Volkswagen Crafter in Australia

[phaeton]

https://www.volkswagencrafter.com.au

Crafter is due on the 1st of February

What are everyones thoughts ?

The Crafter also marks the 1st use of the new face of VWCV.

The Caddy and T5 facelifts will incorporate the new face which comes from VWs Constellation Truck range sold in Sth. America.

[GoLfMan]

look pretty mean!!! is that a truck behind the van !

[phaeton]

Yes engineered by VW in Wolfsburg, its called the Constellation

[brackie]

Quality

Euro vans have a real "quality" look. They stand apart ftom Asian products. That Crafter looks excellent. What's carrying capacity/motor/transmission?

[phaeton]

Euro vans have a real "quality" look. They stand apart ftom Asian products. That Crafter looks excellent. What's carrying capacity/motor/transmission?

Here a site for carrying capacity http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/crafter/index.php

The VW Crafter is opening the next chapter in the story of large transporters from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in the 3 to 5 tonne van segment.

It will be powered by 4 versions of Volkswagen's rengineered 2.5 litre common rail turbo diesel with piezo injector engined, the engines produce:

65kW / 89bhp max. torque 220 Nm at 1750-2500/min.

80kW / 109bhp max. torque 280 Nm at 2000/min.

100kW / 136bhp max. torque 300 Nm at 2000/min.

120kW / 164bhp max. torque 350 Nm at 2000/min.

Crafter will be available in three wheelbase options 3250mm, 3665mm and 4325mm.

The Crafter will also be high on passenger safety with front airbags as standard and side and curtain airbags as options, along with this there is anti-lock brakes, electronic stability program, anti slip regualtion & electronic differential lock.

Awards
What Van? overall Van of the Year 2006
What Van? Large Van of the Year 2006

The Auto transmission is from the old Mercedes-Benz Sprinter range called Shiftmatic.

FYI the Crafter and new MB Sprinter were developed by Mercedes-Benz for VW, the previous LT Mega Van also was developed with Mercedes-Benz

more here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_LT

[GoLfMan]

it'll be expensive but it'll outlast any other van

[phaeton]

it'll be expensive but it'll outlast any other van

I talked to an Australian buyer recently he said his Crafter would cost close to 60k onroad, it should be noted his isn't the entry version

[shogun2]

Ahhh! Thats what I think I saw last weekend down Aldinga way south of Adelaide. It had that square front end grille that had me stumped as to what it was. Unfortunately it too the high road and I took the freway, so I only got a momentary glimpse.

[phaeton]

Are you sure it wasn't the new Ford Transit Rod ?

[shogun2]

It may have been - I couldn't get close enough, but could have sworn it had a VW badge on the front!

[jets]

I think the crafter looks ugly. Maybe it will grow on me, it's hard to know.
I like the look of the Transit though---only the look.

Rob

[phaeton]

LOL they're so similar though.

Ford Transit, VW Crafter and new Iveco Daily look so alike IMO
Crafter obviously being my pick


and Rod maybe you did see the Crafter it could be one of Solitaire's VWCV reps testing it

[Seano]

Crafter is ugly but it looks better than the Sprinter.

Transit has a better balanced but still mad front end. And it is cheap (but those leaf springs are so 19th century).

But I STILL have a hankering for the Iveco. Particularily the new (yet to be locally released) model. I know it's big and expensive but it is built like a battleship.....and there's the prospect of a proper 4x4 version again.

[phaeton]

I agree Crafter is better than Sprinter in design, IMO I'd rather Crafter than the Daily

Achleitner make a AWD/4x4 (not sure on whether its got the offroad hardware or not, can't access Achleitner site) version for VW as a special order in Germany

I read in one of the local LCV mags VW may offer the AWD/4x4 option here, Mercedes will offer a the same Achleitner kit for Sprinter here, not known when though

[benjackson]

hi guys. All very interesting!

I have a 2004 Daily van, and am looking at getting something newer and better in the future.

I was hoping to get something that is just a bit bigger. The daily van I have was the largest one possible back then.

What do you reckon are the options for larger vans? We custom fit the van to have it seat 7, with a large cargo area for the equipment (we're a touring theatre company).

Any ideas? I was thinking of trying to fit out a small minibus (but larger than a daily), something like a euromidi/maxim or whatever they are called. Don't even know if you can get them here in Australia but it is probably no good because there is no rear door access to unload our sets and equipment.

So a van really is needed but we're running out of room with 7 of us, luggage and bigger sets as we grow, and start touring further afield for longer.

Any comments or help would be greatly appreciated! I'm getting lost on the internet for hours...