VW T5 camper for everyday driving?

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I am seriously considering getting a nice T5 camper. That would unfortunately mean getting rid of the Passat to fund it. I can see lots of benefits for travelling and doing landscape work. But what about every day work and travel around, shopping, etc?
How durable are T5s, their suspensions relative to the buttery tin foil Passat B6?

I might later on get a cheap older small runabout like 1st gen Audi TT auto, A3 convertible, or if I'm super lucky a cheap EOS, Golf DSG, etc... Probably not for a few months though.
 
Someone I've known for years has a T5 as daily transport. He likes it a lot, says he wishes he'd bought one years ago, but also says it is hopeless off road, can't manage even damp grass despite having some kind of traction control on it. It's a 2wd one though, not a syncro. I can't comment on the durability of the suspension, what are you planning to do with it that this is likely to be a factor?

My T25 goes up anything, including roads that the police as impassable due to snow :D , but it's a syncro, and rear engined. You probably wouldn't want a T25, being old and slow (that's the petrol ones, the turbo diesel ones are old and really, really slow).
 
onomatopoeia said:
I can't comment on the durability of the suspension, what are you planning to do with it that this is likely to be a factor?.
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Nothing really special. The passat seems to fall apart just due to every day potholes. I changed shocks like 3 times this year.
 
landwomble said:
There is no such thing as a cheap mk1 TT. Trust me on this.
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+1, avoid unless you like spending money in garages, if you want cheap, reliable and fun go for a mazda MX5

I don't see why a T5 camper wouldn't be usable every day but good luck with finding a cheap one in May
 
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You read my mind. I've been thinking the exactly the same. I've gone full circle. I was considering a big coach built but can not justify the expense of a second vehicle. Get a transporter and it can be used as a daily.

While researching I've come to the decision they hold there price so well it's just as well go for a new one. Nationwide cars sell them new for not a lot more than a 3 year old with 100k on it.
 
rjbell said:
You read my mind. I've been thinking the exactly the same. I've gone full circle. I was considering a big coach built but can not justify the expense of a second vehicle. Get a transporter and it can be used as a daily.

While researching I've come to the decision they hold there price so well it's just as well go for a new one. Nationwide cars sell them new for not a lot more than a 3 year old with 100k on it.
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Have you got a link for these new ones Robert?
 
Please be careful regarding the height of the vehicle.

More and more places are installing height barriers to stop folk getting in and setting up illegal encampments.

My elder daughter and her husband have 2 different Land-Rovers, [ can't remember which they have :( ] one gets under most height barriers - the other does not
 
Peter B said:
Have you got a link for these new ones Robert?
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That's for a van and then you find a local converter. Google nationwide-cars

I priced a new t6 trendline t30 converted by bodans for £27k.
 
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Our neighbour has one & uses it daily & reckons around 35 mpg. He bought it as a van several years ago & had it fitted out at a specialist company.
 
To me if you're going to the expense of converting a van which will be around £10k minimum it doesn't make sense building it on a used van with 100k the clock when another £6-7k will get you a new one. Ex lease 3yr olds go for about £10k and a new one can be had for £16k. A lease commercial van has probably had a very tough life.
 
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My MOT garage (and caravan) owning mate keeps warning me off motorhomes and campervans on the basis that they are vans and are meant to do 100k per year for 3 years and then be scrapped. He is convinced that they aren't properly undersealed/protected because of this, so buying new would allow you to get additional protection from the off. Apart from the rust that started while they were parked in a field ................... :(
 
rjbell said:
a new one can be had for £16k.
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+vat which is another £3200 for a poverty spec van with no A/C which is a must if you're planning on touring with it , I can see your 27k easily hitting 35k once you start to spec it to the standard of a decent car,

My dad used to run new VW vans in the 70s , he'd laugh his tits off at £37,000-47,000 for a camper version.
 
Hi, we had our T5 converted 4 years ago. Use it everyday, no issues and love it. I'd be careful to only get the swb as that's easier in car parks etc. Haven't regretted it at all. Suspension lowered slightly at small cost and helps getting it under barriers. It's about 2.05m high with pop top, most barriers 2.1-2.2m so duck!
 
wack61 said:
+vat which is another £3200 for a poverty spec van with no A/C which is a must if you're planning on touring with it , I can see your 27k easily hitting 35k once you start to spec it to the standard of a decent car,

My dad used to run new VW vans in the 70s , he'd laugh his tits off at £37,000-47,000 for a camper version.
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Stupid me thought it was +vat then my brother said it was including and I took is word for it.
 
VAT is always the killer on vans, the only saving to be made is to buy one used that was sold to a non VAT registered business because it can then be sold on without the VAT even at a garage where it's been taken in as a PX

That's how I bought my van with no VAT
 
I personally could possibly not need to pay vat but that isn't much use to the OP.
 
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