but then you’re into the whole tent vs. camper vs. caravan debate… My view is that a camper is a big solid metal tent that doesn’t need putting up or taking down, but it’s each to their own.

gbm1.. have you checked in the T5 forum… loads of experience there.

Love my t4. Bought as a panel van and got it converted

Pop top coming in the summer

hora – Member
You are driving a commercial vehicle at the end of the day and estates aren’t as tall and slab-sided as a van.

When people say ‘its the most car-like’- its basically its not as good as a car to drive but its the nearest one.

And that occasional move of big a load that an estate would struggle with (washing machines, furniture etc)
If you’ve decked it out why would you want to damage your interior anymore than your pride and joy car?

Only on two cars I’ve owned have a struggled to get a white goods in.

My old Forester got a packed up double fridge freezer in no problems.

I too would like a van but it’d be my only vehicle so its a car every time.

Camping – you can get any camping kit into any car too.

This is all true, however if you ‘deck it out’ to suit what you need, i.e. Ply Line the back so if like me you have to hump the occasional half a ton of hard core to fill pot holes, or chuck muddy bikes in the back, then the front bit stays OK and the back you swill out as per.. Honestly once you’ve lived with one, very difficult to use anything else, other than say a twin cab pick up, but T4/5’s drive better and return more mpg.

Transporters may have the super-cool image BUT they are not without their issues. VW UK market themselves as a premium brand and that image has become firmly embedded in the minds of the public in this country. Go to Germany and VW do not have that same image – they are seen for what they are – just like your Ford or Vauxhall. In this area VW UK have been exceptionally clever in convincing people of the quality of the brand…

At this point I know many will be up in arms!

VW do have an on-going issue with rust, as one of the previous posters has shown. Their problem is that around 2003 they became obsessed with cost-cutting and they started to cheap-up in various areas – quality suffered and the Golf Mk5 heralded the start of this. I know all manufacturers are cutting costs everywhere they can, but they are not also constantly marketing reliability/quality/premium-image and charging more than the equivalent competition. VW also have on-going issues with their diesel engines. The PD engines (approx pre-2008) were the most reliable, but even then they had massive issues with failed injectors that VW UK refused to recognise until pressured by VOSA to do something (one injector failing led to engine shut down – irrespective of your speed). Again, the failed injectors were due to a switch from (expensive) Bosch injectors to (cheaper) Siemens injectors). The later Common rail diesels have ongoing issues with high-pressure fuel pump failures. The DSG boxes are far from perfect as well (the US and Chinese authorities have made VW extend warranties on the DSG boxes from 3 to 10years due to high failure rates).

So a Transporter may look cool BUT don’t think it’ll be anymore reliable/better built than a (new) Transit or Vivaro.

btw Mercedes have solved the rust issues on the Vito (from ’58 plate they were triple-treated for anti-corrosion measures).

Everytime I see threads like this I fancy switching for a T5, would be handy for a motorbike as well. But the number of times I’d actually NEED it, compared with how much fun they are to drive compared with a car, and how much nicer it is to sit in a car that is well specced, means logically I end up saying the car (5 series E61 estate) is a better option, even though its old

Before I bought mine I wanted one for yrs an as the saying goes you only live once an you cant remember things you never had!!

Don’t regret mine one bit 😉

Estates might be nicer to drive but they’re just not the same thing. If you want a van just get a van! If you buy a decent T5 it’s not like you won’t be able to sell it.

You can’t get dried, changed, prepare food or lounge around in an estate. Plus if I’d bought the BMW estate I wanted my girlfriend would have peed her pants in Geneva city centre last year. And when we drove all day to a campsite that didn’t exist anymore we just blew up the air bed and went to sleep.

Looking at the photo it appears that she wee’d in your shoes.
😉

Shark attack….

Your bike is upside down…. Have you been killed to death yet ?

For those questioning the merits over an estate car – i have an e320 cdi merc (rusting) in the driveway.

The merc is faster, smoother, more comfortable and relaxing to drive.
The kids prefer the van, I prefer the van – i can see further (ahead and into fields), and every time I go near the van then I smile.

It’s useful every Saturday morning going for a bike ride as it carries 3 bikes easily, every Sunday taking the kids to / from Rugby with their muddy boots on, and every time the dog sits in the cargo area, soaking wet from lying down in a stream – part of her daily ritual.

Estates are faster point to point, the merc does 40 on a run, the VW does 38 if I’m steady.

Tomorrow we’re off on a 250mile journey with the family – we’re taking the van, the merc has hardly moved since we got the VW.

Should have bought one years ago, brilliant family vehicle.

I have a T5 it drives nothing like a car except maybe my mkII escort from 1980 something. But I wouldn’t change it for anything. We have spent 70 plus nights in it so far, in just over a year. Just had cruise installed ready for this years Alps road trip can’t wait for the next trip away.

Mines a 09 102 panel van converted to full camper not by me (not enough time to do it myself). It has also been pendled to 140. My only worry with it is rust. Im not convinced the conversion company sealed or treated the holes they drilled in it very well.

I’ve got a T5.1 – had it for 6 months, campervan ‘lite’ conversion. Absolutely love it, use it as my day to day vehicle, 20 mile each way commute and have no issues with it.

Slept in it for 3 weeks last summer (alps) and makes a great bike vehicle too.

Thinking of getting the lowered springs (the 30mm S-line ones) – anyone done this and regretted it?

Yep I’ve got the vw lowering springs on my t5.1. Definitely worth upgrading.

gbm1.. have you checked in the T5 forum… loads of experience there.

yeah been on there for a while and yeah there’s plenty with the same issue’s and more but I’ve jumped through all the hoops and Vw arn’t interested. Its in next week for repairs at one of there body shops , £800 😯 .

Van update: this doesn’t make pretty reading.
So I sat down with my wife and started to explain why this purchase was a good idea. All was going fine and she then asked to see a picture of one, this is where it all went wrong. I found a lovely lowered version about 4 yrs old and proudly displayed what we could soon own. The response? ” it’s a van, if you think I am driving a van you have another thing coming” I then showed the interior but was still met with “it’s a van” I then brought in my sister and bro in law for support. There response was “yeah we see a few of those around here(Wilmslow) everyone thinks stalkers own them with their blacked out windows. Lots of room to keep people captive”

Let’s just say the conversation didn’t go my way 🙂