about to order - last minute questions

[nalu]

Hi guys,

About to order a LWB 4Motion Transporter with side windows - can't wait (although I'll probably have to wait till Xmas).

I decided against the Crewvan as the standard back seat is to far forward for my liking, so I think I will get a third party three seat custom fitted.
Any tips on good manufacturers/fitters in Victoria?

Also, I'm 80% sold on ordering a 4Motion. Probably won't do much (if any) 4WD trips but if the 4Motion provides extra safety and handling then I reckon it's worth it.
From your experiences is the 4Motion much of an advantage on sealed roads?

Lastly, I'd like to get prices from a few different dealers - anyone recommend a competitive dealer?

thx!

[rob64981]

Nice choice of vehicle.

Lots of info on these two web sites for you to read.

http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/

http://vwt4forum.co.uk/index.php?

Hope you get it soon.

Rob

[Floorshow]

I recently ordered LWB 128KW 4motion, diff lock, bench seat, second battery, fogs, fixed partion with window, centre left sliding window, alarm, parking sensors, trip computer,full side trim, esp and comfort package on road for a little under $50k with HIA discount. Mine arrives October.

[nalu]

with all those extras it sounds like a bargain!

Who did you buy from?
What's HIA?

[xtzoutback]

4Motion v standard

On the issue of 4motion. I have been driving a crewvan optioned with 4motion for 18months and I have to say it is fantastic. Most of the time you are not aware it is working however two things have come to my attention.
First tyre wear. The 4motion is much more gentle on tyres than the standard front wheel drive, I guess sharing the power of the 128kw engine also reduces the effort the front tyres are doing. Mine has 50000km and still going stong on originals. The second observation happened two days ago when driving a new Kombi Beach back from Melbourne. It was raining, the road was wet and without trying the front tyres wanted to spin and get the traction control system into a flurry. In the crewvan that wouldn't have happened. I am a very gentle driver.....

As I said i just got a kombi, it has the 96kw engine....you hardly feel the difference between the 128kw in normal driving but having just done 1200km on the drive from Melbourne to Maitland (we went via Wagga, Cowra, Bathurst, Lithgow, Bells Line and then the F3), the fuel consumption was 7.86l/100km. The best I have done with the 4motion is about 9.2 so you pay you money and take your choice. I expect the Kombi to improve as the engine loosens up.

Best deal I have found is with Burwin in VIC. Hence the flight/drive and hassle with NSW rego....it's still worth it.

Happy buying.

[Floorshow]

Housing Industry Association, It costs $500 to join however with it you are entitled to corporate discount (10%). Shop around for dealer delivery charge as well as they vary . I am in Melbourne.

[nalu]

great guys thanks for the info and tips

Burwin crew seem to be on it and have provided me with good service so far.

Mmmmmm the 4Motion question still hangs but I think the extra safety and off road possibility wins out.

Time to get my specs for order together. Also going for some additions like xtra batteries, iPhone etc etc but think I will tackle this after VW deliver.

Going to try a couple of dealers and see if there's much/any variety in price and financing.

Cheers - keep the tips coming!

[jets]

I do not own a 4Motion but a T4 Syncro. I don't know how much difference there is between the 2 systems but the drive is definately better on the Syncro. Much better, as you would expect, when towing & manouvering on wet grass & slush. But even on sealed roads it feels more secure with good turn in on corners & generally more balanced. Two downsides are you need to rotate tyres to keep wheel dia the same & the fuel consunption is slightly higher. VW says in one brochure I have, 0.5l/100km. The head foreman at my dealership says they are very reliable.

[gregozedobe]

If you are getting a factory order I'd recommend the side air bags (for safety), the trip computer (for useful info - if the full screen version is available at reasonable price I would definitely get that), I wouldn't get the arm rests (PITA with side airbags), and if you want to swivel the passenger seat specify that rather than height adjustment (I wish I had).

Many people believe the factory satnav is over priced, as are the factory sliding windows, and according to the UK T5ers even the latest (mk 5 ?) versions STILL leak if you park on a slope.

Anyone else have their favourite (or unfavourite) factory fitted options (eg park sensors, dual reflector headlights ala multivan) ?

[Tornado T5]

I decided against the Crewvan as the standard back seat is to far forward for my liking, so I think I will get a third party three seat custom fitted.
Any tips on good manufacturers/fitters in Victoria?

Vehquip fitted this second row seat in my T5 and it comes as a quick release single, double or triple bucket seat with individual inertia real belts and child seat anchor points. They are in Ferntree Gully, very close to from Burwin VW.

[nalu]

thanks greg
Definitely going for the extra airbags. I was planning the arm rests as well. Are you saying that the arm rests interfere with the side bags?

Also planning rear parking sensors and considering ESP.

Not sure that my budget will stretch for the trip computer.

Anyone have third party sliding side windows fitted? Planning to include these as part of my factory order.

Thx for the seat tip Tornado. Will give them a call.

Cheers

[Tornado T5]

thanks greg
Definitely going for the extra airbags. I was planning the arm rests as well. Are you saying that the arm rests interfere with the side bags?

Also planning rear parking sensors and considering ESP.

Not sure that my budget will stretch for the trip computer.

Anyone have third party sliding side windows fitted? Planning to include these as part of my factory order.

Thx for the seat tip Tornado. Will give them a call.

Cheers

The trip comp is well worth it. You have 2 sets of the same functions, Display 1 and 2 with all the functions of display 1 resetting after a longish stop while display 2 is manually reset and I use it for long term info. In my T4 days aftermarket windows were cheaper then factory however iirc factory windows worked out the same or cheaper then aftermarket during my T5 purchase. Can't find the quote although again Vehquip did this sort of installation.

I optioned rear park sensors, ESP, curtain & side airbags, arm rests on driver's seat, trip comp, colour coded bumpers, rear park sensors, 16" alloys, sliding rhs window, h/duty rearsprings...can't remember what else, lol. If fitting a tow bar make sure your wiring can automatically deactivate the rear parking sensors when towing.

[gregozedobe]

thanks greg
Definitely going for the extra airbags. I was planning the arm rests as well. Are you saying that the arm rests interfere with the side bags?

Not sure that my budget will stretch for the trip computer.

Anyone have third party sliding side windows fitted? Planning to include these as part of my factory order.

Yes. If you have arm rests AND side airbags you need to put the arm rest next to the door into the "up" position so you can get climb into the seat, then put the armrest down again so it isn't in the way of the airbag if it goes off (otherwise the airbag will hit the arm rest, and probably propel it down hard enough to shatter all the bones in your arm, as well as interfere with the airbag doing its designed job, which is to protect your torso from a side impact).

Also the centre armrests get in the way when you are walking through from the cab to the rear of the van (unless you have matchstick thin thighs).

I had aftermarket sliding windows fitted to the sliding door and centre position on the driver's side, as well as a fixed window on the passenger side rear position. IIRC all three windows cost me around the same as one genuine VW sliding window (and I've had no leaking water problems at all).

[Rebuild]

Anyone else have their favourite (or unfavourite) factory fitted options (eg park sensors, dual reflector headlights ala multivan) ?

Dual sliding doors on the van are a must for me.So much easier to get to stuff when loaded up.

[shogun2]

I understand people whinging about the armrests, but I wouldn't be without them on long drives. They are just so much more comfortable than not having them.
I have found my fuel consumption with the 4Motion about 9.5l/100Km on longer trips - it is higher than the brochure says.
It's interesting to note the comment about tyre life - I'm still on the original tyres and nearly 40,000 Kms. There is still lots of meat still on them for quite a few more Kms.
Definitely don't get the factory satnav - go for one of the aftermarket ones.