Buying advice on a T6 lwb

[TheWearyOne]

Not sure if this is the place for this, but is £37,000 for a brand new conversion in a 2018 T6 LWB with 100k miles somewhere in the ballpark of sensible?
I'm sure it's not to everyones tastes, we are just trying to work out if it's worth considering.
Space and layout wise it's perfect for what we want, looks wise it's perfect.
In my head I guess I imagined lower mileage, but i'm not fussy frankly, so long as it goes.
And people seem to think T6s are good for lots of miles.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
I guess I just don't want to miss any huge red flags.

 

[TheBig1]

High miles for a new conversion. A bigger question is what was the van used for over 100000 miles. They can and do rust from inside out if it's got scratched and dirty in the back. If it is a decent pro quality conversion it is in the ballpark. Converting properly costs more than most realise. If a rough home conversion it's too much

 

[3crispies]

Had a T6 and now got T6.1, is it 102, what model T28 etc. 100k is OK but they suffer with ad blu, dsg etc. Pm me and send us a link.
Wouldn't pay 37k tbh unless it's good spec roof etc.

 

[TheWearyOne]

How do I pm on here ?

 

[Brains]

How do I pm on here ?

Think you need to pay your £20 for an annual subscription before you can PM people or look at the classifieds to see if any other conversions up for sale.

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[TheWearyOne]

Thanks - is there any reason not to just post a link on here?

 

[3crispies]

Think you need to pay your £20 for an annual subscription before you can PM people or look at the classifieds to see if any other conversions up for sale.

This if your spending 37k.

 

[CazPaul]

Is it a recognised conversion, first glance I think it seems too expensive.

 

[TinaLes]

Thanks - is there any reason not to just post a link on here?

Privacy!, plus full members get full ongoing support for as long as they remain members, best £20 I and many others others ever spent, so glad we did before purchase, so much experienced based advice given by those that really know.
Try it, you will not regret it.
LES

 

[rod_vw]

Not sure if this is the place for this, but is £37,000 for a brand new conversion in a 2018 T6 LWB with 100k miles somewhere in the ballpark of sensible?
I'm sure it's not to everyones tastes, we are just trying to work out if it's worth considering.
Space and layout wise it's perfect for what we want, looks wise it's perfect.
In my head I guess I imagined lower mileage, but i'm not fussy frankly, so long as it goes.
And people seem to think T6s are good for lots of miles.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
I guess I just don't want to miss any huge red flags.

Tell us more about the base vehicle, there are many variations. Check the engine version, if it's a CFCA version you may like to do some research before buying!!

Price / value of a T6 conversion is very variable.

Talk to me if you wish, see links on my signature.

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[CazPaul]

Tell us more about the base vehicle, there are many variations. Check the engine version, if it's a CFCA version you may like to do some research before buying!!

Price / value of a T6 conversion is very variable.

Talk to me if you wish, see links on my signature.

Are the CFCA versions unreliable? Was that version from a certain year?

 

[mitzimad]

Are the CFCA versions unreliable? Was that version from a certain year?

the egr cooler is all one big unit that fails sending crud into the intake well known problem on the 180 bi turbos

 

[TheWearyOne]

Tell us more about the base vehicle, there are many variations. Check the engine version, if it's a CFCA version you may like to do some research before buying!!

Price / value of a T6 conversion is very variable.

Talk to me if you wish, see links on my signature.

It’s down as a “2018 68 REG VW T6 102PS LWB” if that helps. I’ll have a rummage myself.

 

[rod_vw]

It’s down as a “2018 68 REG VW T6 102PS LWB” if that helps. I’ll have a rummage myself.

OK, if it's a 102ps then it's not a CFCA. Personally I wouldn't bother with a 102ps and LWB as in my opinion it's seriously under powered. I've had a number of T5s & T6 as you will see from my signature all more powerful than that. The 102ps T4 was a totally different beast to drive and seemed much more powerful than the 102ps T5 that I test drove years ago.

 

[Outdoors Dad]

This is my opinion. I love the VW t6 and I love the VW brand and culture this is because my older brother has been a VW nut all his life. However many many people love the brand which has made prices and opinions very very high. I would have one if the prices weren't so high for what you get...which is a very small van. My best mate has one and now wishes he bought a bigger van like a crafter or sprinter.
But if you want one and it's for you I'm sure you'll find one that suits your spec age and mileage. 100k is quite high.
Or you could have something similar to this below.

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[CAB96]

Are you buying from the convertor? Is there a mechanical warranty?

100k is (I think) too far to qualify for the VW All-in-one warranty. So if it doesn't have one, avoid.

But then again, what convertor puts a new conversion in a van with that mileage? I know supply has been constrained, but they must have been desperate for vans.

Too much mileage and too much money. Have a look on the T6forum at the vans for sale to see what is available 2nd hand.

 

[stevewagner]

Do you know anything about the build? Is it insulated and heated. How about power i.e. what leisure battery does it have, is the a solar panel etc. Is it registered as a motor caravan or a van with windows? Also before buying you should do a HPI check on the also consider getting an MCEA technician to have a look.

 

[Tonks]

OK, if it's the one I think it is, it's a T32 and it's a proper conversion with decent items (ie. just the RIB bed & Austops roof with full bed & scenic canvas will set you back over £6500 unfitted/finished! People often underestimate the cost of converting a van with high quality components). It's had one owner, which I would suspect makes it an ex-fleet vehicle as 3 or 5 years is a typical time period for vehicles to come off fleet. If it's been a fleet vehicle it should have been properly looked after, but it would be worth finding out what it was doing. 100k motorway miles is going to have been much better for the engine than 100k of multi-drop stop/start trips. Also, get a good look at the service history.

I'd say that it's around the right ball park price wise, considering it's a trader-supplied van with a warranty, but it's at the top of it's money. There are others available of similar age and spec, with lower mileage. It boils down to whether you think this one will serve you well, and how much you like it. Prices with VW campers are all over the place at the moment, so it's hard to put a line in the sand and say 'this is what it's worth' for any van. However the ULEZ and increasing numbers of CAZs are definitely resulting in a lot of older vans coming up for sale and that will affect overall prices. This van should be Euro6 compliant as a 2018 model, so that will help it hold it's value. At the moment at least. Don't buy as an investment, and don't expect to get back the value of any modifications you might plan to make!

Like rod_vw I'd be more reluctant to go for the 102bhp with the LWB. My last van (not a VW) was very underpowered and it was hard work at times as a result. If you're seriously considering this one, take it for a decent test drive and make sure that drive involves various road types, not just a quick 'up the road and back' trip. Bear in mind that when it's loaded up with all the kit for real world use it will be a lot heavier than when you're test driving it.
Good luck with your decision.

 

[TheBig1]

I feel it would be wrong not to give this advice, but know it will upset a few people.

VWs are more a lifestyle choice for younger people and command silly money for what they are really worth. However a lot of youngsters are living up to their eyeballs in credit to live this lifestyle. When the financial situation takes a bad turn, it almost immediately leads to quite a few "kid's cars" BMW, Audi etc and other non essential luxuries being disposed of quickly when payments outstrip incoming cash. Most on here have lived through eras where this happened and can see the signs it's ready to happen again and soon.

Next year if things go as expected, and interest rates go up again, mortgages and loan repayments will rocket. I know that the current mortgage rates are ridiculous and people are suffering. As repossessions start to snowball, prices on motorhomes in general will tumble. But it will be the young ones with vans on credit affected first. Buying an overpriced van right now might be unwise

There, I said you might not like it

 

[TheWearyOne]

I appreciate all this info, seriously. This would be a cash purchase by 48 year olds. Sure, if we could sell it a few years down the line and get some money back that would be great. But if not…. life would go on. I don’t mean that to be flippant, but we don’t buy stuff on credit or ever lower our remaining cash savings past a point we are comfortable with.

To the other poster, I think we are talking about the same van, yes. It certainly seemed really nicely done compared to everything else we’ve looked at.

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[TheBig1]

I really didn't intend that to sound condescending, I really didn't. But reading back, that is how it reads, so sorry if it offended. Written with the best of intentions, as a general rule it is youngsters that buy VWs as first vans. I know from my own family that there is a general disregard from most youngsters about financial risk. They have never had to live through mass redundancies yet in the most part. A friend's son got into so much debt trouble that he killed himself when he lost his job. All because he "needed to have" a really flash new car, because all his mates had them

I hope you love your new van, whichever you choose. It is a fantastic way to get out into the great outdoors and cheap for holidays

 

[emjaiuk]

I had a T6, doing continental courier work, very very comfortable driving. Did 150,00 miles in two years, but 80% of that was 2000rpm on cruise control on nighttime autoroutes. In theory perfect use for diesel van. However, at that mileage clutch & DPF disintegrated leaving horrendous dealer repair bill. I ended up PXing it as it stood for a low mileage 6.1. Passed on to my daughter and partner to use as camper. They ended up with blocked DPF and expensive bill. Apparently well known for DPF problems if not driven hard regularly.

 

[TheWearyOne]

I really didn't intend that to sound condescending, I really didn't. But reading back, that is how it reads, so sorry if it offended. Written with the best of intentions, as a general rule it is youngsters that buy VWs as first vans. I know from my own family that there is a general disregard from most youngsters about financial risk. They have never had to live through mass redundancies yet in the most part. A friend's son got into so much debt trouble that he killed himself when he lost his job. All because he "needed to have" a really flash new car, because all his mates had them

I hope you love your new van, whichever you choose. It is a fantastic way to get out into the great outdoors and cheap for holidays

I hadn’t read it as condescending, honest. Just sensible.

 

[Guigsy]

A LWB Transporter is pretty much the same footprint as a 5.4m Ducato. In the Ducato, you'll get a permanent transverse bed (provided you're not too tall), a washroom, a half dinette and headroom to stand up. It'll still just about fit in a standard parking space. The downsides are height barriers and you don't get to be in the Dub club. But you get a hell of a lot more for your money.

 

[TheWearyOne]

Thanks, but Ducatos are definitely on the wrong side of too big for us.
For background information, what started our interest initially were converted Toyota Alphards that we can get locally. Then we upped our interest to SWB vws, then we liked the extra foot or so in the LWB. But that’s about our limit size wise as we live on the Isle of Wight and the ferry is a killer above that size.

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[Outdoors Dad]

T6 sounds like it fits your bill! Be shroud and particular and I'm sure you will find the right van. We started with a small van but as our son grew so did the van.

 

[Outdoors Dad]

Anyway what ever you buy this forum will help you enjoy it!

 

[Guigsy]

Thanks, but Ducatos are definitely on the wrong side of too big for us.
For background information, what started our interest initially were converted Toyota Alphards that we can get locally. Then we upped our interest to SWB vws, then we liked the extra foot or so in the LWB. But that’s about our limit size wise as we live on the Isle of Wight and the ferry is a killer above that size.

Literally 10cm longer and 15cm wider than a T6 LWB. The square body sides and the extra width adds a ton extra internal space. And given that it's still shorter than most delivery vans, it'll get just about anywhere. As far as the ferry is concerned, it's still a campervan less than 5.5m.

 

[Tonks]

I'm a bit biased, as I'm a VW owner. I've had mine nearly 10 years. I've been careful with the maintenance during that time, and I've also spent some money on preventative work to help lengthen it's life, and it's been very reliable with only routine additional wear and tear costs like exhaust, batteries and springs needed. It will need some money spent in 2024 as the mileage means I'll have a couple of bigger bills, but I've been aware of that ever since I bought it. Mine is a T5, and is now 14, so we're not talking quite the same as the van you're looking at.

While I do agree with lots of the comments made that many small campers are bought by young folk who then end up upsizing, there are lots of them also owned by people who just use their vans differently. (I'm in my '50s.) Buying any van/MH/RV involves compromise of some kind. If you buy a big 'un, you're limited on access and to some degree flexibility. But you have the great luxury of space and (perhaps) extra comfort. If you buy a little 'un, you're limited on space and (sometimes) comfort.

My own experience is that as well as touring I've used my van quite a bit as a 'day van' providing all facilities/resources when just off for the day. I can park it absolutely anywhere (unless there are legal restrictions, obviously). In the tiny Cotswold villages I live near, I can park it on the roadside in ordinary small side streets without it looking absolutely massive. It fits under height barriers. Although tbh the kind of travelling I do doesn't involve many of those. It's a brilliant van for the short-ish trips I mostly do at the moment. It's pretty economical. It's enabled me to do a lot more of the volunteering and events stuff I enjoy, because I can be totally self-contained, on site at the location or event, and reasonably inconspicuous (even in a bright red, airbrushed van!). I've taken it across England, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands and to the Continent. I can honestly say it's one of the best purchases I've ever made. I didn't buy it to be part of the 'VW scene' either. I bought it to support my photography work, because I liked the van and thought it would serve me well. I discovered the VW scene afterwards, and I still mostly do things which are totally outside that.

Recently I thought hard about upsizing. But in the end I stayed with what I have because at the moment a larger van, while more comfortable and involving less 'faff' ultimately won't mean I would do anything differently in terms of where I go and what I do. So the cost to change would've been rashly spent. On the other hand, I do have a 'semi-plan' to possibly buy a MAN MWB van and have it bespoke converted, when I'm at semi-retirement/retirement stage and can travel longer in terms of both time and distance.

Interestingly, at an event I had a long chat with a couple who had a MWB Crafter, and we talked semi-seriously about possibly swapping vans! However they really talked themselves out of it when they said how much they had looked forward to having the bigger van, but how much they had in fact missed the flexibility of the smaller one they'd had before, and how their new van had meant some of the things they liked doing were more difficult to do. (They did in fact sell their Crafter a few months later.)
The bottom line is, different vans suit different folks, and it will all boil down to what you want to do and how you want to do it.

That's a bit of a waffle, and I apologise for the length. However I just wanted to put across an owner's perspective of owning a small van.

 

[Guigsy]

I went from a 5.4m Ducato, which I treated much like a car, to a 6m coachbuild. My new van is much more comfortable inside, but I do miss the flexibility. We lived in my old van for 6 months, so it's perfectly doable. As long as you don't spend too much time inside.