Can’t say I hate the look but not mad about the whole shared platform idea.

 

Definitely not rushing out to px

 

Suppose time will tell, but I was having a conversation with my missus about how every mark of transporter ever made gains a cult following. Not sure how that pans out for this new strategy.

 

Thing is tho ive always had transporters because there better made better engineered and hold there value better than a transit
That reason won't be a reason now tho

 

I think much like the T6.1 it'll be a grower, especially once the likes of ABT get hold of it.
Have seen a few Multivans about and I do like them, well the front end anyway, still think that the design budget ran out by the time they got to the rear.

 

Hard to tell with camo wraps but it certainly looks a bit "Transit" rearwards.

That roof line looks a lot more curved front to back than a current model. So any awning rail is going to have to be "banana" shaped.

Maybe it's the wrap but the A pillars / door returns look massive too. Looks a big blind spot to me, I'm sure my T5.1 door windows are much bigger.

Not sure. Gonna hold my opinion back until we see one in a realistic colour plus some interior shots etc.

It's got a VW badge on it so probably + £10K more than any other van!

 

Hard to tell with camo wraps but it certainly looks a bit "Transit" rearwards.

That roof line looks a lot more curved front to back than a current model. So any awning rail is going to have to be "banana" shaped.

Maybe it's the wrap but the A pillars / door returns look massive too. Looks a big blind spot to me, I'm sure my T5.1 door windows are much bigger.

Not sure. Gonna hold my opinion back until we see one in a realistic colour plus some interior shots etc.

It's got a VW badge on it so probably + £10K more than any other van!

View attachment 220334

That's not a Camo wrap...its a magic eye wrap and if you are any good at magic eye pictures, if you squint your eyes a little you can clearly see a picture of a transit van

 

I reckon that wrap is a magic eye graphic, once your eyes adjust, it might just look half decent

Edit: 🤣Mr Fish beat me to it!

 

Just too slow and still a bit confused Pete? Geoff. 😉

 

Story of my life Geoff 🙃

 

Ya just from the photos it looks like it's been developed with Ford and the styling shows I'm not excited at what I see!!! The line down the side is so transit with the cheapening of the VW brand I wonder if it will be sold cheaper too?

I do find it a very weird decision for VW to work together.. both have their strong markets and very different consumer.. win win for Ford maybe?

 

Cut production cost for what may be there last short run of fossil fuel vans ??

 

Spot on.

 

Yeah definitely a cost thing. Orion - that camo/magic eye wrap van is the T7 Multivan - not the latest T7 commercial.
Check out the official VW ‘teaser’ vid on YouTube of the reveal and the side is just basically Ford Transit Custom
VW Teaser

Didn’t get a great reception when Transporter HQ posted it either. They’ve already been scanning the Transit for mods/body kits by the looks of it.

 

Orion - that camo/magic eye wrap van is the T7 Multivan - not the latest T7 commercial.

I went with them actually saying "Transporter T7". Never believe the Internet.

https://www.vanguide.co.uk/reviews/vw-transporter-t7-preview/

Meanwhile on Planet Earth:

 

If it's got the ticking time bomb 2ltr wet cambelt engine same as the transit I wouldn't touch it with anything!
Mate had a brand new transit that the belt failed at 25k few weeks after it's first service, then a brand new ford engine fitted! Absolute disaster of an engine!

 

VW are not squeaky clean when it comes to engines either, maybe no wet cambelt but self destructing bi-turbos.

 

I suppose if you need to buddy up, it makes sense for ford and vw to buddy up in that the transit and transporter are the go to names in vans- and both have a decent legacy. Given all the other brands are using shared platforms, even reaching out even across groups, you can see why they would need to split development costs of a van as a commercially viable product. Also makes sense why vw are trying to protect the transporter brand kudos by shifting focus onto the car platform multivan.

 

The engine is a weak spot for me.

But I suppose when they do blow up, it's Ford who will pay, ultimately, right? Maybe a sneaky VW plot to weaken the opposition?

 

Most entusiasts get hold of a van when it's approaching about 10 yo, no need to worry about this one then.

At 10 years a transit is a patch of rust on the floor.

Rhys

 

Most entusiasts get hold of a van when it's approaching about 10 yo, no need to worry about this one then.

At 10 years a transit is a patch of rust on the floor.

Rhys

I am lead to believe that all transit customs benefit from a galvanised body shell, something which the Transporter needed. The Sevel vans (ducato,boxer and relay) have had that since 2007. Geoff.

 

Thing is when every new version comes out we all hate it as we all hate change.
I had a T5 for 13 years, face lifted it to a T5.1 then the T6 came out which I thought was horrible but then grew on me. Ended up buying a T6.1 which is lovely in every aspect.

Ignore the parking Ticket. Customer paid for it after putting the wrong details on my permit

 

That wet belt idea was never gonna end well , absolute madness ! 🤪

 

Have you seen the amount of rot on similar age Transits. You are luck to see many the same age as T4's on the road. Zinc coating does not mean something coated will last forever I just allows the manufacturer to give an anti-perforation guarantee that can be met. Think back to Alfasuds and Lancia Betas.

 

Early t4s had less coating than later and all t4s have less than t5s

 

The build quality would definitely concern me - they're obviously being built to a budget, sharing the development cost saves them money but also on parts/warranty claims etc.

I'll admit I wasn't a fan of the T6.1 front when it was first revealed and now I've facelifted my 5.1 to one ... but I really aren't a fan of the Transit and it's oversized arch detail and high-sided waist etc. and even less so of the new VW front end stylings. The Multivan and Caddy front ends still look bloody awful and I don't see my opinion changing on those.

Also, the Transit has long been an easy target for van thieves - peeling the doors open, single drill hole etc. to gain access to the rear. I'm not saying Transporters don't get nicked too but they Transit seems to have garnered quite a reputation for being an easy pinch. That's not something I'd ever want to invest my money in!

Unfortunately I think VW have massively damaged the reputation and credibility that they've benefitted from with the various generations of Transporter. I mean - how many people would pay T5.1 / T4 money for a Transit of the same age?!!

 

I used to have a Transit as a mobile lab for materials testing the older mk 4 2.4 litre FWD, whilst it was a great van and tbh pretty comfortable but very tinny with aircon etc (dusty environments) in 100k miles over 4 years it had 3 Turbos, 2 gearboxes and was finally returned to the lease company when the 4th turbo started to smoke , spent 70% of its life in the outside lane at 80 as well.
I would never have a Ford and this is from a Man who has had 2 Citroen XMs and a Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 and a couple of Alfas!

 

and this is from a Man who has had 2 Citroen XMs and a Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 and a couple of Alfas!

There are things that you should never say out loud ..😲🤫

 

The point that I was making is that hot dip galvanising is a very good idea, and hopefully will have overcome Fords well known tendency to disolve. Geoff.

 

Whilst understand what you are saying about galvanizing, the potential for body distortion from the hot dip process on steel the thickness of bodywork would be too great. This is why the go for a zinc coating in the automotive sector.

 

Fords have been hot dipped since 2006. Besides how can you trust a co who made the pinto in the us

 

Fords..........Besides how can you trust a co who made the pinto in the us

Let's not forget that VW are such an truthful company when it comes to emissions......

 

I think every manufacturer has their own bad egg, whether that's a result of poor manufacturing, engine issues, rust, components breaking, recalls etc. - my concern would be what happens when you start to devalue the VW Transporter with the known build quality issues of Ford. You've got the engine issues already with the wet belt set up and then the corrosion and poor anti-theft protection and all for the extortionate price of a new van. No thanks.

Apparently Ford have ended up doing free engine replacements for the wet belt engines but that won't put many people at ease knowing that your engine may suddenly go pop at any given moment and the only way you're gonna be covered is if you've had full dealership level servicing and warranty. Outside that you're on your own. You may as well stick with that BiTDI and save yourself a heap of cash!