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.

 

[jonniebravo]

Been looking for a while for the right spec van, it's just popped up but it's the 110 5 speed. Vans not for work or camper , just kombi conversion. My boy racer days are over , I've got a 5.1 caravelle 140 6 speed at the minute. Will I regret buying the 110?

 

[Drive Wayne]

I have had a 110 T6.1 for over 2 years, it is very capable, I got over the 5 speed box by putting a 6 speed illuminating gear knob on it. Quite heavy once fully installed with camping gear, it copes with no issues. I couldn't justify (or afford) another 10k for a 150 DSG. Lovely gear box, no issues, love it!

 

[Sasquatch]

I''ve got a 5.1 caravelle 140 6 speed at the minute. Will I regret buying the 110?

My other vehicles are a 340BHP Volvo C70 T5 and a Hayabusa and the 110 doesn't seem to uspet my sensibilities. It's no tidal wave but it keeps up with traffic just fine, and I prefer the mechanical simplicy of the manual box.

My priorities were the condition of the vehicle, and not paying for power I don't need or a DSG box I didn't want meant the difference between a virtually new van with 2800 miles or a 5/6 year old with 30k on it.

Try one and see, its the only way to tell. You might like it, you night not.

 

[Martin Crikey]

Has anyone fitted a Hi- Pro performance tuning device on there 110 as far as I know it fits in line before the ecu so gets around the mapping issues on the 110 engines, not really sure about it as VW will of spent time and effort on there ecu to suit that engine and your messing with it with a little box of tricks. That said I feel like it would benefit from better economy and more torque.

 

[Sasquatch]

A friend of mine has fitted a Tunit to his 110 6.1. He raves, but I've had a try and it feels little different to me.

 

[whodat]

I've got a 150. Had to take it into VW for a problem and they leant me a brand new 110.
It felt really sluggish - to the point where it was almost dangerous pulling out of a junction.

 

[FerrisBFW]

I have not had fast cars for years. Pickups weighing 1800kg’s with 140 and 180 bhp, and now a 180 BiTDI 2400kg Caravelle. I am surprised how well it goes tbh

 

[Sasquatch]

I've got a 150. Had to take it into VW for a problem and they leant me a brand new 110.
It felt really sluggish - to the point where it was almost dangerous pulling out of a junction.

Wheras I find them both so slow I can't really tell the difference.

Certainly my 110 is brisk enough off the mark, never felt endangered dashing out into a gap in the traffic, which would suggest the one they loaned you was either tight or poorly.

A fiery ball of performance it is nowhere near being, but its never felt remotely unsafe in any traffic situation.

 

[Stay Frosty]

My T6 T28 is a camper and only 102hp apparently so I'm constantly surprised that it even manages to get to 70mph on the motorway let alone make it up an uphill off ramp.
IMHO there's a lot of bollards talked about remaps whereby somebody comes from a semi sporty car and wants their new 2 ton commercial vehicle to perform like their hotrod did.
Many times even if you're a devoted "Darkside Developments" fan on YouTube the point where the new extra horse power comes in can often be either side of where the power normally comes in meaning wheelspin and extra transmission line loading or up at the rev limiter meaning 150mph on the local A road.
I would think a stock 150hp Transporter would be the sweet spot if there is one rather than get the factory 200hp self lunching version, failing that skip the remap and just take your 200hp luke warm hatch out for a spin instead and appreciate that missing near extra ton of weight which makes way more of a difference.