[timmm]

Hello all, this is my first post. On Saturday I am going to look at a 2002 T4 2.5 TDi 102bhp Automatic. I have a few questions that hopefully people may be able to help me with.

How many mpg could I expect to get? Is an automatic less economical than a manual?

How many gears are there on this gearbox? My father in law drives a 1996 Transit automatic which I think only has 3 forward gears, so fuel economy at motorway speeds isn't great.

Are there any common problems I should look for in a T4? The van is low mileage with full service history (a lot of it main dealer history)

Thanks a lot

Tim

 

[Telviking]

This is a common thread, the Auto's get a bad reputation on this Forum for reliability (do a search), also the fuel consumption will be about 3-4mpg less.

The reliability of the T4 Auto is due to most of these T4'S getting old and being ex abused works vehicles with no service info on the gearbox, you don't get many posts about avoiding diesel T4's due to the basic engine problems but there are many that can arise (cambelts, turbo's etc, again do a search!) I've seen 2 in my local garage at the same time with blown engines!

If you have to or want to drive an Auto then give it a test drive, if it's smooth through the gears then it's good!

People talk a lot of Bo**ox about Auto's but I don't known anyone that has been unhappy with the Bugatti Veyron or Nissan Skyline or Audi R8's etc they drive, so Auto's are not a lesser form of transport.

 

[timmm]

Thanks for that - I don't particularly want an auto - I am looking for a van that I can through bikes in the back of and also sleep in (not bothered about a bed). I need seats in the back for my children. The van I have seen is very low mileage and is a wheelchair conversion so I don't think it will have been abused. My initial plan if I get it is to remove the tail lift and sell it and then use it as it is for a while until I think properly about what I want to do to the inside (it has 2 seats along the drivers side in the rear already). I think I will want to tint all the rear windows and put in a heater. Apart from being automatic, it pretty much ticks all the boxes for me. From reading other posts, the 2.5 102bhp engine seems to be the one most people want.

 

[djespie]

I have a Caravelle 2.5 auto and love it.

Get about 35-40 on a run at 60 mph ish, and about 30 around town.

Make sure the gearbox changes smoothly and does not judder when accelerating and going through the gears.

Check to see if the oil and filter has been changed on the box, if not and you buy it, have it checked into a auto box specialist, with experience with this box and have the oil and filter changed. You can have an additional oil cooler fitted to keep the oil cool, especially if you tow or drive hard.

Jim Doodle, forum Director had a good write up on the boxes. A few members have fitted the coolers themselves.

I have had no trouble with mine in the 31/2 years we've had it. You won't get the same mileage as a manual but you never will with an auto.

Good luck,

Dave.

 

[timmm]

Thanks - bought the van yesterday. Drove it 30 miles today. All seems fine - smooth and no juddering. Cruises at 70 on the motorway. Its a 2003, not 2002 model and has under 16,000 miles on the clock, so not really run in. There are one or 2 jobs that need doing, but very small. The passenger window (electric) doesn't wind down fully. I have tried resetting it as suggested elsewhere on the forum (hold it up for 30 secs) but this hasn't worked. There are one or 2 very tiny rust blemishes around one of the retro fitted rear windows that I may sort (or may leave until they are bigger or at least until warmer weather). I also need to take some photos of the wheelchair lift before I remove it to sell. Thanks for the responses.

 

[timmm]

Just been going through the handbook for the van. On the first page of the service page of the service schedule there is a sticker with the van details from VW with various numbers - I guess chassis and engine numbers (without checking). On this, it says Kombi Van, so I guess that the windows were not retrofitted at all. Quite pleased, as I think original Kombi vans are not that common.

 

[Telviking]

Sounds like a Good un!T:

 

[timmm]

Yes - so far I'm very pleased. Thanks for your help. I've just started another thread to see if I can get to the bottom of the window problem. I'm sure it shouldn't be difficult to fix.