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What’s it like?
Built to take the mid-size van crown from the Ford Transit, the Transporter T6 was one of the most advanced VW vans in years, and it showed. Polished, well made and pleasant to drive, the Transporter has a cult following, with more than its fair share of die-hard fans. Practicality is only half the battle with a good van, and the T6 exemplified that with its style, solidity and design.
Don’t get us wrong, practicality was still one of the key considerations for VW, and the Transporter is an incredibly versatile platform. Not only was it offered in conventional panel van form, but it came in all sorts of different body styles, including passenger van and crew van models. The result was one of the best and most versatile vans on the market at the time.
Which model to go for?
As is so often the case with vans, the trick to deciding which model you should choose largely comes down to what you’re going to do with your Transporter. For those using it as a trade van, the conventional panel van will likely be the best option, while those in search of an overgrown MPV will prefer a passenger-carrying variant. Those who want to use it as a practical private car, meanwhile, might be better served by a crew van, with a second row of seats.
Once you’ve chosen the body style you want, it’ll then come down to any conversions or modifications you need. The T6 was a popular basis for camper vans and other specialist vehicles, and it proved its brilliance in those roles.
From there, it’s just a case of choosing your powertrain. The ubiquitous 2.0-litre diesel dominates. Most drive the front wheels alone, but more powerful options offered the choice of an automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive.
There’s a choice of different power outputs, ranging from the base models with 90hp to the range-topping twin-turbocharged BiTDI vans with more than 200hp. The mid-range power outputs are probably the sweet spot for most, and even the mid-range 150hp option will feel pretty punchy when the van is lightly laden.
The most powerful options seem a bit superfluous unless you’re using the van as a private vehicle or you need the oomph for towing, but they’re there if you need them. Similarly, unless you’re likely to go off-road regularly, we wouldn’t bother with all-wheel drive, but the automatic gearbox might come in handy for those who regularly find themselves stuck in traffic.
Does anything go wrong?
The T6’s reputation for reliability is pretty good, and though there are one or two tales of engine failures, they are rare. There have been some issues with the double-clutch automatic gearbox, too, although they seem to affect earlier vehicles more than later examples. Other than that, though, the Transporters seem pretty bulletproof.
That means the main things to look for are the usual suspects, such as general condition, mileage and service history. Vans are working vehicles, so some T6s will naturally have led a hard life, but they are often used as ‘lifestyle’ vehicles, too, and those examples will probably be a little less used and abused. Look for indicators of wear and tear in the load bay, the cabin and on the bodywork to get some clue of the vehicle’s condition.