Day van, Transporter or Vellfire?
Discussion
Hey, looking to get a day van for regular weekend camping, currently using a tent but would prefer a van. Journeys are usually about 3/4 hours down to Devon / Cornwall. Would love a French road trip in 27.
What's the best option in 2026?
Transporter - now full of emissions crap and not as reliable?
Transporter - pre euro 6 any better, most seem pricey for the age/mileage?
Alphard/Vellfire - Bullet proof? still pricey due to import tax, cost of fuel due to being petrol would get annoying, poor resale?
Transit - wet belt, run!
Budget probably stretch up to £25k if chopped my car in, £15k if adding to the fleet!
Thanks
What's the best option in 2026?
Transporter - now full of emissions crap and not as reliable?
Transporter - pre euro 6 any better, most seem pricey for the age/mileage?
Alphard/Vellfire - Bullet proof? still pricey due to import tax, cost of fuel due to being petrol would get annoying, poor resale?
Transit - wet belt, run!
Budget probably stretch up to £25k if chopped my car in, £15k if adding to the fleet!
Thanks
Edited by NH-0 on Sunday 24th May 11:11
Transporter seems to be the leisure choice.
Transit is still the popular choice for medium vans, got 2 now, 2.2 lwb high top, that is 2.2 but ULEZ COMPLIANT.
A 2017 SWB 340, that has done 185k, has the quietest diesel engine I have heard for years, has belts done once in 2024. Drives superbly.
Maintenance and correct oil are the key to them, and wrong oil or running too long on it kills them.
Transit is still the popular choice for medium vans, got 2 now, 2.2 lwb high top, that is 2.2 but ULEZ COMPLIANT.
A 2017 SWB 340, that has done 185k, has the quietest diesel engine I have heard for years, has belts done once in 2024. Drives superbly.
Maintenance and correct oil are the key to them, and wrong oil or running too long on it kills them.
£25k would get you into a circa 2020 Vellfire/Alphard in a lower trim level. The bargains seem to be where people have imported them and then run them for 6 months to a year and realise it's either too big for them or they can't stomach the fuel bills.
A lot of car for the money IMO. Not going to be as roomy as a Transporter though.
A lot of car for the money IMO. Not going to be as roomy as a Transporter though.
Edited by _Rodders_ on Sunday 24th May 16:47
Ed Boon II said:
As a multiple Transporter owner, at £15k I d be looking at something other than a Transporter, you ll only get a shed for that money unfortunately.
My T5.1 140hp 6 Speed T30 was £6k and that was 7 years ago. Only spent a couple of grand getting it back up to a decent van. You've just got to accept a few miles on the clock and they can take 400k+ so it's not a huge issue.
T7 is based on a Transit as you probably know, so no VW bods want them, which has pushed up the prices of T5/T6, I’m currently looking for one and the price variations are insane, and in many cases ludicrous for a van.
I’ve ran my T5.1 for nearly 7 years, never let me down and been to Europe a few times. Sold this week as I’m after a LWB T6, and may well go down the Shuttle route.
I’ve ran my T5.1 for nearly 7 years, never let me down and been to Europe a few times. Sold this week as I’m after a LWB T6, and may well go down the Shuttle route.
_Rodders_ said:
My T5.1 140hp 6 Speed T30 was £6k and that was 7 years ago.
Only spent a couple of grand getting it back up to a decent van. You've just got to accept a few miles on the clock and they can take 400k+ so it's not a huge issue.
I had a quick look through Autotrader and couldn’t really see anything decent with less than 100k miles for £15k.Only spent a couple of grand getting it back up to a decent van. You've just got to accept a few miles on the clock and they can take 400k+ so it's not a huge issue.
You don’t want any modified tat and with dpf and egr you want to see regular oil/filter changes.
T6 Forum throws up the odd decent enthusiast owned van.
Miles off your budget but I paid £10k (ish) for a one owner 2014 Transporter / Shuttle a couple of years back with 170,000 miles. Took a bit finding as it's posh so sunroof, nav, alloys, parking sensors etc plus is the 2.0TDi 140 with 6 speed manual. Also being M1 class, no tedious van speed limits.
Fantastic tool... does everything the previous Volvo estate did plus acts as a rudimentary camper, bike mover, people carrier, mobile dining room, changing facilities and bathroom. To drive daily it's no big deal but I also have zero desire to be in ULEZ zones or multistorey car parks so they pose no dramas. Averages about 35 to 40mpg in normal use.
Downsides... it's a commercial vehicle so it's a bit of a noisy, rattly thing and handling prowess is non existent. It's broken a few times too... shat it's alternator, starter then it's steering rack so I'm into to that lot for £1500. I put Bilsteins on it, removed the horrible commercial rated tyres and put softer T28 springs on so it's better, but still kinda crap.
I keep debating getting rid and looking online, I reckon I'd get about £8000 minimum so not terrible depreciation given the use it's had, places we've been and hire van costs I've saved. I keep thinking about a quick German estate but I think I'd really struggle to lose the practicality.
Cool story.
Fantastic tool... does everything the previous Volvo estate did plus acts as a rudimentary camper, bike mover, people carrier, mobile dining room, changing facilities and bathroom. To drive daily it's no big deal but I also have zero desire to be in ULEZ zones or multistorey car parks so they pose no dramas. Averages about 35 to 40mpg in normal use.
Downsides... it's a commercial vehicle so it's a bit of a noisy, rattly thing and handling prowess is non existent. It's broken a few times too... shat it's alternator, starter then it's steering rack so I'm into to that lot for £1500. I put Bilsteins on it, removed the horrible commercial rated tyres and put softer T28 springs on so it's better, but still kinda crap.
I keep debating getting rid and looking online, I reckon I'd get about £8000 minimum so not terrible depreciation given the use it's had, places we've been and hire van costs I've saved. I keep thinking about a quick German estate but I think I'd really struggle to lose the practicality.
Cool story.
Davie said:
Miles off your budget but I paid £10k (ish) for a one owner 2014 Transporter / Shuttle a couple of years back with 170,000 miles. Took a bit finding as it's posh so sunroof, nav, alloys, parking sensors etc plus is the 2.0TDi 140 with 6 speed manual. Also being M1 class, no tedious van speed limits.
Fantastic tool... does everything the previous Volvo estate did plus acts as a rudimentary camper, bike mover, people carrier, mobile dining room, changing facilities and bathroom. To drive daily it's no big deal but I also have zero desire to be in ULEZ zones or multistorey car parks so they pose no dramas. Averages about 35 to 40mpg in normal use.
Downsides... it's a commercial vehicle so it's a bit of a noisy, rattly thing and handling prowess is non existent. It's broken a few times too... shat it's alternator, starter then it's steering rack so I'm into to that lot for £1500. I put Bilsteins on it, removed the horrible commercial rated tyres and put softer T28 springs on so it's better, but still kinda crap.
I keep debating getting rid and looking online, I reckon I'd get about £8000 minimum so not terrible depreciation given the use it's had, places we've been and hire van costs I've saved. I keep thinking about a quick German estate but I think I'd really struggle to lose the practicality.
Cool story.
Thank Davie, all of that makes loads of sense, I did see a 2005 transporter van for £8K with 200k which could be a project added to the fleet! Sounds like a useful family tool which is what appeals. Fast cars are starting to appeal less to me as speed cameras and unmarked cars seem to be everywhere I want to go lately.Fantastic tool... does everything the previous Volvo estate did plus acts as a rudimentary camper, bike mover, people carrier, mobile dining room, changing facilities and bathroom. To drive daily it's no big deal but I also have zero desire to be in ULEZ zones or multistorey car parks so they pose no dramas. Averages about 35 to 40mpg in normal use.
Downsides... it's a commercial vehicle so it's a bit of a noisy, rattly thing and handling prowess is non existent. It's broken a few times too... shat it's alternator, starter then it's steering rack so I'm into to that lot for £1500. I put Bilsteins on it, removed the horrible commercial rated tyres and put softer T28 springs on so it's better, but still kinda crap.
I keep debating getting rid and looking online, I reckon I'd get about £8000 minimum so not terrible depreciation given the use it's had, places we've been and hire van costs I've saved. I keep thinking about a quick German estate but I think I'd really struggle to lose the practicality.
Cool story.
A factory shuttle is a dual purpose vehicle, you have windows, rear seats and weigh less than 2040kg’s unladen.
My van is a converted panel van, classed as N1, it’s likely to get a NIP if I did 70, but can easily be appealed due to having windows and rear seats.
The law is clear as mud, but N1 and M1 do not define speed limits.
My van is a converted panel van, classed as N1, it’s likely to get a NIP if I did 70, but can easily be appealed due to having windows and rear seats.
The law is clear as mud, but N1 and M1 do not define speed limits.
Not to veer off topic but M1 is the classification for passenger cars. N1 is light goods vehicle. Not sure it's classed as dual purpose as it's recorded as a passenger vehicle with 8 seats plus driver. It was one of the reasons I opted for it as my company van is N1 and thus, lower limits and it's pretty frustrating... but totally agree, it's all rather confusing more so as one insurer said I'd need a PCV (D1?) license as it has 9 seats... V5 states 8 plus driver so my own insurer were fine with calling it a car and charging me a third of the other premium.
Edited by Davie on Monday 25th May 20:24
We used to have a pre-add blue super reliable VW T5.1 Camper, 140 6 speeder, lovely, 5 years zero issues. Then went to a T6 Caravelle and everything was awful, the twin turbo version which luckily had VW warranty, but spent a lot of time with them. Sold at a big loss.
We then decided to go big and went for a Merc Sprinter, much better service from Merc sales, the van was even washed and waxed before I picked it up. 2yr servicing, and I only need to call 1 week in advance, unlike VW which needed 2 months as they where always busy. The 2.1ltr engine is super reliable, does 36mpg on the motorway. Way more tech than the VW, better android auto, mine is the 7sp Auto and so much smoother than the DSG in the VW. Very happy, driven it all around Denmark/Switzerland etc, just loves long journeys. We have the high top so we can stand up in it without needing a poptop which is much easier.
We then decided to go big and went for a Merc Sprinter, much better service from Merc sales, the van was even washed and waxed before I picked it up. 2yr servicing, and I only need to call 1 week in advance, unlike VW which needed 2 months as they where always busy. The 2.1ltr engine is super reliable, does 36mpg on the motorway. Way more tech than the VW, better android auto, mine is the 7sp Auto and so much smoother than the DSG in the VW. Very happy, driven it all around Denmark/Switzerland etc, just loves long journeys. We have the high top so we can stand up in it without needing a poptop which is much easier.
SwissJonese said:
We used to have a pre-add blue super reliable VW T5.1 Camper, 140 6 speeder, lovely, 5 years zero issues. Then went to a T6 Caravelle and everything was awful, the twin turbo version which luckily had VW warranty, but spent a lot of time with them. Sold at a big loss.
We then decided to go big and went for a Merc Sprinter, much better service from Merc sales, the van was even washed and waxed before I picked it up. 2yr servicing, and I only need to call 1 week in advance, unlike VW which needed 2 months as they where always busy. The 2.1ltr engine is super reliable, does 36mpg on the motorway. Way more tech than the VW, better android auto, mine is the 7sp Auto and so much smoother than the DSG in the VW. Very happy, driven it all around Denmark/Switzerland etc, just loves long journeys. We have the high top so we can stand up in it without needing a poptop which is much easier.
What year and which 2.1. ? We then decided to go big and went for a Merc Sprinter, much better service from Merc sales, the van was even washed and waxed before I picked it up. 2yr servicing, and I only need to call 1 week in advance, unlike VW which needed 2 months as they where always busy. The 2.1ltr engine is super reliable, does 36mpg on the motorway. Way more tech than the VW, better android auto, mine is the 7sp Auto and so much smoother than the DSG in the VW. Very happy, driven it all around Denmark/Switzerland etc, just loves long journeys. We have the high top so we can stand up in it without needing a poptop which is much easier.
The is big timing chain issues with the latest engine , may not be an issue with a camper so much though.
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