My T5.1 (facelift) 2010 LWB 2.0DT 103kw 6spd manual - donec mors nos separavit

[aSimpleLife]

Have just realised I've been updating this thread under the newbies corner which might explain why I seem to have lost nearly all my pages...and while I probably don't have much of value to add really...I try to do my best to at least contribute to valuable forums such as these...which have always been so good to me.

Anyway...I'm going to start from today...then rebuild the (hopefully) of value parts of what I've posted previously.

And why today...because this is the day I have recommitted to my T5.
And why is that?...because today was the day I hired and drove a Hiace...and just as I've been advised over and over...there is no comparison.

The T5 driving experience is sensational (like a really nice car)...the fuel economy is fantastic (as good as my 3cyl 1.0litre Charade)...the room inside is perfect...enough headroom at 6 foot not to wish for a higher roof...low floor level meaning easy access...I can easily move from the cabin to the rear between the bucket seats...and getting into and out of the drivers seat is easy...it also just fits into most standard parking spaces...and it looks cool from the outside even in standard form...and apparently it's more safe?

But I hate the poor reliability...made worse by expensive parts and repairs...feels like I own a modern day Leyland P76.
And I kick myself for not doing my research before I bought it...which would have highlighted this...rather than just assuming a VW commercial vehicle would be reliable...with such an important 40k purchase.
I may well still have bought a T5...but at least it would have been an informed choice.

I thought I wanted the manual petrol Hiace because of the simple old technology and the reliability that should follow.
But I now can't go back to something that agricultural.
Anything european seems to be not built to last in line with euro environmental policy.
Mercedes seem to have worse build quality?
I hear good things spoken now about the Renault Trafic. But it's also euro and will it be any more reliable?
I like the Hyundai 5 year warranty but have no idea about the reliability and besides it is not a long wheel base and therefore too short for my requirements.
There's a new front engine 6th gen Hiace likely early 2018...but I thought I'd read it was a Fiat...but with existing Toyota petrol and diesel engines and gearboxes...but why would I buy the first of a new design?

So that's it.
While I can afford to upgrade, there is nothing that I consider deserving of spending another 40k on...definitely not another VW.
There is also all the work I have put into the van that would have to be re-done.

Time to review my maintenance schedule and ensure everything preventative that can be done is being done.

And as I have money to spend this year from a business tax position, maybe I should look at pre purchasing spares for a time when I might not be able to afford them?...or is that just dumb thinking?...more stuff hanging around is probably the last thing I should be contemplating.


Looks a bit like a Transporter doesn't it



Also meant to mention...from when I hired the Hiace for a good test drive...don't go to Bunnings (supplied by Handy Rentals)...if you don't want to risk $3,500 excess !!!
It was made worse because I asked when I hired it what the excess was...they couldn't tell me...told me when I dropped it off and insisted I sign my agreement to the excess after the fact when they had forgotten to up front...I would never have hired the van if I knew what a ridiculous risk I was taking....oh...I later learned I could pay 50% more and reduce the excess by around 50%?

[Bryn23]

I had a look at the Fiat Ducatos before i ordered my T6, i was impressed with them, they have a low roof option and a priced ok.


In hind sight i should have gotten it over the VW, but at the time of ordering i needed to get under the 2.2 mtr high limit at home, but now i have a industrial unit roller door with a 5.5 mtr roller door to keep it in.

[aSimpleLife]

In 2011 I test drove the vehicle and fell in love with it.
It felt like a car and the space in the LWB was just what I needed. Headroom was much better than I expected for a standard roof height. And it was small enough to fit in most car parks and underground car parks.

It was a standard 2010 demonstrator with a few thousand km at a good price of 36k on the road.

There was an 84kw and 103kw available - I couldn't tell the difference when driving - but paid the extra 1 or 2,000 for the 103kw which was always a good choice.
The larger 132kw would have been nice but would have meant buying new for a lot more - I have rarely felt I needed more power over the years anyway.

I would never buy from that dealer in Melbourne again though (pm me if you want to know who it is);
- When I picked up the vehicle was told that as a demonstrator only 1 key was available - and that I needed to pay $600 for a second key - when I got the manager involved they "found" the second key - for free!
- Installed the wrong after market seats - and I had to pay another $400 to get them changed over.
- Window installation left hot metal shards embedded in the roof which I eventually noticed when the roof started rusting - took 6 months (for me) to get resolved (with their supplier) but it meant a respray of my new roof
- 6mths later dealer sent me a letter saying that a change of policy meant that because the car was a demonstrator that the remainder of the new car warranty no longer applied...only the 6mths 2nd hand car warranty...and that had now expired...even though they had originally said balance of 3 years in writing...ended up going to VW direct who said balance of 3 years warranty stands.

I had a 2 + 1 fold down & removeable rear mid seats installed at the dealer for all up $3,700 inc gst - premier xl supplied by TechSafe Ballarat - they have the raised fittings which is not as nice as what you get in a multivan - but they have been great for me - and the 2 + 1 configuration means I can still get from front to back - the 1 seat has a built in seatbelt which is great - but for some reason the 2 seat drivers side seat belt is mounted on the wall - I would have preferred to organise this myself but tax rules around improving on assets really pushes you as a business to get the dealer to do as much as possible if you want other work done later.

Also had fixed mid windows installed through the dealer - so the sliding door and the opposite drivers side - the cost was only $770 - I wanted sliding windows but that was at least another $1,500 - in hindsight I should have got at least the drivers side mid as sliding - rear passengers tend to dislike no opening windows - a window in the sliding door I find essential for vision when crossing divided roads.

[aSimpleLife]

I had a look at the Fiat Ducatos before i ordered my T6, i was impressed with them...

I started looking at the Fiat Ducatos too...because so many were used as motor homes...more like the Crafter in size though...great prices in 2011 too...but everything I read about them cried out poor reliability...there was apparently a real problem with reverse gear...in hindsight maybe no less reliable than a Transporter?

[Bryn23]

I think its hot and miss with the Euros, it must just come down to luck

I did notice there is a recall on the new Ducatos euro 6 2.3 litre engine, due to a issue with the camshaft, they are putting in new ones that needs to be replaced.

I wish, the Japanese made a nice wide euro style van what just doesn't break.

Subaru WRVan, twin turbo boxer 6 cylinder diesel with all wheel drive