T5 Transporter Advice

[SoundillusioN]

Right, so a friend of mine is looking for a bare van to convert into a mobile office.  He has a student lettings agency.  His plans for the inside are very good but he is unsure what to get with his budget.

He has 10k to spend and this includes the planned office interior and wrapping of the outside, some upgrades to the exterior to the face lift model etc...

This doesn't give him a good budget for getting the Van itself (around 8k max).  I did tell him he would easily get what  he wants if he went down the T4 route but that's not an option.

I have a lot of experience with Caravelles and recently had regular use of a 2.5 which was a dream to drive.  My friend is struggling to to find a 2.5 Transporter within budget.  I have assumed that the 1.9s will be sh*t to drive as they must be pretty down on power, are they manageable or is the 1.9 too small for an application like this?

Also, he's worried about buying something with high miles (over 100k) as he will be racking up quite a lot in it over 3-4 years, I am trying to assure him that they can munch miles quite happily but again I'm only going by my 2.5 experience.

Any advice on buying a T5 would be great or aware of any good ones for sale would also be a help.

[Len]

Auctions.
Check out when a fleet sale happens.

[SoundillusioN]

Auctions.
Check out when a fleet sale happens.

Yeah we did discuss this, I think he fears being stitched up with a lemon and not being able to have a proper look round a vehicle prior to auction as he is an auction virgin.  However, I think this should be an option to be considered,  If anyone knows of any auction houses for ex fleet or similar that would be great, especially around the Midlands area but not essential.

[Diamond Hell]

mobile.de

Huge range of vans, especially look at the Multivans, which may suit his requirements better than a van.

Sitting on the 'wrong' side just means you get out on the pavement most of the time - what's not to like? 

[Len]

Why I said a fleet sale as unlikely to get a lemon from them as will be well maintained.

Not sure if they do vans as well but best buys are the Jersey/Guernsey fleets sales at BCA Blackbush

[SoundillusioN]

mobile.de

Huge range of vans, especially look at the Multivans, which may suit his requirements better than a van.

Sitting on the 'wrong' side just means you get out on the pavement most of the time - what's not to like? 

Great link thanks, I think I've seen you post stuff from it before but I forgot about it.

Not sure how he would feel about a left hooker, will find out. This will end up being his daily drive while he saves up for a mk1 caddy, over the years I have slowly been pulling him away from French sh*t.

Any notes on engines?

Why I said a fleet sale as unlikely to get a lemon from them as will be well maintained.

Not sure if they do vans as well but best buys are the Jersey/Guernsey fleets sales at BCA Blackbush

Thanks.  Will have a look with him tonight.

[Diamond Hell]

I've not driven the 1.9TDI, but I doubt it will be dreadful.  I think the 'deadful' engine options died out with the T4 1.9D NA. 

The T5 is pretty bulletproof by all accounts.  Avoid the 174bhp editions - they eat CVs, clutches, gearboxes etc.  Get a 130 and get it remapped to 150-160bhp if you must.  Having driven various Caravelles with 130 motors they deliver plenty of grunt.  I don't really see why you'd need another 40bhp to be honest!

[Len]

No matter how much office stuff he is putting in there it will not weigh anywhere near what the load carrying capacity is of the van!
So performance shouldnt be an issue.

[SoundillusioN]

I've not driven the 1.9TDI, but I doubt it will be dreadful.  I think the 'deadful' engine options died out with the T4 1.9D NA. 

The T5 is pretty bulletproof by all accounts.  Avoid the 174bhp editions - they eat CVs, clutches, gearboxes etc.  Get a 130 and get it remapped to 150-160bhp if you must.  Having driven various Caravelles with 130 motors they deliver plenty of grunt.  I don't really see why you'd need another 40bhp to be honest!

Good tips thanks... Same here, never driven one, when he kept finding 84bhp 1.9 TDs I wondered if they could even pull their own weight comfortably let alone with stuff in the back.  I know it's not all about horses but still, 84 sounds pretty weak!

He doesn't want/need a beasty motor but he certainly wouldn't be able to tolerate a snail.  The 130 sounds perfect and as I've driven something similar with the same motor it was my first recommendation, we just can't seem to find one at the right price or mileage at the moment hence asking about alternative options.

No matter how much office stuff he is putting in there it will not weigh anywhere near what the load carrying capacity is of the van!
So performance shouldnt be an issue.

True but as I just said above, 84 horse versions must be pretty pants even when it's empty.

 

[Diamond Hell]

True but as I just said above, 84 horse versions must be pretty pants even when it's empty.

Bear in mind that the TDIs in the T4 (in the UK) were 88 and 102bhp respectively.

They were larger capacity units than the 1.9, but I wouldn't get too bent out of shape about the performance until you've driven on.