VW Transporters, whats that all about?

[J4CKO]

Seeing loads of modified looking Transporters, look quite smart I suppose. I spoke to guy a guy at work prior to a conference call call and his dearest motoring wish is a Transporter, the call started so didn't get to ask what the appeal is.

I cant say I get it, its a van and I do like driving vans but not sure I would want one all the time, am sure its a decent van and they make them look quite good but unless you deliver stuff or are a builder why would you want one above hot hatches, sports cars, SUV's, motorbikes etc ?

I know its horses for courses etc but can someone explain what the attraction is ? especially given they are so expensive, wonder if tradesmen actually still run them.

Do Transits, Sprinters and the like not cut it ?

[HustleRussell]

VW Scene

[Scrump]

In the South West they have been the must have vehicle for trendy dads for a few years now.
Some sort of vague links to surf culture means that only a VW will do, transits and sprinters are for squares.

[Glenn63]

Family man who goes away for weekends with bikes, camping stuff etc but doesn’t want full tranny van.

[Evercross]

Glenn63 said:

but doesn’t want full tranny van.

[valiant]

There’s a huge market out there for modifying VW Transporters that doesn’t remotely exist for other manufacturers like the Transit.

But its mainly because of the ‘scene’.

[anonymous-user]

Yep. Audi wheels, T6 lights/bumpers, new mirrors, T5/T6 numberplate.

Individual as fk

[Moulder]

When I was looking for a van that had a row of removable seats and a few small windows VW seemed about the only game in town. Also looked at the Transit but it has a fixed bulkhead behind the row of seats.

In the end couldn't bring myself to spend 30k on something with interior that they have.

[nunpuncher]

It's the next level up from the SUV on the w*nkometer.

[Truckosaurus]

I suspect also that dealers can buy cheap white base models after they've been used for a couple of years and then put on a fancy bumper and nice wheels and spray it a bright colour and charge twice as much.

There's a dealer in my town that just sells modified Transporters - all seemingly identical other than colour - so there must be a market for them.

When I visit my parents in south Dorset there's plenty of battered Transporters being used as surf vans etc. so not just for 'show'.

I've driven rental Transporters and they drive nicely (you also sit up high, have big mirrors, etc) and fit in a supermarket space easily enough, so I can see the appeal if you have a hobby or plenty of kids and don't want to drive around in a Ford Galaxy or similar.

[mac96]

Truckosaurus said:

I suspect also that dealers can buy cheap white base models after they've been used for a couple of years and then put on a fancy bumper and nice wheels and spray it a bright colour and charge twice as much.

There's a dealer in my town that just sells modified Transporters - all seemingly identical other than colour - so there must be a market for them.

When I visit my parents in south Dorset there's plenty of battered Transporters being used as surf vans etc. so not just for 'show'.

I've driven rental Transporters and they drive nicely (you also sit up high, have big mirrors, etc) and fit in a supermarket space easily enough, so I can see the appeal if you have a hobby or plenty of kids and don't want to drive around in a Ford Galaxy or similar.

I think you have hit the spot- I have hired Transits and Transporters and Transporters are just that bit narrower which makes them more car like. Transits are designed to fit 3 big blokes across the front, you have to be a bit thinner in a Transporter if there's 3 of you!

[CanAm]

valiant said:

There’s a huge market out there for modifying VW Transporters that doesn’t remotely exist for other manufacturers like the Transit.

But its mainly because of the ‘scene’.

Matt black bonnets seem to be the thing too, well they were 5 years ago. A lad in the office had one and he was "asked" if he could park it in the underground part of the office carpark.

[Terra1]

I understand the appeal if you 'need' one. I'm looking to swap my R32 out for a caravelle when the summer prices soften a little. For me the 'need' is, 4 kids plus camping/trips/load lugging and it ticks the boxes better than anything else in the sector. There is a silly scene tax but the residuals are strong so it makes sense. It's become an effort to have any fun locally in the R32 due to traffic volumes so a multi purpose vehicle makes sense.

Or perhaps it's because I've just turned 40...

[drmike37]

Few reasons...
Lots of choice for camper conversion bits.
They fit in a supermarket parking space.
They’re nice to drive (for a van).
Galvanised body (cf transits).
Same tdi engine as half the cars on the road (can get them fixed anywhere).

And it’s a VW Camper. So it’s cool. A transit just isn’t the same and ultimately this sort of thing is about buying what makes you feel good.

[AngryPartsBloke]

I live in Bournemouth and they are everywhere, mostly with surfing/water sports scene.

had a laugh about it with a mate not long ago when we counted more than 20 on a short part of the overcliff road either parked on the road or on people's drives.

[anonymous-user]

drmike37 said:

Few reasons...
Lots of choice for camper conversion bits.
They fit in a supermarket parking space.
They’re nice to drive (for a van).
Galvanised body (cf transits).
Same tdi engine as half the cars on the road (can get them fixed anywhere).

None of those are anywhere near the top of the list of reasons for people buying one. Well, maybe the TDi bit, but only because they can all go for the £200 180BHP back-streets remap.

Can upgrade the lights for cheap and make it look newer.
Can upgrade the bumpers for cheap and make it look newer.
T5 number plates are £250.
Audi wheels bolt straight on. As do the brakes, but there's no "cool" in upgrading brakes.

I've had my fair share of VWs, classics and moderns, and the current surf bus/day van scene is pathetic. I know I've mentioned it, but the T5 number plate thing really is fking hilarious. I went to a campsite in Brighton last year and 75% of the VW transporters had those number plates. And all of the things mentioned above. It was laughable, seeing who could "out-scene" the others (which ended up a sound-off between stereos and ruined things for everyone).

[DaveyBoyWonder]

I have one, highly modified. Why? Well it sleeps the 4 of us, I can cook in it, I can throw my bikes in/on it, same with surf boards, I can fill it with all sorts of stuff - it'll be getting used to help us move house in a few weeks, I like the way it drives, I like doing stuff to it yadda yadda yadda

[Chrismawa]

I wanted a Transporter when I was looking for a camper van but only had a limited budget which meant looking at older T4s. The prices people wanted for 20+ year old ex builders vans was ridiculous. Ended up buying a newer, bigger Transit van. It doesn't have the "cool" factor but its much better value and suits my needs better to be honest.

[MetalMatters]

These Transporter drivers get up my nose too, in fact I have trouble sleeping because so many people choose to drive something different to me.

[DaveyBoyWonder]

OpulentBob said:

None of those are anywhere near the top of the list of reasons for people buying one. Well, maybe the TDi bit, but only because they can all go for the £200 180BHP back-streets remap.

Can upgrade the lights for cheap and make it look newer.
Can upgrade the bumpers for cheap and make it look newer.
T5 number plates are £250.
Audi wheels bolt straight on. As do the brakes, but there's no "cool" in upgrading brakes.

I've had my fair share of VWs, classics and moderns, and the current surf bus/day van scene is pathetic. I know I've mentioned it, but the T5 number plate thing really is fking hilarious. I went to a campsite in Brighton last year and 75% of the VW transporters had those number plates. And all of the things mentioned above. It was laughable, seeing who could "out-scene" the others (which ended up a sound-off between stereos and ruined things for everyone).

I'm not sure I know anyone who bought a T5 simply because you can make them look newer, cheaply? Weird reason to buy one.

Audi wheels don't bolt straight on either.

Kinda agree with the scene thing though. Its huge. Absolutely massive but does attract an odd bunch who buy a white van, dangle some flowers in the window and instantly start talking about "their dub" and waving at people. I used to go to quite a few shows but went to 1 small one last year and didn't plan on any this year. I just like camping in mine as far away from the wavers and "dubbers" as possible.