Last Updated: 10/09/2009
VW T5 TRANSPORTER - Making an appearance
There is little doubt that Volkswagen’s T5 Transporter has been a big hit with customers across Europe. The firm’s announcement last month that it had built the one millionth T5 is evidence enough of that.However the Transporter is also a popular buy on the used market, particularly with the lifestyle buyer looking for a stylish means by which to carry their surf boards, buggies, bikes and karts. Having recently returned from a holiday in Cornwall, I can confirm that the T5, and even the older T4 Transporters have become almost de rigeur among the surfing community, though of course a split windscreen original camper van still takes the top prize for cool wheels on the beach.
As with the car market, used van buyers will often opt for a higher specification than they might be able to afford new. Metallic paint, alloy wheels and air conditioning all have a value at resale time, as appearance for many is an important factor.
VW’s recently announced appearance pack for the Transporter should therefore offer a reasonable return on investment. For £610 plus the VAT you can have body coloured bumpers, which were previously only available on Caravelle and Sportline models. That body paint extends to the door mirrors, which are electrically adjustable, folding and heated, while electric front windows are included in the pack too.
It’s a fairly simple way to increase kerb appeal on a van that has been with us for six years now, and which will be face-lifted later this year. Fortunately, the longevity of the VW product means that it will still prove popular with those used van buyers even when the Euro 5 replacement comes to market.
Of course you can go further than the appearance pack, VW has a host of options available for the Transporter to suit all tastes and wallets. Our test van came with metallic silver paint (£475) which is also a popular used colour, and a set of 16” alloys (£430) to add further sparkle.
We also had manual air conditioning (£640), a driver’s comfort seat (£50), an alarm pack of perimeter alarm and back-up horn (£125) and bulkhead pack A (£155), which includes a solid steel full height bulkhead with additional lashing rings in the rear of the van.
All in all a pretty comprehensive spec, and a reasonable way of disguising the fact that this is in fact a middle-of-the-road T28 short wheelbase van equipped with the 1.9 litre engine kicking out 102hp.
There are more exciting ways of getting from A to B of course, VW itself will sell you the same van with a 130hp engine or the storming 174hp motor if you really want it. But for most fleets the 102hp offers a good combination of pulling power and economy.
Volkswagen claims a combined consumption of 37mpg for the 102hp van, which is the best of all four engine variants. The 102hp and 84hp motors also offer 1,002kg of payload, which drops to just 928kg on the T28 with the more powerful 130hp and 174hp engines.
To be honest, 102hp is plenty for local work, and doesn’t feel underpowered on longer journeys either. You only get five gears to play with, but the stubby lever that sprouts from the dash next to your left hand provides easy movement between ratios.
Though fairly hard to the touch, and unremittingly grey, the interior of the cab feels as though it will last forever, and it is easy to wipe down and keep clean. The seats are comfortable with the optional comfort seat adding an armrest to the package.
So it’s all good news then. The only caveat I would have about opting for the appearance pack concerns loading and unloading at the rear of the van. Buyers should be aware that having the rear bumper painted, means that you will have to lift any heavy loads over the bumper without touching it, or it will easily be scratched. If you can live with that, then it should certainly make the van more popular come disposal time.
Sportline get the X-Factor
For those looking for more than just improved appearance, there will be a final version of the successful T5 Sportline available prior to the launch of its replacement next year. The Sportline Limited Edition X, of which there will be only 150, is available in short or long wheelbase or as a short wheelbase Kombi. Each vehicle will be individually numbered.
The Sportline X gets chrome and black Dakar alloy wheels, a leather covered steering wheel and ger lever, black and blue designer leather seating, Sportline floor mats and rear parking sensors. The vans come in Reflex Silver or Shadow Blue.
The price is £500 more than the standard Sportline, so that’s £25,065 for the shorter van rising to 26,805 for the Kombi.
