New Or Used Van... Euro 6?

Ani

Ani

New Member
Hi, We’ve been looking at the different options for Campers and after visiting Denby Campervans and searching the private sales we are stumped :confused: Have lots of questions...
We really liked Denby Campervans but then I found the California below which seems a perfect van for a similar price but about 5 years older with more miles. Also it wouldn’t have the Euro 6 engine which I have read a lot about on here- is it worth buying new for that? We’re going to VWAction this weekend so will hopefully get a better idea of options in terms of conversion. I just can’t wait :grin bounce:
2012 Blue VOLKSWAGEN CALIFORNIA 2.0 Bitdi Se 180 4Dr Dsg Diesel Estate for sale for £38995 in Hereford, Herefordshire
 
Even though it is a Cali, I would think that is a bit expensive for a 6 year old T5.
As to buying a van that has already been converted you will generally find that the company has bought a low powered ex-fleet van. If you can afford to wait it is most often better to look around and buy your own, and then take that to a converter. Yes the decent converters could take you 6-12 months to get a conversion, but that’s because they are good and not one of the cowboys that unfortunately litter the VDub yellow pages. It’s all about choice; you can definately pick up a van already converted and start your camper journey immediately, but it is not a unique van and you are having to put up with someone else’s design of what they think works as a camper (it may not be what you want and have to compromise when it comes being away in it); or you can spec your own, have it exactly your way so it meets your individual needs. If possible a good option is to hire one and go away in it for a week. That way you will find out what bits are necessary, and what winds you up and you want to avoid at all costs. Because when you own one, you are stuck with those annoying features.
As to Euro 5 v’s Euro 6, i have the 180 bi-tdi E5 and it’s great. I know the E6 engines have had a lot of problems with emissions, adblue, EGR’s, DPF regens etc, but maybe some of those problems are starting to abate. Ok so there are some cities that are now citing extra charging for anything other than E6, but do you really buy a campervan to travel to big cities or is it for getting out into the countryside?
Personally, i would go for the buy your own van and research a decent converter option. There are too many cowboy conversions out there that are thrown together using the cheapest parts on the market, in a shoddy and sometimes unsafe manner, all in the name of making as big a profit as possible.
Don’t get me wrong, there are some very good companies doing it, who are reputable, but you got to look carefully and have your wits about you.
 
Wow, thankyou, it’s good to have somebody say what is niggling at the back of my mind. That makes a lot of sense and it has been easy to get carried away in the urgency of getting a van. Packing up a family of four - the California’s sliding seats which have won me over but I’m going to have a look around at the weekend and see if we could find somebody who could perhaps include this in our conversion. I’m just going to have to tap up my dad on help to choose a base vehicle as I’m just not that clued up on anything other than colour choice :unsure: and what I’ve read over the past month or so.
 
You've already made the right steps by coming on to a forum and asking questions.
You'll also have access to build threads that will demonstrate the possibilities with these vans, company reviews to help spot the gems amongst the cowboys and read first hand reviews of real world tried and tested products.
 
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@Ani, if it is the sliding seat on rails that you like there are other things to consider.
What about a Caravelle? This has sliding seats, and arguably are nicer than the Cali.
As part of the conversion you could get a Rib Bed (i’m pretty sure these slide).
How many of you will be travelling sleeping in the van?
Are you wanting a full on camper with cooker/ sink/ fridge/ cupboards inside? If so this will inevitably take up seating space.
 
We have a 3 year and 6 year old so intending for a long term investment into getting away from the tv and seeing the world (well the UK). For what we’ve been paying on our Summer Holiday to fight over sun beds and the fact that we love camping, it makes financial and fun sense.
I did have a look at the Rib beds last night as they are also isofix compatible for made to order beds. There was some discussion about the need for isofix though as we are in group 3 seats now anyway but the bed looks great. My concern is that it could end up being a more costly way of going about it as I keep picking the expensive fittings :rolleyes: but I guess we need to find a decently priced van and some good conversion companies to work out costs. I am all for selecting the fittings on our spec rather than a companies idea of what works.
I haven’t really looked at Caravelles but will make this tonight’s research topic :)
 
...so after a bit of research I’m stumped on bhp. Reading on here I’m guessing that 102 bhp isn’t enough but after that I’m clueless. Is there an ‘easy to understand’ table for explaining power acronyms anywhere?
What kind of engine is considered the ideal?
 
We find 102bhp is fine for our camper. I suggest you drive some to get a feel.

Pete
 
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Yes that’s a good idea, a scary one nevertheless that I’ve probably been avoiding but I’d better get used to it!
102 bhp would be great as I’ve just found my blackberry dream :) Does the bhp affect the mpg?
 
Hi Ani,

We went down the buy your own van route, mainly because of the reasons stated above by DaveyB. It has taken a long time to find the right van but it was worth it. We are booked in with a reputable converter for the end of September having visted 4 different companies. Happy to help whit any questions you may have.

Oh, and if you have a budget, add an extra £5000 to it! :)

Jamie.
 
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@Ani
If you go for the Euro 5 version (so the first 12ish months of the T6), you are probably better off with the 140 or 180PS engine. The 180 is the bi turbo version. This is the one I have, mine has a manual 6 speed box rather than the auto box. I can get up to 45mpg but do not drive above 60 anywhere (as that is the speed limit in my Kombi as the mass on service is greater than 2040kg - therefore the dual purpose speed limits don’t kick in even though it has rear seats and side windows - but that is a whole different thread!).

If you go for a Euro 6 engine, personally I would go for the 150 or 204PS engines (the 204 is the bi-tdi version). I’m not sure if the 204 comes in a manual box option. You can equally get 84 or 102PS versions, but the 84 is a 5 speed manual and is unlikely to have the grunt to economically pull along a camper conversion that could be weighing in at 2.6tonnes. Whilst the 102PS would do the job, personally i’d go slightly higher just so the engine is not labouring so much in moving the weight.

Generally speaking, yes the bigger the horsepower figure, the less fuel efficiency you will return, but it is equally down to how you drive it. Sit at 90 in the 3rd lane of the motorway like many T6’s, and you are bound to see your fuel gauge falling at an alarming rate.

You can of course now get the T6 with a petrol engine.

The other thing to consider is what weight loading variant to go for, a T26, T28, T30 or T32! The number refers to the vans maximum payload, 26 = 2.6 tonnes, 32 = 3.2 tonnes, the ones in the middle i’m sure you can figure out. If you are doing a full on camper you will prob get away with a T28, but you’ll be close to the weight limit. If you want a bit of a safety margin go for a T30 or 32.
If you want to go for 20” rims, go for the T30 as you can get load rated tyres in the perfect size and there are stacks of load rated designs to choose from. With a T32 there are slightly fewer load rated wheels to go for, and to get the correct 103 load rated tyres means you have to be a bit more choosy to get the right width and sidewall combo.

In essence it is a mine field, but, you can guarantee virtually every thing you can think of to ask, and things you’d never have even known about, are right here on the forum. Use the search function at the top right of the screen, it’ll be your best friend.

Good luck.
 
Thanks so much for all of the (brilliantly consise) info... with that I think I’m good to go on the van search and will indeed keep using the search on the forum :thumbsup: This has been amazing for someone who has no knowledge of engines or vans. Thanks again. Looking forward to posting our new addition when she arrives!
 
T6traveller said:
Hi Ani,

We went down the buy your own van route, mainly because of the reasons stated above by DaveyB. It has taken a long time to find the right van but it was worth it. We are booked in with a reputable converter for the end of September having visted 4 different companies. Happy to help whit any questions you may have.

Oh, and if you have a budget, add an extra £5000 to it! :)

Jamie.
Click to expand...

Thanks.
I’m going to have a look at Celtic Motorhomes as they seem to have a few thumbs up on here. I’ll be following your conversion with interest... hope it all goes well!
 
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