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Better known in Australia as the Kombi, Volkswagen's Transporter range has been an integral part of the brand's commercial arm since the 1950s, as well as a big part of local folklore.
Probably best known for the rear-engined, air-cooled T1 and T2, the Transporter was thrust into the modern world with the launch of the T4 in 1990, which saw a water-cooled engine moved to the front of the van.
The latest version, the T6, launched in 2015, and heralded derivatives including the Multivan and Caravelle, ranging from the $45,890 Transporter TDI250 SWB to the $68,090 Transporter TDI450 LWB 4Motion as well as the retro-inspired Generation, which was sold in two-tone guise meant to mimic the original Kombi of the 1950s.
Rather than concentrate on a particular brand, the best advice is to find a vehicle with a full service history and signs that it has lived an easy life. Too often, commercial vehicles like vans are bought by their first owner and used and abused. They’re nearly always purchased with a job in mind, and that job can often wreck them or at least shorten their lives.
Sometimes, the down-time associated with proper servicing means that maintenance is skipped, other times the sheer weight of the cargo being carried puts a lot of strain on mechanical components. A van that has been used by, say, a pool chemical company might have been exposed to highly corrosive chemicals every day of its life and could be hiding lots of rust. Even a florist’s van might have every nook and cranny filled with potting mix, waiting to become damp and start the rusting process.
Another good idea is to buy a van that has already been converted to a camper. This conversion is not an inexpensive process, so letting the previous owner spend the money is a terrific concept. Keep an eye on the classifieds for a van that has done a tour of duty with a grey nomad or van-lifer, and is now up for sale as the owner moves on to something new.
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I don’t believe there’s an SUV that would meet your needs. The best and most sensible solution would be a peoplemover, like a Toyota Tarago, Hyundai iMax, VW Transporter.
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Most manufacturers have what they call "Filled for Life" transmissions, but they can still be serviced. Like you we believe VW should be more transparent when it comes to problems instead of adopting a head-in-the-sand approach, as they appear to do when confronted with a problem.
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If you buy a Volkswagen Transporter, there's a good chance you will want to customise the van to your specific needs - and there are literally hundreds of ways to personalise the T6.1 model you choose. It's more than just floor mats - there's a high roof model, barn doors, and more.
Buy the Transporter van, and you get two seats. Get the Crewvan and you get five seats. The single cab has three seats standard, and dual-cab versions have six seats standard. You can option a front bench in the van and single can, offering three seats total.
Surprisingly there's an array of different colour options available, but you have to be prepared to pay for them. The added cost for interesting paint colours is high, and even higher if you want colour-coded bumpers.
The interior of the VW Transporter is a very practical place, with heaps of storage smarts and clever extras for those who use their van as a mobile office. There's also a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
There is no 0-100 acceleration time offered by VW, but rest assured that if you care about acceleration, the TDI450 4Motion models will scratch that itch.