T6.1 150ps Vs 110ps

[GUMY]

I've a 110bhp, 5 speed camper.
It can keep up with normal traffic and cruise at 70mph all day no problem.
Up steeper hills I have to drop down the gears, but it's not really an issue.
Biggest thing I have to remember is there is no 6th as I'm so used to having it from my car.
However I'm never in a rush in the camper so its perfectly ok and gets me to where I need to go.
I'd gladly have a 150bhp 6 speed, but I would drive it exactly the same, so probably wasted on me: except maybe changing down a gear or two on a steep hill.

Ditto, exactly.

As above I have 110 camper. It's the slowest thing I've ever driven, but of course it is, it's a camper van! It's perfectly fine driving round town or cruising on the motorway. Having never owned a van before, it does seem odd in 2025 that you can get a relatively new vehicle with only 5 gears, but what does it matter once you're up to speed with the cruise control on? Would like an auto though.....

Ditto, again - except that the lack of a 6th gear hasn't really registered, since five was the most you ever got when I last owned a manual!

DSG with 150 horses - and upgraded suspension and bigger wheels and all sorts of extra goodies in the conversion would be lovely - but so is a spare 10 or 20 grand or so in the bank account.

 

[Sasquatch]

The lack of a 6th is not a handicap per se - top gear on the 5 speed box (0.756) is an almost identical ratio to top gear on the 6 cog unit (0.738).

You're not getting an extra gear at the top. You're getting much the same bottom and top, but the ones in between have their ratios closer together. For all sorts of technical reasons closer ratios not be a great benefit on 110 with its relatively flat and mild torque curve. I'd guess it wouldn't be worth the expense, and VW seem to agree.

 

[whodat]

6th gear does have its pros and cons so I wouldn't make a decision based on the extra gear.
I would definitely make a decision on the larger power output - or the colour.

 

[z1ts]

204 with DSG...

 

[Millstone]

150 with a map

 

[FerrisBFW]

mechanically the simpler option

isnt it the same?

I have an old t5.1 Caravelle 180 with a brand new engine fitted and in the summer we drove to Corfu and back fully loaded with kids, bikes and stuff. Heading up in to the mountains I did wonder what a 85~100 bhp feels like in a van like this?

 

[Stay Frosty]

What did the 180 feel like?

 

[frankspencer1979]

The lack of a 6th is not a handicap per se

Yes, didn't mean it to come across like I'm saying it's a bad thing, just seems "old fashioned" not popping it into 6th on the motorway! Really doesn't matter once the cc is on anyway.

Out of interest, can the 110 engine be remapped now? Any improvements/benefits to be had?

I watched Pendle performance video where he made it abundantly clear that at the time they couldn't be mapped, has that changed?

I feel like the turbo "kick" could be smoother in 1st/2nd and better economy would always be welcome in any vehicle I guess.

 

[3crispies]

Swapped from 102 T6 to 150 T6.1, older 102 was easier drive and loads better mpg , got us across europe annually but also did motorway miles 40k/year. 150 has only been used locally for 2 years and its more fun driving due to acceleration but about 25% less economical, needs revving through the gears and loves a regen. Getting rid in the new year and going back to petrol Caddy.

 

[FerrisBFW]

What did the 180 feel like?

Its my first van so my only comparison is a 180bhp L200 weighing much less, so my 180 van feels fine once you boot it some.