Type 1, Type 2, Landrover, T6??

Ben Browne

Ben Browne

New Member
Hello

This is my first post having made up my mind to sell my Landrover Defender and possibly buy a Transporter. I sold my last VW over 25 years ago a lovely 72 bay window and before that a terrible pimped up bay window panel van and before that a couple of splittys - note to younger self dont sell the splittys!

I am sole trader Landscaper and need a van to carry & tow - my budget could stretch to £15k for the right one - so not massive and thats why I want to gather as much info as possible.

Ok questions:

The types T28/30/32
Terms used to indicate max load to carry?

Engine size & HP?
Which one would be suitable for my requirements?

Manual or DSG - I've always been wary of auto but having driven autos in Australia I kinda liked them - I assume DSG models are more expensive to maintain?

4motion?
I've read some 4motion posts on here and seems people who have them are delighted but of course extra cost all round and not many available. I need to tow, we live in a rural spot with steep drive and occasionally I will need to drive on fields with trailer.

I know a lot comes down to personal taste but any basic information would be gratefully accepted.

Thank you
Ben

PS. anyone want to buy a Landrover!
 
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Welcome Ben.
I can't help much with your DSG / 4 Motion questions but yes. T28/30/32 are load specs. Watch out for tyres and wheels being correctly rated depending on the van you're looking at.
I believe most engines are 2lt with a range of powers available. 150 DSG or 6 speed seems to be a sweet spot. Some avoid bi turbos as they have been problematic for some people.

Welcome back to VW van world, yeah, you should have kept the splitty!
 
Sackmycook said:
@DaveD

"we live in a rural spot with steep drive and occasionally I will need to drive on fields with trailer."
Click to expand...
Sort of answers one question.
As to the rest. Assuming this is going to be purely a work horse, this would be my basic spec (having worked out of a T5.1 for 5 yrs before retiring, best van I've ever owned)
LWB
T32
twin slider
4mot
aircon
150ps
Whether it's a t5-6 or anywhere in between, depends on budget, which is tight. Manual/DSG is down to preference & budget, personally having had 2 DSG vans, I'd never go back to manual. If ULEZ zones are an issue, then it has to be a T6/Euro6, if not, a late 5.1 that's been looked after would be a good bet. Personally, I think the 5.1 was probably the best of the Transporters, that said, they'll be getting long in the tooth by now, but you may drop lucky.
 
T28/T30/T32 relate to GVW (2.8, 3 and 3.2 tonnes respectively), not max carrying capacity.

Any power variant would likely be suitable for your needs. The gearing is such that even the lower powered engines will get you where you need to go - it's just a matter of how quickly you want to get there.

Unless you're driving long distances, I don't see what the advantage of going for a DSG would be, and the addition of DSG and/or 4M will severely limit available options within your budget.
 
You can't afford to be too clever with a tight budget. Stuff like twin turbos, DSG, Haldex, etc, are wonderful things to be sure but that can be a different matter entirely by the time they've worn and aged to the £15k level.

I'd work to the KISS principle for that money, do my best to avoid complex items that carry the potential to wipe out any saving made by buying cheap in the first place.
 
Ben Browne said:
I need to tow, we live in a rural spot with steep drive and occasionally I will need to drive on fields with trailer.
Click to expand...
As you rightly point out, 4Motion does have costs, it limits your choice and your carrying capacity. However, a lot depends on what you need to tow and the terrain you need to tow on.
I note you're not towing a trailer for fun, it's your profession as a landscaper, if you need to tow anything heavy on fields that are less than bone dry, a 4Motion is a massive advantage.
You're used to a Land rover Defender with low range so a T6 isn't ever going to be as capable, but a 2WD T6 will restrict when you can tow weather wise, even with AT tyres, as you're dragging a dead weight at the same time as adding weight to your undriven rear wheels.
 
www.ebay.co.uk

2015 Volkswagen Transporter 2.0 TDI T28 Highline Panel Van 4dr Diesel Manual L1 | eBay

2015 Volkswagen Transporter 2.0 TDI T28 Highline Panel Van 4dr Diesel Manual L1 H1 (198 g/km, 101 bhp) PANEL VAN Diesel Manual. We have been established for over 25 years. Original colour Pass. Original number plate Pass.
www.ebay.co.uk

Not sure if this link works but this is a van I am looking at taking into account some of your advice and its not too far away from me - which is a bonus living on the western tip!
 
Ben Browne said:
www.ebay.co.uk

2015 Volkswagen Transporter 2.0 TDI T28 Highline Panel Van 4dr Diesel Manual L1 | eBay

2015 Volkswagen Transporter 2.0 TDI T28 Highline Panel Van 4dr Diesel Manual L1 H1 (198 g/km, 101 bhp) PANEL VAN Diesel Manual. We have been established for over 25 years. Original colour Pass. Original number plate Pass.
www.ebay.co.uk

Not sure if this link works but this is a van I am looking at taking into account some of your advice and its not too far away from me - which is a bonus living on the western tip!
Click to expand...
If you're going to be carrying weight, bags of aggregate/materials for your business, tools etc. A t32 would give you an additional 400kg of capacity compared to a like for like t28. It makes a huge difference.
 
What’s the Landy

Put a rough description on,
People can pm you then
 
Salty Spuds said:
If you're going to be carrying weight, bags of aggregate/materials for your business, tools etc. A t32 would give you an additional 400kg of capacity compared to a like for like t28. It makes a huge difference.
Click to expand...
Maybe it's me but there seems to be slight confusion over the T28/30/32 meaning?
GVW or carrying capacity?
 
DaveD said:
As you rightly point out, 4Motion does have costs, it limits your choice and your carrying capacity. However, a lot depends on what you need to tow and the terrain you need to tow on.
I note you're not towing a trailer for fun, it's your profession as a landscaper, if you need to tow anything heavy on fields that are less than bone dry, a 4Motion is a massive advantage.
You're used to a Land rover Defender with low range so a T6 isn't ever going to be as capable, but a 2WD T6 will restrict when you can tow weather wise, even with AT tyres, as you're dragging a dead weight at the same time as adding weight to your undriven rear wheels.
Click to expand...
Sound advice thanks Dave.
 
Ben Browne said:
Maybe it's me but there seems to be slight confusion over the T28/30/32 meaning?
GVW or carrying capacity?
Click to expand...
It's GVW, so a t28 is max GVW of 2800kg a t32 is 3200kg. As I said, in a like for like van comparison the t32 would be able to carry around 400kg more than a t28.
e.g a t28 SWB 150ps 6 speed manual startline has a cargo capacity of 862kg
the same spec van in a t32 variant has a cargo capacity of 1248kg i.e. 386kg more capacity than the t28.
 
Salty Spuds said:
It's GVW, so a t28 is max GVW of 2800kg a t32 is 3200kg. As I said, in a like for like van comparison the t32 would be able to carry around 400kg more than a t28.
e.g a t28 SWB 150ps 6 speed manual startline has a cargo capacity of 862kg
the same spec van in a t32 variant has a cargo capacity of 1248kg i.e. 386kg more capacity than the t28.
Click to expand...
Great ideally I'd need a T32 for carrying the heavy stuff.
 
Hello Ben,

Recovering Land Rover enthusiast.
Also builder, so my fleet works for a living.
Have been free of LR for a year and still desire another one.

Currently have two lwb T6’s.
Both dsg, t32, 204bhp.
One high roof 2wd, window van. Only had this for a year on 66,000 miles 2017 reg.
One kombi 4motion. Owned just over six years and best van I have owned 55,000 miles 2018

Both excellent towing capabilities.
4motion is more confident option.

I think for your budget you may struggle to get 4motion dsg that’s not going to be a money pit. In my opinion. Good luck with your search
 
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