Which people mover...

[Transporter]

I must be teaching my kids wrong .... nothing of my passion and enthusiasm for cars seems to have rubbed off on my kids ...

Test drove the new Multivan Comfortline this past Saturday and it was the 1st time my kids EVER got really excited about a car ...

They've grown up with nice BMWs and VWs .... but they just loved the Multivan and the space in the back. Turning the seats around and sitting at the back was in their words ... "... this is the best car ever ..."

Personally, I appreciate the space, but TBH its no truly terrific drive ... yet, for the kids sake we'll be getting 1 ....

Now to get the options sorted and ordering 1 in ...

You will love it, mate.

[shogun2]

When we had the Golf the choice most of the time was the Multivan. It's only changed now because of the volvo.

[jetta2small]

Sharkie
Are you in Brisbane? If so where did you go to test drive and what did you think of the dealer?

[Sharkie]

Sharkie
Are you in Brisbane? If so where did you go to test drive and what did you think of the dealer?

I went to Norris Motor Group on Gympie Rd, Kedron. They have both a new Caravelle and a new Multivan there. They have been good to deal with to-date. Much better customer service than A.....l

The fact that they have both the Caravelle and Multivan there mean you can make a detailed comparison and it really highlights how basic VW has specced the Caravelle.

[The_Hawk]

All things going well I'll be on the hunt for a dealer in Sydney that has both Caravelle and Multivan in stock in the near future.

So Sharkie, how do you think the two vehicles compare?

[Sharkie]

So Sharkie, how do you think the two vehicles compare?

Multivan has much better specced std. Below the differences, excluding any options I may like to add to the Multivan. If you spec up the Caravelle to match the Multivan in basic spec, you'd be spending over $7K extra.

Similarities:
They are identical in price .... $49990 + ORC
Both had the 103kw TDI with 7spd DSG

Differences:
Caravelle is LWB
Caravelle has 9 seats in 4 rows - 3 + 2 + 2 + 2 with limited luggage space if all 9 seats in use.
Multivan is SWB
Multivan has 7 seats in 3 rows - 3 + 2 + 2 (middle 2 is captains chairs which the kids loved)
Multivan has 16" alloys (C has steel wheels)
Multivan has colourcoded bumbers (C is unpainted + optional cc)
Multivan has climate 3 zone (C has aircon)
Multivan has lots of airbags (C has 2 + optional extras)
Multivan has parking sensors F+R (C is optional)
Multivan has alarm (C is optional)
Multivan has leather swheel + gearlever (C plastic + optional leather)
Multivan has cruise control (C is optional)
There is probably a few I missed as well .....

The interior of the C is very basic, with lots of plastic and exposed metal in comparison to the Multivan which is fully finished off on the inside. In short the 1 feels like a premium family mover and the other like a commercial vehicle .....

[The_Hawk]

Thanks for putting that up, the brochures only tell you so much, it's good to get another (real) persons perspective. What options would you choose to add?

I'm intending on using Salary Sacrifice, which apparently means I'm limited to 8 seats which means I may be forced into a Multivan anyway, althugh with the spec list like that it doesn't sound like too hard a choice for the same $$.

[Sharkie]

... What options would you choose to add? ....
I'm intending on using Salary Sacrifice ....

Also going to Salary Sacrifice the Van ....

I'm slightly worried about the longetivity of the DSG gbox (this is the new 600NM rated 7spd which incidentally may makes its way throughout the VW range including the Tiguans as it is both 4motion and FWD capable) so I will make sure I get an extended warranty.

Options I'd be going for .....

Metallic Paint = $1590
Front foglights with cornering functiion = $790 (I think it it makes it look better)
Light & Sight package = $490 (auto wipers & lights)
Multi-function table - rear = $350
Multi-function swheel = $490

RNS510 I will add myself = $3990 if dealer fitted
RVC = $1290 which I may or may not do myself

And the biggest decision for me would be the 132kw v 103kw version. Its a $7K difference.

$2500 will see them both chipped, 103kw/340NM => 125kw/400NM and 132kw/400NM => 160kw/500NM.

I will have to go back and testdrive the 103 on the highway to see how quickly it will go from 80-120km/h. Safe overtaking is important to me, for the van I don't care about 0-100km/h but definately about 80-120 ....

[team_v]

Also going to Salary Sacrifice the Van ....

I'm slightly worried about the longetivity of the DSG gbox (this is the new 600NM rated 7spd which incidentally may makes its way throughout the VW range including the Tiguans as it is both 4motion and FWD capable) so I will make sure I get an extended warranty.

Options I'd be going for .....

Metallic Paint = $1590
Front foglights with cornering functiion = $790 (I think it it makes it look better)
Light & Sight package = $490 (auto wipers & lights)
Multi-function table - rear = $350
Multi-function swheel = $490

RNS510 I will add myself = $3990 if dealer fitted
RVC = $1290 which I may or may not do myself

And the biggest decision for me would be the 132kw v 103kw version. Its a $7K difference.

$2500 will see them both chipped, 103kw/340NM => 125kw/400NM and 132kw/400NM => 160kw/500NM.

I will have to go back and testdrive the 103 on the highway to see how quickly it will go from 80-120km/h. Safe overtaking is important to me, for the van I don't care about 0-100km/h but definately about 80-120 ....

Metallic paint is reasonable.
Fog lights i wouldn't get as they are illegal to use most of the time in QLD.
Better off getting a set of LED DRL's or getting Toy missiles and instlaling them in the foglight surrounds for laughs.
RNS self purchase is a much beter alternative and they can be had pretty cheap now.
Reverse camera is probably a good choice as rear vision would be limited in a people mover.

The engine and gearbox is a bit of a worry.
I would be going with the extended warranty for the DSG.
The 103 felt reasonable in the Tiguan when i test drove it, but the people movers would be much bigger/heavier.
I would probably go for the 132kw to make sure it can get you where you need to go and overtake at a pace that puts you safely in the lane again.

[Sharkie]

Fog lights i wouldn't get as they are illegal to use most of the time in QLD.

I think the car looks incomplete without them. With it having the empty foglight spaces, it will bug me everytime I look at it and 8 yrs is a long time to be irritated by something I could have fitted for only a few $$$$.

The 103 felt reasonable in the Tiguan when i test drove it, but the people movers would be much bigger/heavier.

My Tig takes 3.5s to do 80-120km/h, but I'm not expecting that, however the 9s it takes an auto TDI Tig to do it in is uacceptable. And yes, the Multivan is a good 500kg heavier, so I'm very concerned about it, DSG's quick responses or not.

[team_v]

I think the car looks incomplete without them. With it having the empty foglight spaces, it will bug me everytime I look at it and 8 yrs is a long time to be irritated by something I could have fitted for only a few $$$$.



My Tig takes 3.5s to do 80-120km/h, but I'm not expecting that, however the 9s it takes an auto TDI Tig to do it in is uacceptable. And yes, the Multivan is a good 500kg heavier, so I'm very concerned about it, DSG's quick responses or not.

Go with the nurf/toy missiles for the foglight surrounds instead of the actual lights :p

I was thinking the same thing about the Tig's 103, so the 132 would probably be a better engine and with a chip to 160 would haul along quite well.

[Transporter]

I would go for 132kW engine with 4Motion, and also get the extended warranty when you're at the negotiation table.

[shogun2]

I agree with Transporter.
If the performance is anything like my T5 Multivan when it was chipped, it is a real flyer. Overtaking was a breeze.

[blaast]

Are you still after one?

There are currently a few Caravelle's going really cheap (in Victoria at least).
They are late 2009 SWB and LWB Caravelle's with only 100's or up to a few 1000 kms on them.
We picked up a SWB with 1300kms in immaculate condition for $40,000 drive away.
Our first VW...and people mover!

[The_Hawk]

Are you still after one?

It's still very much on the cards, will just be a matter of when. For the moment we dont *need* it, but we are woking on another addition to the family which will make it a necessity In the meantime I'm just quietly watching the market and working on a pay rise