Given the prices that one can get a used basic T5 for these days then there's no real reason to cast you mind back to a T4 syncro like mine.

As someone who used and abused their T4 on dirt roads in the middle of nowhere right from the get go...lived in far west NSW, purchased new in Sydney and the first service was done in Perth....I can happily confirm that a T4 will suit your needs. BUt a T5 might well be a better long term arguement.

Main reasons are the improved suspension set-up, driveline and service intervals of a T5.

The T4 torsion bars are not ideal in the dirt - they travel further when they are warm and you need to be attentive to road conditions lest you skin the chin - also the front shocks cop a heap as a result and the resultant pogo is not pleasant.

The T4 driveline is just not as good as the T5. The Tdi's and the six speed gearbox in the T5 is a great cruising combination....couple that with the lack of the expensive, heavy and notoriously difficult to source T4 syncro rear diff...and the T5 has the driveability down pat.

Service intervals are what really kil the T4 TDi's - a new engine timing belt & water pump every 60,000km (at a cost of $1,200) is plainly ridiculous.

Hunt down a T5 4motion....

Despite all this........I'll be keeping the T4. I just can't justify the cost of entry into a T5 given that my own car is near enough to worthless these days. Besides I know this unit and its quirks.....and it continues to eat dirt roads just the same. With the way things are going with fuel and technology (coupled with the low mileage of my rig) I reckon I might well have a drive it till it dies proposition.