Our Vans: Volkswagen T5 Transporter Kombi Sportline
18 July 2014: Strap yourselves in
The Details
| Current mileage | 512 |
|---|---|
| Claimed economy | 37.2mpg |
| Actual economy | 32.1mpg |
I'm taking to life with our Volkswagen van like a duck to hoi sin sauce. While my friends find it quite amusing that I've gone from a Lexus GS450h to what they describe as 'the builder's favourite', I'm really enjoying life with the Transporter and have started to add my own touches to it. First off is my now customary M25 Ring sticker, a hangover from the M25 challenge I did in the Volkswagen Polo several years ago.
I've also got a few other styling changes in the pipeline. One of which is a matt black vinyl wrap for the bonnet. Given that our Transporter Sportline has a black roof, I reckon a black bonnet will finish the look off. I've been speaking to a few of the T4 and T5 owners fraternity and there's quite a split between those who like it and those who definitely don't. I'm going to do a bit of research and make my mind up over the next couple of weeks. Of course the advantage of a bonnet wrap is that you can always take it off if you decide you don't like it.
Since the Transporter arrived I've already covered 500 miles. One trip was a cross country journey to the Cotswolds to attend an event celebrating 60 years of the Transporter, including the chance to drive an original 1954 Transporter. But more of that in my next update. The cross country journey included a quick stint up the M1 from my home in Bedfordshire, across the A43 and then country lanes and back roads to Lower Slaughter, not far from Stow-on-the-Wold.
It's actually a nice journey apart from when it gets busy on the A43, but one thing all the roundabouts and back roads proved was that I need to get the back of the Transporter organised. With the Volkswagen-approved bicycle rack in the back, in its neat little back, plus my overnight case, both were sliding around at every corner and bend. After ten minutes it gets very annoying.
Transporter tailgate. Massive.
So I've invested in some ratchet straps to hold things in place. I got some thin 1500kg straps that are four metres long. Thankfully they're blue rather than health and safety orange, and I've used one to secure the bike rack against the wheelarch. It means I can go round corners without worrying about denting the sides of the van. I've used the other to secure one of those supermarket delivery crates (courtesy of my good old mum) to the side so at least I can put bags and shopping in there without it going all over the shop.
But I may have come across a more bespoke solution. Apparently there's a proper cargo system that sits just behind the rear wheelarches of the Transporter and even includes wine bottle holders (how very middle class). It sounds ideal especially as our Transporter has a soft plastic floor which is pretty grippy and unlike a standard metal floor, won't scratch.
Until then I'll have to stick with the good old blue crate. It may not look pretty but it's effective. One thing that I've noticed with our Transporter is how big the tailgate is. As it's a Kombi it has a lift up tailgate rather than the easy twin open doors of a standard panel van. It means that if you reverse into a space - which I always do - you have to leave plenty of space behind.
The tailgate itself isn't exactly light either and while it lifts up easily, it takes a bit of effort to pull it down, although it is fitted with a useful strap, but it still usually requires two hands. Next week the Transporter is taking us off on holiday to Somerset where we'll be able to give the Volkswagen its first proper test.
« Earlier: A bit of all white - the Transporter joins our fleet Later: Transporter meets its ancestors »
