VWwA Used Van Guides :T4 Tranporter/Kombi/Caravelle Type 70: 1991-2002

[phaeton]

Post you Negative and Positive Experiences with your T4 Van, Kombi and Caravelle, Utility, or Camper.

And any other helpful tips for buyers

Fill in the blanks

example
Model: eg Transporter Van
Engine: 1.9 with 77kW
Year: 2000
Any Problems ?: lights kept breaking

[DUB 20V]

Post you Negative and Positive Experiences with your T4 Van, MPV, Utility, or Camper.

And any other helpful tips for buyers

awesome van must get rsb big help on the old body roll,

[WEDEL.1]

"Dietrich the Green T4" - 1996/97 Transporter

96/97 Transporter.
2.0L - 62KW
5 sp Manual
15x7 factory alloys
205/65x15 Continental tyres (soon 215/70x15)
C/C, A/C, P/S, C/L.
Armrests on front seats
Rear 3-seat/bed
Rear facing club seat
Colour coded bumpers
Factory front fog lights
Fiamma awning
Electic hook up with circuit breaker
Great on holidays

Positives:
-140,000kms trouble free from new.
-Loves going down hills.
-Excellent view from front seats.
-Quality.

Negative:
-Doesn't like to go up hills.

Maris

[Seano]

2001 Transporter Dual Cab Chassis with syncro AWD
2.5L TDi (ACV) engine
5 sp Manual (02G) with syncro AWD
15x7 factory alloys plus full set of steelies
205/65x15 GT Radial Maxway tyres
air conditioning
factory cruise control (that the factory doesn't know about)
Add-ons include custom Bocar bullbar, TipTop alloy tray with ladder racks, Candy Canvas seat covers, Blaupunkt CD player, H/D rear King Springs & custom rear diff spacers to give 40mm suspension lift, Lightforce spotlights, BEP Automotive VSR battery controller, custom Unifilter cabin filter.

Positives:
-105,000kms generally trouble free from new.
-Very comfortable.
-Exceptional fuel economy for a vehicle this size.
-Brilliant touring vehicle (Two trips round Oz).
-Handling on dirt roads is sensational.
-Surprisingly tough.
-Considerable scope for improving performance.
-Strong T4 community both here and O/S for help and info

Negatives:
-Parts are expensive esp.the filters.
-VW service schedule is a nightmare.
-Ventilation controls are fragile.
-Brake light switch is fragile.
-Hopeless on sand.
-Could do with a higher 5th gear for cruising.
-Torsion bar suspended front end is not ideal for this country.

[Tornado T5]

1997 T4 LWB 2.5L petrol/lpg (dealer supplied)
5 speed, 291,000km,
wing doors, weather shields, cargo barrier, rubber floor mat, full side glass and dark tint, a/c, h/duty hitch, rear protection bar

Postives:
-Will carry over 1000kg and tow same and go all day
-body wise feels like made of rock
-very comfortable after a 300km del. run
-can drive through most carparks
-still drives like new

Negatives:
-too low geared in 5th for freeway(100km/hr@3000rpm)
-lpg range too variable, b/w 280km (heavy) to 350km (all freeway)
-expensive to maintain after 250,000km eg:
-new electric water pump
-split hydraulic line for clutch
-brake pedal brake light switch
-lower gearbox mount
-idler pulley
-idler pulley bearings

[majimbo]

96' - 97' Transporter 2l Manual Petrol

All good, lowered 50mm, 17" 3 piece wheels 8" wide on front & 9.5" wide on rear, tinted windows, imaculate interior, engine is good, recon. motor out of Caravelle just over 9,000kms, power steer, freezing aircon, smooth ride, aftermarket deck, roof mounted dvd with wireless earphones for those long trips, kenwood 6 x 9's mounted to rear side panels to compensate for road noise lol, smooth gearbox, good clutch, clear tail lights with the brake light smoked, euro lip and mp3 stacker to come. Thats all i have done to mine, and only mentioned mechanical things i reckon are worth mentioning. excuse if i left some out, overall a beautiful car/van.

Positives: ITS A VW, what more can i say, lol

Negatives: wish there was more in 5th gear, and needs a new coil leed, also cracked manifold in early stages, need it changed asap before it starts grumbling like a truck/diesel, lol.

[phaeton]

Negative I ordered a headlight for a customer its was very expensive

[Golf Loon]

T4 2L 5Speed Manual, 1995 No Airbags, AC or Power Steer
Absolutely bulletproof, could never break it. Towed car trailers and did 50,000kms in it. Changed a coilpack and other than that, just oil and petrol. Bit slow up hills, but if you thrash it through the gears it likes it and revs all the way round.

T4 TDI, Manual, Airbag, AC, Power Steer
Very strong, plenty of grunt. 1000ks per tank!
Alloy sump is fragile, dont whack it on things, Dual mass flywheel is crap and very expensive to replace. I just put a conventional clutch and flywheel in mine, $2500 difference!
Mine just works 35000kms in 6 months, towing car trailers and lugging stuff. No breakdowns.
Parts are expensive, but thats because its not a Holden and it drives better than one too.

I have had every van and ute imageinable before the T4, simply the best car I have ever owned, I`ll never have another van.

I actually turned my 2L petrol into my TDI with parts from a wrecked van, so am pretty familiar with how these things are bolted together. Big conversion, i`ll never do another, easier to just buy the best one.

I have some experience of the 2.4 diesel = slow as faaaark.

and the 2.5L petrol always seem to spit motors.

The 2L petrol is the best budget option, the TDI is the best allrounder.

[Golf-Sam]

Hey Guys , looking at a 1998 Transporter Camper, it has 282000 KMs on the clock, FWD 2.0L.

what should i keep an eye on when im inspecting it ?

im not planning on keeping it for too long .. i just want it to do some trips around the east coast of OZ .. any ideas on what they are notorious for breaking ?

also i work at an autobarn so parts are not a problem

from what im seeing , the 2.0 seems to be a good option , it is a Manual so uphills should be doable ..

if you have any advice .. please let me know .. i might go see it tomorrow .. VW FTW !

Sam