I've gone and done it.....

[DrPhill]

I have decided to buy a van: 2022 kombi swb hiline 4motion dsg BiTurbo 16000 miles.

The seats are all wrong (2 + 1 in the front, 3 seater in the back) but they can be changed. No rear window, but that could be changed.

What speed can I do on the dual carriageway?

It can't be all that difficult to learn to drive an automatic (I've had manuals all my life)?

I'm hoping I've done the right thing.....

 

[Chippie1]

It can't be all that difficult to learn to drive an automatic (I've had manuals all my life)?

Congrats You will struggle to go back to manual after I don’t think I could go back now

 

[Badjamin]

Automatics are easy. I miss my old car's ease of use. You'll love it in stop start traffic.

Have you actually bought the van? What has drawn you towards a bi turbo?

 

[DrPhill]

Automatics are easy. I miss my old car's ease of use. You'll love it in stop start traffic.

Have you actually bought the van? What has drawn you towards a bi turbo?

I am sure automatics are easy - no point in all the complexity otherwise. I just need velcro on my left foot to keep it on the footrest. I'm sure there will be a 'suddenly go faster to overtake' button somewhere equivalent to knocking it down a gear or two. Not that I am likely to do much of that these days.

I wasn't really after a biturbo, its just that the nicest van the local dealers had with dsg had BiTurbo and 4M. Apart from the risk of emptying my wallet faster if my right foot gets too heavy I can't see too much downside. I'm going to stick with dealer warranty for peace of mind. The 4M is actually more interesting for it's stability gain.
The extra has eaten into my conversion fund, but I have been frugal for years (driving an i10 fer crissakes) so I thought it was time to buy something nicer. I'm determined to enjoy my retirement.

I haven't actually bought it - 'ordered it' to be brought to local dealer for final confirmation that I want it. In theory I could still back out (no contract of sale yet).

 

[WinFreak]

Good luck finding that footrest

Hopefully the newest biturbo doesn’t prove to be as self destructive as previous versions and you be all good!

 

[DrPhill]

Good luck finding that footrest

Hopefully the newest biturbo doesn’t prove to be as self destructive as previous versions and you be all good!

That did give me pause, but apparently not. And I am planning on keeping the VW warranty going as long as possible.

 

[Srea064]

Unfortunately, as previously stated, there isn’t a foot rest, god knows why not. You will eventually get used to it though and find you can easily stretch out and place your foot to the left and slightly under the brake pedal. The DSG box in the 6.1 is a joy to drive, you will love it. Be careful in reverse on a slight incline though, as it may roll back if you’re not careful. Enjoy your new van and post up some pics when you get it home

 

[JoshB_]

You can go as fast as y

What speed can I do on the dual carriageway?

Whatever the log book says. If it’s a M1, you’re good to do car speeds, if it’s a N1 then you’re 10mph under.

With it having no rear window I’d imagine it would be a N1. Still can’t see what’s in the back and it’s rated to carry goods…

 

[DrPhill]

You can go as fast as y


Whatever the log book says. If it’s a M1, you’re good to do car speeds, if it’s a N1 then you’re 10mph under.

With it having no rear window I’d imagine it would be a N1. Still can’t see what’s in the back and it’s rated to carry goods…

I have done some searching on that. Somewhere on this site I saw a letter from DVLA saying that if it had ‘widows, seats and seatbelts behind the drivers seat then it is assume to be primarily for carrying passengers’ and treated like a car.

I’m planning on getting it converted once I’m used to it. Do then a V5 change will sort it out for certain.

 

[Sackmycook]

Here we go again......!!
You can do car speeds in an N1 too if its a Motor Caravan body class. Lots of other info if you search

 

[DrPhill]

Unfortunately, as previously stated, there isn’t a foot rest, god knows why not.

Is there an after market opportunity here?

 

[WinFreak]

Is there an after market opportunity here?

One of these maybe

 

[Sackmycook]

Probably be easier to cut your left foot off

 

[Sasquatch]

How do people manage in armchairs at home without a perch for their left foot?

 

[Chippie1]

Just do what I do pedal to the metal and enjoy the power of the bi-turbo laughing at all the inferior single turbo vans you pass

 

[Sasquatch]

I couldn't really tell the difference between any of them, just slightly different shades of sloowww.

 

[Badjamin]

The absence of a footrest is absurd.

 

[CAB]

The absence of a footrest is absurd.

Didn't someone on here use a Volvo footrest?

 

[JoshB_]

I have done some searching on that. Somewhere on this site I saw a letter from DVLA saying that if it had ‘widows, seats and seatbelts behind the drivers seat then it is assume to be primarily for carrying passengers’ and treated like a car.

I’m planning on getting it converted once I’m used to it. Do then a V5 change will sort it out for certain.

In a court of law, yes you’ve got an argument, see the massive pinned thread.

But all a speed camera cares about, or a man in a van, is what the log book says.

 

[DrPhill]

massive pinned thread.

But all a speed camera cares about, or a man in a van, is what the log book says.

For sure. And in reality, most of the time I travel at the reduced speeds anyway - I’m not a fast driver these days. (Especially in an i10). And I’m not in a hurry. The extra power will be most useful on steep hills, which seem to figure prominently in my driving.

I am most likely to be caught out on those big dual carriage ways.
Is A1(M) classed as motorway?