VW Vans Questions

[farmer]

Well, I will have to be buying 2nd hand so as long as it's 4motion and has the safety options I'll have to make do with whatever I can get. Off road suspension would be nice though. Roof racks, diff lock and tow bar would be essential too. I forgot to mention that I commute 100km + or - 20 kms a day.

I found this little vid on the volkswagen site featuring the seating of a caravelle.

http://www.volkswagengroupaustralia.com.au/gallery/Caravelle_Gallery.html

Does anyone have any experience with removing and mixing up the seating using this system? I like the idea of being able to add the third row of seats whenever I need to. As I will be picking the kids up from school after work it would be handy to be able to take them all plus some of their friends in our neighbourhood. (brownie points with neighbours when you have acreage is always a bonus!)

I think that the van in the vid is a 9 seater LWB which from what I've read doesn't come with 4motion which is a shame if true.

My concern with the crewvan is safety for the little ones as well as comfort (rear air conditioning is important for keeping fussy babies and toddlers quiet I've discovered!)

[gregozedobe]

Commercial's (Transporter/Kombi) have rear miniblock springs & telescopic shock absorbers vs Passenger's (Caravelle/Multivan) semi trailing rear axle & coil springs.

Whats the difference between miniblock springs and coil springs?

I think one is tranlated as leaf springs and the other is just normail coil springs

All T5's share the same suspension setup, regardless of type.......

I think Seano is spot on. I just had a look under the rear of my Transporter (bare van), and it has trailing arms, coil springs and angled telesopic shockies.

Well, I will have to be buying 2nd hand so as long as it's 4motion and has the safety options I'll have to make do with whatever I can get.

You will certainly have a limited choice buying 4motion T5s second hand. If the one you buy is still covered by the factory VW warranty then it may be a good idea to buy the extended warranty that VW offer.

Good luck in your search.

[Ivo]

A mate of mine had a Crewvan, very basic inside and no rear AC which I think is a must for young kids especially considering the sliding windows are not power operated so its VERY hard for young kids to slide them open. With the AC in my Multivan I can adjust it all from the front......provided the dirt magnets (kids) have not fiddled with the vents!

If your serious about a second hand van watch the government auction sites as T5's always come up. I got mine from an auction and it is an ex Department of Ageing vehicle.

http://www.pickles.com.au/cars/

and

http://www.governmentauctions.com.au/Default.aspx

[Transporter]

All T5's share the same suspension setup, regardless of type.......I think the difference occurs in the much bigger Crafter with rear suspension type depending on the specified axle load.

My first prefence would always be the dual cab but otherwise I'd be gunning for the Crewvan 4Motion with the optional centre sliding windows, right sliding door, ESP, side & curtain airbags for driver and front passenger, full side trim in rear, lumbar support & height adjustment in front seats, roof rack rails, cruise control, rough road suspension and diff lock.....but that is a solid swag of dollars!! Six and a half grand of options on top of forty six grands worth of van.......plus on roads.

Cruise control should be standard (was standard when I was buying).

[farmer]

Thanks guys.

Can anyone explain to me again the difference between a Caravelle and a Multivan?

[BLog]

Caravelle has basic seats that are locked into position - Mulitvan has swivelling captain’s chairs and a rear bench seat that can fold down into a bed. All the seats in the Multivan are on a rail system that allows seating/luggage space to be flexible.

http://www.volkswagengroupaustralia.com.au/gallery/Multivan_Gallery.html

The SWB Caravelle has 3 front seats – Multivan has 2.

SWB Caravelle can seat 8 – Multivan 7.

I’m not 100% sure but I don’t think Caravelle has rear curtain airbags? – Multivan does.

Caravelle is available in a lower spec version with less powerful diesel motor – Multivan is available in Highline spec which has power doors, leather and sat nav.

Externally the only way to tell the difference is that the Multivan has body protection strips – Caravelle doesn’t.

[shogun2]

My Multivan Highline also has a centre variable height table (which is currently stored in the shed). I mostly have one centre captains chair in along with the rear bench seat - gives lots of entry and exit room.
The powered side doors seem to be a bit ****y some times - won't open or close properly, and need a gently helping hand.
I have done a number of Adelaide/Alice Springs jaunts, where I remove the captains chairs and roll the bench seat forward - then there's lots of room for gear/boxes/tools.
I've done some high speed corrugated dirt road driving, and with the 4Motion this is not a problem at all. Van is stable to the point where it's like driving a car, not van. I've also taken it on the beach in soft sand, and again no problems.
My only issue has been the woefully poor high beam. I've just put in HID high beams by replacing the lamp. It makes a world of difference.
Good luck with your choice.

[farmer]

I’m not 100% sure but I don’t think Caravelle has rear curtain airbags? – Multivan does.

I've heard it is illegal to have a kid in the front seat with a passenger front air bag - does anyone know if there are any issues with rear curtain airbags and kids?

[X_FISH]

I've heard it is illegal to have a kid in the front seat with a passenger front air bag

It is not "just illegal" - it is dangerous!

If there is no killswitch for the airbag and you get into an accident -> it depends how the basket for the kid is mounted.

does anyone know if there are any issues with rear curtain airbags and kids?

There should be no problem at all.

By the way: About which age are we talking?

Greetings, Martin