VW Transporter price advice
Discussion
Morning folks
I went to view a transporter last night. Dealer sale 69 plate T6 Highline 150bhp manual with 74,000mls. It’s a panel van converted to a kombi with some carpeting in the rear. Spec wise it had AC and auto lights. I would describe it as very good condition.
It had clearly been used by a builder previously as there was some evidence of that. With the barn doors scratched with some dents. Rest of the bodywork was good with minor marks here and there. It drove well but it has not had a cambelt change and dealer is quoting the VW schedule of 130,000mls and no time limit. So he is asking £25k and not accepting offers. My feeling is it’s strong pricing. But what do you people think.
I went to view a transporter last night. Dealer sale 69 plate T6 Highline 150bhp manual with 74,000mls. It’s a panel van converted to a kombi with some carpeting in the rear. Spec wise it had AC and auto lights. I would describe it as very good condition.
It had clearly been used by a builder previously as there was some evidence of that. With the barn doors scratched with some dents. Rest of the bodywork was good with minor marks here and there. It drove well but it has not had a cambelt change and dealer is quoting the VW schedule of 130,000mls and no time limit. So he is asking £25k and not accepting offers. My feeling is it’s strong pricing. But what do you people think.
ConnectionError said:
Clearly the dealer is confident that he will get his price, there are still plenty of people buying these to convert to campervans who are willing to pay.
How much do you think it should cost?
More of a feeling based on other prices seen. My gut feeling is it’s 1.5 to 2k overpriced. How much do you think it should cost?
macp said:
ConnectionError said:
Clearly the dealer is confident that he will get his price, there are still plenty of people buying these to convert to campervans who are willing to pay.
How much do you think it should cost?
More of a feeling based on other prices seen. My gut feeling is it s 1.5 to 2k overpriced. How much do you think it should cost?
Belle427 said:
I have not compared prices but does not seem that unreasonable really, as said the prices for them are just plain silly.
I have always changed belts on Vag stuff at 5 years and to be fair the belts look as good as new when they come off so may be overkill really.
Good to know thanks. I was chatting with a dealer who told me prices for good used T6.1 were still climbing due to the T7 being disliked. I wasn’t sure if that was sales patter though. I have always changed belts on Vag stuff at 5 years and to be fair the belts look as good as new when they come off so may be overkill really.
Ry.Clarke said:
Transporters are delulu prices at the moment thanks to everyone and their mom wanting a camper they won t use.
Honestly, they are also not any better. I would be buying a different van in all reality.
I am in total agreement with you sir. The T6 I drove last night was good, even fast for a van. But no better that the Trafic Sport I drove recently. But the bloody transporter just hangs onto its value so well. And I know this annoys people, but it’s a consideration when you are sinking you own cash, rather than a loan into something like this. Honestly, they are also not any better. I would be buying a different van in all reality.
macp said:
I am in total agreement with you sir. The T6 I drove last night was good, even fast for a van. But no better that the Trafic Sport I drove recently. But the bloody transporter just hangs onto its value so well. And I know this annoys people, but it s a consideration when you are sinking you own cash, rather than a loan into something like this.
The first new van I bought was a Nissan Primastar. Renault engine. It had a lot going for it and gave me no trouble, that is, until someone cross-threaded a glow plug. I'd had the van for about four years by then. Then, the reverse light thingymajig in the gearbox broke. A few electrical gremlins crept in and had to be dealt with. At 80k miles the engine didn't sound great (but still drove ok). I slowly fel out of love with it because it was deteriorating before my eyes. I then went into a T5 Highline 140PS. I got that up to 80k and it was as fresh as the day I bought it. No issues whatsoever. ULEZ restrictions forced me to sell it and it went the same day (I specced it with two SLDs which meant it had extra appeal). Next van was - still is - a T6, also Highline but 204DSG. Like my previous vans, I've looked after it and it has served me well. That said, the heated seats function failed a month after the warranty lapsed. The head unit is starting to play up. There's a bit of rust on on of the SLDs... But I still love it and wouldn't go back to a Renault.
No idea where to go if I did opt for a new one though.
Did it leave the factory as a Kombi or as a Panel Van and converted by the previous owner?
I know nothing of this brand but what some businesses did in my day was to buy a panel van, reclaim the VAT, run it as a commercial vehicle and then convert it into a passenger vehicle (windows and seats) before disposing of the vehicle out of their VAT registered business without charging the VAT onwards - as they divested the asset as a car in effect.
This was all good until the VAT man eventually caught up with unsuspecting sellers and buyers.
I am by no means a VAT expert - nor am I pretending to be - but I have a friend who got into some hot-water on something similar with a Land Rover 90 that started out life as a commercial vehicle and came to him as a domestic car a good few years ago.
I know nothing of this brand but what some businesses did in my day was to buy a panel van, reclaim the VAT, run it as a commercial vehicle and then convert it into a passenger vehicle (windows and seats) before disposing of the vehicle out of their VAT registered business without charging the VAT onwards - as they divested the asset as a car in effect.
This was all good until the VAT man eventually caught up with unsuspecting sellers and buyers.
I am by no means a VAT expert - nor am I pretending to be - but I have a friend who got into some hot-water on something similar with a Land Rover 90 that started out life as a commercial vehicle and came to him as a domestic car a good few years ago.
Edited by ADJimbo on Tuesday 16th September 13:03
macp said:
Trust me it s madness but it s 130k and no time limit. I have seen the emails from VW UK to owners.
It is, but I wouldn’t go past 5 years, besides the front crank seal will probably leak long before the belt is due.Also if it’s a van converted to a Kombi then it will have van speed limits.
Personally I would buy a newer van from Ford/Vauxhall/Renault
I looked at Transporters last year and my take away observation was that prices are all over the place as is the quality of the van. My old man got stung buying a 64 plate T5.1 camper that promised to be a lovely example and the harsh reality was it was a pretty sorry arsed state of affairs and had clearly been slung together on a budget. He got rid of it earlier this year having had to stomach quite a financial hit.
There are an abundance of old, tired panel vans that have been "professionally" converted and had the obligitory coil overs, 20's and stick on tat thrown at them then sold with an inflated price tag. However, there are also some genuinely decent vans out there but you have to going in with your eyes wide open and you have to research what it is, ie what engine, gearbox, chassis weights etc as buying something not right could be just hassle.
Given that, it's impossible to say if XXX amount for YYY van is good, bad or indifferent... you have to just gauge the market then really look at the van in question and establish if it's a genuinely decent van or something that's been tarted up and cheaply converted and possibly never even legitimately. Plenty panel vans out there running full camper set ups etc so again, just something to be aware of.
Everybody also bleats on about how VW stuff is expensive but if you buy well, the depreciation could be minimal... if that even matters to you. The other factor is people twitter on about buy a Ford / Vauxhall / whatever however hat's like saying you're looking for a new BMW 5 series and somebody saying buy a Mondeo instead. But if you don't want a Mondeo...? So if you want a Transporter, go look at Transporters but if you just want a camper and are open to alternatives, then go look at alternatives and see what you like the best / what suits / what offers best value for money.
There are an abundance of old, tired panel vans that have been "professionally" converted and had the obligitory coil overs, 20's and stick on tat thrown at them then sold with an inflated price tag. However, there are also some genuinely decent vans out there but you have to going in with your eyes wide open and you have to research what it is, ie what engine, gearbox, chassis weights etc as buying something not right could be just hassle.
Given that, it's impossible to say if XXX amount for YYY van is good, bad or indifferent... you have to just gauge the market then really look at the van in question and establish if it's a genuinely decent van or something that's been tarted up and cheaply converted and possibly never even legitimately. Plenty panel vans out there running full camper set ups etc so again, just something to be aware of.
Everybody also bleats on about how VW stuff is expensive but if you buy well, the depreciation could be minimal... if that even matters to you. The other factor is people twitter on about buy a Ford / Vauxhall / whatever however hat's like saying you're looking for a new BMW 5 series and somebody saying buy a Mondeo instead. But if you don't want a Mondeo...? So if you want a Transporter, go look at Transporters but if you just want a camper and are open to alternatives, then go look at alternatives and see what you like the best / what suits / what offers best value for money.
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