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Any Caddy Maxi Kombi owners out there? Been looking for one for a while but want 2.0 litre and tailgate plus 5 seats that are removeable. It's going to be an all rounder, biking van, one person camper (not converted just enough room to sleep), family car (2 adults, child and dog) and high mileage drive to work car. I know cars are better for high mileage comfort etc but this is a best compromise vehicle as a larger van is too impracticle.
The 2.0 litre is almost impossible to find unless you have £20+k knocking around. Is the 1.6 any good? I understand the 1.6 can be re mapped to give 140-175 hp, anyone done this?
Looked at all alternatives but simply don't like anything else and nothing seems to fit the bill for me. I have looked at the Caddy Maxi life but would that be a hassle to convert to rubber floor? Are seats easy to remove? Prefer the van for privacy, security etc.
Looked at the Mercedes Citan recently which is sort of the same but looks bloody awful.
In true singletrack fashion....
Do you think you may be over thinking the 2.0l requiremen? I have a fiat scudo so a slightly bigger van width wise but swb so prob the same length as a lwb caddy. 1.6l 90 bhp. It is a little underpowered on steep hills on A roads but generally fine and only a problem if trying to overtake uphill, I can keep at the speed limit fine. Cruises nicely at 75mph / 120kmph. Over takes on normal a roads fine
This is a 2007 model so over 10 years old now. Modern 1.6 should be much better.
1.6 is good, as long as you avoid 2011/2012 - horrendous injector issues and costs.
The 75 and 102bhp engines are exact same engine mechanically, just tuned differently.
I've got a 2.0l caddy life not maxi its a great car great high mileage and a better compromise than the maxi, the rear seats and easy to remove but the double is heavy and i used foam matting to cover floor. I'm also selling it so if you want to know more my emails in my profile.
Had a Maxi-Life for over 3yrs until a friend bought it off me for what I paid for it!
Still use it now occasionally too.
1.6 DSG, not mapped and never any issues at all with it.
Fitted the VW oe floor liner the second day I owned it and used in the same way you want it for. No hassle at all other than me being picky and wanting it fitted under the plastic trims, etc rather than laid on top (but thats me wanting it to effectively replace the carpet)
Seats are simple to remove - literally seconds. Only the rear bench being heavy can cause problems however mine was very rarely in it as I kept the bike in it full time until moving house.
I wouldn't bother with the Maxi as the Life gives you better kit as standard, without the van restrictions or insurance issues.
So it is possible to have the Maxi life fitted with the rubberised floor? Is it possible to fit the bike in whole and sleep next to it? How do you block out the light when using the Maxi life as camper?
Is it possible to fit the bike in whole and sleep next to it?
You could, but it makes far more sense to slip the front wheel off and bungee the bike to the side lashing points.
How do you block out the light when using the Maxi life as camper?
2 options are curtains, or a buff over your eyes.
So as I first suspected, It starts to become a pain in the neck with a non van as I would have to start modifying/spending more money straight away.
As for overthinking 2.0 litre, I have become used to reasonably powerful large diesel estates (2 litre +) so just thinking along those lines.
I was looking at one, but realised in the end (for me) an estate was better. 2.2l Mazda 6; blacked out rear windows for bike security, seats go flat so I could sleep in there if I needed to, pretty quick, nice to drive.
Ok - let's clear it up.
There are NO issues sleeping next to it in a Maxi Life.
Rear bench is out anyway and the single passenger flipped forward means the complete bike fits in perfectly.
No point whatsoever taking the front wheel out as you still have to put it somewhere.
As for sleeping I made a set of blinds from insulation that pop into the window trims. Takes minutes to fit and seconds to remove and store rolled up in the shelf above the front seats.
It's darker than with a van and a lot warmer.
Still have them in fact!!
You don't have to modify a thing.
The OE floor cover is about £80 IF you want to fit it.
Like I said above - I fitted mine differently because I planned on using it that way from the start so didn't want mud going down the sides, etc from it being laid on top.
780mm bars got in the way in a LWB T5, so to say they don't get in the way in a caddy, well....
And a wheel doesn't exactly take up much room....
Also, with wheel still fitted it means after a ride, the dirty oily bike is a lot closer to your bed.
I agree re the window covers, it's minimum hassle. On my old tranny connect I had some made from heavy black waterproof nylon material, with magnetic strips bonded top and bottom. Basically flung them on, they were ace.
VanX also sell a cab curtain that goes where a bulkhead would go on a van, real good for sleeping, keeping van noise down and means cab heats up quicker on cold days.
Had the 1.6 and thought it was too under powered for me, though I am used to 2 ltr diesels
Sold it in the end.
Realised that although it was nice to throw a bike in the back every now and then, I had to put up with the drive for the rest of the time, and it was too van like for me. Had too much body roll and no power
Have a 2ltr estate car now which is awesome to drive, I can still throw the bike in the back occasionally and have slept in the back a couple of nights too, no regrets
Win win win!
780mm bars on the Capra never got in the way once.
Front wheel straps to single seat support bar and rear to tie down loop.
As for it being near your bed with the wheel on is bollocks.
Single seat is drivers side so drive side is against the panels not the bed.
The times I slept in it dirty I used a simple tarp under wheels and then over seat/bars.
Regardless of the van or wheel in:out the bike is going to be near you sleeping unless you are in a separate bed as in a T5 rock/roll as the floor is going to get dirty
It all depends on what you actually need it for. Throwing a bike in the back = at least 3 times a week for me.
Sleeping in an estate car in colder weather is bloody baltic, too much glass and no enough insulation.
It's always going to be a compromise, whatever suits you.
As for it being near your bed with the wheel on is bollocks.
Caddy maxi must have a wider loadspace than a T5 then...
Who knew. 
Anyhoo, first sleep in the new caddy will be Ard rock, looking forward to it!.
Kind of done the whole large estate car to death, bike in and out wrecks the interior however careful I am even with a liner. I think the whole bike in plus me for trips away will be fine in a caddy maxi as I plan to use an awning too. The plan was to clean bike with mobile pressure washer, drip dry then put in for security and kip next to it on an air bed on the floor of the van. I drive to work 2-3 times a week 160 mile round trip in summer but outside that I barely work so biking once a week summer and 2-3 times a week in muddy spring, autumn and summer so lots of use and the ability to throw bike in whole and have a mobile change room would be be invaluable.
Not put off by things like the drive or extras kit just need a really practice vehicle. Just a cursory glance in the usual places shows the caddy maxi life with decent mileage is tricky to source. Most of them seem to be wheelchair conversions? Sounds like it wouldn't be much trouble to convert the life to a rubberised floor and window blinds/curtains so may be the solution, if I can find one under £20k!!!
Folding camp bed with a narrow but proper single mattress on it, way more comfy than air bed, storage below too for bike kit.
I've been looking at Maxi Kombi's too. Look ideal for what you want.
I might try and get away with a normal Caddy fitted with extra seats though to start.
We've had our maxi life 9 years now I think. VW luggage mat went in from new - only issue with it is water etc pooling in the tie down points. Carpeted floor is quite padded which probably adds a lot to soundproofing. It's easy to sweep out.
Only the back row of seats is removeable in ours - the 2nd row rolls forward. We take off front wheels and turn bars as take up a lot less space. Have never slept in in but we are two and I'm 6 ' 5" so pretty sure I'd not fit.
Main advantage over an estate is bikes go in standing up and we can fit 2 mtb plus 2 road and luggage with ease.
It's a great bike and leisure vehicle - a lot less bulky than a t5 or similar and I've yet to see anything else better that I'd replace it with. Ours is the 2L 140 so it has ample power. With regard to chipping/remaps someone who knows what they're talking about on here said they're an emissions disaster (can't remember the thread) so I'd be dubious about that
a lot less bulky than a t5 or similar and I've yet to see anything else better that I'd replace it with
Is it actually any shorter than a SWB T5? Always think Maxi's look bloomin' massive
EDIT: Dimensions were easy to comeby. Maxi is 4.88m, SWB T5 is 4.89m. Which explains why the Maxi looks massive
Have never slept in in but we are two and I'm 6 ' 5" so pretty sure I'd not fit.
I'm 3 inches shorter and can fit in a SWB caddy (with seats forward a bit), I'm sure the extra 47cm that the maxi has would accomodate you no probs.
Is it actually any shorter than a SWB T5? Always think Maxi's look bloomin' massive
No, it's the same length (which is why it's big enough to take bikes. However, it's a 166mm narrower which might not seem a lot but makes a fair bit of difference parking and driving.
Mattbee on here wanted my Maxi Life but the towing capacity was the only reason he didn't have it.
He sold is converted T5 and went over to a 4x4 for towing his caravan instead.
Not sure why Simons Maxi life seats don't come out though.
My 2012 came out in two movements. Twin is passenger side, single drivers. A 29'er will go in whole without taking the wheel out with the seat flipped.
Take them out and a full double mattress fits in with room to spare behind the front seats for kit.
The Decathlon Seconds pop up awning fits the Caddy perfectly and covers the side door - either seeing as they have two unlike a T5.
Never had the water pooling issues with the liner fitted under the trims as the carpet is.
Just need to "adjust" it with a heat gun so the raised parts aren't and fit the rear bench rails on top of it.Can get some pics tonight as it'll be at mine for a ride out tomorrow.
I got mine from a private VIP vehicle firm at Gatwick - was one of their luxury shuttles.
I Love Meet and Greet were the company.
https://www.ilovemeetandgreet.co.uk/meet-and-greet/gatwick
I have a 2012 Maxi Life with the 2.0tdi 140bhp and we use the swb panel vans for work with the 1.6 104bhp.
The 1.6 is ok for the smaller, lighter panel van but runs out of steam on the motorway. The 2.0tdi is much better all round, particularly given the extra weight of the maxi.
I run my life with the 'middle' 3 seats either folded forward for sleeping / 4 bikes or with one of the two seats up depending on how many bikes I have in there. I've used the 'rear' 2 seats a couple of times for ferrying people about at stag do's and the like, which can be helpful to cram 7 of you in there in comfort. The are heavy though, and although I can lift and put them in on my own I don't like carrying them too far.
I use a bit of foam matting I got for a tenner on the bay to put down over the carpet, which has worked really well. easy to brush etc.
hammyuk, you got a link to that awning please? canny seem to find it...
[url= https://www.decathlon.co.uk/base-seconds-pop-up-camping-shelter-id_8208602.html ]THIS[/url] one NBITF
If you look at the user oics - there's loads of it being used with T5's, a Disco, Partner, etc.
Ideal, perfect for the Caddy by the looks of it.
Sits against it perfectly.
Kids have it. Ow for camping with ex but I still have the custom blinds that were made for the Maxi Life that could do with going in the classifieds