7 Seaters?

[Sharkie]

VW Caddy is about $32K RRP brand new ...... with negotiations and possibly the 50% tax break less than that driveaway is do-able .....

[The_Hawk]

The Caddy Maxi Life doesn't seem to list if it has any child restraint points at all, so who knows what it actually has. Like I said before, the online information from VW leaves a little to be desired. If anyone knows the answer I would be pretty keen on hearing it.

I keep hearing about this 50% allowance, but am I right in saying it's a business thing and is only a tax write off? So for someone like myself who has an ABN but zero turn over it wouldn't actually do me any good? That and it ends at the end of December right?

[team_v]

I keep hearing about this 50% allowance, but am I right in saying it's a business thing and is only a tax write off? So for someone like myself who has an ABN but zero turn over it wouldn't actually do me any good? That and it ends at the end of December right?

Correct and correct.
I considered getting an ABN for the 50% gov "grant" however you need to claim it off the income you made form the company so there is no point in doing that.

Maybe ask one of the dealers on here to see if they know or can contact VWA for otyu to see if the Caddy has child restraint points.

[The_Hawk]

Maybe ask one of the dealers on here to see if they know or can contact VWA for otyu to see if the Caddy has child restraint points.

That's pretty much the plan, but as I said I have a few months to play with. So far it's been a case of scoping out what is even an option since it seems that is a very very short list.

The Caddy commercial vehicle in manual form is close to $32k, the Maxi Life (with windows and seats) is closer to $45k. Seems second hand Maxi Life's are few and far between, although there are a couple on Carsales now, looking at $25k give or take for an '07. Looks alright if there is enough child points, although I still want to see luggage space in the flesh (with the 7 seats in place).

[Sharkie]

Pretty sure theMaxi Life is either 32990 or 34990 at present in manual form. I've been looking at 1 quite seriously but since I have no need for child points did not bother looking at that.

Its actually got some boot space with the 7 seasts in place. Its the reason the maxi life has replaced the previous life as that had no space with 7 seats in use.

[The_Hawk]

Spoken to another VW rep... seems the Maxi Life only has 3 anchor points so is out, confirmed that the Caravelle doesn't have an option for more than the stock 2 points (unless you go aftermarket) from the horses mouth too.

As I mentioned earlier, the Territory doesn't allow for all the restraints to be used at the same time and has SFA boot space, even less if you use the 3rd row restraint points. While I have a mate who absolutely loved his (and it seemed very nice from where I sat in it a few times) it looks like it just will not do what I want.

I spoke to Little's about what can be done to add a restraint point to a Caravelle and they don't seem to know what a Caravelle is... Still they said next time they are near a VW dealer they will have a look see. Apparently a Tarago can me modded up pretty easy (and cheaply)...

Gotta have a closer look at the T4 Caravelles too, looks like they might have some extra mounting points...

[Dubdabest]

Merc Vito 8 seater! Might stretch your budget but worth a look if they have the required baby seat anchors at the back.

[melissa]

Sorry I didn't see this post earlier Aaron. I very rarely look at the General Discussion section.

Any van can have the CRAB bar fitted along the top at the back that will hold 3 restraints but the T4 Kombi/Caravelle rear seats have restraints along the bottom. The middle seat has 2 hooks so that means 5 restraints all up. For anyone else interested my posts are here:

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/showthread.php?t=38843

[JC Gramps]

Caddy Life Maxi?

Have you checked out the Caddy Life Maxi? I have the smaller 7 seater caddy life, I don't know what the points are on the new maxi models however, they are a fantastic people mover, I average between 900 and 1000K's a tank with the turbo diesel, and if I don't use cruise all the time I end up with a speed fine, it can really move without realising it. I would love to trade up to the maxi model for the storage space.

God Bless
JC Gramps

[The_Hawk]

As I said above, the Maxi Life spec sheet doesn't seem to mention how many child restraint points it actually has. Also since they have only been out since 2008 they are still on the expensive end of the scale.

I keep hunting and I keep getting options I don't like. I'm at a point where I am peering through windows of parked cars and bailling up people who happen to be parking something I am interested in to ask their opinion on their card

I have seen lots of dodgy things, child seats fitted incorrectly, kids having to crawl UNDER restraint straps that go through the back two seats (Honda Odyssey). The biggest one for me is still storage space and I have to say that with the back seats in place pretty much everything has SFA space for prams and food let alone luggage on a holiday.

Thanks to Melissa, I have seen the one unit that pretty much covers all those problems nicely in the T4 Kombi.

My wife still isn't 100% convinced on the styling and much prefers the Kia Carnival. In *theory* I don't mind Kia's we had a Hynundai and it was a great little car if you can overlook the depeciation... But when it comes to the Carnical you read all about the engines that just die and thats something I (and any sane person) just can't look past. If I was buy a brand spanking new one with a warranty then I *might* be convinced...

But then the German engineering and Volkswagen-ness of the Kombi has me I don't mind the van shape at all, I just keep thinking how practicle the whole package is
So a T4 Kombi fits the bill nicely and has a price that wouldn't mean selling one of the children...

Now to convince my wife to drive a red manual 2003 Kombi and I'll be right...

[melissa]

I think someone at VW finally got it right with the Kombi - a Caravelle is an expensive car (if we are being honest) to have your kids use daily - kids dont care if they spill their drink on the floor or crush their biscuit/rusk/fries into the carpet - they are kids!!!
A Caravelle is OK if you want to ferry adults around in a bit of luxury. Maybe someone in the design department expanded their family and it made them think back to when a T2 microbus had rubber flooring and vinyl seats (the T4 has fabric seats) and how easy they were to keep clean. Hope an auto comes up sometime soon for you Aaron so Mrs Hawk can take one for a spin and fall in love with it - and I hope its red!

[The_Hawk]

Hope an auto comes up sometime soon for you Aaron so Mrs Hawk can take one for a spin and fall in love with it - and I hope its red!

The T5 variants are getting up in price (read almost double) and there is a grand total of 3 available in Australia on Carsales. Trawling the other listings there is one T4, white and manual.

I do wonder if there is any stats on how many of them were ever sold in Auto. Personally I would much rather get a manual due to far less issues (and costs if/when they break).

[melissa]

I have just placed a For Sale ad for my T4.

[melissa]

Aaron, I have had someone on the Kombi Club suggest the Hyundai iMax as one to look at. No one else has mentioned it. Have you looked at it?

[The_Hawk]

Aaron, I have had someone on the Kombi Club suggest the Hyundai iMax as one to look at. No one else has mentioned it. Have you looked at it?

Yep, went to Hyundai during round one of looking, they don't come from the factory with any extra mounts but I have heard mixed reports that they can be added after market. The issue of course is that they are only new (late 08 onwards) so second hand ones are still new, that and they are all $40k+

I want to spend less than $25,000 if possible and really if I'm going any higher the Kia Carnival isn't a terrible option since a new one isn't much over $30k, ticks all the right boxes and has a 5 year unlimited km warranty... In reality Kia (and Hyundai for that matter) are well appointed for the cost, they just depreciate alot and the Kia's are know to break

So Melissa, I saw your for sale thread... you don't happen to be coming on the Annual Summer Cruise do you??