New generation of the Transporter, Multivan, Caravelle and California

[mangoburger]

Will a crew cab 132kw dsg gearbox be available in Aus?
Is the 4 motion front wheel drive which transmits power to the rear when traction is lost or is there a toqure split present all the time ?

Here's the official VW line on 4motion

http://www.vw.co.za/about/technology/4motion/

and here's some informative forum stuff

http://www.clubgti.com/FORUM/showthread.php?t=77840

It appears there are actually several different systems across the VW range all labelled as 4motion, which doesn't help.

I read a van review which suggested the vans' 4motion system wasn't ideal on sand, however another thread said switching the ESP off helped a lot on sand so perhaps the reviewers hadn't tried this. I've been driving my van on wet and dry roads and occasionally when I boot it around a corner an orange light flashes to tell me some system's working but that's about it, it certainly never feels anything like my wife's FWD 2.0 TDI Golf which delivers massive axle tramp when booting away in the wet, even though that car supposedly has ASR traction control fully engaged. Come to think of it, I've never tried switching the traction control off to see if there's any difference.

[mangoburger]

Congratulations mate, and pictures please.

Still trying to upload some photos, I've had computer issues and the bloody CPU won't talk to the camera at the moment Got the schmick limo-tint on all the rear windows today, the tinter was able to guarantee his work as the standard Highline rear tint apparently uses green glass, so he's not adding another layer of film to someone else's work.

Will be driving to Adelaide on Monday, my inaugural Multivan voyage as owner and driver, taking 4 passengers. Presumably a very dark tint will actually reduce fuel consumption, as the AC won't have to work as hard to keep the car cool. Probably good for protecting the leather too, but all practicalities aside, I just love the look of blacked out windows, have them on the Golf too.

[rymi]

Presumably a very dark tint will actually reduce fuel consumption, as the AC won't have to work as hard to keep the car cool.

Dark tint will reduce fuel consumption ?!! By making the AC not have to work as hard ?!! It seems you're trying really hard to justify the cost of the new tint... Hate to say, but I think it would take about 100 years and 10,000,000 km to recoup the cost of the tint in fuel savings. On a diesel vehicle, I don't think having the AC on or off makes any measurable difference to fuel consumption (has anyone tried it?) and it never ceases to amaze me that some people are reluctant to use the airconditioning on their $50,000 car because they might use an extra 2c worth of fuel.

Having said that, I like the look of T5's with dark tint too - I think it was money well spent. The ambulances look great with their virtually black (90% block out) tint.

But don't tell yourself its going to save fuel !!!

[gregozedobe]

I read a van review which suggested the vans' 4motion system wasn't ideal on sand, however another thread said switching the ESP off helped a lot on sand so perhaps the reviewers hadn't tried this.

I have a vague idea that a couple of people on this forum have been very happy with the performance of their 4-mo T5s on sand (let the tyre pressures down a bit and away they went). IIRC The only thing to watch out for was lack of ground clearance. A search may turn up the relevant threads/posts.

[jets]

[QUOTE=rymi;410050] On a diesel vehicle, I don't think having the AC on or off makes any measurable difference to fuel consumption (has anyone tried it?) QUOTE]

I was told by the salesman when I purchased my Golf TDI that using the AC uses around .5l/100km. At idle an increase is displayed on the dashboard when AC is turned on.
With the power of the TDI it isn't noticeable but in lesser vehicles it can be used as an engine brake when going down hill.

[shogun2]

I have a vague idea that a couple of people on this forum have been very happy with the performance of their 4-mo T5s on sand (let the tyre pressures down a bit and away they went). IIRC The only thing to watch out for was lack of ground clearance. A search may turn up the relevant threads/posts.

I had six on board on on the sand at Aldinga beach south of Adelaide last summer.. Worked great! Some amazing stares as we wallowed our way through the soft sand behind the people parked on the hard sand at the front. On the hard sand the driving was awesome.

[fr73]

I have been on the sand a bit too. Only been bogged once and that was due to lack of momentum in some very soft sand. I have the rear diff lock which helps in the soft sand. Just replace the OEM tyre with Bridgestone 693LT AT tyres. I have not had a change to drive on sand with them yet.

[mangoburger]

Dark tint will reduce fuel consumption ?!! By making the AC not have to work as hard ?!! It seems you're trying really hard to justify the cost of the new tint... Hate to say, but I think it would take about 100 years and 10,000,000 km to recoup the cost of the tint in fuel savings. On a diesel vehicle, I don't think having the AC on or off makes any measurable difference to fuel consumption (has anyone tried it?) and it never ceases to amaze me that some people are reluctant to use the airconditioning on their $50,000 car because they might use an extra 2c worth of fuel.

Having said that, I like the look of T5's with dark tint too - I think it was money well spent. The ambulances look great with their virtually black (90% block out) tint.

But don't tell yourself its going to save fuel !!!

Good call Rymi, actually just seeing the van when I picked it up already justified the cost of the tint. it was definitely worth doing, we had 39° on both interstate crossings, and pretty much every day in between. I think there's an added benefit of the dark tint keeping the opened beers cool in the back too!

I was also impressed by just how much passing power the standard T5 has (still considering flashing the ECU), although it's much more power-band specific than my wife's Golf V. Really nice, low-revving cruise the whole trip, the only anomaly I noticed is that every time the van crosses a severe bump the cruise control cancels out.

[Tornado T5]

Good call Rymi, actually just seeing the van when I picked it up already justified the cost of the tint. it was definitely worth doing, we had 39° on both interstate crossings, and pretty much every day in between. I think there's an added benefit of the dark tint keeping the opened beers cool in the back too!

I was also impressed by just how much passing power the standard T5 has (still considering flashing the ECU), although it's much more power-band specific than my wife's Golf V. Really nice, low-revving cruise the whole trip, the only anomaly I noticed is that every time the van crosses a severe bump the cruise control cancels out.

One thought, check your brake pedal switch which activates your rear brake lights as it might be loose and is one way cruise disengages.

[mangoburger]

I have been on the sand a bit too. Only been bogged once and that was due to lack of momentum in some very soft sand. I have the rear diff lock which helps in the soft sand. Just replace the OEM tyre with Bridgestone 693LT AT tyres. I have not had a change to drive on sand with them yet.

Thanks FR37, just had a look at the Bridgestone website, the Aussie made LT 693 tyres are only available for 15" or 16" rims, load & speed ratings are ok (had to laugh when I realised my current tyres are good for 270-300km/h), not sure if a 265/75R16 tyre will fit under the arch when the current tyre is 235/55R17 (there's also a 31X10.50R15 LT in the D693 series). Obviously I'd need a new set of wheels either way. Worked out the diameters, current diameter is 690.3mm, 15" option is 778.5mm and 16" would be 803.9mm.

If it works it might just be the cheapest way to temporarily solve my issue of the towbar bottoming out on steep driveways.

[mangoburger]

Congratulations mate, and pictures please.

Posted a photo of my T5 on the van photos thread, finally. In an effort to get this thread back on topic after hijacking it, anyone know when these T6 vans will start to be seen in Australia?
My T5 is due for a service this week and I'll ask but Peninsula VW are in the middle of moving from Mornington to Frankston right now and sharing a building with Frankston Toyota so I may not even meet a knowledgable salesperson.

In the meantime, here's a link to a beautiful T5 version...I just wish we could get LWB Multivans in Aus but this is plush!

http://www.volkswagen-commercial-vehicles.com/etc/medialib/vwcms/virtualmaster/de_vwn/_pdf_informationen1/kataloge/katalogupdate_kw_45.Par.0009.File.pdf/Multivan_Business_2008-11_uk.pdf

Also I noticed at the Australian Tennis Open the police are now using Transporters to cart their troops around, guess these will eventually come up at auctions same as the ambulances.

[MultiplexMan]

Posted a photo of my T5 on the van photos thread, finally. In an effort to get this thread back on topic after hijacking it, anyone know when these T6 vans will start to be seen in Australia?

On the way to Sydney airport yesterday, around 7am, dark blue T5.1 driven by "office chap" (long sleeved collared shirt with tie) along the Pacific Highway. So they have arrived. Did not get a great look - noted the slightly different tail light clustre (reflector/brake light shapes have changed inside what appears the same outer case) and the "busy" headlight. Everything else looked the same.

[Tornado T5]

Posted a photo of my T5 on the van photos thread, finally. In an effort to get this thread back on topic after hijacking it, anyone know when these T6 vans will start to be seen in Australia?
My T5 is due for a service this week and I'll ask but Peninsula VW are in the middle of moving from Mornington to Frankston right now and sharing a building with Frankston Toyota so I may not even meet a knowledgable salesperson.

Decided to call VW Australia customer service and ask them to which they replied March...plus I don't think they'll be called T6, that will be reserved for an all new model a few years away.

[gregozedobe]

I don't think they'll be called T6, that will be reserved for an all new model a few years away.

I'm calling the new'un the "T5.1" as it is really only a facelift of the original T5.

[Tornado T5]

I guess if one hangs around VGA HQ in Botany (?) or at the docks where ship car carriers unload one will eventually turn up.