VW "Caddy van"

[LukeD]

Anyone running one of these?
Might have to get a small van to last me 2 years. These seem ideal as i run a tdi golf .
probably looking at a 2004
opinions required !

 

[ExArmy]

thinking of getting one myself. heres all the info i have gathered so far...
get a 2004 + one as they are based on a mk5 golf, the earlier ones (mid 90's to '04) are based on a polo of the same era.
best engine to get is the 1.9TDI 105PD, a 2.0TDI 140PD would be nice, but they only come in much newer models and are far too much money for a van if you ask me. don't bother with a SDI they are too slow and not even economical.
also the gross weight is over 2tonnes so van speed limits apply (not alot of people know that)

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Was talking to a tiler today who was drooling over my transporter. He wanted a caddy but they were too expensive so settled on a Ford Connect.

Strangley while I was talking to him about it he'd turned up on site in his mazda car as the tensioner had gone on the belt the night before so was waiting for it to be fixed !

I like caddys they look great but can't see there's enough space for a spark ...? Where would you put your conduit, ladders, steps, trunking ..... phased pulse 40Watt rifle ....?

 

[Lofty]

Hi,
My old boss had a caddy,'55 plate. One drawback was the side cargo door; it was good for access but did restrict racking space on that side.



Cheers,
Lofty.

 

[accordfire]

Also been looking at the possibility of a van lately - here's what my local van company said:

09 plate Vivaro, versus 04 plate Transporter - same money, 08 Vivaro 40+MPG, transporter 28 MPG - Vivaro 20k miles, Transports 70k miles - Vivaro, air con, leccy windows, mirrors, transporter - steering wheel and radio. Vivaro - racking cheap and available - transporter, pay money for it as it's a lot rarer 2nd hand.

All in all - he has an 09 plate Vivaro SWB with the 140ps engine sitting on his forecourt with 7k miles on it (hasn't got the elec windows or air con) for £6.5k plus VAT in red, plus a year's mfr warranty still. He also has an 05 plate Transporter sitting on his forecourt, same money, which has less, is only 80ps or so, has done 90k miles and no manf warranty - it looks tired next to the Vivaro too. I can get full Bott racking put in the Vivaro for £300! - or if I can wait, he can prob find the racking for a transporter but will be £650 plus VAT min, unless I want his guy to do ply racking at around £500.

The Vivaro has a little more room too - up front AND in the rear. The way I look at it, that's a Vivaro on cheap money - he has a load of Connects, astras, and so on - and Combos - but they're all tiny next to a Vivaro. And with a side loading door, the little vans become impractical - and without, you have probelms reaching the back unless you plan really carefully.

I know what I'm aiming for.....

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Also been looking at the possibility of a van lately - here's what my local van company said:

09 plate Vivaro, versus 04 plate Transporter - same money, 08 Vivaro 40+MPG, transporter 28 MPG - Vivaro 20k miles, Transports 70k miles - Vivaro, air con, leccy windows, mirrors, transporter - steering wheel and radio. Vivaro - racking cheap and available - transporter, pay money for it as it's a lot rarer 2nd hand.

All in all - he has an 09 plate Vivaro SWB with the 140ps engine sitting on his forecourt with 7k miles on it (hasn't got the elec windows or air con) for £6.5k plus VAT in red, plus a year's mfr warranty still. He also has an 05 plate Transporter sitting on his forecourt, same money, which has less, is only 80ps or so, has done 90k miles and no manf warranty - it looks tired next to the Vivaro too. I can get full Bott racking put in the Vivaro for £300! - or if I can wait, he can prob find the racking for a transporter but will be £650 plus VAT min, unless I want his guy to do ply racking at around £500.

The Vivaro has a little more room too - up front AND in the rear. The way I look at it, that's a Vivaro on cheap money - he has a load of Connects, astras, and so on - and Combos - but they're all tiny next to a Vivaro. And with a side loading door, the little vans become impractical - and without, you have probelms reaching the back unless you plan really carefully.

I know what I'm aiming for.....

Hi accordfire

... I know what you are saying ... did the same analysis myself. However there are a few things I'd like to add.

The transporter is more for a reason ... it is much much more reliable. The tired one you saw will probably not even be run in (if it has been serviced properly). They go on for ever.

I have never heard a good report on vivaro reliability, only nightmares with cambelts, dashboards falling to pieces. I did alot of research (one mate has a Vivaro and said "don't buy one"). :-(

80ps - mines an 06 and its the lowest powered which is 85ps. Its fine, in fact it goes better than ever, and will do ninety on the motorway all day fully loaded.

Not sure who told you 28mpg either (a renault salesman!?) add 8 and closer. thats what mine does.

Its a weigh up. You are right you will get alot more van for your money and a newer one with more kit .... and maybe you will get a good one!

Cheers

Nick.

 

[Sparky20002]

I work as sparks doing central heating instals for gas board and they run the caddys. I think they are rock solid bomb proof vans unlike most of the others on the market. Was self employed before joining and used to run transits which were as close to vw reliability than any other vans and thought the caddy wouldnt be big enough but with it well racked and organised it will be ok and obviously the smaller the van the lower the running costs. If you could get an ex gas board caddy it will have been well serviced and low mileage and racked and have air con as standard also has sliding doors both sides which is very handy. The ones we use are non-turbo and although not going to set the world alight there is less to go wrong and will still cruise at 80 on the mway and are economical as well. Tyre wear is really good - the vw factory send them out with hankooks and they did 20thou on the front and 30thou on the back which I think is pretty damn good. My caddy has done 35thou on a 59 plate without any probs at all. My mates just bought a brand new transporter which may be worth considering but I just think the bigger the van the more unnecessary crud you will cart around with you. Hope that gives you some insight

 

[Amp David]

The VW might only have what sounds like a tiny 85 brake, but its probably got shed loads of torque. And we all know its the torque that counts right?

 

[SPARTYKUS]

.....EXACTLY

Thats why it seems to make little or no difference to performance if its empty or fully loaded. Pulls like a train! (torque)

btw its turbo diesel. But quite economical (mentioned already). In fact I measured a tankful better than the quoted figures. No wind up.

 

[Sparky20002]

Yeah the caddy non-turbo is torquey as well - must be a vdub thing!

 

[telectrix]

the vivaro's made by renault. need i say more?

 

[Amp David]

Yeah the caddy non-turbo is torquey as well - must be a vdub thing!

Think its is. My old MK4 Golf TDI 130 was a right steam train. Could easily pull away at minimum revs in 3rd

 

[Guest123]

Caddy's....really good vans.

I've had a couple and found the SDI to be cack unless you dont carry any gear at all, so the TDI 104bhp is the one to go for.

I have a transporter now too and it's just great.....big, quick enough (130bhp), and never let me down.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Caddy's....really good vans.

I've had a couple and found the SDI to be cack unless you dont carry any gear at all, so the TDI 104bhp is the one to go for.

I have a transporter now too and it's just great.....big, quick enough (130bhp), and never let me down.

Hi Lenny

which one is 130Bhp? Is that the V5 ?

 

[Guest123]

Hi Lenny

which one is 130Bhp? Is that the V5 ?

No just a standard T5 130bhp.

There are 4 variants....80bhp, 102bhp, 130bhp and the beastly 174bhp.

I beleive the newer shape mark 2 T5's to be slightly improved, the 174 has been increased to 180bhp.