My new 4 motion double cab:

[Seano]

Nice truck, Guy.

As a long term dual cab T4 owner (and taken it around the country twice) I appreciate how good these things can be. I'd dearly like to update from my 01 version to this version (been waiting a long time for the 128kW/4motion combo in the DOKA) but the ask is just too high given the low resale on the existing vehicle. So it looks like the T4 will stay until I kill it.

I think if thee were me I'd be going one of the Oz made hard body rears like these http://www.vsf.com.au/canopies%20gallery.htm......preferably as a slide-on.

And, of course, I'd be lifting mine up........not lowering it. These things are such good cross country tourers and forest trail blasters that it'd be a shame to dump it. The only other thing is finding a way to protect that very vulnerable liquid (fuel?) cooler unit under the off side passenger door.....

[Guy_H]

Hey Sean, very true, it was a bit of a gap from our sale of the T4 (9 to the new one (GULP ).

We had this canopy on our T4 (had a factory tray) and they make one for our factory tray on the T5 - I just have to convince them to sell me one & then work out how to ship it from Sweden!

http://www.vindic.se/?id=28

[phaeton]

Looks good Guy

OT - I can't wait for VW's Hilux competitor
(Concept due tobe shown in under a month )

[Seano]

Hey Sean, very true, it was a bit of a gap from our sale of the T4 (9 to the new one (GULP ).

We had this canopy on our T4 (had a factory tray) and they make one for our factory tray on the T5 - I just have to convince them to sell me one & then work out how to ship it from Sweden!

http://www.vindic.se/?id=28

Nice product.......but the cost could be a bit eyewatering getting it into the country. So in this circumstance I think I'd be shopping locally using the Swedes as a model...

I priced a new T5 DOKA yesterday using the VW website and with the toys that I'd want I think it came to just shy of $53,000.....plus on roads....<faaarrrr...out>. So I reckoned on a forty grand change over!!! That's nearly how much I paid for mine in the first place!

When the bigger (but not necessarily better) Ford Transit in similar spec can be had for ten grand less - and next year is getting a 3.2L 147kW/470Nm TDi as well - then VW are going to have to be making a mega good argument for me to invest that much in another vehicle.

Like Ben says.......I'll wait till 2010 when I can look at the new Robust and the new Transporter (T6 anyone?) together.......and maybe in the meantime.......save a few pennies.....and be very jealous about your new DOKA.

[Guy_H]

Agreed - trade in price on pretty much everything sucks these days - oh well - just enjoy driving it my Bank Manager says with a big grin

[RhysQ]

Looks good Guy

OT - I can't wait for VW's Hilux competitor
(Concept due tobe shown in under a month )

you mean VW's rebadged HiLux. no competition there....its the same bloody car.

[phaeton]

you mean VW's rebadged HiLux. no competition there....its the same bloody car.

Actually thats a common misconception that unfortunately the blogs are to blame for.

This project is 100% all VW and is way behind schedule

[shogun2]

Great van Guy!
Are you now going to stock/sell other add-on parts?

[Guy_H]

Great van Guy!
Are you now going to stock/sell other add-on parts?

Not sure, we have been asked by a few customers about suspension & proper offroad stuff (Seikel stuff) but not sure if there is enough market to support the logistics of supply ? Let me know if you have any good ideas though!

[shogun2]

I always thought a Seikel suspension would be nice, but in the last three years I haven't had the time to put something like that to good use. I can still dream though.

[Guy_H]

I always thought a Seikel suspension would be nice, but in the last three years I haven't had the time to put something like that to good use. I can still dream though.

Me too (Cape York trip dreaming.........)

[Sharkie]

What's the fuel consumption like Guy ?

I'm looking at getting a new TDi Caravelle early next year (same 4-Motion etc ...) with the Oettinger remap of course....

[Guy_H]

Hi Sharkie,

Not sure yet - its only done 300km's - hope to get some miles up in it soon!

[shogun2]

Around town I get about 9.5 to 10 l/100 Kms. It's a bit lower on long criusing trips. I've done Adelaide to alice springs twice in the last couple of months, and got around 8.5 to 9 l/100 Kms. My advice is to forget about the diesel consumption, and just enjoy the ride

[Guy_H]

Well my friends form Sweden tell me their canopy is built for a Swedish issue tray, not the German one - and looking closely at their pictures, you can see the difference.

Looks like it will be a custom job now....