Hi Folks

 

I'm looking to receive advice from those in the know - I intend to purchase a T5 or T6 in the next couple of months for use as a work horse, daily driver, family bus and recreational van for weekends away.  Given its intended use I want a decent van, great condition, higher spec and low mileage.

 

Are there any known problems to look out for on used examples?  What are your experiences in terms of reliability? Are there any specific suppliers who may stand out from the plethora of used van suppliers?

 

I believe it may be better, financially, to buy a panel van then convert as I go along to my specific requirements.  Can you recommend any conversion companies, ideally West Yorkshire or nearby?

 

Thanks in advance

 

David

 

 

Personally I wouldn't convert a panel van to carry passengers. If my memory is correct, vw changed the rear floors from the T5 on. The panel and the combi's have different rear floors to stop you adding seats and two friends couldn't get insurance on vans if the rear seat were aftermarket, due to crash testing regs. Another problem is was told about last week was, the number of seats a combi van has. You get the 5 seat version ''front seats single'' no problem but if you get one with the double front passenger, so making it a 6 seater, insurance company's will charge you business rates even though it's a domestic van. That won't effect you as you mentioned work horse. Personally I think the current Transit is a better van and value for money having driving the 2 T5's in my last job that cost 34&36K. Both had to go back a few times for the EGR valves going faulty but not sure if that was just a Twin turbo engine thing. Just go with your instinct whoever you buy from, as buying second is always a gamble. 

This Australian forum might be useful 

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/f28/most-popular-threads-also-index-useful-threads-71646.html

11 hours ago, meta55b said:

Personally I wouldn't convert a panel van to carry passengers. If my memory is correct, vw changed the rear floors from the T5 on. The panel and the combi's have different rear floors to stop you adding seats and two friends couldn't get insurance on vans if the rear seat were aftermarket, due to crash testing regs. Another problem is was told about last week was, the number of seats a combi van has. You get the 5 seat version ''front seats single'' no problem but if you get one with the double front passenger, so making it a 6 seater, insurance company's will charge you business rates even though it's a domestic van. That won't effect you as you mentioned work horse. Personally I think the current Transit is a better van and value for money having driving the 2 T5's in my last job that cost 34&36K. Both had to go back a few times for the EGR valves going faulty but not sure if that was just a Twin turbo engine thing. Just go with your instinct whoever you buy from, as buying second is always a gamble. 

 

Some great info there, appreciated!

23 hours ago, meta55b said:

34&36K

 

36 grand for a VAN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Get a new transit or vivaro for half that

31 minutes ago, Volvomeg said:

 

36 grand for a VAN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Get a new transit or vivaro for half that

 

It wasn't my money, but the boss wanted 4x4 vans that were std height and vw were the only ones at the time that made them. Both vans were combi's with the  2.0 twin turbo diesels, 4x4 and dsg. One ordered as swb and the other lwb and loads of extras added on making the sportlines look like the base models. For vans, they were fast, especially the swb model. 

 

13 hours ago, Volvomeg said:

 

36 grand for a VAN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Get a new transit or vivaro for half that

 

Exactly my thoughts. VW don't do vans at all well (granted, these days, no one does them brilliantly). Buy a transit, in 10 years when it's rotted out, buy another one, and you'll still be ahead on how much you've spent fixing the VW. 

 

And that's me speaking as the owner of 3 caddys. 

Edited 21 May, 20179 yr by StevesTruck

We have a new Transporter at work on hire, I'm not sure what engine it has but it goes very well, SWB with 5 seats I think. It drives lovely and feels very well made, but they are a huge chunk extra over the others. For the majority I expect the Vivaro/Transit will be good enough but if I was doing mega miles behind the wheel I'd pick the VW over the rest. 

1 hour ago, matt1chelski said:

We have a new Transporter at work on hire, I'm not sure what engine it has but it goes very well, SWB with 5 seats I think. It drives lovely and feels very well made, but they are a huge chunk extra over the others. For the majority I expect the Vivaro/Transit will be good enough but if I was doing mega miles behind the wheel I'd pick the VW over the rest. 

 

As I'm using the van instead of having a car and to use it as a day van then I'm still looking at the VW.

 

I'd rather not have a bog standard transit and would it be big enough for weekends away? 

 

Don't get me wrong, I like the Kustom Tranny but they too are ridiculous money!

 

I've heard too many horror stories re the Vivaro.

 

Ar least come sale time the VW will retain more equity.

8 minutes ago, Chubbs said:

 

As I'm using the van instead of having a car and to use it as a day van then I'm still looking at the VW.

 

I'd rather not have a bog standard transit and would it be big enough for weekends away? 

 

Don't get me wrong, I like the Kustom Tranny but they too are ridiculous money!

 

I've heard too many horror stories re the Vivaro.

 

Ar least come sale time the VW will retain more equity.

 

Yeah I can understand that, if it's to double as a car and work tool. 

 

If you're looking at the older shape Vivaro they're a bit of a money pit, my mate had a crew cab and it was nice to drive (took 5 of us to German in comfort) but it had a lot of money spent on it to keep it on the road. We have a newer shape van at work, they're a noticeable amount smaller than the previous shape and the Transporter, same with the Transit as you mentioned. 

 

The resale value is a good point, it will make up some of the difference come sale time. 

If it is for the detailing business are you not as well to get the biggest people carrier you can that can have seat removed when not needed?

Dark rear tinted windows.

Safest for family seated and belted and you can do UK National Speed Limit for a car not a van.

23 minutes ago, Awayoffski said:

If it is for the detailing business are you not as well to get the biggest people carrier you can that can have seat removed when not needed?

Dark rear tinted windows.

Safest for family seated and belted and you can do UK National Speed Limit for a car not a van.

 

Cant argue with this but what decent people carriers are there to be fair?!

slight fly in the ointment is weekends away.....not much room in the rear of one of those!!!!

22 hours ago, Chubbs said:

 

Cant argue with this but what decent people carriers are there to be fair?!

slight fly in the ointment is weekends away.....not much room in the rear of one of those!!!!

 

We've got a new Seat Alhambra, plenty of room in the back, even with all 7 seats occupied 

On 21/05/2017 at 15:25, matt1chelski said:

 

Yeah I can understand that, if it's to double as a car and work tool. 

 

If you're looking at the older shape Vivaro they're a bit of a money pit, my mate had a crew cab and it was nice to drive (took 5 of us to German in comfort) but it had a lot of money spent on it to keep it on the road. We have a newer shape van at work, they're a noticeable amount smaller than the previous shape and the Transporter, same with the Transit as you mentioned. 

 

The resale value is a good point, it will make up some of the difference come sale time. 

You may well be correct that the transporter will retain a better value when come time to sell, but have to remember you will pay more for the transporter in the first. 

The Transits have a bit more room in the back over the Transporter. It's a bit longer and wider. But the bodywork sounds like a biscuit tin when you close the doors.

On 5/29/2017 at 21:51, meta55b said:

You may well be correct that the transporter will retain a better value when come time to sell, but have to remember you will pay more for the transporter in the first. 

 

Fair point, no getting away from the initial outlay. 

 

28 minutes ago, HeavyMetalRich said:

The Transits have a bit more room in the back over the Transporter. It's a bit longer and wider. But the bodywork sounds like a biscuit tin when you close the doors.

 

Which transit? The custom my brother had was fairly close to the VW, I'd say the same 'sector' of van but smaller inside, his was a normal SWB with 3 seats, my knees were against the dash and you'd have no hope getting a third person in. The 'normal' Transit is more like a Crafter size so would certainly be bigger. 

17 hours ago, matt1chelski said:

Which transit? The custom my brother had was fairly close to the VW, I'd say the same 'sector' of van but smaller inside, his was a normal SWB with 3 seats, my knees were against the dash and you'd have no hope getting a third person in. The 'normal' Transit is more like a Crafter size so would certainly be bigger. 

 

I was meaning the Custom. My point of view is from using the eight seat LWB versions but I wouldn't think the SWB versions would have much difference between them as you stated.

This http://www.vwt4forum.co.uk/ is where you need to go.

 

I have a T5.1 Camper van, goes very well. On that forum you will find plenty discussions about convertors good and bad. Mine is by Jerba Camper vans but they do full on campers, bit more than what you are looking for by the sound of it. 

 

 

5 minutes ago, domhnall said:

This http://www.vwt4forum.co.uk/ is where you need to go.

 

I have a T5.1 Camper van, goes very well. On that forum you will find plenty discussions about convertors good and bad. Mine is by Jerba Camper vans but they do full on campers, bit more than what you are looking for by the sound of it. 

 

 

 

Thanks pal, appreciated!

2 minutes ago, Chubbs said:

 

Thanks pal, appreciated!

 

you're welcome, one thing I would say is make sure any rear seat is crash tested. RIB are the top make but not cheap. Personally though if it's my family in the back then the price is worth it in terms of safety. 

 

3 minutes ago, domhnall said:

 

you're welcome, one thing I would say is make sure any rear seat is crash tested. RIB are the top make but not cheap. Personally though if it's my family in the back then the price is worth it in terms of safety. 

 

 

Thanks again. The more research I do & the more folk I speak to about Transporters the more confused I become!!

 

I'm sure the T4 Forum will help.....complications with insurance, which rear seats, which converters, 5sp vs 6sp, 180bhp issues, the list goes on!!

 

 

Just now, Chubbs said:

 

Thanks again. The more research I do & the more folk I speak to about Transporters the more confused I become!!

 

I'm sure the T4 Forum will help.....complications with insurance, which rear seats, which converters, 5sp vs 6sp, 180bhp issues, the list goes on!!

 

 

 minie is a 5 sp 102 bhp, I would go for the 6sp if I had the chance, you can always remap 140 anyway. There are insurers on there like A plan who cater for VW T5s with all their mods :-)

 

3 hours ago, domhnall said:

 minie is a 5 sp 102 bhp, I would go for the 6sp if I had the chance, you can always remap 140 anyway. There are insurers on there like A plan who cater for VW T5s with all their mods :-)

 

 

Thanks buddy, yeah, I'll want a remap, nice alloys n coilovers after lowering.

 

102bhp vans are a tad cheaper n more abundant but I'd heard the 5 speed box doesn't go well with a remap, certainly above 140bhp.

A mate of mine spent an age going through all the sums for a VW Transporter vs. Transit Custom.

 

When the purchase price, depreciation and running costs were factored in there wasn't much in it cost wise over the 5 year PCP he went for.

 

It is a Highline Combi which I understand is the one that gets you the rear windows and second row of seats.

 

The VW has a loyal following and that alone can make it much more desirable as a vehicle that is to be used for multiple purposes. Almost every Transit on the road is a white workhorse with a company livery, I don't think I've seen a Transporter in white, they are are all in normal car colours with flash wheels. IMO they simply look more classy, much less van like.