New 2025 Kombi Transitporter.

[Bav]

The collab with Ford has all the hallmarks of financial distress and, given the emissions scandal, I can't help but feel a certain amount of schadenfreude.

 

[t0mb0]

I ended up selling my 6.1 LWB 4 Motion whilst the mileage was under 50k. Lovely looking van, but the PHEV that has replaced it has turned out to be vastly superior.

I felt let down by VW (owned lots of the years) and their decision to jump into bed with Ford, so cynically I just went for the source Ford vehicle over the VW rebrand. Neither look as pleasant as my old Transporter, but the improved drive makes up for that.

I went for a SWB petrol hybrid from
Swiss vans, and the service/price from them was fantastic. Much better value than the VW.

I got the DCIV with pop out rear windows, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed starting my conversion using all of the experience and lessons learned from Transporters over the years. I’ve removed and sold the bulkhead, floor and rear seats. Put in a tailgate window and fake rear quarter glass. Went for the Mobifloor bed system in the triple 120cm, which is amazing.

I’ve driven 5000 miles in 3 months, and the stock performance is great. It’s quicker than my old Pendle remapped T6, and unbelievably does about 50 mpg on average. I charge at home every night (costs about 50p) and my regular commute is under the 25 miles electric range. Yesterday I drove 260 miles from Derby to north London and back pretty quickly and got 35 mpg. And that’s at petrol prices, not diesel.

Yes it’s a shitbox Dagenham taxi that’ll go wrong and lose value over time, but it’s the choice we’ve been handed by VW in their wisdom/financial desperation. I’ve saved £10k by not having the VW badge, and got the version of the van that VW aren’t selling yet anyway. They’ve literally shot themselves in the foot.

I think phev makes a lot of sense in a van, you get the benefit of cheap local miles along with the long range ability of petrol.

A camper version where the battery functioned as a leisure battery too would be even better…

 

[Sackmycook]

V2L battery tech is already with us. Not sure if any converter of e-vans with the tech are utilising it yet?

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

That’s what I’m waiting on, I have a transit for work and a transporter for family so could go either way, might end up keeping my 6.1 Kombi and getting the transit PHEV for work ??

Does the hybrid engine have a wet belt?

 

[Sasquatch]

Does the hybrid engine have a wet belt?

Timing chain I believe, but don't just take my word for it before buying one!

Chains can be just as painful, particularly from someone like Ford who are likely to make them from Lurpak rather than the more expensive depleted uranium that others use.

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

Timing chain I believe, but don't just take my word for it before buying one!

Chains can be just as painful, particularly from someone like Ford who are likely to make them from Lurpak rather than the more expensive depleted uranium that others use.

Oh I have absolutely zero interest in buying one but been fascinated by shitstorm this collab has caused and watching to see how big the transitporter “my vans knackered wet belt” thread will become.

 

[Macp]

Im pretty sure this has been mentioned before, but it makes me think how in the sh1t VAG really are to do this to what I think is/was a very important vehicle in their model range.

 

[Voodoo_Pirate]

So i took a new 150 auto Transitporter on test & although it’s very modern inside the performance was dire - 0 to 60 in 15 secs is very slow…..
Still pondering my next van, looked at a vito but only 2800kg gvw on a 2200kg kerb weight, thats without a spare wheel
Not many late model t6’s out the same spec as mine & they are big money now
Probably keep my 2018 & she keeps rolling

How fast are you expecting a van to be? 15 seconds to 60 is plenty for the plumbers and sparks that the van is intended for or the people mover in Kombi form.

 

[Sasquatch]

Im pretty sure this has been mentioned before, but it makes me think how in the sh1t VAG really are to do this to what I think is/was a very important vehicle in their model range.

Yep, dieselgate has cost them over $33 billion. They've had to take some radical steps to trim costs, and lightly restyling a Ford and having Ford build all their new light commercials must have trimmed a good few billion from their regular bill.

Mark my words though - if they survive, then within the next few decades theyll pull another stupid stunt. They cant help themselves.

 

[Backin5]

Does the hybrid engine have a wet belt?

No, it’s a chain. The 232 bhp Duratec engine from the Kuga. Like I say, goes like stink, quicker than any Transporter I’ve previously driven. I’d say 0-60 in about 7 ish seconds empty.

I’ve had a ton of weight in mine, which it handled easily. I’ve not ruined the suspension with 20’s and coil overs yet, mind you.

 

[Ush66]

How fast are you expecting a van to be? 15 seconds to 60 is plenty for the plumbers and sparks that the van is intended for or the people mover in Kombi form.

A lot faster than that - my 204 does it in less than 10 secs - the outgoing T6 150 does it in 12. It’s not like it’s anymore economical & the auto gearbox is clunky.

 

[Voodoo_Pirate]

I suppose if it’s a daily??? then the extra poke is welcome…. Our 6.1 doesn’t really move unless we use it for a camping trip so it’s performance isn’t something that concerns me but I get where your coming from if it’s being used everyday then it probably would get irritating. Can’t say I think the camper needs much more grunt but our family daily is a X5 M50d, so the maybe i’d feel different if the camper was being used everyday!

But they are ‘just’ vans at the end of the day and the performance side of things is measured in payload and general usability for trades/grafting.

I assume you prefer your current T6 to the new one you tested??

 

[Ush66]

I suppose if it’s a daily??? then the extra poke is welcome…. Our 6.1 doesn’t really move unless we use it for a camping trip so it’s performance isn’t something that concerns me but I get where your coming from if it’s being used everyday then it probably would get irritating. Can’t say I think the camper needs much more grunt but our family daily is a X5 M50d, so the maybe i’d feel different if the camper was being used everyday!

But they are ‘just’ vans at the end of the day and the performance side of things is measured in payload and general usability for trades/grafting.

I assume you prefer your current T6 to the new

My current van is my daily drive & we also take it to Southern Spain, fully loaded with motorbikes & kit twice a year, so it needs a bit of poke.
Unfortunately it’s getting high on the miles now & all the stories about the biturbos on here have got me thinking it’s time to change it ( even though it’s never let me down)
I was just surprised at how slow the new one felt. Not sure how well it would do with a full load or towing a mini digger (or both) like the Sprinters I run at work.
As with many things these days, all show & no go

 

[Bigsidavies]

No, it’s a chain. The 232 bhp Duratec engine from the Kuga. Like I say, goes like stink, quicker than any Transporter I’ve previously driven. I’d say 0-60 in about 7 ish seconds empty.

I’ve had a ton of weight in mine, which it handled easily. I’ve not ruined the suspension with 20’s and coil overs yet, mind you.

This is starting to look like a good option for my next van. My friend has one and loves it (he previously had a biturbo T6). I really can't get on with the looks of the dashboard though.
Anyway, he bought the van and then took it to have rear seats (kombi style) put in and couldn't get it done because no one was willing to remove the battery which sits where the strengthening plate needs to be fitted.
So he's looking at the reimo bonded seating system - which of course is shed loads more money.
Sadly the Transit front end looks much nicer than the VW version.

 

[Backin5]

This is starting to look like a good option for my next van. My friend has one and loves it (he previously had a biturbo T6). I really can't get on with the looks of the dashboard though.
Anyway, he bought the van and then took it to have rear seats (kombi style) put in and couldn't get it done because no one was willing to remove the battery which sits where the strengthening plate needs to be fitted.
So he's looking at the reimo bonded seating system - which of course is shed loads more money.
Sadly the Transit front end looks much nicer than the VW version.

Yes, I came across the same issues with getting access to the underneath of the van when looking at removable bed/seat combinations.

As I mentioned, the Mobifloor system as supplied by Campervan Warehouse is far and away the best system on the market, in my opinion. It bonds in, and the seat is on rails. It gives plenty of headroom, and it’s very flexible. I’ve fitted a draw fridge under mine, which is a handy space saver.

As for van performance, mine seemed to top out at 102 mph (on an autobahn…). This is good enough for me, and it’s not something I’d do regularly anyway. I’m sure it could be coded to go quicker using Forscan, it felt like there were more beans in there. Scraped about 28 mpg on that 80 mile speed run in Sport mode.