My T32 camper is on OEM wheels & suspension and the ride and noise levels are sooo much better when it's packed to gunwales.
Empty, the van bounce around and this is accompanied by an array of percussive noises.
My first impression is that I am underwhelmed - am I missing something?
- Thread starter craig808
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Empty, the van bounce around and this is accompanied by an array of percussive noises.
Aer0nautics
Member
I think you’re right tbh, certainly when comparing standard vans a Transit is so much closer to a car-like driving experience than a T6/.1.
I’ve got a 15 year old Audi A4 on 200k parked outside, worth nothing. Drives so much nicer than my T6, silent, composed, effortless at speed on any road.
Up to you whether you want to gamble another few k at suspension, sound deadening, lining to make it palatable - And risk it still falling short of your expectations.
I’ve got a 15 year old Audi A4 on 200k parked outside, worth nothing. Drives so much nicer than my T6, silent, composed, effortless at speed on any road.
Up to you whether you want to gamble another few k at suspension, sound deadening, lining to make it palatable - And risk it still falling short of your expectations.
I had a brand new Transit Custom a few years ago in lockdown and from what we can remember, it drove better than my T6.1 and felt to have a better build. When lock down came and I couldn't race anymore, it was just sat on the drive doing nothing. Ford called me on the off chance that I wanted to sell it and actually gave me more than I originally paid!!
Anyway...I digress.
I think with sound deadening throughout and CRS doing their thing, I will be much happier.
I bought it to be a tool and to be fair, this weekend it excelled. I had a large trailer on with around 3/4 ton of railway sleepers and drove up the farm track and the fields no problem at all. And that's with everywhere being sodden due to the rain. So it's not all bad and the 4motion is definitely worth its while for me.
I had a rather nice top of the range SUV, followed by an equally top of the range Eatate car, prior to getting the T6.
SUV for 4 years, but the Estate only lasted a year before I finally admitted that I had played it safe and should have bought the T6 at that point.
The T6 is nowhere near as fast or as comfortable as either of those, or most of the other cars I’ve had over the decades. I didn’t expect it to be either and had zero disappointment on picking it up or since. In fact, it’s my favourite vehicle of all those I have owned.
Accept it for what it is and enjoy it on that basis I say. I have soundproofed all interior panels myself and put some sound deadening in too, albeit not gone for the full on insulation (maybe yet). I have also replaced the speakers and fitted AT tyres with a taller sidewall. All of this has been well worthwhile and has improved my experience no end. It’s still a van but I absolutely love it.
Fingers crossed that you start feeling the same. My enjoyment has equally come from doing the jobs myself alongside the actual end result. The pleasure gained, from not just throwing money at it for someone else to do, Is priceless to me.
SUV for 4 years, but the Estate only lasted a year before I finally admitted that I had played it safe and should have bought the T6 at that point.
The T6 is nowhere near as fast or as comfortable as either of those, or most of the other cars I’ve had over the decades. I didn’t expect it to be either and had zero disappointment on picking it up or since. In fact, it’s my favourite vehicle of all those I have owned.
Accept it for what it is and enjoy it on that basis I say. I have soundproofed all interior panels myself and put some sound deadening in too, albeit not gone for the full on insulation (maybe yet). I have also replaced the speakers and fitted AT tyres with a taller sidewall. All of this has been well worthwhile and has improved my experience no end. It’s still a van but I absolutely love it.
Fingers crossed that you start feeling the same. My enjoyment has equally come from doing the jobs myself alongside the actual end result. The pleasure gained, from not just throwing money at it for someone else to do, Is priceless to me.
My wife has a lovely Volvo, proper luxury car.
Much better than my van, faster, smoother, quieter, more civilised, the lot.
Except it can't carry 900Kg in the back and the dogs aren't allowed in it.
So when we want to go somewhere nice, no tools, no cargo, no dogs, etc, does she always say, "let's go in the van?"
She loves it even more than I do!
You're either a van person or you're not.
Much better than my van, faster, smoother, quieter, more civilised, the lot.
Except it can't carry 900Kg in the back and the dogs aren't allowed in it.
So when we want to go somewhere nice, no tools, no cargo, no dogs, etc, does she always say, "let's go in the van?"
She loves it even more than I do!
You're either a van person or you're not.
Exactly the same mate. We have an S6 and a Q8 and obviously jumping out of either of those into a van was always going to be poles apart. I'm not trying to compare but to think a T6 is going to be anything like is ridiculous of me
There's been some very reassuring comments on here tonight. I'm going to install sound deadening and take a trip to see Steve at CRS and start adding a few things to put my own stamp on it.
I’ve had the same thoughts to be fair, although mines a T5.1.Hi all
I am new to the VW Transporter world and am hoping you knowledgeable folk can help me out.
Last Friday I bought a T6.1 Kombi DSG 4motion. Unfortunately I am underwhelmed by it. The noise in the cab is way louder than I expected - engine noise, road noise, panels creaking, side doors creaking etc. The ride is far from comfy, it seems to wallow around quite a lot but also doesn't like pot holes of absolutely any size, however small. The ride height feels very high. It's had 18's put on but has standard suspension, well at least I think it is standard - but it seems to be sat quite high. I'm guessing that this is not helping with the wallowing around when driving.
The build quality doesn't feel too great to me either, for example, when we close the doors they sound a bit tinny. Both my wife and I are a little disappointed and think it feels a bit cheap.
At this moment, I am thinking that I may have made a mistake. For such an expensive van (or should I say what I consider expensive, obviously this is subjective), I expected a little more.
We are quite lucky to have 2 nice cars on the drive and I am thinking that maybe because of those I am expecting too much.
So...is this normal and is there anything that I can do about it?
I was thinking of sending it to @CRS Performance to get springs and shocks, getting the whole van sound deadened and putting some nicer looking wheels on.
What's your opinions, have others had the same thoughts when they first bought a Transporter and if so did the above mods make a significant difference? Obviously I don't want to throw money at it if this is just what they are.
I'm looking forward to your comments and advice and hoping that I end up enjoying my van.
P.S. Apologies if the post is a little negative
Noisy - road, engine/transmission and wind (despite soundproofing, insulation, carpet lining etc), poor ride (despite the Komi special actives - although these helped a touch), tinny doors (despite the aftermarket ‘sounds like a golf seals’).
Having said all that I know it’s a van, I know resale will be higher than a different van and I blooming love the opportunities it affords us. I doubt other vans are that much better.
If you want the ‘van life’ then get better suspension and add soundproofing and insulation (don’t bother with the aftermarket ’sounds like a golf seals’). Then enjoy.
I bought my first Transporter just over a week ago and personally love it - my wife though is not so keen.
I think I knew what to expect having driven vans in the past but my wife has never driven one - she says she feels like a bus driver due to the driving position (I love the high up driving position as it gives much better visability - my dad was an HGV driver when I was growing up and for me I think it brings back some memories of that). The ride is harsh at the moment as it came with 40mm drop H&R lowering springs and 20”s with cheap Haida tyres. She finds it wallowy but I don’t find it that bad. She says it is noisy - I don’t think it is that bad either - I think the main issue sound wise, is that it is the first Diesel vehicle we have had in years (our second car is fully electric and I have part exchanged our very quiet Passat TSI for the van). Our van is already sound deadened and lined as well so I dread to think what she would have made of a bare van (which was I original planned to get and line myself)
I am going to make improvements where I can - first being to drop the wheel size to 18’s with more premium tyres (already ordered and should arrive tomorrow) - I will then consider changing the suspension to B14 Komforts if required. I have ordered the Sounds like a Golf door seals from THQ as well which will improve the feel of the doors when closing them (and they only cost £15
I think once you stop comparing it to the cars and take it for what it is then you will start enjoying it more (I hope my widpfe does the same as well
)
I think I knew what to expect having driven vans in the past but my wife has never driven one - she says she feels like a bus driver due to the driving position (I love the high up driving position as it gives much better visability - my dad was an HGV driver when I was growing up and for me I think it brings back some memories of that). The ride is harsh at the moment as it came with 40mm drop H&R lowering springs and 20”s with cheap Haida tyres. She finds it wallowy but I don’t find it that bad. She says it is noisy - I don’t think it is that bad either - I think the main issue sound wise, is that it is the first Diesel vehicle we have had in years (our second car is fully electric and I have part exchanged our very quiet Passat TSI for the van). Our van is already sound deadened and lined as well so I dread to think what she would have made of a bare van (which was I original planned to get and line myself)
I am going to make improvements where I can - first being to drop the wheel size to 18’s with more premium tyres (already ordered and should arrive tomorrow) - I will then consider changing the suspension to B14 Komforts if required. I have ordered the Sounds like a Golf door seals from THQ as well which will improve the feel of the doors when closing them (and they only cost £15
I think once you stop comparing it to the cars and take it for what it is then you will start enjoying it more (I hope my widpfe does the same as well
)
Aer0nautics
Member
Yeah, I think also sound deadening the scuttle panel in the engine bay makes a big difference to engine drone too. It’s on my list alongside the front cab, doors, firewall etc anyway.
I made the trip to CRS in Cannock from Bath a few months ago. Well worth the trip.
When I commented on the distance travelled I was informed that I was positively local. They had had a van in from Scotland the day before !
Funny you say that. I’ve never been interested in test driving/riding anything I’ve bought over the years. I’m not claiming this is the best approach, it’s just that I’ve always known what I was buying and pretty much how it would perform. I’ve had a few super bikes and the odd tasty car. So far so good
That would have been me. 14hr round trip
Well worth it.
I think the main thing to get your head around is the fact that you’re now driving a van. Coming from a new BMW M135i, I felt exactly the same. No power, noisy, squeaks and rattles and cheap plastics. Ours is a fully converted camper, so squeaks and rattles were inevitable, especially when loaded up. I’ve since had the suspension and tyres changed out and the difference is night and day. Yes, it’s not fast, but as people have said…. It’s a van. When you change your driving style to more of a plod than a blast, you’ll start to enjoy it. People admire VW Transporters and you’ll start to see fellow Transporter owners waving at you, as they get it… you will too. Enjoy.
Having tested various vans I have to say the T6.1 is a big step forward in car likeness from the cockpit.
but it's always gonna be a van.
And I appreciate that fact, I care about half as much about dragging stuff in and out of it or taking it on long journeys as I do the fancy BMW car. It's a workhorse not a luxury automobile, sure you can make it more comfortable, but it's always gonna be a workhorse.
I love driving it, you need a different mindset, everything is a bit slower paced, no point in overtaking uphill, sit back and chill for the downhill
but it's always gonna be a van.
And I appreciate that fact, I care about half as much about dragging stuff in and out of it or taking it on long journeys as I do the fancy BMW car. It's a workhorse not a luxury automobile, sure you can make it more comfortable, but it's always gonna be a workhorse.
I love driving it, you need a different mindset, everything is a bit slower paced, no point in overtaking uphill, sit back and chill for the downhill
I have been having a good think about this and have taken everyones comments on board.
And yes, you're obviously right...it is a van. It is for my trials motorbike and mtb's. It will occasionally have a trailer on, sometimes a caravan and weekly it will spend time on farm tracks and fields.
So instead of putting some bigger alloys on and lowering it, I think some swamper wheels and AS tyres along with Steve at CRS doing his thing is the way to go.
It has already been excellent at pulling a trailer onto the moors, so making it a workhorse for what it will be doing a lot of is a good idea.
And yes, you're obviously right...it is a van. It is for my trials motorbike and mtb's. It will occasionally have a trailer on, sometimes a caravan and weekly it will spend time on farm tracks and fields.
So instead of putting some bigger alloys on and lowering it, I think some swamper wheels and AS tyres along with Steve at CRS doing his thing is the way to go.
It has already been excellent at pulling a trailer onto the moors, so making it a workhorse for what it will be doing a lot of is a good idea.
We're currently camping in ours in a field at Lymington which is something else you can do in a Transporter.
Not sure where the comparison with luxury SUVs or other chest beating memories of manly Uber wagons comes into a conversation about VW Transporters apart from maybe repairs to either vehicle being at the same price point?
Not sure where the comparison with luxury SUVs or other chest beating memories of manly Uber wagons comes into a conversation about VW Transporters apart from maybe repairs to either vehicle being at the same price point?
