[Dannyrado]

Hi,

I'm gonna start looking for a new van.

Now i remember some gooky vehicles that were classed as commercial vehicles, a citroen c5 estate was available with no rear seats for example... Is there anything like this available anymore?? All suggestions welcome.

Priorities:

1) Comfortable (i've had loads of astravans, but the lumbar is crap, and the seating position is twisted, hence my back is now fooked, and i need a crazy ammount of lumbar support in anything i'm gonna buy.)

2) Good on fuel. (I'm running around in a golf estate bluemotion, so i'm used to 52mpg over a tank. Now i know i won't get this from a van, but a blend of pace and mpg?? Is that even possible?)

3) Reliable.

4) Nice to drive. I work all over North Wales, with the fantastic roads that go with that.

5) Nice looking.

Space isn't such an issue, my gear fits in my golf estate, and my ladders on the back seat, suppose it would be nice to throw my MTBs in the back though...


So i was torn, astravan sportive, rip the seats out get something nice in there with loads of lumbar. But my knee would still hit the centre console and i guess i'd still be twisted..
Amarok, or some kinda pick up, but the fuel economy and parking the huge bloody thing put me off.
Caddy in a nice colour, maybe. Lumbar support not available (don't think.)
Transporter, i could play with it and make it proper pimped...
Vito sport or sport x. Fuel economy again. And when i last went in one it felt like i was sitting on it rather than in it...


Anywho, suggestions welcome.

[willhollin]

Very happy with my Transporter Kombi.

I have 5 seats which means the front seats are comfort seats with armrests.

Factory bulkhead makes it nice and quiet to drive, and loads of room in the back.

[Dannyrado]

Originally Posted by willhollin

Very happy with my Transporter Kombi.

I have 5 seats which means the front seats are comfort seats with armrests.

Factory bulkhead makes it nice and quiet to drive, and loads of room in the back.

Factory bulkhead behind the rear seats? Is the rear seating area carpeted then, so it looks like a minibus, then you just have the cargo area behind the bulkhead?

Which engine did you go for, and what do you think of it?

[willhollin]

It's the 140ps six speed, and for a vehicle weighing in around 2500kg most of the time it goes OK.

The kombi doesn't come carpeted but plenty of people do offer this service. The bulkhead is carpet lined and made by Motexion but is a genuine VW part. If you want something more plush inside perhaps go for the shuttle.

[SCN_Saul]

skoda yeti as an alternative

if not, vw vans all the way

[a11y]

Only downside to a Transporter is you'll not see anything like 52mpg. I'm unsure on the mpg figures on the newer 2.0 ones like Will's above, but I've got the older 5-cyl 2.5 130ps and averaging 34mpg in my camper-converted van weighing 2600kgs. Seriously comfy though and the ultimate for carrying MTBs, plus can easily/cheaply kit them out inside as day vans with bed, etc. Mine's on H&R springs and I used load-rated SUV tyres instead of van tyres (i.e. more sport orientated than durability) and the handling is fun although not great.

Seats are easily replaced in the Transporter too: I've got a set of e85 Z4 heated leather SE seats in mine. Check out pics in my garage...

If I didn't want to go for the full conversion I'd be tempted by something Berlingo/Caddy sized. I'm sure there's a longer version of the Caddy that's just long enough to fit bikes in straight without removing any wheels (something you'll struggle to do in a Berlingo). But that size of van is MUCH better on fuel than a Transhit/Transporter/Vito sized van.

[a11y]

Originally Posted by SCN_Saul

skoda yeti as an alternative

That's a bloody good shout, forgot about them. evo magazine fitted some 888's (I think?) to their longterm car and timed it around the track faster than a Clio 182, so it seems to handle/go OK...

[magic77]

Worth checking out the new transit looks very good. I've known and used two VWs and a friend who use to run a fleet of them swears he will not buy one again and now its all transits

[SCN_Saul]

@magic77 odd isnt it, every transit ive ever used has drank diesel and broke down, we've run 3 VW's and had better than book consumption and trouble free running, horses for courses

@a11y and OP the Yeti has removable rear seats, 4 clips and they are out giving you a flat load bed

[Dannyrado]

Can't do a yeti guys, i'm trying to get away from company car tax, else i'd just keep my golf as it is a great car.

Transporter bluemotion (the new one, not yet released, T27 it's called) is winning so far. I can run it standard for as long as i like, then fit it out later... This guy is literally around the corner. http://www.northwestcampervanconvers....uk/index.html

Or i may get a caddy, you can get them in blackberry now (colour.) I used to have a show corrado in that colour and it was stunning.

I'll look at the transit though, a guy around the corner has that blue fancy one with stripes on it.

[Dannyrado]

Oh crikey, when you say new transit, you mean new transit. That's quite nice..

[Dannyrado]

Originally Posted by willhollin

It's the 140ps six speed, and for a vehicle weighing in around 2500kg most of the time it goes OK.

The kombi doesn't come carpeted but plenty of people do offer this service. The bulkhead is carpet lined and made by Motexion but is a genuine VW part. If you want something more plush inside perhaps go for the shuttle.

Will, what kind of figures are we talking mpg wise, and what type of driving do you do?

[willhollin]

Originally Posted by Dannyrado

Will, what kind of figures are we talking mpg wise, and what type of driving do you do?

About 35mpg combined, up to 40mpg on a run.

On average it costs 20p per mile in diesel alone.

[Oli]

Transporter all the way. Best van by a long mile. Drives like a car. I run approx 25.

Ask away with any questions

[Dannyrado]

Right, so i drove a caddy first yesterday, and liked it....

Then i drove a transporter, WOW!! Seriously, how the heck? I didn't once feel like it was big at all, and it drives like a dream. The captain's chair is awesome.

So i sat down and priced up a brand new (not yet released) transporter bluemotion, now that's the bluemotion model, not just bluemotion tech.

Problem is, i don't think VW or the dealer network know what they are selling... The info out there is so vague.

I think, i've found someone who seems to know what he's doing, and ordering on the T5 vw forum, so with any luck i might sort it out with him.

Oli or Will (or anyone else) have any recommendations as to where to find a VW van expert (and i mean expert, it really is that complicated) then fire them over.....

[willhollin]

Are you talking about Swiss?

[Dannyrado]

Originally Posted by willhollin

Are you talking about Swiss?

I am. Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?

[willhollin]

He's a good guy, bought a Pioneer head unit off him recently.

When I got my van in December 2010 (Ordered May 2010) the VW finance was very competitive so was hard to beat.

Oli is also able to source vans as well, i'd drop him a PM .

[Dannyrado]

Hi,

So it's ordered. Brand new Transporter Kombi T30 114BHP Bluemotion Highline in Olympian blue.

For those of you unawares, a highline has been released and has the following options:

RCD310. 4 loud speakers, AUX-IN and ParkPilot
Bluetooth mobile phone connection. Includes trip computer and multi-function display
Parking sensors - rear
Body coloured bumpers, door mirrors and handles
Premium dashboard
Tasamo cloth upholstery
Comfort package.
Cruise control
Armrests, height & lumbar adjustment for single passenger seat (height & lumbar adjustment standard for driver seat)
Privacy glass (kombi only)
Cartagena alloys
Climatic semi-automatic air conditioning system
Leather steering wheel and gear knob
Front fog lights
Thatcham Category 1 alarm


Then i also put the following on her:
Side airbags
heated seats
multifunction SW
rain sensing wipers


I'm so excited now, can't wait. I did ask if it was available in blackberry like the old highline, and they even tried to order it, alas it wasn't. So i'm having olympian blue, i am in pain from trying to choose a colour on this vehicle, so so difficult, i hope it looks good....

[willhollin]

Did you price up a Sportline Kombi as well?

[doughboy]

What do you need the van for danny? Posing or real work?

[Dannyrado]

Originally Posted by doughboy

What do you need the van for danny? Posing or real work?

Work mate, but i'll never fill it, all my gear fits in a golf estate at the min. But the company car tax pissed me off, as did the national insurance, the apparent lack of value in my golf just two years later, and somehow other tradesmen are usually better with you when you turn up in a van...

Everyone else seems to have a pickup, but they just don't float my boat tbh.

Originally Posted by willhollin

Did you price up a Sportline Kombi as well?

No mate, they are killer on the fuel i believe. Also they add a fair few thousand for relatively minor stuff, alloys, spoilers etc, which is all available aftermarket, oh and there are only three colours....

I know you probably think it's got a gay engine, but as long as i can set the cruise to 75 i'll be happy. There's always a chip or tuning box too......