VW Transporter T5 2.5TDI?

MrKnifey

MrKnifey

MrKnifey

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Joined
3 Aug 2008
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Nelson, South Wales
I currently have a 1.9TD T4 Transporter. Does everything it should, but lately ive been fancying something a little newer, better luxurys (Electric windows would be nice! :p) and also faster as im travelling a lot next year, even to South of France so dont really want to do it using my 1.9TD! Question is, does anyone on here own or know anyone who owns a 2.5tdi T5 Transporter? Are they reliable? Anything to look out for? Also any other Van recommendations?
 
they are known for having several issues with gearboxes, clutches and a few other things, loads of info if you google, most people say the t4 is better, i think the 1.9 t5 is supposed to be better than the 2.5 which is a v10 tdi split in half. if you are buying new there is a new revision of the t5 which has just come out
 
If its the same 2.5 engine they use in the LT35 its a dog, gutless, slow, thirsty, noisy, and vibrates like a ****.

Get a transit.
 
The LT35 is bloody massive. It might be thirsty because of the diesel particulate filter they use now but none of the other things you mentioned. IIRC they do 130bhp and 174bhp, neither are slow. I think they get around 35mpg where as a 2.5tdi T4 can get around 40-45mpg.

I wouldn't have a transit over a T4 or T5. The only other van I would consider is the Toyota Hiace, maybe the Merc Vito if it wasn't a rot box.
 
jaxon said:
The LT35 is bloody massive. It might be thirsty because of the diesel particulate filter they use now but none of the other things you mentioned. IIRC they do 130bhp and 174bhp, neither are slow. I think they get around 35mpg where as a 2.5tdi T4 can get around 40-45mpg.

I wouldn't have a transit over a T4 or T5. The only other van I would consider is the Toyota Hiace, maybe the Merc Vito if it wasn't a rot box.
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That answers my question, its not the same engine.

As they dont, and never have made an LT 35 with those power outputs, only a 158, which used a 2.8litre 4 cylinder engine.

The 2.5 engine in the LT35 had a maximum power output of 109bhp and was a complete dog, like I said.
 
Merc Sprinter.

If I had to do any kind of distance in a Van, this would be my choice, especially a 6 pot variant.
 
crankbro said:
Ive worked on a few merc sprinters through work and they aint the most reliable!
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I guess form that your a mechanic? by the nature of the job you'll see them with problems, its why they come to you in the first place!

I work in logistics and prior to joining ESL I found the Sprinter to be the top of the tree for reliability, certainly compared to the likes of transits etc.

Given a choice (which I often was) of Van, I'd take the Merc every time.

Have a look around your average sunday market, see what the traders tend to use, a lot use old battered sprinters. Why? because generally they last and are reliable.
 
crankbro said:
Sorry but a transit isnt even in my mind. Horrible horrible vans.
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After what will be 17 years in the transport industry, I can say with some experience, that the ford transit is the best van ever.

VW's are expensive, slow, thirsty and under equipped and not very well built, the only exception to which is the 174 which is quick, but still suffers from being over priced and the same third world build quality.

Mercs are thirsty, unreliable (I currently work for a company that runs an all merc fleet of 26 sprinters and 8 HGV's, and its carnage) and over priced.

Anything french is just a no go.

Transits are keenly priced, reliable, frugal, fast, well equipped and parts are cheap.
 
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atpbx said:
Mercs are thirsty, unreliable (I currently work for a company that runs an all merc fleet of 26 sprinters and 8 HGV's, and its carnage) and over priced.
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Begs the question why the company runs an all Merc fleet if they are so bad?

For example, Stobart run mainly Scania's, whilst they are very expensive to buy and run (parts prices), the reliability & residual value's more than compensates for this.

As I said before, I've found Merc Sprinters to be generally very good from a reliability point of view. The HGV's are not what they once were but recently standards have gone back to where they should have stayed imo.

Transits are good for a few years but then fall to bits.
 
[TW]Fox;15637359 said:
I know nothing about vans but by far the majority of crappy old vans I see are transits. If somebody has, say, an N plate van it'll almost certainly be a Transit which suggests they seem to last?
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along with the ex-AA transporters
 
the T4 was launched in 1991
the (current) T5 was launched in 2003

so all most of the ex-AA ones will be from the 90s
 
[TW]Fox;15637359 said:
I know nothing about vans but by far the majority of crappy old vans I see are transits. If somebody has, say, an N plate van it'll almost certainly be a Transit which suggests they seem to last?
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Probably because they are high sellers and by default you see more on the roads. Yes, they fall to bits but keep going (generally) whilst they do it... :D
 
R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
Probably because they are high sellers and by default you see more on the roads. Yes, they fall to bits but keep going (generally) whilst they do it... :D
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exactly, when was the last time anyone saw an old transit that wasn't falling to bits with a blowing exhaust and rust patches?
 
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