VW Transporter alternative?

[Dadof2]

I’ve owned a T5 Transporter before and it was a great family workhorse, but we never slept in it. Did throw bikes in, surfboards etc easily and luggage with two small girls was brilliant plus the twin sliding doors.

But it was very unrefined, and not the most reliable thing to own at 10 years and 80000miles plus I broke my ankle (left) and the clutch was too much.

Replaced with Touran DSG, fine car but getting a bit small for holidays and I am fed up with fitting the roof box and bike racks etc.

So, I’ve been looking at another Transporter but so is everyone else it seems, they sell quickly! Keen on a Shuttle with the rear air con and some more creature comforts incl sound deadening. But they still feel like a van and I’m not going to sleep in it.

What else could I look at?

Don’t need 4wd, don’t need diesel but happy to have one, 7 seats occasionally useful? Must be auto, rear aircon welcomed

Don’t say Transit as I’ll just buy a VW if that’s the best option (although I agree they drive better, they depreciate heavily)

Budget £20-25K

Edited by Dadof2 on Sunday 9th August 14:03

[Dadof2]

I’ve thought about a Discovery Sport but it’s not much bigger than the Touran, or a Range Roger Sport with the 7 seats (budget creep) but reliability seems to be horrendous and could throw up some big bills

At least with the Transporter there are loads of competent non main dealer options for fixing it (it’s only a van!)

[Deerfoot]

Dadof2 said:

What else could I look at?

Merc V class?

[clockworks]

Hyundai i800?

I considered one a few years ago. Reasonably well specced for the price.
What put me off was it wasn't easy to reconfigure the rear seats if you wanted to use it as a van or a 5-seater. Never actually got round to driving one.

I've had a T5 Shuttle and a V-class as hire vehicles on holiday, and the V-class seemed like a nicer drive.

[finlo]

Hyundai i800 if you're not a badge snob.

[stevemcs]

I know you dismissed the Transit but I would take one every single time over a Transporter, otherwise as mentioned above the V Class Merck’s are very nice, otherwise is something like a Ford Galaxy too small ?

[irocfan]

I'd have thought a fully optioned Transit take on the T5, it's hard to think what's out there. V-class Mercedes could be interesting, Galaxy or S-Max I'd imagine are a size smaller.

If you can cope with LHD how about a Chevy Astro Van - very comfortable

[ZX10R NIN]

Nissan Elgrand

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2014-14-NISSAN-ELGRAND-...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2012-62-NISSAN-ELGRAND-...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-Elgrand-Highway-...

Toyota Alphard

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2009-Toyota-Vellfire-TO...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-Alphard-AX-L-Edi...

Or go for a converted van:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SPRINTER-CRAFTER-CONVER...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sprinter-Crafter-Race-V...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sprinter-Crafter-Race-V...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Iveco-Daily-Race-van-mo...

[loskie]

I was eyeing this up but it seemed to sell very quickly. Seemed a bloomin' good price compared to others

https://www.facebook.com/105576301142460/photos/pc...

[Dadof2]

The sprinter conversions are amazing but it’s £20k PLUS the base van

Astro worth a shout.

Hyundai looks good but as you am say doesn’t offer the seating versatility nor the residuals for what will be a non financed cash purchase

V class is ££ for the same thing

4wd options include the jeep wrangler or a pickup eg hilux or amarok which I would have to add a rear load cover and aren’t as versatile as a van (I don’t need off-road ability. I live at sea level ish)

[Dadof2]

To close this off, I bought..... a Transporter!

2019 Shuttle lwb with rear aircon and 9 seats, £25k, 11000 miles, loads of space and lovely dsg auto box

3rd row bench consigned to the garage already, kids love it, as does my eMTB in the back

Edited by Dadof2 on Saturday 22 August 20:25

[Chicken Chaser]

To open this up, that is a very good price for a van with that mileage and age! Was it from a dealer?

I'm asking myself because I too am thinking of buying a van again. Had one a few years back but it was the dog slow 85hp option which I campered. Not interested in converting this time, looking for a kombi layout and potential for a bed across the drop seat for a solo overnighter. The idea is I can shove all of our holiday kit - bikes, hiking stuff and then put the caravan on the back. I can then have all what we need in the van when we get there.

Im interested in people's opinion on the VW, the DSG box on something like a 150 or 199 BiTdi or some leftfield option like a V class (probably too many seats and not enough places to store them) or Transit custom. The strong residuals on a VW likely to make ownership cheaper than the Ford?