VW van better 75kw 110kw or 150kw, what you think?

franzx

franzx

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I was wondering what's your opinion regards the KW size, what you think and why?
 
Hi Franzx and :welcome.

You will get many varied opinions on this, but I think they are all adequate. However, the 110kw is probably the best compromise of economy and power. I know it goes quite a bit further on fuel than my 150kw. That said, I love the way it accelerates for a 3 tonne van, it’s addictive! :D
 
Hi Franzx and :welcome.

You will get many varied opinions on this, but I think they are all adequate. However, the 110kw is probably the best compromise of economy and power. I know it goes quite a bit further on fuel than my 150kw. That said, I love the way it accelerates for a 3 tonne van, it’s addictive! :D

Ciao Colin, thankyou :D
 
Go big. One day you’ll be on that French motorway with a fully loaded van and 800 miles to go. Get your foot in and go.

At no point has anyone ever, that’s ever, said “bugger, wish I’d chosen less power”. FACT.
 
More is better, no? I have 150kw I never which for less :)
I would probably also manage quite well with 110kw, especially with manual gearbox.
 
I have the 114ps T5 which is about 85kw/112bhp, I personally wouldn't want to go too much slower but it is adequate drives well and will happily do 130kph on the euro roads. It is a bit gutless between about 40mph and 50mph but fine everywhere else.



.
 
If you read the various T5/T6 forums (dutch, german, uk) you will find the communis opinio seems to be that the 150 asks a bit too much of the small 4 cylinder block, leading to tech issues with it. The 110 seems to be more ‘right sized’ and therefore more dependable and sturdier.

We have no experience of our own, though: we still have the second gen 5 cylinder.
 
Go big. One day you’ll be on that French motorway with a fully loaded van and 800 miles to go. Get your foot in and go.

At no point has anyone ever, that’s ever, said “bugger, wish I’d chosen less power”. FACT.

I think the bigger engine is too powerful for the 2wd system. I never understood the need for 4motion until now.
The bigger engine should have 4 motion as standard. 200bhp in a 2wd van of this weight is getting a bit silly, IMO.

If you don’t need 4M I would go with the 150bhp engine.
Personally wouldn’t touch anything smaller.
 
Driven them all and they all do the job fine IMHO - the VW Cali is a great big brick and really there is no pleasure to be had from driving fast or shall I say dynamically (cornering) - it's best to just sit back, relax and think economy/anticipation/smoothness. I'm not a 'slow' driver in 'normal' cars but it's horses for courses and it all depends on the vehicle. Pootle along keeping up with traffic and enjoy the view. Rarely do I set the cruise higher than say 65 - 68.

I generally buy vehicles from 2010 to 2014 and personally I would never buy the 180 because of the known engine failure potential issues.
 
At no point has anyone ever, that’s ever, said “bugger, wish I’d chosen less power”. FACT.

Hmmmmm....maybe many of those out of warranty who had a bi turbo T5 180 needing a new engine and facing a £7000 + bill might have thought this I fear... :(
 
This makes me think about our 1985 T25's that V and I own.

Before I changed my engine I had the sturdy 1.6diesel (normally aspirated so no turbo) and that thing just went and went, there are examples out there with 300k miles on them (probably more too). 40-45mpg all day long, but man it was slow, really really slow, steep hills would be a huge challenge and you'd rapidly lose speed.

V's 1.9 petrol is far nipper but rarely gets above 26mpg, and it does seem to have suffered more in engine wear despite being exactly the same age and similar mileage. Appreciate petrol and diesel rev differently but I wonder if there will be parallels one day with current models.
 
Hmmmmm....maybe many of those out of warranty who had a bi turbo T5 180 needing a new engine and facing a £7000 + bill might have thought this I fear... :(
But that’s an EGR problem not a “too much power” problem.
 
This makes me think about our 1985 T25's that V and I own.

Before I changed my engine I had the sturdy 1.6diesel (normally aspirated so no turbo) and that thing just went and went, there are examples out there with 300k miles on them (probably more too). 40-45mpg all day long, but man it was slow, really really slow, steep hills would be a huge challenge and you'd rapidly lose speed.

V's 1.9 petrol is far nipper but rarely gets above 26mpg, and it does seem to have suffered more in engine wear despite being exactly the same age and similar mileage. Appreciate petrol and diesel rev differently but I wonder if there will be parallels one day with current models.
A diesel basically runs on oil so will last forever as it’s got tons of lube.
With petrol, the fuel tends to dilute the oil lubricant in the cylinder leading to wear.
 
[QUOTE="I generally buy vehicles from 2010 to 2014 and personally I would never buy the 180 because of the known engine failure potential issues.[/QUOTE]

On some of them. A problem with manufacturing of some units 2010-2011 supposedly corrected MY2012 as far as others concerned a little hit and miss and no Class 1 evidence.
 
Hmmmmm....maybe many of those out of warranty who had a bi turbo T5 180 needing a new engine and facing a £7000 + bill might have thought this I fear... :(
Let me guess..... you bought one with the small engine ?
I never had any issues and it runs great ! If they made 250 or 300 I would be the first one to order tho.
 
No, it was the same size engine, just they did not bolt all the extra bits on that fooked it up... ;)
 

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