Cheeky bump on this thread... more and more we are finding the FF just is not big enough to considering a 204bhp T6 or T6.1 Transporter. Does anyone own one who could comment on living with one? Sold - Bell a 2015 MY16 Loire Blue Autobiography 4.4 SDV8
Previously George a 2007 MY07 Java Black VSE 3.6 TDV8
Previously a 04 MY04 Defender 90

My Brother bought a very nice T5, it's a very dark purple metallic ( looks black at night ) it has front captains seats, two side electric opening doors in the back, haldex unit, the lot !!!!!!
The list of extras in impressive, he got it before the prices jumped during covid lock downs, he is now running in a brand new engine which was not cheap. Luckily I got out of doing the engine swop as he uses a very good independent VW specialist. As for the one piece electric tailgate, and the side awning cover, you could hold a party under them whilst it rains

But the list of other bits muggins here has had to add or change for him is endless. BEWARE, he claimed he was never a petrol head, and always taking the p**s for the money I spend on my fatty,now it has taken over his life, there is always something new and the planned list is growing all the time, the best descriptive word would be 'Cult' It's not a car, it seems to be a lifestyle choice.

As for fuel he gets very impressive figures, even into the 40's if he's behaving himself.

TJH1985 wrote:

Cheeky bump on this thread... more and more we are finding the FF just is not big enough to considering a 204bhp T6 or T6.1 Transporter. Does anyone own one who could comment on living with one?

I've had a couple of Transporters.

A SWB T4 2.5 - undoubtably the best ever panel van of this size manufactured by anyone.
Comfortable for long distances (the captains seat better, IMHO than a RR), gear leaver where it should be (on the floor), great for towing.
Unburstable 2.5 5-pot that was a delight to work hard (nice gentle turbo whistle).
Felt solid, drove it hard, great driver feedback.
Possibly the only downside being an appetite for rear springs if you ran loaded a lot.

A LWB T5 2.5 - more car like than the T4 but no-where as reliable. Having said that it was re-mapped, hybrid turbo & big bore stainless steel exhaust - turned out around 200bhb with bags of torque, Could leave most boy racers at the lights.
Like many T5's it had an appetite for offside driveshafts.
The longer wheelbase made for a smoother ride & probably a better towing vehicle (although the extra torque helped).
Handled better than the T4 but could catch you out.

As for the T5.1 - just not a patch on the T5 or T4.
Not driven anything later but I'm pretty sure that I would not like them.

No real use for a van after I semi-retired to bought an L322, ran that until the GM gearbox failed, could not afford a late FF, looked for a Discovery & ended up with a Sport.

Before getting our first Full-Fat, we had a 3.2 Petrol V6 Caravelle 'Executive' T5....

That was a nice thing... Captains seats, twin electric sliders, cruise control etc... and it wasn't that much worse on fuel than my Brother-in-Law's 2.5TDI in the same spec. (about 4mpg different)

But they're pretty rare all told!





Had a T6 California Beach for a short while too... (but also had the Supercharged L322 at the same time)

Not sure I'd ever have one over a Range Rover again though... they are night and day. You just can't escape the fact that they are a van. Andrew.

We have a T6 as well as the FFRR. It's a fully converted camper van but we've used it for cycle trips, flat moves across London (3 of those, so far!) fully-loaded trips to and from Uni, and simple transport too.

It's a lwb, 204bhp,dsg,4motion, T32. A pleasure to drive, much easier to position on the road than the RR, and we don't sit there on every journey terrified that something is going to go wrong!

With all-season tyres, I don't imagine it will get stuck on a wet grass slope (though we'd not deliberately give it that challenge in case we spill our freshly brewed tea!)

mpg around 30 in London, most recent trip to N Devon showed 38

3.6 RR gives 25 and 30-33 in similar circumstances.

(We are both very gentle drivers, btw)

Transporters fetch crazy prices, RR do not.

RR has issues. Transporters do not.

(Apart from the aforementioned driveshaft wear - actually caused by lack of lubrication from new - as far as I have heard)

T6 Ulez/Caz compliant. RR isn't.

All that said, we're comparing apples and oranges here, of course.

Choosing between the two, I don't know which one I'd keep.

If I kept the RR and used it more, I'd need the funds from the T6 sale to run it!

If I kept the T6, I'd steal the front seats from the RR before letting it go!

Just my 2p. Happy to give opinions/specifics on both if anyone is considering a change/addition...

Happy sailing to all FFers

R