VW Transporter - yay/nay?

[Sweet FA]

My X5 got stolen a couple of weeks ago and while I'm waiting for a new V5 and the insurance to stop dicking about, I've been driving a mate's 2008 Transporter. Tbh I had the X5 for 5 years and never really liked it that much. It's pretty obnoxious. It was brilliant hammering down motorways in Europe for days on end but I can't see much of that on the horizon.

The Transporter though; everything goes in it, it's comfortable, fast, better mpg than the X5, looks less cunty, extends the camping season to all year. The one I'm driving is LWB (and no reversing camera/beeper) so a bit of a twat to park but I've seen a few SWB versions parked around and the footprint doesn't seem much more than an SUV (Q7/X5/XC90 etc).

They are eyewateringly expensive though. Are there any rivals? Transit?

I had a go in a souped up T6, (lowered, 230hp, soundproofed interior), last week and though a bit over the top, it was brilliant to drive and I could still get 5 people, dog, tents, paddle boards and assorted shite in the back.

The one I'm driving is battered, smells a bit mildewy and has done 187,000 miles but is still going strong.

A van as a family car?

Any other vans?

Have you got/had a Transporter? How was/is it to live with?

 

[Pickman's model]

I have never had one but imagine you and your family travelling around the country in a vw van solving crimes like shaggy and scooby etc

 

[mx wcfc]

I've been seriously considering a camper like the T5, as a camper that works for shopping at Sainsburys and other daily driving, but I've come down firmly on the side of a "proper sized" camper with a fixed bed and a loo. Bit I agree it's a decent option. Plus of course, as you've said, the VW Transporter is expensive to buy.

 

[SpookyFrank]

They're overpriced because they're somehow status symbols for a certain subspecies of surfer/outdoorsy types. Memory serves you can get a Mercedes van for less and while it might not be better than the VW, it won't be any worse.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Mercedes Vito, either are good though.

 

[SpookyFrank]

I'm driving a totoya hiace camper at the moment. It's good at being a van but the experience of driving it round a city, parking it etc is just miserable. Particularly round here where even the main roads are often reduced to one and a half lanes' width by dickheads parking all along them.

 

[Sweet FA]

Particularly round here where even the main roads are often reduced to one and a half lanes' width by dickheads parking all along them.

Out of towners in Transporters?

 

[Looby]

I’ve thought about this recently too as I really want a camper but we can’t justify having two vehicles. I just don’t think it’s practical day to day because I use my car for work too. We’d also have to spend a huge amount of money to get something of a comparable age to my car.

 

[dessiato]

I had a Transit SWB van with 500k on it. One of the most comfortable vehicles I've owned. Because it was old and battered it didn't matter if it got some bruises and scrapes. And much cheaper than the VW to buy

 

[Sweet FA]

I’ve thought about this recently too as I really want a camper

This is more the reason they're so expensive I think - everyone's having the same idea. I suspect I might end up getting a smaller car + a trailer for the camping stuff.

Then I've got the arseache of storing a trailer outside.






Where's that 'first world problems' thread..?

 

[Sweet FA]

I have never had one but imagine you and your family travelling around the country in a vw van solving crimes like shaggy and scooby etc

There's 3 of us plus the dog so we've got a vacancy for a Shaggy. You're more than welcome to join us if the van plan goes ahead.

A-Team livery is also on the cards and you've got dibs on Murdock or B.A.

 

[Pickman's model]

There's 3 of us plus the dog so we've got a vacancy for a Shaggy. You're more than welcome to join us if the van plan goes ahead.

A-Team livery is also on the cards and you've got dibs on Murdock or B.A.

I solve library crimes so I'd be going off piste joining a family or a group of special forces soldiers on the run

 

[Pickman's model]

Sweet FA is the dog a schnauzer?

 

[Marty1]

Mercedes Vito, either are good though.

Vito’s are shit, the ignition is on the wrong side (left) the wing mirrors are tiny and the handbrake is a foot peddle near the clutch. The load space is also bad due to the low down design.

The best option and cheaper than a Transporter is the Ford Transit Custom. Go for the Limited model and you get all the mod cons of a car - air con, alloy wheels, touch screen infotainment with sat nav. It sits higher than a Vito for excellent visibility and it has the best turning circle in class - turns on a sixpence to get you out of awkward country lane dead ends.

Best medium panel vans 2024 | Auto Express

There's plenty of choice available in the hard-fought medium-sized van sector. We rank our favourites

www.google.com

 

[LDC]

I had a Transit SWB van with 500k on it. One of the most comfortable vehicles I've owned. Because it was old and battered it didn't matter if it got some bruises and scrapes. And much cheaper than the VW to buy

Totally. Years ago when I was climbing loads I had a Ford Transit semi-high top SWB that was part converted as a camper. Was lovely to drive, cheap to buy, cheap to fix, and overall brilliant. I did look at VWs initially but as has been said you pay over the odds for the status of having one. Mercedes Vito always seem to get good feedback too.

You can get these add-on camper modules for all those small/mid sized vans that look a good compromise if you have somewhere to store it.

Berlingo boot jump Car to Camper Conversion unit Wales UK - Amdro Alternative Campervans

Turn your Citroen Berlingo, Peugeot Rifter, VW Transporter or Volkswagen Caddy into a camper with a boot jump or conversion kit from Amdro - 01286 650612.

www.amdro.co.uk

 

[Sweet FA]

Sweet FA is the dog a schnauzer?

A greyhound.

 

[Pickman's model]

A greyhound.

Ah, I'm much more a schnauzer man

 

[Sweet FA]

Totally. Years ago when I was climbing loads I had a Ford Transit semi-high top SWB that was part converted as a camper. Was lovely to drive, cheap to buy, cheap to fix, and overall brilliant. I did look at VWs initially but as has been said you pay over the odds for the status of having one. Mercedes Vito always seem to get good feedback too.

You can get these add-on camper modules for all those small/mid sized vans that look a good compromise if you have somewhere to store it.

Berlingo boot jump Car to Camper Conversion unit Wales UK - Amdro Alternative Campervans

Turn your Citroen Berlingo, Peugeot Rifter, VW Transporter or Volkswagen Caddy into a camper with a boot jump or conversion kit from Amdro - 01286 650612.

www.amdro.co.uk

I've got a ton of camping gear so the van's more to transport that + SUPs etc. I'll have a look at Transits/Vitos too.

Is it easy enough to take out bulkheads from Transits etc?

 

[Sweet FA]

Ah, I'm much more a schnauzer man

Perhaps a guest starring role? A schnauzer toting library sleuth. Sort of but not really like when Boy George turned up.

 

[dessiato]

I've got a ton of camping gear so the van's more to transport that + SUPs etc. I'll have a look at Transits/Vitos too.

Is it easy enough to take out bulkheads from Transits etc?

From memory mine was just bolted in place. But you can get walk through types, or even half bulkhead, although these seem to be less common.

A possible alternative might be a king cab pickup. Put an animal cage (or whatever they’re called) on the back. They seem popular with people who hunt with dogs here.

 

[Looby]

I’ve just been looking at van porn. I’ve managed to build a 74k VW.

 

[Sweet FA]

I’ve just been looking at van porn. I’ve managed to build a 74k VW.

I joined VW T6 Transporter Forum

 

[Sweet FA]

From memory mine was just bolted in place. But you can get walk through types, or even half bulkhead, although these seem to be less common.

A possible alternative might be a king cab pickup. Put an animal cage (or whatever they’re called) on the back. They seem popular with people who hunt with dogs here.

I've looked at pick ups but I need an enclosed/secure storage with no bulkhead so the dog doesn't freak out. He's less hardy than Spanish hunting dogs. In fact he's a massive tart who needs several layers of bedding even in the back of the comfiest of cars.

 

[mx wcfc]

I’ve just been looking at van porn. I’ve managed to build a 74k VW.

I do that! My "when I win the lottery van" is an L3H2 Sprinter - fixed bed, solar panels, aircon, sound system, safari room etc etc. £74K on a VW is good going though.

 

[Sweet FA]

Thread on the mad state of VW prices: Price trends query?

 

[kebabking]

Dunno if it's something, but if you want lots of room and something comfier than a pickup, have a butcher's at the Nissan Pathfinder.

We've got one - it's great for holidays, good on motorways, fine to park etc...

MPG isn't brilliant, but it's been very reliable.

 

[Sweet FA]

I'll probably be better off buying a shitbox to keep me going until next year then buy a VW when everybody's selling theirs...

 

[Sweet FA]

Dunno if it's something, but if you want lots of room and something comfier than a pickup, have a butcher's at the Nissan Pathfinder.

We've got one - it's great for holidays, good on motorways, fine to park etc...

MPG isn't brilliant, but it's been very reliable.

Oddly enough, I drove a Pathfinder a few weeks ago. Here I am trying to restart the bloody thing.

 

[mx wcfc]

I do that! My "when I win the lottery van" is an L3H2 Sprinter - fixed bed, solar panels, aircon, sound system, safari room etc etc. £74K on a VW is good going though.

and an advert for Transits has just popped up on my FB feed.

 

[Boudicca]

I have a Mazda Bongo which is smaller and much cheaper than the Transporter, fits in a car parking space and often used as a daily vehicle. Old, thirsty and with their particular foibles though.

The newer Japanese campers are the Nissan Elgrand and the Toyota Granvia.

I'm looking for something a bit bigger, but the price of the VWs is ridiculous, you could get a bespoke conversion of an old Sprinter for less.