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I am looking at VW campers, mostly the Autosleeper Topaz based on the T4 or T5 chassis and would appreciate some advice on the best engine to go for, or just what the difference is.
The options are 1.9, 2.4 and 2.5, some straight Diesel, some TD and some TDi
Any advice much appreciated TIA
______________________________________________________________ Tricia ---- Dogs are not our whole life but they make our lives whole.
Hi, I owned a 2000 W reg T4 Transporter 1.9td for 5 years and 80,000 miles, good reliable van.
The 1.9 td engine is pretty gutless and slow, but reliable and averaged around 33 mpg, old technology and none of the problems that the T5 seem to have.
Only faults in 5 years were oil pressure switch replaced under warranty and mysterious refusal to accelerate occasionally, cured simply by spraying WD40 around the deisel pump linkage!
I would certainly buy a T4 again, no worries, but perhaps go for the 2.5 tdi engine, cheers, Paul.
I'd rate my 2.5TDI over the Sevel chassis I had any day of the week.
1.9 in both models are OK. The T5 is good with the 104 BHP model but IMO better in 2.5 130 BHP. The 174 BHP tends to have too much power through the drivetrain and causes problems with the stub axles.
The mainstream (AS etc) models don't have much of a rep amongst the camper crowd, people instead preferring Bilbos, CMC (Reimo), Torbay Conversions and of course VWs own contracted out offering; the California.
HTH
______________________________________________________________ Satisfied now I´ve gotten rid of my Marquis supplied Autocruise- both were rubbish!
I agree with Andysam. I’ve had my 2002 T4 Westfalia California for over 3 years. It has a 2.5 TDi engine and with the auto gearbox does @ 26 mpg around town and on short runs, but on longer runs 38-40 mpg is achievable. No breakdowns, touch wood. Some VW owners rate the T4s as more reliable than the T5s.
Cab specification depends on whether the base vehicle is a Van, Combi or Caravelle (best for all the sophisticated comforts including aircon, cruise control, airbags, heated front swivel seats, stereo, electric everything). Don’t be fooled by fake wood trim - AS tend to have very basic cabs compared with say Westies.
Servicing is not cheap. With a T4 or T5 campervan you are supposed to take it to your local VW Van Centre. The trouble with my local one is that they give priority to their fleet customers and a private owner is at the bottom of the pecking order. Jobs were not carried out and I was told to bring it in again to complete the service. So, I have gone to a VW car dealership instead for the past 2 years to get servicing and MOTs done – their attitude is much better, their charges are the same, and they provide a nice Polo loan car. DIY servicing is difficult unless you have access to the VagCom diagnostics, and there is no independently published proper T4 workshop manual available in the UK.
I paid for a cambelt change when I bought it (check the service history to see when this has been done – should be at the 80,000 km service). The water pump should be replaced at the same time (as a precaution) otherwise it can be an expensive failure. Best replace the cambelt every 4 years anyway even if you only do low mileage. Not worth chancing it.
The exhaust system costs lots to replace so check it for rust. £600 including labour just for the catalytic converter! Check for a rattling / vibrating sound from below when you are driving @ 1800 rpm. That may be the sound of the catalytic converter breaking up. Mine did – MOT failure item.
Check the manufacturing date code stamped on the tyres even if they still have lots of tread. One of the tyres fitted on mine was manufactured 3 years before the van! I have replaced all 4 tyres because they were 5 years or older.
The brake discs corrode if you do not drive the van regularly.
As Andysam said, you can find out lots more on the T4 forum.
Good luck! Don’t be put off, because a good T4 VW is a lovely drive and eats up the motorway miles. You can also park it almost anywhere.
I'd rate my 2.5TDI over the Sevel chassis I had any day of the week.
1.9 in both models are OK. The T5 is good with the 104 BHP model but IMO better in 2.5 130 BHP. The 174 BHP tends to have too much power through the drivetrain and causes problems with the stub axles.
The mainstream (AS etc) models don't have much of a rep amongst the camper crowd, people instead preferring Bilbos, CMC (Reimo), Torbay Conversions and of course VWs own contracted out offering; the California.
HTH
Thanks for the info on the VW T4 forum, as we have just bought the Anniversary Clubman.
She is a dream on the road and to camp in and is bigger inside than she looks on the outside.
À tous mes amis du forum thankyou pour toutes vos pensées agréables et avec son amour derrière moi je lutterai contre mon conflit avec un esprit de postive et le triomphe
Mine's a T5 1.9Tdi 84bhp. Just paid £154 all-in for the 20k service at an independent VW specialists in Newcastle.
My van couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding, but should go on forever. Experienced VW mechanic said the 2.5's are the bane of his life & showed me a 54 plate example in the workshop which had just lunched itself at huge expense.
The "Brick Yard" is an excellent website for advice on VW vans. Many 174 owners on there have had engine problems. The suspicion is that the engine is in too high a state of tune to be reliable. Main weakpoint on t5's is the dual mass flywheel, but I think if you service them every 10k & don't drive them like you stole them they'll generally give good service. Residual values are excellent.
My Clubman is based on the T4 and has 2.5TDi engine - I have had no problems with it at all, just want a smaller vehicle as I drive it all the time and finding the Clubman just a tad too big for me now.
Boxertwin69 - Mark, I believe you have the layout I want, rear toilet, bench seat along one side?
______________________________________________________________ Tricia ---- Dogs are not our whole life but they make our lives whole.
Mark, I believe you have the layout I want, rear toilet, bench seat along one side?
Yes, love it. Unusual in a camper this size, but suits us well. The loo was a must with two toddlers & you get a wider double bed. Full details here (plan A) :
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So, I have gone to a VW car dealership instead for the past 2 years to get servicing and MOTs done – their attitude is much better, their charges are the same, and they provide a nice Polo loan car. 
DIY servicing is difficult unless you have access to the VagCom diagnostics, and there is no independently published proper T4 workshop manual available in the UK.
Check for a rattling / vibrating sound from below when you are driving @ 1800 rpm. That may be the sound of the catalytic converter breaking up. Mine did – MOT failure item. 
