PH Fleet: VW Transporter Kombi Sportline
Less than 24 hours into 'ownership' and the Transporter is loaded up and headed for France
All aboard! No time to waste...
So, somewhat belatedly, here goes. The van, as established, and commented on vigorously in the first report, is a sturdy £39,066 including VAT. And the Caterham Roadsport you see, an honest 125hp 1.6 Sigma-engined car with six-speed gearbox, carbon wings, leather seats (the decadence!), Ballistic Orange paint and a few other extras an additional £28,305. Chuck in £5,220 for the PRGMinisporter trailer and you get ... £72,591. Point proven, I like to think!
Best place for a Seven on the motorway
So much for the dream, now for the reality. Never having towed anything before I was somewhat nervous arriving at Caterham with my shiny new van. Naturally I feigned expertise, hooked up the trailer and set off, nervously watching the Minisporter weaving gently behind in the mirrors up Caterham High Street.
Chatting with van-driving pals, both business and private 'lifestyle' (sorry, that word again...) users, it's clear the Transporter has a very strong reputation, not least for speed. To be fair the Transporter wasn't exactly troubled by half a tonne or so of Caterham and the trailer, as the 180hp twin-turbo diesel of 'our' van is the most powerful engine you can currently buy.
Transporter makes light work of Alpine passes
If towing the Caterham didn't impact too much on the numbers on the speedo it did have a more significant effect on the fuel gauge, the trip computer recording low 20s on a 'trailer, what trailer?' pace, mid to high 20s when self-discipline kept the speed down to 60mph or so for a range of around 500 miles to a tank. Flying solo, the Transporter will comfortably record mid to high 30s but whichever way you look at it it's preferable to spending eight hours droning down the French peage in a Seven with space for little more than a change of pants and a can of deodorant.
Corners ahead - time to disembark!
After several hundred dull miles of motorway and an enticing squiggle on the map to the final destination of Morzine I appealed to my co-driver's generosity, unloaded the Seven and led the charge through the ski resort of Les Gets in typically noisy fashion. And here the dream of doing the boring bit in the van and the fun bit in the Caterham made total sense, with the proviso I had someone with me to follow with the Transporter and trailer!
I love riding my mountain bike in Wales but I'd never pedal it there along the M4 and it's the same logic with this set-up. And, frankly, about the same level of faff to get the Caterham on and off the trailer as it is to load a bike onto a rack.
All Alpine thrills catered for with the Transporter
Vantastic (sorry...)
2,000 miles, and a slight (if embarrassing) interaction between trailer and Transporter bumper later, I returned to home soil and a more typical use of van and trailer with a diversion from the run back from Dover via Brands Hatch GP circuit. In the paddock the combination of van and four-wheeled plaything towed behind stood out less than it had on French campsites and demonstrated plenty of others living the dream.
Very much at home in the Brands paddock
With thanks to the guys at Caterham, Club MSV and P&O Ferries.
Car: 2012 VW Transporter Kombi Sportline T32 SWB 2.0-litre BiTDI 180 PS
Run by: Dan Trent
On fleet since: July
Mileage: 10,624
List price new: £39,066 (List price of £30,340 plus VAT and delivery, plus Candy White paint/Gloss Black roof - £450, 'cab comfort pack' inc. additional carpets and noise suppression - £210, removable tow bar - £470, 'seat pack C' featuring heated front seats - £225, 'side door pack B' - £440, parking sensors - £150, mud flaps - £95, cruise control - £175; all options prices plus VAT)
Last couple of weeks at a glance: Transporter racks up 2,000 continental miles in just two weeks, hurried rookie towing adventures ensue with mixed results
Previous reports:
White vans are the fastest thing on the road, right? This one looks like itought to be...
On the basis that a new van/trailer/Caterham is £71k, the same as a new 911, can you get a used van/trailer/Caterham for say £30k, the same as a reasonable used 997?
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4040653.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3707560.htm
Less than £25K. You could get an older van and newer caterham etc but it can easily be done.
Edit.Just noticed the van is +vat but still comes under £30K
Save up some money next time and buy a proper set-up from someone like this?
http://www.lehelmotorsport.eu/
Extend the hols by a couple of days more, drive the Caterham 7 to the destination via lots of lovely non-peages and stop halfway overnight.
Add some sort of extended luggage capability (hard panniers on the back of the 7) and you're sorted for a heck of a lot less.
And why a different van to be able to sleep in it? Airbed + sleeping bag in the back. Or in the car carrier come to that, it's the perfect "caravan" shape.
I suppose if you're married to someone who wears the trousers and demands you take the kitchen sink, you'll think you've got no choice
Extend the hols by a couple of days more, drive the Caterham 7 to the destination via lots of lovely non-peages and stop halfway overnight.
Add some sort of extended luggage capability (hard panniers on the back of the 7) and you're sorted for a heck of a lot less.
And why a different van to be able to sleep in it? Airbed + sleeping bag in the back. Or in the car carrier come to that, it's the perfect "caravan" shape.
I suppose if you're married to someone who wears the trousers and demands you take the kitchen sink, you'll think you've got no choice
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