Should I replace my business 2010 LWB manual T5 with a T6 ?

[aSimpleLife]

I'm now finalising specs on a Vito Crew Cab or T6 Transporter...

So you don't have any concerns about the reliability and cost of maintaining of the Vito?
Without having really looked into it I just had a general feeling they were worse than the Transporter.
Did you notice much difference driving the T6 from the T5?

[Tornado T5]

So you don't have any concerns about the reliability and cost of maintaining of the Vito?
Without having really looked into it I just had a general feeling they were worse than the Transporter.
Did you notice much difference driving the T6 from the T5?

Anything specific on the Vito (I'm looking at the Bluetec 119) you can help me with? I get the feeling the T6 is "tougher" then a Vito, initial observation is T6 fit is superior, it's built in Germany vs Spain (if that makes a difference?) I'm hoping my local dealer has a Tdi400 T6 to roadtest so haven't driven one yet. I'm more curious to see how the dsg goes in local streets, round abouts etc and reversing up against a wall where I need to stop very close, which I need to do everyday a few times over.

The Vito powertrain is smooth, offers a Crewcab in mid-wheel base only with a 2nd row 2 seat, single seat split, with forward folding or fully removable buckets, 2 sliding side doors as standard. Sadly this type of 2nd row seat layout is also available in a T6 but not here. And T6 has 4motion, no 4x4 Vito has been released yet but coming n Europe.

My dream van, the T6 body with Vito 119 powertrain and Crewcab seating, (or borrow Amarok powertrain/auto) VW 4motion and T6 dash layout from Multivan Executive.

[aSimpleLife]

Anything specific on the Vito...

No. But I've just got the impression from forum posts...and some mechanic anecdotes...but they are not reliable...but because I have not been interested I have not pursued these further...so nothing specific.
I really don't now enough to advise anyone on anything. My own confusion over T6 vs Hiace is evidence enough of that. Don't "overthink it" I'm told.
All the best with your choice.

[Sunny43.5]

My mate has had several Vito's over the last ten years he seems fairly happy but I will ask him if any reliability problems have occurred , he does regular road trips for his work to Sydney and back from Brissie several times a month so he should be able to shed some light for you .

[Tornado T5]

My mate has had several Vito's over the last ten years he seems fairly happy but I will ask him if any reliability problems have occurred , he does regular road trips for his work to Sydney and back from Brissie several times a month so he should be able to shed some light for you .

Look fowrad to some feedback.

[Tornado T5]

No. But I've just got the impression from forum posts...and some mechanic anecdotes...but they are not reliable...but because I have not been interested I have not pursued these further...so nothing specific.
I really don't now enough to advise anyone on anything. My own confusion over T6 vs Hiace is evidence enough of that. Don't "overthink it" I'm told.
All the best with your choice.

To be frank and i've now had 2 Hiaces as rentals from Budget with both virtually brand new, under 2000km and i wouldn't buy one at all unless money was the only consideration. The iload drove better and it had 70,000km on it, the engine is gutless and it's a 3.0L diesel while the safety afforded by no bonnet and very narrow cab speaks for itself. In fact search up on the brand new Proace Toyota will offer in Europe as a JV with Citroen and Puegot and you'll see the crap they offer here in comparison.

[Sunny43.5]

Just had a browse of the New Toyota not a bad looker I suppose we can thank the frogs for that one as after all its a shared platform from Citreon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_Jumpy And I agree the crap offered here is awful , a friend has one of the later Hi Ace vans and without a load in the back it is constantly trying to do 180 degree spins on roundabouts , plus its like a dog constantly lifting one wheel off the ground at the first opportunity when cornering . Then add as was said above NO bonnet pretty scary view from the front seats , would be tempted to fit intrusion bars of some kind as I treasure my legs for walking .

[aSimpleLife]

Also thought I'd mention that I have decided to keep my 2010 T5 for probably at least another 5 years, or until things start going wrong. Paid for it to be inspected by a local VW mechanic recommended on these forums and it's amazing how refreshing it is to talk to someone who doesn't keep telling you what might go wrong with your vehicle and what a mistake you have made. That and the fact he said there was basically nothing wrong with it. I have accepted that I am likely to have higher servicing/repair costs but as long as it's a business expense that's a fair trade off for the comfort and fuel economy. But I will have to get rid of it before retirement though, where low running costs will be essential. So I'll be changing to this VW guy for servicing as was also recommended I do by someone else here...although it's going to reverberate a bit like a family breakdown
So thanks to all for the advice and suggestions.

I must also confess that I had what I felt was a very good deal waiting to be signed for a new 2016 LWB Petrol Manual Hiace for $33,000 drive away + $1,250 to take it to a 6 year warranty with capped price servicing for that time. I would be prepared to live with the comfort and safety issues (the poor fuel economy and filling up more often would be harder to swallow) for the long term reliability and lower servicing costs. But in the end I could not face the time I would spend getting all my stuff moved from one van to the other. And I couldn't be shagged getting mine rwc'd and sold (and the trade offer was woeful as expected). I would find it hard to get to the back of the van from inside the cabin because of the engine. And the internal width is 150mm less so I could not reuse my 2/1 rear seats. But the internal length was a bit longer while the external length is 500mm less which is an advantage for parking, even at my place. Also external height is a bit less so I could actually fit it in the garage. I also liked roof racks that fit in the gutter rather than the VW holes in the roof which I have had leak twice now and means I can't as easily take them off because of the sealing. I also could find no good news about Toyota dealers out here in the East and especially not from where I got the deal (not that I enjoyed my experience with the VW dealer 5 years ago). Another interesting thing is I could find no forums anywhere for late model Hiaces like the wonderful resource get here for Transporters
I did think about a T6 where the changeover would be easier and if there was a deal going I might have been convinced. But the LWB was $10,000 more than the Hiace. And of course my issues with long term servicing costs and repairs would not change.
Anyway, that's my confession. Some of it may be of interest to another some day.