Dogs dinner or dream van?

Valdubvee

Valdubvee

Member
Yoohoo everyone - Im a green as grass Newbie - looking for some advice from the kindly folks on this site pleas with more experience than me, as this will be my first ever van.

Im going to look at a T6 again tomorrow from a VW dealer and possibly buy it. I want a van to load my kayak inside (definitely dont want to roof mount it (as a female I cant manage to load it on my car roof myself hence going for a van to chuck it in ; and dont want a hullavator or similar). But I will also use it as a day to day vehicle hence looking for a bit of comfort. But my dilemma is this:

Its a 2016 (66) T6 204 DSG. It looks great (sportline bumper, rear spoiler, back alloys etc) and the big draw is the spec (highline spec (though not actually a highline van - see below) plus reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, heated front seats; twin sliding doors. And its the colour I like. Its about £33k including vat - stretching my budget loads - Im not sure thats about right or expensive? But I tell myself that if its a good buy then I should get my money back in future.

My worry is whether Im buying a dogs dinner spec. The reason is that all the extras were factory fitted to a 'Startline Window van'- which seems an odd choice (-or is it? why not go for a highline in the first place). So im wndering - is this a decent buy or is it a dogs dinner to avoid. My concern is when I come to sell it the fact it started life as a startline window van might put future buyers off? (or am I worrying for nothing?).

Sorry for the long post but Id hate to make an expensive mistake. My other query is whether the 204 dsg will gobble up the fuel (as compared to a 150 dsg) and be expensive to run?

Really appreciate any helpful feedback, sorry for being a bit dim with this but the views of you guys who are much more in the know would be gold dust to me; the crunch question is...should I buy it or not?!
Thanks all in advance ;0)
 
There are some colours you can only get in a startline. That may be why it’s spec’d up to high line standard.
 
I was going to make the same point as Deaky, but its silver??? you can get a silver highline???

it would be worth speccing one on the configurator, because occasionally it could be very close in price (with pushing for a discount) and then you would have exactly what you want

Just a thought :thumbsup:
 
I think the key point here is that its a window van.
VW supply window vans to converters (they are not generally available) as a base vehicle for camper conversions, essentially an empty van with glass all round
Have you seen it ? Does it have full glass to the rear ?
Im not sure how window vans are specced i would have thought you could order varying trim levels but i suspect if its at a VW main dealer (someone who would ordinarily not touch a window van) its a misbuild or cancelled order that they are looking to move on and probably why they have tricked it up with splitter/spoiler etc to make it easier to sell ?
Do you have any pictures or a link to where its advertised so we can have a proper look, i am wondering whether it has a painted startline bumper or the proper highline style split bumper/grille

I dont initially see any reason to put you off buying it as long as you understand what it is and you are getting good value for money
 
That does not look like a startline to me !
LED lights, highline bumper with foglights, air conditioning, reverse camera etc etc
But is missing a few bits that would make it a highline so its a funny one ?

A couple things to note:
The spec listed is wrong in places ie it says 'Collision prevention assist' which it does not have (no radar sensor on front grille)
It has the dials for rear heating/AC controls ? this is a good feature for rear passengers but does mean you will have the chunky plastic trim down one side of the rear thats houses the heater/ductwork for rear air, could be good could be bad depending what way you look at it i suppose but it does mean its a vehicle that would not lend itself to having a poptop as you will have roof vents spread around the ceiling trim
 
cheers Pauly, so i was right in thinking its a bit odd! Good spot on the spec, thankis, Ill ask about that. And yes it does have a big bit is chunky plastic trim in the rear for the heater - dont really need it as I wont be carrying passengers that much (thought I might even rip it out when I insulate it). Im just not sure if its a good buy or not but the spec is pretty high; not sure if its missing anything deemed 'essential' though...
Thanks for the helpful feedback
 
Hi @Valdubvee
Having looked at the link, the front end alterations to take it from a start line has been done right. It even has the OEM LED lights although the ad suggests xenon!
It’s got a great spec that is for sure.
Price is possibly a tad on the high side, reckon they are passing on the costs of converting it to look more highline like (front bumper spoiler, rear spoiler, alloys, side bars) to you.
As @Pauly points out window vans are not a spec you’d normally pick up a dealers. Use that fact to your advantage as to how it must have been a miss-build or cancelled order and get as much off the price as possible because “you are doing them a favour taking a van that they are stuck with”.
 
Hi DaveyB - great advice thanks!

When i first saw it they said they would drop £2k off the price (from £29500 down to £27500 - PLUS Vat) - do you guys thinks that would be a decent buy?
 
If they said they’d drop 2k without even being pushed, they’ll drop a damn sight more when you twist the thumb screws. If you want it go get it. It does look like a good spec, albeit a bit of a mish-mash. Don’t let the dealer bully you. Put your price on the table and make them know that you are not afraid to walk out of the door without taking the van with you. There are other van’s out there, you’ve just got to search for them, ones that are what they are supposed to be.
I’d start at 4K off as a minimum. 2k is not even 10%!
 
Spec for window van is in the Shuttle brochure. You can access that on here if your a VIP member. From what I've been reading with other members posts, if your not flooring it all the time, there seems to be very little difference in fuel economy comparing a 150 to a 204. There is some variation in folks quoted figures but I reckon 30 to 35 mpg is the consensus across the board.
 
My concern would be trading in. When you are buying then extras are worth loads according to dealers, but selling it, it would be classified as a startline. I am not up to date on prices, but I would start at what a startline would cost for that year and mileage then add some on for the extras. Also it would presumably be insured as a startline modified as opposed to a standard van. A check on cost to insure is a good idea. Have to say it looks very nice.
 
VW website indicates that window vans are M1 class, so perhaps the reason for upspeccing base van over simply buying a kombi. This should give you car speed limits and chance to insure as a car rather than LCV, but no chance to reclaim VAT, I presume
 
Banj said:
Seems a lot of money to me, do you need a combi style van if not carrying passengers? Could have a top spec highline panel Van for that much brand new
Click to expand...

Stigofthedub said:
My concern would be trading in. When you are buying then extras are worth loads according to dealers, but selling it, it would be classified as a startline. I am not up to date on prices, but I would start at what a startline would cost for that year and mileage then add some on for the extras. Also it would presumably be insured as a startline modified as opposed to a standard van. A check on cost to insure is a good idea. Have to say it looks very nice.
Click to expand...

I was going to make both of the above points (trading in and do you need 5 seats) it certainly feels to me you could exactly what you want for the same money but brand new ??
 
@Valdubvee when you go to see the van ask to see the V5, I say this because my van is a Startline and on the V5 it states on vehicle details line D.3 Model Transporter T28 ST-LN TDI BMT, ST-LN being Startline, this may clear up any indecision that it is actually a Highline and the dealer selling the van has got his details wrong.
 
This is showing as N1(so van speeds/spec) and not an M1 (people carrier)

If you are after a similar spec,

White, 17 reg, 6k miles, 5k cheaper
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201709018866375

Actually....there’s a lot on Autotrader, at dealers that are cheaper.
If you intend on keeping a kayak inside, I take it you are talking about a play boat? Take it along and check it fits inside. I’d go with a Kombi with no rear quarter windows, just so it can’t be seen as easily.
 
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