Advice on purchasing 2nd hand VW: T4 or Caddy?

[downhilljon]

Hi guys,

New to the forums, figured it would be a good place to pick up a bit of info so I can buy my first vee-dub.

Need a work van which will also do a good job of carrying surfboards, bikes, camping gear, etc.

After some research have whittled it down to a T4 or a Caddy.

Drove a Caddy a handful of times about 6-7 yrs back for work, no idea what year/variant, but seemed like a pretty good little car. Haven't had a good look at a Transporter yet (will need to travel to check out 2nd handies, so looking to narrow down my options as much as possible before looking around).

I think the Caddy would be sufficient for cargo space, but would be happy too with a larger van - is there a huge difference in capacity?

So at the moment, my budget is anywhere between $3k and $8k.

At the lower end of the range are some T4's with about 300,000 kms on the clock. Have to go up to about $7k to get a caddy, and the T4's are looking in much better nick at that price range obviously too.

So, what I'm looking for:
- Advice or thoughts on T4 vs Caddy and why (i.e. running costs, maintenance/reliability, etc)
- Anything major servicing requirements which I would hope to find done in the service history of these vehicles with high kms. Eg T4s I've seen in my range start at about 95-96, and from 150k to 300k on the clock. Caddy's are about 2006 models with ~170k on the clock.
- Any advice/preferences for a particular variant of each model?

Thanks guys!
Jon

[Sunny43.5]

I have owned a T4 for as a work van 5 years and then bought a T5 , I did not want to buy a T5 at the time but the back of a car transporter changed those plans . At the same time we also owned a T4 for our family use . Both of those T4's were 2.5 Petrol work one was a manual and the other an auto . Both of these vans were very good reliable rides only problem with my work van was the well known $25 relay problem you would have read another members problem just in the last few days . Naturally any of these petrol T5's need the timing belt and water pump done at 100.000 kms intervals so it pays to ask if that's been done . I cannot think of any major or common problems as it seems VW did a pretty good job on that model . Now we currently have the new T5.1 and my 10 year old T5 work van , but a few years back I purchased my son a 1997 T4 as his first car . He was heavily into Moto Cross racing an it was the perfect van for that use , now it did start life as a 2.4 non turbo diesel but he tired of the lack of performance after a coupe of years . The answer we purchased another 2.5 petrol engine van off Ebay body wise it was not so good but mechanically fantastic . So we did a complete transplant every part of the drive train electrics fuel etc was transferred to his van , we sold the donor van with the old engine refitted so it was a pretty good deal . Now this van has outlived his needs as no longer races so it is for sale currently , Link here to see the van Transporter, Multivan, Caravelle Photography Thread - Pics only! It has around 400.000 kays but it has had a change of instrument binnacle due to a circuit burning out so the replacement one showed around 12000 more than it actually had on the old one , So specs wise 2.5 petrol manual had timing belt and water pump done around 10000 kays ago when we did the transplant . Lowered 40mls on German sourced lowering kit mags etc . Inside fully built in electric sliding sunroof {by yours truly}my job .Cruise Control Electric windows with auto close when doors locked with central locking remote , fully sound proofed and trimmed {again my job } Phillips head unit with fold out 7 inch screen multi media player with built in GPS plays DVD,s mp3 etc plus a15 inch roof mount Dvd player and 12 inch sub with front speakers in doors and tweeters all running through two amps [ note here it used to have two 12 's but son wanted one for his new car a Holden Astra bloody traitor !] So I have rebuilt the sub box and done some new trim work , if interested let me know asking $6500 .

[downhilljon]

Hey thanks for the tips Sunny… and that T4 of your son's looks pretty pimped out - nice work!
You're in Brissy yeah? Might be a little far to come… down south of Sydney here. But I will keep it in mind if nothing else crops up

[Umai Naa!!]

I'd probably go a diesel manual Caddy.

Cheap to maintain, and a well looked-after one wont give you much trouble.

[downhilljon]

Yeah cool Umai… I'd prefer a diesel if possible (my other car is a diesel) and I just like them better than petty now. And manual is also my preferred option.

Are they cheaper to maintain because it's diesel, or are the petrol ones less reliable?

[Umai Naa!!]

A lot cheaper to service in the long run, compared to say, a DSG-equipped one.

I think the petrol ones only come in manual, so the only extra thing service-wise would be spark plugs ( about $15 a pop, if you use the correct ones). Also, they're a bit gutless when you load them up.

[downhilljon]

So as usual, I've kept an eye on my price range plus a little bit more, and naturally something just outside of my preferred budget has caught my eye

Looking at a 2004 T5 SWB 1.9TDi. It's got a lot of kms - nearly 370k. But mostly highway driving, and regularly serviced.

Looks very clean, 4 brand new tyres (and rims), lots of rego, 2 sliding doors which I like, plus passenger sliding door has a heavily tinted window for improved reversing visibility.

It's currently at $8750, hoping to shave a bit off that.

Any comments? Should I be concerned with the high kms?

Thanks!
Jon

[Syncrotek]

If it was me, i would look elsewhere, like I always consider - there are a million other vehicles on offer out there.
At 370k kms for me if I did consider that one it would have to have had drive shafts, brakes, clutch, alternator,
all replaced, plus all the other regular service items, (with solid proof), even then in some circles approaching 400k is considered the diesel lifespan, let alone the gearbox.
Wheels and tyres compared to the cost of the vehicle are relatively cheap, that's why they get replaced at sale time - to smick it up. Wishful thinking can be curse at buy time. (Have had that myself in the past).

[downhilljon]

Thanks for the advice Syncrotek, will definitely take it on board.

[Sunny43.5]

I forgot to mention downhilljon we also have our older T5 family van for sale I did not mention it as it would be outside your price range . Its a 2004 T5 2.5 Turbo diesel with triptronic auto that was rebuilt 15000 kays ago the van has only 140000 on the clock as it was used to transport our disabled kids so other than a couple of holidays not many kays for the age .