Looking for a LWB Transporter

[Art]

Thank you Steve.
I would like to source a manual van and keep out of the automatic ones. Is VW using ZF auto gearbox?

[Rebuild]

The T5 2.5L auto is an Aisin box
I've done my own servicing(filter/partial drain and refill) approx every 75K km.At around 150K on it now, only had a few clunks at times early on around 2nd/3rd gearchange(not for a long time now)

IMO the T5 is a much better drive than the T4, and the 128KW T5 does go reasonably hard, not that i'm biased

[Rebuild]

I do not want the same experience with the VW van if I choose wrong.

You would most probably be better off with a T4 then.

[jets]

My points (or worries) about which kind of engine and reliability is base on my experience with the LR engines and the difference between the 2.4 4 cyl Tdi300 and the 2.5 5 cyl Td5 engines on the Discos and Defenders. The Tdi300 is simple and cheap to repair (spares) the Td5 it is more complicated and expensive and I cannot afford it. I do not want the same experience with the VW van if I choose wrong.

I know very little about land rovers except I was told once that one model/s had unit injectors that cost around $1000 ea.

A quick overview of the T4. Production started in 1990 & was probably sold in OZ in around 1992. One of the engines sold in OZ was the 5 cyl.2.4 diesel using indirect injection with a Bosch VE style pump. These were sold [in OZ] until 2000 when they were replaced with the 2.5TDI. This engine was released in Europe in'96 & was taken from the Audi range but took a while to get here. This engine is direct injection but mostly old school with the exception of the fuel pump that has another " layer inside" that receives inputs from the ECU that is now fitted. This engine compared with it's predecessor is powerful but very economical. The T5s are more powerful again [but probably not more economical] but have unit injectors & the oil required is special [more expensive]
Hope this helps your decision making.

[Art]

The T5 2.5L auto is an Aisin box
I've done my own servicing(filter/partial drain and refill) approx every 75K km.At around 150K on it now, only had a few clunks at times early on around 2nd/3rd gearchange(not for a long time now)

IMO the T5 is a much better drive than the T4, and the 128KW T5 does go reasonably hard, not that i'm biased

The problem with many of the auto transmissions is the the box "supposed" to be maintenance free and that it is not the case.
ZF in Peugeot and other cars was under that category bu later they come with a service update to change the oil and filter @ 60000.
Gearbox fail because the filter get clogged or very restricted and therefore the pump run without oil and collapse.
It is a common problem in the Peugeot 406.
In vehicles where the ECU can be check it is good to refill the gearbox at a the recommended temperature of the oil like in the case of the BMW.

[Art]

Thank you all again for the very informative posts.