Two things come to mind (MY sad one)....

The 2.8 drinks fuel like a camel that just crossed the Gobi. (LPG conversion helps a lot!)

Unless the Autobox has been serviced (with the correct fluid), you could be in for an expensive bill (in either 10 miles or another 100,000?!?!?)
VW stated it was "sealed for life"....but as many have found, that "life" is around 50k unless the fluid is changed.:*
The petrol puts a lot less strain on it than the 2.5 TDi, as it has lower torque.....mine is running around 10% OVER the specs....but I also have extra cooling.
See the threads about the gearbox.....

Wouldn't ever "manualise" MY van.....but the gearboxes do need caring for.
Wouldn't buy a petrol either.....as I don't have enough money to drive one!

If the 'Velle is in good condition, and the price is right, it could be a good buy.

Check for any broken/missing trim....like hen's teeth to replace.LOL:

 

Many thanks.

The asking price is £4k o.n.o. No service history, 1 original key, bits of rust here and there. Had a few owners. Was a trade in vehicle and current owner has had it for a year.

The autobox is a concern especially if sealed. And also if recon autoboxes are hard to find.

I don't suppose theres any way of testing it other than driving it around.

 

Drive until it's all warmed up.

Simple test is to check reverse....it's the first gear to start having problems.
Get on a steep hill, try to reverse up it with minimum throttle.
If it doesn't move until 3000 rpm, RUN away (don't walk!).
Also, when stopped, it should change from D to R, in a second...and the other way around.


For a '97 petrol, in not mint condition, I'd say that was double it's value!
You could import one from Japan (NO rust) for just over half that price.

You can't buy a recon box.....you have to take it out, and take it up to Mackies in Glasgow (I took one from Norway to them....LOL)
It's not strictly a "sealed" box, fluid can be changed, but VW say it's not needed......

 

I would be worried about the number of owners and lack of service history. Multiple owners often means services are skipped and repairs are put off and you have no way of checking.

Ideally, you want low owners and a solid service history.

 

I have a 98 VR6 Auto twin slider. Currently Mileage is 167K

I bought van just over 2 years ago at about 162k, no real service history, about 8 former keepers, but stamps in the service book from private garages. When I got it it had 2 dodgy injectors that would have worked out a fair few quid for a garage to fix, I got some 90k mileage ones on ebay and they are good as gold.

The engine is the old 12valve VR6 - 140bhp up until about 2000 - Its thirsty, but fun . Fuel economy averages at about 20mpg ( I do drive pretty hard), equally on a long run cruising at 60 on the motorway I have had it as high as 28mpg. I have some slight rattle/tap from the engine, but its high mileage so not really surprised. Because of the dodgy injectors, when I got it the thing didnt change gear properly, it would jump between gears and made me think hmmm, even after I repaired the injectors and the engine was pretty sweet, however, doing a throttle adaptation procedure with my laptop connected, followed by clearing the fault codes means it changes smooth as silk!

Caravelles are great as they tend to have better specs, mines got heating in the back, electric windows, AC and an electric sunroof.

Watch out for ones with sunroofs, they arent like the cars and rely on a seal to keep the water out, mine is about 95% so if I park down hill occasionally water can get in.

I specifically bought mine for moving house, it has done an amazing job, the autobox makes it lovely and lazy to drive too.

I'd say your biggest friend will be plugging a laptop in to find out any fault codes. The autobox is fine, as mentioned as long as its been serviced. 100k is pretty low mileage for a T4, I have had good and bad experiences with high/low mileage vehicles, I had a V5 bora with 82K about 4 years ago, I dont think it was cared for properly, early service stamps in the book were not all VW, struck me as a rep/rental car or something, it was fine but you could tell it hadnt been loved as much until one of the last owners, just bought a golf mk4 (VR6 4motion!) with 72K on the clock, no receipts, but stamped up to date, yet the amount of things I am finding to repair on it is quite surprising for just 72k, like rear wheel bearings, trim parts etc, even though its practically not been anywhere. My caravelle at 162k I have done the injectors, CV gator, just replaced an exhaust section, age/mileage stuff you'd expect


I suppose the big question is what are your mechanical skills like.

 

I've got a '98 2.8 VR6 manual Westy. It started misfiring under load occasionally a couple of years ago, which turned out to be a worn timing chain & sticky chain tensioner. Expensive job to fix, but it drove like a brand new van afterwards.

Misfires can be caused by many things a lot cheaper than a new timing chain though , as I learnt whilst trying to fix my van (I'm not an expert at all), but if you test drive & get a misfire, it's worth bearing my experience in mind.

Good luck!

 

I had one for 5 years and still have nightmares thinking about what the car cost me. Never again a VR6 or the auto box.