The wife surprised me this morning...Oh err...no not like that, she suggested getting rid of our car and buying something along the lines of a
T4 / 5 SWB.
This ( as mentioned ) is to replace our car, and to be used as a daily driver etc etc.

Now I don't know a lot about T4/ 5' s other than for what we want to spend , aprox 3 or 4 k we are looking at a High mileage van.
I have added T5 if a knackered but repairable came up cheap enough.

We would be happy to buy maybe a non runner project or something is a running but needs on going work to get it to where we want to be.
So what are the pros...or I guess really the cons of a T4 /5, what are they like to work on, in particularly the engines.

Was thinking about a basic van and fitting windows ?

Thoughts and input much appreciated

Andy

I had a T4 as a daily for quite a while and they are great in my opinion. We had a 2.5tdi caravelle, modified obviously, but it was great. I did the cam-belt when we got it, and other than servicing regularly if purred along lovely! Electric windows played up a bit, and the central locking stopped working for a while, but all easy to fix and parts are readily available.

Driving it daily really wasn't an issue at all, it was my wife's for about 9 months and she ferried the kids about everywhere and used it for all of her day to day journeys in that time with no issues whatsoever.

Economy wise, it wasn't standard but we got about 30mpg combined I would say. They aren't quick so you tend to become a little more relaxed overall, (she had an S3 before this and averaged 19mpg, her right foot isnt light!!).

From our personal experience we had a great time with the van, and we all miss having it as a daily. We sold it as we were moving house and needed the money, regret it though as we now have an MPV instead, rubbish [emoji22][emoji22].

T5s are far less reliable than a T4, the 2.5 tdi in the t4 is the one to go for, i had the 1.9td and it was a bit gutless, my cousin has a T5 2.5 with an exhaust and remap its over 200bhp but doesn't do more than 20mpg however you drive, as standard there pretty pants too, the 2.0 in the T5.1 is a lot better

Thanks for the input guys.

Andy

Not had a t4 but got a 55plate t5 2.5 lwb lab. Had it from 89k miles and its developed no end of faults! Selectors gone in gearbox, turbo is playing up and it has a starting problem that no garage can fix!
Oh an I payed nearly £10k for this bag of spanners about 2 years ago.

The only vehicles I've not had problems with have been aircooled

If you buy a T4 make sure you hang a fake flower necklace from the rear view mirror. If it has no rear window and therefore no rear view mirror you will have to fit a rear view mirror to hang the fake flower necklace from.

matt d wrote:If you buy a T4 make sure you hang a fake flower necklace from the rear view mirror. If it has no rear window and therefore no rear view mirror you will have to fit a rear view mirror to hang the fake flower necklace from.

That's good to know Matt, it things like these hidden expenses that I need to know about. I'm guessing that fake flower necklaces can be procured from any 50p and £1 shops and I guess no specialist tools are required to fit ?

Andy

We've had T4's for 3 years now, both caravelles and both 2.5tdi's. There was a crossover year around 2000 when they went for the new EDC15 ecu's. The later models have newer gauges, 3rd brake light and possibly ABS and airbag on steering wheel. Aircon makes a difference to prices as well. All stuff thats normal on a t5 I guess. We get mid 30's on a long run and if you're gentle we get almost 40mpg. Loads of carry space and wife loves it, she even prefers the T4 over my passat for short trips.

andy f wrote:

matt d wrote:If you buy a T4 make sure you hang a fake flower necklace from the rear view mirror. If it has no rear window and therefore no rear view mirror you will have to fit a rear view mirror to hang the fake flower necklace from.

That's good to know Matt, it things like these hidden expenses that I need to know about. I'm guessing that fake flower necklaces can be procured from any 50p and £1 shops and I guess no specialist tools are required to fit ?

Andy

Yeah you can buy them from most shows along with funny shaped flag thingies with long fishing rod like poles

OK so looks like the T4 2.5tdi is the one to go for.
So what to look out for, presumably like most cars the cam belt, but unless there is proof of it being done you would do this as standard. Are there any common faults / problems ?

Thanks
Andy

Look out for cam-belts, but as you said without evidence it didn't happen. Check clutch as they aren't cheap. There are two types, intercooled (102bhp) or non intercooled (88bhp), try to get the former as they pull a bit better.

Check electrics all work (windows, locks etc) and make sure it hasn't been resprayed as they tend to cover a multitude! Ask me how I know!!

Hi I've been running a 1.9 td for around 4 years now and yes compared to the 2.5 it is guttless but a lot less complicated and expensive. She's done 220k and still starts on the button. The main thing to look out for on the 1.9 is the cam belt the bottom main pulley has a small key way that can give and take out everything but that's about it cheap cheerfully and reliable.

The 2.5 later models are going for big money now and are a complicated engine thus why vw only make the latter 1.9 on their t5. I'd go down the route of any of them but they will and can cost you lots especially when you start to customise which you will.

Get on the t4 forum I enjoyed my experience there but now coming back to the Splitty once I've rebuilt the engine and box.

Buzzers

Ps

Easy to board out carpet and window them to any advice just ask.

If you ever plan to drive it in London a T4 deisel will be no good as it isn't low emission zone compliant. Even with the flowers on the rear view mirror

Cheers, Lee.

Ive had a T4 and a T5. The T4 was knackering to drive to Sweden and back. The T5 is a far superior more user friendly design. Drive both of them before you decide. My T5 blew its engine up I think as a result of previous accident damage causing damage to the case a long time ago, but as it was a 2006 1.9 TDI, I was able to buy a golf engine for £195 and put that in. Beware of the cost of replacement engines on the 5 cylinder ones!!

Here's my engine conversion thread on the T5 forum if you spot one with a shot engine:

http://www.vwt4forum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=376718

But as I say, drive a few of them to see what fits before buying anything