T5 Kombi Beach availability

[tapsy]

Hi all new to this site, my wife and i are thinking about getting a T5 kombi beach, and was wondering if 1) they are still going to be available in a couple of years, or get one now as we want to semi retire in about 4 years. 2) any bad reports about them?
3) any good reports about them.

we don't think we need a full blown camper, so what is the bed like in these?

[phaeton]

Hi all new to this site, my wife and i are thinking about getting a T5 kombi beach, and was wondering if 1) they are still going to be available in a couple of years, or get one now as we want to semi retire in about 4 years. 2) any bad reports about them?
3) any good reports about them.

we don't think we need a full blown camper, so what is the bed like in these?

Welcome to VWwA tapsy

Can't comment as I dont have a T5 but they will be phased out in 3 to 4 years when T6 arrives.

A facelift is also rumoured between now and then

[jets]

The Kombi Beach sells in very low nos. There would be no guarantee that VW would contiue to sell this model until the end of the T5.
Hopefully MultiplexMan will come along soon, he owns a Beach. If he doesn't send him a PM.

[WEDEL.1]

A Beach would certainly be an adequate replacement for the Green T4. All I need is $$$$$$$$.


Maris

[MultiplexMan]

Hi all new to this site, my wife and i are thinking about getting a T5 kombi beach, and was wondering if 1) they are still going to be available in a couple of years, or get one now as we want to semi retire in about 4 years. 2) any bad reports about them?
3) any good reports about them.

we don't think we need a full blown camper, so what is the bed like in these?

Hi,

The bed is great and roomy as there are no cupboards in the Beach. However the Beach is a SWB T5. This may be important if you cart heaps on your trips...

Positives - big discounts when buying one off the lot. I purchased a Beach because it worked out cheaper (at the time) than buying a stock Transporter and building it it up to the same spec. That is, dual battery, privacy glass windows all round, folding seat/bed, dual A/C, swivelling Captains seats, folding table, chairs,...

Negatives - VW T5 build quality. You can read my posts on this site and on the Brickyard. Lots of trim issues, pre-delivery "omissions", design... Note these are not Beach issues but VW issues.

My biggest agro is over the seat/bed. This is meant to be easily removable in order to suit the "dual purpose" nature of the vehicle. Well ask for a demonstration of the removal and installation of the seat/bed - take a video with you

Support - not an issue. Support will be no different than for any T5. The few "unique" pieces are not "show stoppers".

Anyhow - I found great prices in WA on demo Beaches (2WD and 4WD) but ended up buying in Sydney because I got a great all round deal.

It has been a great van (TDI auto) and I love driving it. It has been super reliable to date, easy to work with, lots of support (forums, spares, vendors) and I take it out bush (Cooper Basin) where only Toyotas dare to go

Cheers MM

[tapsy]

Thanks for your comments MM , what sort of $$ could i get one for i guess they are plated 06 so we may be able to get them down on price, One went a few months back for $42k on road with 7,000K, and is that bed comfortable? we have driven one and fell in LOVE with it..... but i will check out your posts on quality issues! Thanks, GT

[MultiplexMan]

Kombi Beach - 42K on road!!! That is a bargain.

[Lams]

The Caddy's bed is easily removable

[BrianJ]

Kombi Beach

One went a few months back for $42k on road with 7,000K, and is that bed comfortable? we have driven one and fell in LOVE with it.....

I bought a 2006 with 10k km for $47000 on the road 6 months ago, so $42k would be a real bargain.

This is mine, offroad gray and orange stripe, the brianj thread 3 images down from the top: http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newf...?t=3785&page=7

We also did not want all the hard cupboards and sinks etc and this design has proven to be perfect for us. We have narrowed the bed a bit to fit a 32ltr engel fridge in on top of the wooden drawer just inside the sliding door.

The ability to eat up the kilometres in comfort is legendary, and lightyears ahead of the japanese commercial vans being sold in aussie. It has power to spare, has returned around 8 litres/100k on trips.

Its hard to know whether they will retain their proper value in australia unless VW starts to sell more cars overall and becomes a houshold name again, but with the price of japanese cars rising and european falling, that might just happen.

Brian

[Mischa]

just a thought; you could consider the new cadi maxi. then install your own bed and fridge and stuff. would be nicer to drive and still tonnes of room.

[tapsy]

We also did not want all the hard cupboards and sinks etc and this design has proven to be perfect for us. We have narrowed the bed a bit to fit a 32ltr engel fridge in on top of the wooden drawer just inside the sliding door.

Hey Brian sounds like you have the same idea as us, just need a bed to crash a fridge and coffee machine. we are still looking (we missed the 42k one)

So are you happy with it? IS the bed comfortable? Any chance of some pics of fridge setup?

please be honest, its a lot of doh.......

[tapsy]

Thanks phaeton for the welcome, i'll be happier when i get the T5

[BrianJ]

Kombi Beach

Hey Brian sounds like you have the same idea as us, just need a bed to crash a fridge and coffee machine. we are still looking (we missed the 42k one)

So are you happy with it? IS the bed comfortable? Any chance of some pics of fridge setup?

please be honest, its a lot of doh.......

The fridge reduces the bed to about the width of the main part, without the sliding sponge bit over the drawer near the door. We are both fairly skinny and it works for us, but I would say if you were one of both were larger persons then you would need the original width. This would create a problem of where to fit the fridge, as it cannot go on the floor behind the drivers seat where we wanted to place it, as then the metal drawer under the moving centre seat could not be opened. It would take some creative thinking to place it elsewhere, and the best thing about having it near the sliding door is that when you are sitting under the awning and want another beer, just flip the lid open and get one while standing outside.

We placed another 2inch cotton covered foam matress on top of the seat/bed to make it comfortable, and it is very good. We got that from BCF for about $80 I think. It comes with magnetic curtains which work well for the windows at night. I have put a 12V fan on the centre pillar to provide breeze if it gets hot and you cant get a breeze from outside. I had to add aditional 12v sockets in the back to run our DVD/TV as well as external lights etc.
We have also had electricians fit a 240V inlet and wiring so we can use powered sites, which costed about $800.

The boot under the bed is incredible for carrying capacity, where we use a few plastic boxes. Otherwise it is mostly all worked out in the original design, and it works very well.

We were aprehensive about buying it at first, as it is a complex car and there are not many as yet in australia which can cause difficulty if it breaks down especially going around the country. So far we have gone 12k km with no trouble at all.

The reason we bought it was the value you get for the money. It doesn't matter what you compare it to that is available here, it is way ahead. Take the hi-ace for example. A diesel auto will cost at least $40k with factory windows and then you can start fitting it out which will cost anything from 15-$20k. When you have finished it will be smaller, less powerful, poorer handling, and virtually not as good in any area you care to compare. The only thing going for the hi-ace is that there are plenty on the road and parts and expertise should be easier to find. But in the end we felt it would not do the job and would cost more so decided on the VW.

We have become increasingly happy with it as it is a superb handling car and a pleasure to drive even without considering the camping ability. On a suitable highway, I think it could easily cruise all day on 140km/hr and has the power to make mountains look like molehills.

We have a simple tarp as an awning which we attach to a 1 inch square bar that we have screwed on the roof to the roofrack threaded holes, and are considering getting a mesh tent type thing to use for the table and chairs, and provide insect protection and camp placeholder if we move the car while staying for a few days. We will try to travel in the best season as it would not be as good as a caravan or cabin in nasty weather.

I think we have made the right choice and have already done a three week trip from Brisbane to Forster and back, and are going to the dinosaur diggings near Winton in August for 4 weeks, then to tassie next February. In a couple of years we will be going right around Australia, so we want to have a lot of practice by then.

Its a tough descision, but work out what are the alternatives and their costs, and the answer will be apparent.

Brian

[tapsy]

Hi Brian, wow that was very informative ....... this is what forums are about!!!!! you got us both excited about our venture now! we had some rellies come over from Germany a while back and 'Boris' had one and was going on about it and that's what started us, we mainly were looking for something to crash in after parties as we both drink a little you know with the law these days But we really want to travel light in comfort and safety and i know couriers that say they have to climb into thier toyotas and slide out! as they sit on the wheels, you just step in the kombi!

It's a big step as we are going out on the limb a bit to get one now, rather than a year or two but we have time to set it up like you. Has yours got the alloys or are they the steel rims, they look good !

we are both 'small' people so the bed modification wouldn't be bad, do you still have the drawer under the fridge? We don't need all the cupboards and stuff as we want to commute as a normal car too! I like the way you have it set up, hope you are here if i get ours and i can ask some more stuff... but hey i won't get offended if you don;t wanto Have a good trip!
we are in Tassie in august .......flying in for a week taking the mother in law for a look. Thanks for the pics!!!

ps this is the one we missed out on *try to add pic here not having much luck with it

[shogun2]

Hey Tapsy,
I saw that one down at Solitaire. Was very interested in the nudge bar, cause I'm sick and tired of people backing their tow bars into the number plate.
How much did the one you missed go for?
Cheers,
Rod