You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
My friend is selling a T5 SWB crew cab as he bought himself a bargain Transit custom, and as I've been eyeing up admittedly smaller crewcabs for a while, I wonder if his might be worthwhile.
I know there's VW tax, I don't want it specifically because it a VW, though would be getting m8's rates on it. It's more the alternatives seem no better, the much lauded Ford transits just seem terrible (& I love transits), and everything seemingly done 150K unless you want to spend £20K+. I have no camper conversion in mind, just a cheap(ish) van I can carry the dog/mtb's, without worrying about destroying with inside or messing around removing seats ala the current car. It might have to be my only car due to parking, though I could justify a small m/c too if I bought this & my partner also has a car I can use. Other than 20mile round trip commute, I only regularly drive for mtbing or to walk the dogs.
So the van, a tatty 2006 2.5 diesel with 170K mile on the clock, which other than a (auto) gearbox vibration, I know it's reliable or as reliable as 15year+ old van can be, as we've been on mtb-ing trips in it regularly.
.
Total madness?
So it’d be your daily driver then? I’d be getting the gearbox looked at before doing anything. Are 2.5s an actual auto or DSG? Would imagine the latter would get very expensive, very quickly if it shits itself.
170k + 2.5 + iffy gearbox + daily commute, wouldn’t be for me. Bloody miss having a van too
I have that 2.5 engine on a manual 6 speed box. It’s a money pit. Shortest engine run vw have ever done apparently.
I’d be getting the gearbox looked at before doing anything
It's been taken to a specialist previously who said he knew what the issue was, and could fix it but really don't worry about it, as it's annoying but fine.
170k + 2.5 + iffy gearbox + daily commute, wouldn’t be for me
T'is a fair comment, "It might have to be my only car due to parking" there's no actual restriction, just my g/f not wanting two car sat outside the house, and 2 lots of tax, MOT, insurance & servicing to pay
It’s a money pit.
What broke? (or what didn't break) 😉, as my friends has ben pretty damned faultless (except for a passenger door issue) for the 5+ years he's had it... not to say that will continue
Riddled with undiagnoseable electrical issues and can quickly become a case of firing the parts cannon at them.
They're a nice idea in principle but they're a labour of love not an economic affair.
If you want it, go for it but allow a decent chunk per year for repairs. My 2.5 has had a turbo, exhaust manifold gasket, additional turbo gasket, egr sensors, alternator, suspension gubbins, driveshaft, main under seat/floor wiring loom + other stuff I may have forgotten about. It also leaks a lot. You think you have found the leak, then there's another. Leaks - rear windows, sunroof drainage and best of all, the 18 factory fitted holes in the roof gutters. It is also quite rusty now.
Mine doesn’t leak, but I’ve had camshaft, steering pump, alternator (biggie as whole front end of the van has to come off to get too), most of the front suspension replaced. There is more but I’ve blanked it out…
Never buy from/sell to a friend!
Never buy from/sell to a friend!
This is wise advice for life, not juat cars.
Questionable advice IMO.
I'd much rather buy a known quantity from a mate than take my chances on autotrader.
How much are we talking about OP? And does it have to do a daily 20 mile commute, or just once or twice a week?
I’d much rather buy a known quantity from a mate than take my chances on autotrader.
That’s not why that saying exists though. The probability of it dying after 5 miles might be small, but it could **** a friendship right up if the new owner is suddenly landed with a monster bill
Our 2005 T5 (also the 2.5 engine) has been remarkably reliable for the last 10 years, and nearly 100K miles (now on 175K).
Needed a new turbo a few years ago (ALL turbos will need replacing at some point), clutch at 120k miles, a few suspension bushes & regular servicing. No rust at all.
That’s not why that saying exists though. The probability of it dying after 5 miles might be small, but it could **** a friendship right up if the new owner is suddenly landed with a monster bill
I understand that, but it's not a big enough risk to outweigh the positives of buying a vehicle you know IMO
I’d buy from a mate provided I was 100% sure that if, the turbo went the next day, I wouldn’t be second guessing….
No worries about it being offloaded due to imminent issues, he was given a chance of a bargain Transit LwB, with all the toys. I’d have jumped at it, when he told me the price. So will be selling it, & a car, to downsize. It’d be a couple of grand cheaper than others of a similar age. I’d be buying it, as with any high mileage vehicle, knowing it won’t be a trouble free ownership. Best see how much can insurance is, that might throw a spanner in the works.
Should be similar to car insurance, for a large engined car anyway.
If you're not driving it 20 miles commute every day, I reckon go for it. Vans are amazing.