Van Speed Limit?

[Ravennablue]

My dealer told me most VW commercials come in there so I'm surmising. Wonder if it's still in a box somewhere wrapped in cotton wool haha. Surprised no dealer in the metropolis of Grimsby.. I thought Bristol was grim but at least we got a very good helpful dealership. I've had a brand new loaner from them since first week in September which was when I was supposed to get the Shuttle but due to German efficiency it's late.

 

[superflyguy]

Fortunately @Ravennablue im in the metropolis of Cleethorpes thankfully !!
Nearest commercial dealership about 30 minutes away, I ended up driving to droitwich as I wasn't too impressed with local dealer.

 

[Ravennablue]

Spent a few days in Cleethorpes and Grimsby once very memorable rained every day, VW van dealer in Bristol are excellent and sympathetic to my order delay. Got to raise funds now for dash. Will be a bit skint soon misses is good about it got most of the extras I wanted nearly 40 grand after discounts

 

[carlg]

Just weighed my T32 kombi 204 dsg ,nothing fuel in and van empty
2160kg ,so that's a bugger .

 

[Mojo]

Just weighed my T32 kombi 204 dsg ,nothing fuel in and van empty
2160kg ,so that's a bugger .

How can the 204 engine weigh an extra 160KG over the 150?? @carlg

 

[carlg]

Only difference is the bi-turbo and bigger brakes I think ,
my van has 2+1 rear seats which I think will be heavier than a triple .

 

[Captain Mainwaring]

@Thogg and others. I have just read through this thread and am confused about the weight definition. My van is a T32 Kombi 150ps 4motion Highline.

• VW website spec says unladen weight is 2109kg
• V5 states "Mass in service" as 2233kg

I have seen the comment that the VW "unladen weight" definition includes driver and 90% of a tank of fuel and is 130kg. Can you point to where this is and also can you point to the DoT definition. If the DoT definition is without driver or fuel but VW include it, then the weight of my kombi according to DoT definition would be 2109-130=1979kg which means it would be classified as a dual purpose vehicle and allow me to do 60/70/70

This is actually pretty important to me as I live near Aviemore in Scotland. The one main road I use up here is the A9 between Perth and Inverness which is mainly single carriageway with some short dual carriageway sections. That distance is 110 miles so you can imagine the difference between 50/60 as a van and 60/70 as a dual purpose vehicle. 100% of the single carriageway part is covered by average speed cameras so taking a chance is not an option

 

[Davenjo]

Figures for Kombi here - VW Transporter Kombi Dimensions | Volkswagen Vans and Commercial Vehicles (UK)

Includes a comment:-
"1 Unladen weight includes approximately 90% fuel load and 75kg for driver." which is where the approx 130kg estimate comes from.

However, @carlg figures shed some doubt on this .

 

[Mojo]

As in one of my previous posts... my T32 highline 150 dsg Kombi swb with stainless steel side bars weighed in at the weigh bridge at exactly 2000KG...
That's a big difference, I'm not sure the T32 204 brakes are any bigger than a T32 150...so where's the extra 160kg coming from?

 

[Mojo]

Btw. Mine also has 2+1 rear seats

 

[Mojo]

@Thogg and others. I have just read through this thread and am confused about the weight definition. My van is a T32 Kombi 150ps 4motion Highline.

• VW website spec says unladen weight is 2109kg
• V5 states "Mass in service" as 2233kg

I have seen the comment that the VW "unladen weight" definition includes driver and 90% of a tank of fuel and is 130kg. Can you point to where this is and also can you point to the DoT definition. If the DoT definition is without driver or fuel but VW include it, then the weight of my kombi according to DoT definition would be 2109-130=1979kg which means it would be classified as a dual purpose vehicle and allow me to do 60/70/70

This is actually pretty important to me as I live near Aviemore in Scotland. The one main road I use up here is the A9 between Perth and Inverness which is mainly single carriageway with some short dual carriageway sections. That distance is 110 miles so you can imagine the difference between 50/60 as a van and 60/70 as a dual purpose vehicle. 100% of the single carriageway part is covered by average speed cameras so taking a chance is not an option

Best thing to do as @Thogg pointed out is to have it weighed, next to no fuel in the tank and completely empty with yourself out of the vehicle, that's the proof of the pudding...If it's under 2040kg your laughing!

 

[carlg]

Best thing to do as @Thogg pointed out is to have it weighed, next to no fuel in the tank and completely empty with yourself out of the vehicle, that's the proof of the pudding...If it's under 2040kg your laughing!

My fuel light came on soon as I left the way bridge ,but I am wondering if he weighed it with me still in it .
I did jump out but he might of already took the reading
I weigh about 85 kg so still not going to get near the 2040kg

 

[carlg]

As in one of my previous posts... my T32 highline 150 dsg Kombi swb with stainless steel side bars weighed in at the weigh bridge at exactly 2000KG...
That's a big difference, I'm not sure the T32 204 brakes are any bigger than a T32 150...so where's the extra 160kg coming from?

Which weigh bridge did you use ?
Might try somewhere else

 

[Mojo]

My fuel light came on soon as I left the way bridge ,but I am wondering if he weighed it with me still in it .
I did jump out but he might of already took the reading
I weigh about 85 kg so still not going to get near the 2040kg

Hmm makes you wonder.. was he rushing? would it be worth taking it to a different one for a second opinion? you're Leeds area aren't you?

 

[Mojo]

Which weigh bridge did you use ?
Might try somewhere else

Ahh crossed messages, I took mine the the one at Kirkstall road operated by Leeds City Council

 

[Captain Mainwaring]

As in one of my previous posts... my T32 highline 150 dsg Kombi swb with stainless steel side bars weighed in at the weigh bridge at exactly 2000KG...
That's a big difference, I'm not sure the T32 204 brakes are any bigger than a T32 150...so where's the extra 160kg coming from?

I did see that post, and I am going to get mine weighed next week before I stuff all the soundproofing in over Christmas. I also wanted to get the "official" weight just in case it came down to the police or the courts saying they would only go by measurements supplied by the manufacturer. I also found the definition of unladen weight in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986:

the weight of a vehicle or trailer inclusive of the body and all parts (the heavier being taken where alternative bodies or parts are used) which are necessary to or ordinarily used with the vehicle or trailer when working on a road, but exclusive of the weight of water, fuel or accumulators used for the purpose of the supply of power for the propulsion of the vehicle or, as the case may be, of any vehicle by which the trailer is drawn, and of loose tools and loose equipment.

That means that the DoT definition of unladen weight is about 130kg less than the VW spec sheet number

@Mojo If your Kombi is the 204 DSG then the VW spec says it is 2030kg. If you had a bit of fuel in, plus yourself and the side bars, 2000kg on the weighbridge sounds about right. Mine is a 4motion which is apparently 79kg heavier than yours even though its a manual

 

[carlg]

Ahh crossed messages, I took mine the the one at Kirkstall road operated by Leeds City Council

Also I have a tow bar which will add a few kg ,in the brochure mine is down at a 2103 ,but that's with fuel and driver
I need a second opinion .

 

[Mojo]

@Captain Mainwaring mines the 150 dsg so shows as 2088kg on VW's site so if I subtracted the 'hyperthetical' 130kg it would be 1958kg but mine was 2000kg on the scales, the only extra weight being the stainless sidebars...

 

[Mojo]

Also I have a tow bar which will add a few kg ,in the brochure mine is down at a 2103 ,but that's with fuel and driver
I need a second opinion .

I don't understand mate, so VW state 2103 including driver and fuel and when you weighed it empty it was heavier at 2160kg???

 

[Thogg]

Evening,
Sorry been away on a training course and only just seen the additions to this thread.
I think the line about allowance for drivers weight has been answered. As regards the fuel weight, I have simply searched online for the weight of a litre of diesel and then multiplied it by 90% of 70..
I don't have the answer as to where the extra weight is coming from I'm afraid.. sorry!
It all seems a bit hit and miss on the weights from VW..
Professionally I would say this.
For a simple speeding ticket, in my experience... and I emphasise... my experience,
For a ticket unit (and courts if that fails), to stray from manufacturers specs is virtually unheard of. Certainly, if it is to your advantage, I would be presenting that as evidence all day long!
If the weighbridge reading leans things in your favour and puts you the right side of 2040 when the manufacturers specs dont.. use that! (this is one of the rare occasions that you really can select the evidence to suit!)
Brutally honest bit coming.... The only time you are really likely to find Police weighing your vehicle for you (outside of roadside checks when you are laden) is if you've been involved in a serious or fatal RTC. In which case, you can still refer back to manufacturers spec... and in all honesty.. you will have much much bigger fish to be frying.
Personally. I'll be pointing to the online figures from VW and using those should I get a ticket at 70 when the system thinks I should be doing 60.
Obviously.. I never exceed 70.....