Hi everyone, Yes, we are newly retired and are looking for our first T6.1. The new T7 is a visual no-no in our opinion so we are looking for a low mileage T6.1 and plan on enjoying 10 years travelling here and there. We won't be sleeping in it for more than 1-2 nights at a time as we like hotels and pubs too much. What's important for us is getting a low mileage van that we can travel the UK and Europe in. We'd like the ability to put 2 bikes inside the van when we are travelling. Any thoughts from your well informed members would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks from Cornwall.
Newly retired and just starting the search for a T6.1
- Thread starter CSG
- Start date
Firstly, welcome to the Forum!
There's many different opinions on this, so here's mine, others may vary........
There are goodness knows how many specifications, or features, on these vans. Some things can be easily changed after you've bought one, some can't. Some features you might like, others you might deem a necessity.
So decide early on which features are "must haves" that can't later be changed, and totally ignore any van that doesn't have them.
You need to decide, among other things, short or long wheelbase, manual or DSG, engine power (maybe), what sort of mileage you'd be happy with, and obviously an upper price limit.
For example, I wanted a 4Motion short wheel base T6 with air conditioning, none of these features were negotiable. (You might want long wheel base with two bikes)
That immediately ruled out the majority of T6's for sale, making my selection far easier.
These van's cost a fair chunk of money, once you've decided what your "must haves" are, don't be swayed by a set of big alloys and a free set of car mats - stick to your guns.
Go and see a few, don't feel obliged to buy until you are 100% happy.
You've already done the smartest thing - you've joined the Forum!
Thank you DaveD, all responses and opinions are welcome and valued so keep them coming please.
Must haves : T6.1 Highline / under 4yrs old / not white / under 20k miles / 150PS engine / LWB / 2 nice captain seats / bed-seat in the rear / good aircon / pop top / nice wheels / barn door / side awning
Nice to haves : floor rails (to secure 2 bikes) / cooker and sink / leisure battery with solar / just 1 nearside sliding door / 1 previous owner
Once again, thanks for any comments.
Must haves : T6.1 Highline / under 4yrs old / not white / under 20k miles / 150PS engine / LWB / 2 nice captain seats / bed-seat in the rear / good aircon / pop top / nice wheels / barn door / side awning
Nice to haves : floor rails (to secure 2 bikes) / cooker and sink / leisure battery with solar / just 1 nearside sliding door / 1 previous owner
Once again, thanks for any comments.
Thanks Dave. I'll post a bit more of "where we are at" below.
Most of your must haves are the same as what we wanted too.
Everyone has their opinions and preferences but LWB will be slightly more of a pain for driving/parking and I think you’ll find one that is LWB with all of your other must haves much harder to come by.
Definitely 2 captain seats…. Less storage but much more comfortable.
Consider DSG? Again much nicer to drive but will cost a lot more and less around for sale.
We have a pop top and it’s one of the ones where the canvas can un-zip all the way around which we find very nice to have. Let’s in loads of light and fresh air and makes the van feel more spacious. The kids also love sitting up there when it’s all opened up.
Obviously most camper conversions with a RIB or Rock n roll bed that also have a pop top will more than likely also have the full kitchen set up. Hob is nice to have but we rarely cook inside and sink comes in handy. I wouldn’t bother with a grill, wouldn’t want to cook under a grill inside as the smell will surely linger for weeks in your seats/bed/carpets.
You’ll want a leisure battery but if you’re only going to be using it for 1-2 nights I’m not sure solar will be necessary. Especially if you’re on a site with EHU. Maybe look for one that has a DC-DC charger so while your driving, the alternator is topping up your leisure battery.
Like I said, everyone will have a different opinion though! And also different budgets allow for different specs!
What sort of budget are you working with my friend. I started looking and was spending sub 20k, and you can absolutely get a van for that. But then having driven a couple 110bhp vans and a 150bhp I knew I had to have the latter. But then I really wanted twin doors and a tailgate too. So I compromised and went 6 speed manual and got a 2021 panel van with 100k miles. But it drove tight as a drum and had a huge history maintenance file. And driving home this afternoon having had my suspension done, this thing is a beast and i flippin love it. Next job is the sound deadening then carpeting and windows 
Seem to be a few on Autotrader that get close. Seems tailgates are more popular on LWBs?
Most seem to have fancy alloys but that could presumably move to the nice to have list as, if the price was right, you could add wheels of your choice - even keeping OE wheels as a winter set or selling on.
Likewise an awning can be added fairly easily.
Great to have defined choices set out though.
On autotrader you can add vehicle length (for campers) but I just added LWB as a text search in the filters. That coupled with the age and mileage brought back 51 results - oddly you can’t search for engine power as you can with the car site.
Quite a few of your 'must haves' can easily be added later (bed-seat, pop top, wheels, side awning, etc.), so perhaps consider moving those to your 'nice to have' list in order to maximise your selection pool. Also, all Highlines come with cab air con, as do Startlines with added Business Pack.
By reducing your 'must have' list, I don't think the 150ps/LWB combo (best combo IMO) will be too difficult to find. It's only when you start adding combinations of 4Mo, diff lock, DSG or the elusive TSI engine that things get really rare.
Enjoy the search, take your time and be selective - any red flags at all, walk away. As above, you've already made a wise decision to join the forum before you've bought, thereby minimising the likelihood of singing the "shoulda, woulda, coulda" blues.
Bed in the back and 2 bikes is going to be tight
Where's @TallPaul_S when you want him?!
2 bikes and a bed is always going to be tricky - but a lot depends on what bikes. 2x XL mountain bikes, then only a single bed is possible in reality.
2x Road bikes is a very different matter and probably doable in a LWB.
I have a SWB Caravelle and have a custom built interior which lets me have 2x full size mountain bikes (longest wheelbase 1350mm) with the front wheels off, and a single bed alongside them, and a full kitchen with sink/fridge etc.
Still here and enjoying the van, just life getting in the way!
2x Road bikes is a very different matter and probably doable in a LWB.
I have a SWB Caravelle and have a custom built interior which lets me have 2x full size mountain bikes (longest wheelbase 1350mm) with the front wheels off, and a single bed alongside them, and a full kitchen with sink/fridge etc.
Still here and enjoying the van, just life getting in the way!
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Just measured my eMTB and it is 1635mm back tire to front through axel. I think I might need a LWB.
I’d consider your mileage requirements. It really isn’t the be all and end all.
I went to look at a 1 owner van with 45k on that was 3 years old and it wasn’t in the best condition. Turns out it was a rental, so although it had had 1 “legal owner”, in reality loads of people had drove it and probably thrashed it to within an inch of its life.
View some vans and go for condition over mileage every time. Mines on 93k now but you wouldn’t know it.
Deffo stick with LWB. They’re a doddle to drive on sorted suspension and you’ve no problems in 90% of car parks.
I went to look at a 1 owner van with 45k on that was 3 years old and it wasn’t in the best condition. Turns out it was a rental, so although it had had 1 “legal owner”, in reality loads of people had drove it and probably thrashed it to within an inch of its life.
View some vans and go for condition over mileage every time. Mines on 93k now but you wouldn’t know it.
Deffo stick with LWB. They’re a doddle to drive on sorted suspension and you’ve no problems in 90% of car parks.
I have an eMTB size L and fits no problem in the back of my LWB with a full size RIB bed. I would imagine 2 would fit no problem.
What I do for my gear is I put the rear seat base half way up and then chuck everything in the space, on top of the frame. This way it stops everything sliding about etc.
Many thanks JoshB, I think you are right as I have had many comapany cars and looked after them well. 100K miles in 3 years but 90% driven 6th gear at 2k revs they were just heading for the 1st MOT. We are sucking in all this great advice and starting to quickly hone in on the type of van to start looking for more seriously.
Also on your nice to have list you mention solar. You won't need that if you are only staying in it for 1 or 2 nights.
Get yourself a 100ah lithium leisure battery with a DC to DC charger and that will be more than enough.
Get yourself a 100ah lithium leisure battery with a DC to DC charger and that will be more than enough.
We looked at this but where we live down in central Cornwall, there’s grass up the middle of most single track lanes and even our car gets a scraping on both sides. Thanks for the suggestion tho’.
