[Closed] VW T5 owners to the forum!

I have a T5 LWB Camper Conversion as my 'Car'/daily transport. I find it is no problem in daily use. Mostly OK in car parks. 1.9 Engine 105bhp is most economical, can be remapped to give a bit more torque and economy. Usually around 35mpg. There are all sorts of seating options.

Yes.
Fine - fits into normal parking spaces
Yes.
Yes. (boosters. Likely yes to full seats too).

I have a SWB T5 as a daily driver. It's fine; sometimes needs a smidge more thought when picking a car parking space, fits in most but not all multi-storey car parks.

Drive a T4 as day vehicle it's fine Hire or borrow one for a day. Yes they are vans and drive like a van which is not surprising.

is it a bit van like?

Well given that it's a van...... very much so. No reason you can't use it as an everyday vehicle though, we've got a 140 that gets us around fine

We have a short wheelbase T5 with three kids for everyday duties. Generally pleased with it, kids like it, roomy enough, drives well on the open road and is v comfy on long journeys but you feel the size when parking & maneuvering. We have 180ps 4 Motion so a bit thirsty but goes well.

One thing I would say is be careful on the interior spec you chose, there are so many options and if I had my time to choose again I would change a few things. In particular the spec we have has very delicate material surfaces in the boot space and on the back of the bench seat, means you have to be really careful not to trash it when loading it up and putting things like bikes in the back etc. is not great. We have a towbar mounted bike carrier to help here. Also the interior space is good but the way you can access it is tricky and a bit compromised with the seating we have (two captain seat plus bench seat). Would work much better in long wheel base format. We plan to take the captain seats out when all kids are beyond the car seat phase and this will help a lot. For now it helps to keep the kids separated a bit and keep the fighting down on long journeys but its a bugger reaching in and out due to the seat backs getting in the way! Hope that helps.

Yes T5 drives like a higher version of a passat IMO, 'footprint' similar too, loads of room, camping wise with a family of 5 you'll probably want want a poptop & an awning, you may still find it a touch small.
I have a T4 swb dailydriver & day van/camper with a family of 4 no poptop (yet 😉 ) and a Khyam motordome sleeper drive away awning that can sleep five plus has plenty of room to eat & cook in if the weather is crap.
Cheapest way is to get a panel van and get it converted by a proper company, totally custom and get exactly what you want.
Be warned though once you have a van you'll never want to be without one 😉

For conversion or any stuff really these guys are ace! https://www.basecampers.com/

I've got a LWB T5 as my daily driver, wouldn't be without a van now! Fit's the 5 of us fine (I've got the bench seat up front so can seat 6 if need be). LWB will take bikes in the back without wheels off, so there's room for 6 bods + bikes and kit for days/weekends away. The rear seat is on a quick release so is a 2 minute job to remove should I need to for work, I've also made a bolt in camper unit and bed for weekends away camping. we have slept all 5 of us in it on a few occasions (no pop-top or awning), which is snug but doable for the odd night, usually when travelling somewhere, although we've now got a decent driveaway awning for the kids to sleep in. Drove to Greece and back in it last year and it was pain free. Mine gets 600 miles per tank (T32, 105ps), no matter how laden or seemingly how I drive it, it's always 38mpg.
Make sure any that you get (if going 2nd hand) has full service history, they're long life service intervals which need to be kept to apparently. Cruise is an easy an fairly cheap retro fit if you want that and find the right van that doesn't have it, air-con on the other hand is a fortune, so if that's important make sure you have it from the off.
I prefer barn doors for loading, but a tailgate would make a bike rack easier. If you end up with barn doors you're pretty much restricted to a towbar mounted rack.

Do it, you won't look back!

T5 kombi owner with 3 small children, dogs, surfboards, bikes, clutter etc
Perfect vehicle for throwing everything in in the back and going.. Minimal faff and even get changed my in it

cheers guys, all useful stuff, we would be getting one 2nd hand due to cost; they are expensive and hold their value really well saw one with 200k miles for £8k! I imagine we would just buy a boggo 5/6 seater and convert later on as funds permitted. My misses wants one of these large tepee style tents which we could just bung in the back...

any dealers to approach or avoid?

Very tempted by a T4/5, though there aren't that many Kombis here (Spain), 2nd hand is generally transporter or multivan. Like the idea of the multivans (two of us with 3yo, loaded up with camp gear and possibility of folding the seat down and spending a night on the way somewhere) but I generally drive two or three times a month and that's a lot of money to spend on something sitting unused most of the time. Something like a berlingo probably makes more sense.

Because of the high 2nd hand values, the approved vw van centres are often no-more expensive than a private buy, but you get a limited warranty. Worth a look first.

You will get a pretty nice big estate for the cost of a half decent T5/6 and it will be more comfortable, better specced, more economical, and have better performance. There is no getting away from the fact it is a van.

But on the other hand, if you do really need the space, a T5/6 or similar is the only option.

They drive OK, long journeys are pleasant, around town less so, but I'm no petrolhead. Parking wise there are a couple of car parks in town I don't even consider in my LWB.

T5 California here, drives like a car shaped like a van, it's the beach version so no pots and pans or cupboards and shit like that, two front seats swivel, two swivelling removable 2nd row seats and 3 seat 3rd bench.

Ours replaced an estate and it's fantastic, has a pop up roof, handy for days out as well as sleeping in and eating in, also great for shagging in. It's got an awning.

My Mrs calls it the 2nd home, it does everything and there's tons of room, we get away in ours and I use it as a daily driver. 2nd hand residuals are prob one of the best in the motoring industry? You will pay good money for one, beware the builders special decked out in wood and carpet and more miles than the battle star galactica, you will pay up on purchase but get a good return.

Started a similar thread a couple of years ago - and 2 years later we (me, wife, kids, friends) love it. Multivan in CH is the same as a Caravelle in UK. Wee bit fancy, 7seats, sliding rails, very good climate control, brilliant way to move the 5 of us and the dug about, plus crumblies when they visit.

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/help-needed-convincing-the-missus-that-a-t5-multivan-is-the-ideal-car

Doing a tour from Basel to Aviemore via Hull, Yorkshire, Penrith, Edinburgh Aberdeen and Aviemore at the end of July, so if you see a big white Swiss T5 driving past you - give us a wave!

to the OP - just get one, they are just so bloody practical.

I do want a set of 19" black wheels, but that might be pushing it too far!

Reading big-scot-nanny's thread ended up with us deciding to take the plunge and buy a T5 a year ago. Can't imagine being without it now. my wife drives it more often than me and has no real problem parking it wherever she needs to be. I find it very comfortable on long trips and not bad fuel economy, but then it replaced a Disco 3 so that's no surprise!

xyeti - Member

T5 California here, drives like a car shaped like a van

yes, a big, high, soft, bouncey, rolly, slow, unresponsive car (in short, a van)

I've been considering buying t5 for a while. I may be moving to Geneva again in October so this could be ideal for some long weekends in the mountains.
Hummmmmm 40 in June, could be the ideal mid life crisis gift to myself.

On and on - very popular here in der Schweiz as family vehicles. 4 motion is a complete blast in winter, not much stopping it. Ours also has the extra separate heater thingy, which you can set the timer on, which = extremely happy family at the end of a day's skiing 🙂

As a T5 owner, anyone who says any of the following is talking rubbish:
- it drives like a car
- anything over 150k miles is "just run in"
- remapping them will cause you to die in a ball of flames
- you MUST have air con
- you MUST have a tailgate
- the 2.0 CR engines are unreliable
- the 2.0 BiTDI engines are unreliable
etc etc etc

Great multi use vehicle, pretty much drives like a car, fits into most spaces okay.
Wouldn't be without ours now.
One thing i would get next time is twin sliding doors as it would be super handy!

Sod it, have a picture too:
[img] [/img]

+1 for the rubbish list, banded steels will cause you to die and pigs to mutate into giants and eat your children.

LWB T4 Caravelle here. I wouldn't really want to drive it every day (and I don't), but there's no real reason why you couldn't. It does ~45mpg on a mix of driving including a few long runs and it's pretty comfy.

The Caravelle is more car-like than a Transporter but there's no getting away from the fact it's a) big and b) a van with soundproofing.

3 kids here, the youngest 4 weeks, and we have a facelift T5 full conversion. We also have a new Seat Alhambra which is basically massive. Both have roughly the same 2.0 engine (just one is more powerful and updated), but to suggest the `van' has anywhere near the refinement levels of the car is just silly.

However, I could quite easily put up with the T5 as a daily driver if not going far. In fact I did, sticking on 15k in 12 months on the commute, which was daft. Also you can never have too much space and the turning circle is far better than our people carrier or even the Passat before it. I think its narrower too. However, as a full conversion it no longer works for us so will be sold.

Owned and driven T5 & 5.5 extensively.

Agree with some of the posts on here. To suggest it drives like a car? Maybe a really sh*t car, yes. But it drives nothing like anything half decent.

It's a van, it drives like one. Against over vans, it drives very nicely, but it's still terrible compared to a decent car.

They are a decent multi purpose vehicle. One downside is everyone wants to be your friend for moving sofas at the weekend.

As a T5 owner, anyone who says any of the following is talking rubbish:
- it drives like a car

In comparison to to my N plate t4 (2.4 5cyl) and 53 plate b5.5 passat (sport 😮 ) the 5.1 Ts and T6s feel just like a high up car,
Then again you all drive masteratis now don't you, they're nothing like that though 😉

DaveyBoyWonder - Member

As a T5 owner, anyone who says any of the following is talking rubbish:
- you MUST have a tailgate

Nope. You can't shelter under barn doors

If you get a panel van, it will be classed as a commercial vehicle and therefore have -10mph speed limits. I got caught recently by camera with reg recognition.
The bench seats in the back can be a long way behind the front seats for passing stuff to kids while driving - develops catching skills!
Go for air con.
Watch the older 130bhp models with chain drive - known faults with camshaft and oil coolers etc.
Wouldn't want to be without one now.

one of the of the reasons for looking at a T5 is the ability to chuck everyone along with loads of stuff and disappear off. The majority of estate cars, wont take 3 children and stuff; its either or.

Legend, Not only are you an expert on all things cycling related you can automatically assume that my 15 Plate 180 DSG 4 Motion drives like a van and not at all like a car,

That's great, but having driven vans and cars I'd say it's not at all wallowy nor unresponsive or slow, it's actually quite brisk. FOR A VAN, which has no panels all windows and seats on sliding rails, heated seats, air con, DSG, night heater, Xenons, sat nav, hands free Bluetooth phone integrated media, auto sliding side door,

Compared to a car it's quite nice, comfy arm rests, nice driving position, very relaxed and a nice thing to drive

If the 'drives like a van' thing bothers you too much, look at an S Max - pretty big, 3 full size rear seats, drives like a car. Probably the closest you'll get to a car with a decent amount of space.

That said I have a S Max, 3 boys, too many bikes and like camping holidays. I'm buying a T5 as soon as I can 🙂

We're into roof box, towbar bike rack and taking one bike apart territory when we camp. A possible alternative would be a trailer, but I'd like a van for quick cheeky overnights without tent and Mrs B doesn't mind driving it to school, so its settled 😉

If you get a panel van, it will be classed as a commercial vehicle and therefore have -10mph speed limits. I got caught recently by camera with reg recognition.

I did not know that. If you have it converted or buy it converted, can you get the designation changed at the DVLA?

Not had it long but ticks all the boxes for me after owning a T2 for 10 years!
Vanping rocks!!
[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1463/25769221643_73524c4c8b_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1463/25769221643_73524c4c8b_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Fg8ZNT ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr

Nice cally

xyeti - Member

Legend, Not only are you an expert on all things cycling related you can automatically assume that my 15 Plate 180 DSG 4 Motion drives like a van and not at all like a car,

Interesting, does it drive massively differently to my 14 plate 140ps then?

having driven vans and cars I'd say it's not at all wallowy nor unresponsive or slow, it's actually quite brisk. FOR A VAN

So does that mean you do agree with me then? They do drive well for a van, but not anywhere near as good as a normal car?

I'm confused.

can you get the designation changed at the DVLA?

You can with bed, cooker, water supply etc, etc. You lose space then though. You also have to make it look like a camper van externally - crappy stickers or whatever. In fact, if you convert to a camper van, it's a legal requirement that you do re-classify:

From DVLA:
In order for a converted vehicle to qualify as a motor caravan it must have certain minimum features, as
follows:
? a door that provides access to the living accommodation
? a bed, which has a minimum length of 1800mm or 6 feet. This can be converted from seats used
for other purposes during the day but must be permanently fixed within the body of the vehicle
? a water storage tank or container on, or in, the vehicle
? a seating and dining area, permanently attached to the vehicle. The table may be detachable but
must have some permanent means of attachment to the vehicle. It is not good enough to have a
loose table
? a permanently fixed means of storage, a cupboard, locker or wardrobe
? a permanently fixed cooking facility within the vehicle, powered by gas or electricity
? at least one window on the side of the accommodation
If the vehicle has all of these features present, permanently fixed and installed properly, then it is a legal
requirement to have it reclassified as a motor caravan on the V5C.

So does that mean you do agree with me then? They do drive well for a van, but not anywhere near as good as a normal car?

A T5 will drive just as nicely as a car, it's not better or worse, just different. The better visibility (over hedges etc) makes journeys to the countryside a lot more pleasant. Similarly it's far easier and nicer than a car to drive in traffic as you can spot hazards so much easier.

A higher powered T5 will easily keep up with most cars cross country, no it's not physically as quick but the extra visibility you get allows you a much better view ahead resulting in increased momentum should you decide to press on. I also drive an RS4 but enjoy driving my T5 every bit as much. If you enjoy spirited driving then sometimes less is more and I can safely take my T5 nearer to the edge of it's handling and performance envelope (allowing for traffic and road conditions), whilst remaining well within the speed limit. Can't do that with the RS4.

A T5 will drive just as nicely as a car, it's not better or worse, just different. The better visibility (over hedges etc) makes journeys to the countryside a lot more pleasant. Similarly it's far easier and nicer than a car to drive in traffic as you can spot hazards so much easier.

You have an odd opinion of what is nice to drive.

The only environment I can think a Transporter is better than a nice car is its sheer load carrying ability.

Something I would gladly forgo, not to have to drive a van.

I got around the speed limit issue by buying a 2.4 diesel T4 that's was nearly as old as me and putting massive wheels on it to destroy, even further, the already woeful performance. I loved every minute of ownership dearly. My wife cried when I sold it. I just had enough of travelling to hilly Corwall and having to use Devon as a run up. Still miss it though.

Went from E250 estate to a Caravelle 180BiTDi. Not got the out and out foot down and hear Ride of the Valkyries playing but it puts a smile on my face whenever I drive it. The wife loves it. We pull a caravan so no need for camper kit and we have 7 seats when we need them. Brilliant vehicle and wished I'd not bothered with the Merc before it. It's not car like but certainly not van like compared to say a Transit. But that might be as ours is the MPV version and internally finished like a car and not a van like Kombi.

I drove Land Rovers daily for years so my 174 2.5 T5 feels like a sports car to me 😀

Ive friends with T4s and T5s. The consensus seems to be that T4s are more reliable/cheaper to run. Guy who works just on VWs agrees that the T4s are better too. Not that I have actually owned either myself!

My t5 offers a driving experience experience that is closer to a normal car than a normal car is to something like a Lotus Elise. So yes, it's a van but anything remotely practical isn't really any more enjoyable. I wouldn't be without it now for family and bike use.

Hob Nob, are you talking about a Transporter this is a Van, a California isn't a Van?

A 180 T5:5 is different to a 140, I had a 140 so I can make the comparison, mine was the last T5 off the production line For Retail, the last few were saved by VW for storage, museum ? I didn't order it, it came up for grabs after my Blackberry 140 got nicked,

Interestingly my other car is also an RS4, 007 do you own a grey one ?

I love my T5 (cali 4 motion). Only thing to be aware of really is that VW are frankly idiots with their EGR valve/exhaust recoolant whatever its called I can give you the part number as i'm having mine replaced. I mostly do longer trips only and at 4 years old mine is already knackered. They are great to drive on longer journeys and fine in town (basically the size of a ford galaxy). Personally not so keen on the dsg gear box (yep I have driven one for more then a day).

I have a 2010 140ps T5 , a lwb panel van, with a rib seat bed , night heater and a few cupboards fitted.
I also have a 2012 140ps Skoda Superb estate, which is a firms car.
Whilst neither are race cars, neither are slow and dull, both are very comfortable places to be .
Perhaps it's because I drive the car for work (quite a few motorway miles) and that subconsciously I'm associating it with things which need to be done, as opposed to things I want to do, I don't know, but I genuinely would rather be driving the van in most instances. That said, under usual company rules my Skoda was due to be changed last year, but I've elected to keep it longer, because it's a very tax efficient car and equally as capable and comfy as some things I've had previously, such as Saab 95 or Lexus .
With regard reliability of VW transporters, I'm convinced that as is usually the case, it's all down to how they are driven or maintained. Previously I had an 88 ps T4. Both my vans have been bought s/h with about 50k miles on them. The T4 never let me down during the 90k miles I put on it and the T5 , now at about 75k hasn't either.
I used my T4 regularly as a daily vehicle with no issues and the T5 would be fine too.

Sparks, I had a D3 for 7 years and those things eat EGR valves in pairs on a V6 so only buying 1 will be a relief when it does occur, the D3 was a manual and I was up and down that gearbox like a fiddlers elbow so when I bought the T5 it had to be Auto, I quite like the DSG and it just ads to the pleasant environment, I know these arent without fault though but at least if it implodes it's still got over 2 years warranty on it,

All the manufacturers are the same with the EGR's they get gummed up as they bleed the gasses out of the exhaust and re circulate them back into the inlet manifold to burn some of the spent gasses again,
I used to put 2 Stroke oil on D3 which cured the EGR problem and made it run a lot less clattery, mine was a euro 6 so the valves couldn't be blocked without it throwing up an error code.

The welcome return of what van drives like a car thread.
Kicks tyre and sucks teeth.......

I've got a T4 hightop camper. It drives nothing like a car, but more importantly, despite having loads more storage room than a pop-top camper it is still very much on the small side as a camper for a family of 4, let alone 5. Great for weekends, less good for long trips.

However, it did just pass it's MOT with no advisories yesterday - 17 yrs old and 160K, and we all love it.

"[i]If you have it converted or buy it converted, can you get the designation changed at the DVLA?[/i]"

Avoid all the hassle by buying a Caravelle instead of a Transporter - legally it's the same as a car regarding tax, speed limits.

Been looking at these recently and remembered this thread. Still not sure it makes sense based on the little we'd give it, but was wondering if there's a consensus on the motor to go for. Saw two today with little to choose between them other than one was 2008 1.9 105cv with 100k, other was 2004 2.5 130(?)cv with 136k. Both 7-seater Caravelles with the (factory) rock and roll bed. Common sense leans toward the lower mileage more 'economical' one, but if I had any of that I'd be looking at Berlingos...

Interestingly, we looked at a 2010 Primastar too - same price but 25k miles - but it did absolutely nothing for me.

I've had the 1.9 engine in my previous Caddy and now in my T5. Both the 104version.

The 1.9 in the T5 can be a little underpowered if it's lugging around a lot of weight but I found it'd still return 40mpg on a run and they are pretty reliable motors.
I had a Pendle remap on the T5 which took it up to about 135bhp and it's far nicer to drive for it. Obviously it's not fast by any stretch but it's much nicer to drive on dual carriageways and motorways even with a bit of weight in it. The fuel economy seems to be pretty much identical to before the remap.

From what I've read the 2.5 seems to suffer with more engine related problems which put me off looking for one and sticking with the 1.9. Personally I'm more than happy with the 1.9.

From what I've read, the 2.5 does seem to have more of a reputation for going expensively wrong. Speed isn't of much importance, previous van being an aircooled camper, but would like to avoid expensive bills where possible (somewhat unrealistic on a ~10yo van). Both vans have had the DMF and clutch done.

I asked google and turns out this is one of the first hits:

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/volkswagon-transporter-which-engine-19-or-25

I have a 2006 T5 1.9 86hp 75k miler I bought when I started my own buisness 5 year ago , it also has 19" wheels so glaciers move faster.

I've had to rebuild the gearbox when a layshft bearing collapsed & also had to replace the turbo when the shaft snapped. It's also gotten through a couple of sets of disc's in around 10,000 miles , steering wheel clock spring thingy & the clutch judders like a alky on a withdrawl.

I do like driving it though , gonna respray it soon & let pendle breath some life into it (poor clutch r.i.p methinks) , it's only been used for firewood collecting the last couple of years & is long overdue some pimpin inside & out

bob_summers - Member
I asked google and turns out this is one of the first hits:

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/volkswagon-transporter-which-engine-19-or-25
br />

Because Google will promote results that match your browsing habits. 😀

OP - we've got a 1.9 SWB 57 plate T5 that we bought with 50K miles as a white panel van. We had windows and seats in the back and a bit of carpet and all is good. Wouldn't go back.

A remap completely changed driving it from 'I'll never get past this tractor' to 'overtaking is actually possible on occasion' - from 90 ish HP to 130ish HP.

It drives like it drives. If you're really bothered about how something drives then I would do lots of test drives. If you want a van that you can sort-of use like a car then I wouldn't worry about it and just get one.

Lastly - T5's do keep their value but don't discount a newer Transit or Vivaro etc, I'd suggest some tyre kicking and price comparing as ultimately they're just boxes with wheels.