Transporter Quandary - which option!?!?

[LM95]

So we have decided that a VW transporter does what we need with 6 seats, plenty of room for the camping paraphernalia and they appear to keep their money well and my budget is £22k -which would buy a very nice version of most things but not so easy for one of these.

I have been looking for months to get a feel and the price for a factory Kombi 4 years old with reasonable mileage looks to be right at the top of my budget or over in most cases, not helped by the does it include VAT or not when looking. You don’t seem to save much when looking at conversions especially if they have the tailgate and are not white.

So I have started to look at the cost of buying a panel van and paying for the conversion, looks reasonable and I could have a newer van with less miles but getting one with a tailgate is not that easy and by the time you factor in some sort of sportline kit and a nice set of wheels you are back at £22k again.

The other option which has only really become apparent to me in the last few days is getting a Shuttle and removing the 3rd row of seats. They seem to be a good spec in general and have sliding doors on both sides. The downside is the full length windows but other than that I can’t see any draw back.

Has anyone gone through the same and what did you do? Also a LWB is just too big for most everyday situations right? We have another car so it would not be used just to go shopping etc but when on holiday for example it would surely be a PITA to park anywhere???

Thanks

[addsvrs]

I looked at Vw's but always thought the price of them didnt reflect the quality. I bought a Vito Dualiner instead, LWB which is about the same as a standard VW, fits nicely into normal car park spaces. I picked a slightly older (2012) Sport X with all the kit you could ask for and with the removable rear seats. Cheaper and faster than the VW's. Have had it for 3 months now, 3k miles at 34.5mpg ave.

[clockworks]

We hired a 9 seater Shuttle on holiday last year. Some of the roads on Lanzarote are quite narrow, but I didn't find it especially hard to drive or park (no parking sensors or cameras). I had considered buying one as an everyday vehicle, but the fuel consumption and lack of performance put me off the idea.

[mellowman]

Had a Shuttle for a few years - very versatile as mine had the Unwin rail system and flip up 2nd row individual seats. Fitted motorbikes in the back and went camping in it. They are primarily bought for taxi use so you need to check the service history and condition carefully. They also fit in most multi-storey car parks and go through council recycling/waste barriers. Mine had the useful extra rear heating, ventilation and lighting controls.

The LWB is a bit long for regular car parks and busy street kerb parking.

Later engines are easier to work on and more economical, and they all drive well.

What about a new-shape Ford Tourneo Custom? Very car-like, worth a peep?

[LM95]

Thanks all for taking the time to respond. I know that they are expensive for what they are but that is also a bonus when you come to sell. It is pretty much for this reason if it it going to be a Van it has to be the transporter as all others seem to suffer far worse depreciation. We run the transit customs at work and I just can’t get over that either as I see them in full work mode all the time. I don’t think a SWB would ever not be sufficient so I will rule out the LWB I think, it’s just you can get a new shape shuttle in LWB for well in budget. I have a few weeks before I need to really make my mind up so will keep looking!

I was half expecting “why not get lease a Golf R estate” so at least something constructive!

[bearman68]

LM95 said:

Thanks all for taking the time to respond. I know that they are expensive for what they are but that is also a bonus when you come to sell. It is pretty much for this reason if it it going to be a Van it has to be the transporter as all others seem to suffer far worse depreciation. We run the transit customs at work and I just can’t get over that either as I see them in full work mode all the time. I don’t think a SWB would ever not be sufficient so I will rule out the LWB I think, it’s just you can get a new shape shuttle in LWB for well in budget. I have a few weeks before I need to really make my mind up so will keep looking!

I was half expecting “why not get lease a Golf R estate” so at least something constructive!

Be great until the doors fall off,and the drive shaft breaks. What a pile of ste they are.

[mellowman]

bearman68 said:

Be great until the doors fall off,and the drive shaft breaks. What a pile of ste they are.

Tell me about it! Mine had done 520,000 miles when both these issues appeared.

Older Transporters are not cheap vehicles to maintain, but they do drive really well and the proportions are just right. Having said that, I now drive a Renault Trafic minibus and love it. Not as good in so many ways, but proving reliable and cheap to fix so far.

[LM95]

bearman68 said:

Be great until the doors fall off,and the drive shaft breaks. What a pile of ste they are.

Not sure what the point of the comment is, no doubt they have some issues as any vehicle does, the Golf R is constantly lambasted for the quality not being up to scratch yet it is the most lauded car on here.

This is not a purchase with the heart, it ticks 2 boxes, 1) it has the required space & 2) will keep its value better than almost anything else that covers point 1.

I will make sure that it has doors sufficiently fixed in place and a pot aside for the driveshaft's when they do let go, thanks for the heads up

[strain]

two family members have them, one bought it already converted and one done the conversion himself, LWB with pop top. He was the full length windows but they are privacy windows and some are blanked from inside- it looks ok.

Value holds well but both have had a fair amount of work.

If your keeping it a while I would be more likely todo the conversion yourself, you get exactly what you want then

[LM95]

strain said:

two family members have them, one bought it already converted and one done the conversion himself, LWB with pop top. He was the full length windows but they are privacy windows and some are blanked from inside- it looks ok.

Value holds well but both have had a fair amount of work.

If your keeping it a while I would be more likely to do the conversion yourself, you get exactly what you want then

Thanks for this, by work do you mean conversion work or maintenance work?

I feel the same with the full length windows, they look ok. Strangely the Van type look actually looks better. They do hold their value well either way, a fully loaded Audi A6 Avant would be easier to find & purchase and no doubt a nicer place to be but in 6/7 years time will be worth nothing and the "van" would probably still be worth £10 - £14k!! (if bought now at 22k).

There is a slight issue with insurance when you have a converted panel van by the look of it over a factory Kombi / Shuttle with some of the mainstream insurers not wanting to touch a modified van.

[mellowman]

LM95 said:

There is a slight issue with insurance when you have a converted panel van by the look of it over a factory Kombi / Shuttle with some of the mainstream insurers not wanting to touch a modified van.

This can be an issue - my Transporter Shuttle (like my Trafic minibus) is classified as an ordinary passenger vehicle, not a van, so can keep to the same speed limits as cars, but some insurers, as you say, run a mile.

[LM95]

mellowman said:

This can be an issue - my Transporter Shuttle (like my Trafic minibus) is classified as an ordinary passenger vehicle, not a van, so can keep to the same speed limits as cars, but some insurers, as you say, run a mile.

Do you have the LWB or SWB shuttle even the SWB seems to have a reasonable amount of "boot" space for normal duties? are the seats (3rd row) in the rear easy enough to remove a couple of times a year do you think?

Thanks.

[mellowman]

LM95 said:

Do you have the LWB or SWB shuttle even the SWB seems to have a reasonable amount of "boot" space for normal duties? are the seats (3rd row) in the rear easy enough to remove a couple of times a year do you think?

Thanks.

I had the SWB and it was fine with the flip up rear seats and the 3rd row removed (they were individual seats too, so easy to manhandle). With all the seats in place there's still plenty of space.

[LM95]

Great, thanks for replying. Looks like, that is my best option. The shuttle seems to be less desirable so a little cheaper than a Kombi but comes with as much if not more kit.

Will just have to get used to the full length windows but that’s not really much of an issue.

[GreatGranny]

What about this?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2016-VW-TRANSPORTER-T6-...

Apologies if you've seen it but looked a nice example with sensible mileage and within budget.

[LM95]

GreatGranny said:

What about this?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2016-VW-TRANSPORTER-T6-...

Apologies if you've seen it but looked a nice example with sensible mileage and within budget.

Not seen that one but does look nice and is not white which is a bonus. It would need a sportline bodykit to make it look at least reasonable but that can all come in time.

The issue is, as with most of these its 21,499 + VAT. So £25,799 by the time VAT is added. It can get a little frustrating seeing ones that look good around 20 - 22k only to find its +VAT. I have no idea if these commercial sellers are as open to negotiation as any other seller, I presume so but nearly 26k down to 22k may be a tough one.

Thanks though.

[bearman68]

LM95 said:

bearman68 said:

Be great until the doors fall off,and the drive shaft breaks. What a pile of ste they are.

Not sure what the point of the comment is, no doubt they have some issues as any vehicle does, the Golf R is constantly lambasted for the quality not being up to scratch yet it is the most lauded car on here.

This is not a purchase with the heart, it ticks 2 boxes, 1) it has the required space & 2) will keep its value better than almost anything else that covers point 1.

I will make sure that it has doors sufficiently fixed in place and a pot aside for the driveshaft's when they do let go, thanks for the heads up

Sorry guys, feeling bitter and twisted when posting and it has to come out somewhere. A customer has a T5 180 TT, and both these things happened to him, and I fixed them, so it stays in my mind. I've never had a door fall off anything before, and I've never had a driveshaft break on anything either.
Another customer with a T5 had over £5k worth of work done with me. It drives OK, but I'm not sure it drives x2 or x3 times as good as anything else,and given their prices, that's what you would expect.
But I realise they have a huge following, and if you're into it, best of luck to you. It's a good job we're all different.