Vw multivan forum

I've just ordered one. I'll let you know how it goes in 12 to 14 months when it's delivered!

I did test drive one and it is very nice - then again I'm coming from a proper van - Renault Tragic - so it should be more refined.

Try the facebook groups rather than web forums, as they have seemingly been replaced by them (& are a step backwards). There seems to be underlying dislike for the T7's though on the T5/T6* groups I follow, as long as your aware of this, someone should still be able to answer your questions. Can't see any obvious T7 groups...

*there going to totally lose their shit when the replacement Ford/VW van final comes along.

Thanks zippy, I'd picked up a general 'sod off out of this forum' and 'is fugly' vibe from what I'd seen on a couple of t6 forums!  They will come around.

<p style="text-align: left;">Lucky you old dog!</p>

I've just searched and there is a Multivan owners club on Facebook

seen a couple of hybrid ones on the eurocamp site im on in France atm, one German, one french plates

they look lovely, a quick look at the price and it seems we'll be squeezing into the Zafira for the foreseeable!

We are considering the hybrid version to replace our 2.5 Caravelle, although it is an eye watering amount of cash for a can with wheels. Just trying to work out how much of a good idea it would be as we would want to keep it for a long time…

Absolutely agree,  it is a shocking amount of money.  I fancy the hybrid or 2L tsi but that is even more.  Reality will kick in and I'll probably get the 1.5tsi in poverty spec.... if I can afford that!

Just had a look at that Facebook group.  I stopped using Facebook 3 years ago and....I don't think I'll change my mind.

Isn’t the T7 literally just a glorified VW Caddy?

I think Jct600 west Yorkshire have a demo. I used it for a few days at the end of last year. Very nice, but couldn't see myself slinging muddy cx bikes in there without crying. Much nicer to drive than my T6.1.

it is a shocking amount of money.

It's almost as much as I've just paid for my house 🤣

Haven't ford and VW teamed up? Either way isn't the multivan more MPV based than van based, IE. Ford galaxy or VW equivalent?

The regular Transporter forums hate them, but they just hate change it seems. They're can't be too many on the road yet for a dedicated forum to spring up but to give my two penarth, they are somewhere between a Sharan and a Transporter based Carravelle, but priced as you know, at the top end. A mate of mine in the Alps runs two hybrid versions as part of his Ski transfer business. He has the top of the range specs and they are a very nice place to be, but they cost over 60k, so they should be. The one downside so far, the sliding windows leak. I laughed when I first saw him in it, when he came over to see us, and noted how the window design is the same as my Transporter, and they leak. Guess what, they leak. But, nice vehicle, I'd have one in a heart beat, but it's not commercial based so no Vat back for me.

Had a demo in one. Phev powertrain was great, the touch screen and controls were dreadful.  I really wasn’t keen on the interior styling, and because of all the interior plastic lost a lot of space. Disappointed overall. Really wanted to like it!

No, they're nearly the size of a Transporter.

They’re MQB based. So depending on how you look at it they’re either a citigo or an Audi a8, or something in between in a stick on tash and trench coat. There’s proper hatred for them in the caravelle forums. I’ve no idea why. They look great. Finally they get rid of the awful mk5 golf electrical systems and make decent integrated driver aids possible.

powetrains seem odd and the PHEV seems to have been homolgated without any towing capacity which makes fitting a bike rack interesting. The tailgate mounted VW one I’ve always thought was crap. 2.0tsi will struggle to get 30mpg. Same engine in our Kodiaq would barely hit that on a run.

The “they’re designed to leak sir” comedy sliding windows are unbelievable. The two on our velle have just ruined the SLD blinds.

They’re pure VW. Ford have only joined the party to make the new transporter which by all accounts is exactly the same as the new transit custom and built on an entirely different platform, in Turkey.

Yes they are a 'premium' large mpv, based on car underpinning,  the mqb platform  (golf, octavia, Leon,a3, passat and now this)  Size wise it's a Transporter but something like 6" narrower, 4 inches lower and 8 inches longer in the long form. Supposedly a great drive and place to be but the same poor infotainment as the golf.

Yes vw and ford have teamed up but not for this,  for the commercial t7.

The next California is going to be on the Multivan. ‘Near production’ Concept just been shown at Düsseldorf show. Impressive design and development work but shudder to think what it’s got be priced at. £100k for a spec’s up PHEV is my guess.

Is it a Honda stepwagon?

I get 40mpg long term average and 45-50 on longer journeys from my 2L tsi... but an octavia is not a large van!  Like the engine,  wouldn't like the mpg in a van.

Could be wrong (and this is why I want a forum)  the phev is heavy due to batteries so it's weight limit that limits options.  Heavy options are a problem.  I think possibly it can get a tow bar but not if speced with the panoramic roof.  That big glass roof is heavy.

I'd probably go poverty 'life' special which doesn't get the leaky opening windows,  except if I want the thirsty 2L tsi I'm forced to the style spec which gets them.   Oh.

Yeah that final development of the ea888 is amazing. Loved it in our Kodiaq. I very nearly spec’d it in our velle, then drove one and saw single digit mileage on the test drive. You can make mechanics go cross-eyed by telling them it’s a 5-stroke engine.  Did yours ship from the factory with special 0w20 oil which mysteriously got changed out to the standard vw 10w30 at the 18k service for “reasons”?

Mine is a 14 plate, 220ps, so not pushed hard. Iirc it went to 230 about 6 months after I got mine and 240 a year or two later.  Given the golf r with 300+ ps is the same bar some bigger injectors, it's probably still not stretched at 240ps.  Stage 3 mods can take it over 400 I think but I've never even mapped mine.  It has always run on vw507, iirc is 5w30.

I’m hoping to place an order, but getting a test drive has been problematic. The only garage that apparently has them in Glasgow had theirs out on loan as a courtesy car. When the salesman couldn’t give me any idea how long it would take for the customer’s multivan to be repaired because of a ‘software fault’ it did give me some concerns about reliability. That’s been about 3 weeks now and not a peep - must be a bad software fault. Tried to call them again but got put on hold indefinitely. Think I might look elsewhere.

Had a long demo in one a 3-4 weeks ago. Overall my kids and I loved it.

Tested the hybrid and was pleasantly surprised. Drives really well, one negative the cabin was noisy at speed. For a car van with hardly any mileage there were a lot of annoying rattles, which annoyed my children more than me.

The infotainment wasn’t great for the spend, not the worst, but brand new in 2023 it’s far from hitting the right notes. The cabin is spacious and comfy, but it’s not luxurious which it frankly should be for the money.

If it costed a bit less I’d have ordered one in a heartbeat. But it’s expensive and I was advised there’s a 12 month wait. So I’m still procrastinating over it.

But I’ve seen the vids on the new multivan based California and that looks bloody amazing. But it’s going to be north of 80k, or 65 for the base model, neither of which are sadly in budget. I still want one though.

Hmm yes,  I've read on both the faceache group linked above,  and in the multivan-forum.com of major electrical and crashed infotainment stuff with vans that vw can't fix.   I'm not too worried as I'm probably a long way off ordering and build time is another year I guess,  so plenty of time to fix the issue.  However,  I do need to continue checking the v-class alternative.... or the vito tourer which is realistically the nearer to affordable option.   I just don't want a diesel and torque converter power train though!

If the infotainment is the same as the cars the temperature and volume controls (which are touch sensitive strips) are not lit up at night so are basically a lucky dip. Terrible design

Yes, that's the problem picked out in all the reviews.

The regular Transporter forums hate them, but they just hate change it seems.

Thats Transporter owners for you. T4 owners seem to hate T5 owners. T5 owners hated the 5.1 when it came out. Short while later they're falling over themselves to facelift their old 5s to 5.1. Rinse and repeat for the 6 and the 6.1. They're generally a pretty weird bunch (speaking as a T5 owner for 9 years to the day!).

https://www.youtube.com/@TransporterHQ/search?query=T7

Some stuff worth a watch.

Thats Transporter owners for you. T4 owners seem to hate T5 owners. T5 owners hated the 5.1 when it came out. Short while later they’re falling over themselves to facelift their old 5s to 5.1. Rinse and repeat for the 6 and the 6.1. They’re generally a pretty weird bunch (speaking as a T5 owner for 9 years to the day!).

That's some odd Transporter owners for you.

When I took my 6.1 in to get a couple of minor recall issues sorted, they had a ID Buzz and T7 in the showroom.

If I wanted a van for kid/bike/camping gear/other kit hauling I'd buy a T7 but I wouldn't I buy an ID Buzz.

I'll be interested to see whether anyone starts doing "proper" camper conversions on the  T7 non-commercial.  But I suspect we will probably have to wait until the next gen VW commercial van.

Is it a Honda stepwagon?

It's funny quite how much DNA of the Japanese MPVs there is in this, but there's not a lot of competition any more in the euro market.

I quite want one, but then my £6k worth of old Stepwgn does it almost as well and they figured out how to make windows retract into sliding doors.

@BillOddie

I’ll be interested to see whether anyone starts doing “proper” camper conversions on the T7 non-commercial. But I suspect we will probably have to wait until the next gen VW commercial van.

It already exists...

😉

ETA - as for the Multivan - its superb, I've had a close look at a few and it appeals massively. Lots of them on the road in Germany and Switzerland last month, had some chats with owners. Seen a few in the UK too now. Mostly 1.4 TSI Hybrid. A modern day Renault Espace. Everything about it that is making the T6 owners froth, is exactly the things that make it great. I.E. being a car, not a Van.

The actual new VW Transporter 'Van' is the Ford Transit Custom above, in case anyone wasnt actually aware. The Nugget is even made by Westfalia in Germany.

On a related not I've been seriously eyeing up a new Tourneo Connect Active, as they seem to have done a better job of making a VW than VW have.

Ha ha, that's pretty nice to be fair!

Simon_g I think you're right.  It seems strange that the various Japanese mpv over the years haven't been sold here.  I guess it's just suvs were seen as cooler.   I might look at a stepwagon

It seems strange that the various Japanese mpv over the years haven’t been sold here. I guess it’s just suvs were seen as cooler.

it pre-dates SUVs by some way - the trouble is the japs had no diesel options, no brand kudos and mostly auto so no-one wanted a van that was either thirsty and slow or extremely thirsty and not very fast, and expensive stepwagon on bongo when a galaxy or sharan had as much comfort, lower price and way more economical due to diesel engines.

Merc tried to sell a posher mpv here (r class) which had a better engines and gearboxes and it was a flop.

Multivan turned up 6 months early.  Had it for a week now.  First impressions - very nice, extremely comfortable  - but coming from a Renault Trafic panel van so not surprising it's so much more refined.  Genuinely car like to drive, super smooth in electric mode (got PHEV). Not done any longer journeys yet but happy so far.

Going climbing at the weekend so will take out the back row of seats to make room for bouldering mats and other crap we always seem to haul and still be able to carry 4 passengers by sliding forward the seventh seat into the second row.

I'll see how well the bikes and surfboards fit whilst I'm moving seats around

Real world testing!  Yay.

I had a good poke around one in the dealer a couple of weeks ago while our velle was in for servicing. It seems really nice. It’s definitely a smaller vehicle.

I was a bit perplexed as to why the outer seats have their belts mounted on the bodywork while only the center rear gets it fixed to the seat.

Because you can make a much lighter seat if it only has to take 1x upper seatbelt anchorage load instead of 3x. This then also has a twofold knock on effect on how strong / heavy you have to make the floor as:

1. It doesn't have to take the massive leverage of 3x upper anchorages that are seat mounted.
2. The sba test also includes a significant load due to the mass of the seat (it is ages since I did sba tests but something like 20x the seat mass for M1 iirc). So any reduction in seat mass is a significant reduction in test load.

Body pillars are already very strong due to other requirements such as side intrusion, rollover etc so they don't need much adding to take the seatbelt loads.

But their is the conference seating option. Which I think then puts the belts on the seats...has to do or else belts wouldn't be in the right place when/if you turn the seats around.   So floor can take it.... basically it feels like a way to milk a lot of extra money out of customers who want that flexibility.

But there is the conference seating option. Which I think then puts the belts on the seats...has to do or else belts wouldn't be in the right place when/if you turn the seats around. So floor can take it.... basically it feels like a way to milk a lot of extra money out of customers who want that flexibility.

BTW, it's that belt issue with the cheap/standard seats that means you can't just rotate them.  You can... but if you try the seat back won't fold back up so you can't even use conference seating parked up (except for the rear middle) I don't know how the seat knows its rotated I don't know..... there may be a hack.

good point about the conference seating option.  Will investigate that.

currently thinking the new transit custom Tourneo is the  Caravelles spiritual successor.

Exceedingly dull video alert, but yes conference package does exactly that. Seats seem somewhat parsemoneous compared to the 40kg lumps in the velle

The floor may or may not be able to take it - you don't know if there is any strengthening added when you order the conference seat option. VW are advertising that some of the removable seats are 25% lighter which is quite possibly due to the pillar mounted belts.

Sounds like you guys know the VW mpv range intimately - am I right in thinking the swb ID Buzz rear seats can only be folded and not removed?

Hot_fiat - have you noticed that the new Transit and Transporter have 6 bolt wheels? No idea why this is as most vans in that size have been 5 bolt up to now.

Fair point....I think california Chris says you can't buy the seats from parts..... maybe that's why.

No.... hang on.... you can put the rear middle in any spot or backwards.... the floor can take it.

I’d not seen that about the wheels. I wonder if that means they’re using fords hubs and wheels then which on the last custom were 6-bolt.

afaik the I’d-buzz’ rear seat has a fixed base.  I’ll check with my uncle who has one.  Range is iffy. He drove here (~Newcastle) from Glasgow before Christmas and had to stop to charge near Carlisle, then again once he got here.

Seen a few if these around. I assumed they were the new Sharan.

Is the Transporter the same size as this or is that the same as the new Ford Transit?

It’s different. It’s built in the car platform - like a big superb. The new transporter / transit custom has its own platform (I think?)

@mick_r id buzz rear seat doesn’t come out, just folds flat with the rear false floor top.

I believe the six seat option has seat mounted belts so you can spin the second row to have conference seats when driving.  Same price as 7 seat.

Ultimately it's a massive 7/6 seat mpv with car rather than van sensibilities.

It's bigger that a Sharan.  Almost as big as my old Trafic - 10cm shorter and 1.5cm narrower.  It's got a longer bonnet so not quite as big inside, but still huge for a car.

Loaded with 2 bikes wheels on ( one is an XL 29er full suss) and 2 surfboards (one is a 9'6" longboard).  All fits comfortably with room for some bags. I left one of the rear seats in, with that out then they'll be loads more room.  This is our maximum personal loading scenario so plenty big enough for us.

Need to get a groundsheet to use as a liner and a cargo net

Seats are easy enough to get in and out, but you wouldn't want to be doing it everyday

Merc tried to sell a posher mpv here (r class) which had a better engines and gearboxes and it was a flop.

Quite an achievement to put all the things everyone wants (loads of space, 4WD, limo comfort) into one vehicle and produce... a car that nobody wants. I actually makes me want to buy one 🙂

Thanks for checking hot_fiat - I thought that was the case. So ID Buzz is pretty useless compared to the adaptability of the Multivan shown above.

I've got a Dispatch crewvan so will be sitting tight for now whilst things develop in the next few years - 5 or occasionally 6 seats with mucky bikes etc completely segregated by bulkhead. Kids are getting older so we could start to manage with an e Berlingo multispace but feels like we aren't quite there with range yet. New Courier E Tourneo also looks interesting.

Just out of interest, do the rear seats activate seatbelt warnings and if so does it know which seat is where?

Apparently yes. I guess it just warms and you have to work out who isn't belted yourself.