9 seater mini bus what would you get?

wba31

What about a VW Transporter/Caravelle (unsure on model). I know 2 familys with 5 kids each and due to the oldest getting to teenage years both are looking at these due to the space alongside number of seats?

burlington6

Avoid the Transit Custom. I bought a brand new one for myself and the turbo took the engine out at 1110 miles. Ford replaced the engine but it always had warning lights on the dash after.

Ended up returning it under SOGA.

citykid5

My vote would go for vw caravelle , I know when I had a t4 it was insured as a estate car by most insurers so could get quotes through comparison sites. Last time I owned a minibus it was a nitemare to insure

M5captainmac

burlington6 wrote: »

Avoid the Transit Custom. I bought a brand new one for myself and the turbo took the engine out at 1110 miles. Ford replaced the engine but it always had warning lights on the dash after.

Ended up returning it under SOGA.

That's worrying on such a new engine, really leaning towards the transit though....thanks for the input appreciated. Glad you did managed to return under soga that's a good result,

M5captainmac

citykid5 wrote: »

My vote would go for vw caravelle , I know when I had a t4 it was insured as a estate car by most insurers so could get quotes through comparison sites. Last time I owned a minibus it was a nitemare to insure

They do hold there value well.....which is a problem as from the prices I couldn't afford new that's for sure. I'm going to test drive a few and make a decision once I get home from the ship.

M5captainmac

gingerdad wrote: »

I have used a 9 seat trafic a lot and found it to be great, plenty of room in the back of the LWB for stuff, seats comfy even for with 8 blokes for 3 hour trip it was good. ours has a/c elec windows and the 150bhp engine not sure what the sport adds. the only thing i'd change on the one i've used would be side opening windows on the doors but we bought 2nd hand so stuck with what we had

I'm thinking for a first time I'm seriously considering it, depends on what we can find I do want side opening windows, so will depend on what's around when we test them I guess.

Which insurer did you use and how much ballpark do you reckon?

M5captainmac

LandyAndy wrote: »

It's nothing to worry about.


But. If you wonder what the burning smell is, it's the ends of your tubes being cauterised.

Thanks Andy that's put my mind right at ease......:eek:

M5captainmac

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Ah, the snip's nothing. Pal of mine literally had it done in his lunch hour*


*He took two hours that day, in fairness. Wore his wife's knickers for a week afterwards, doc told him tight pants were good for helping post-op recovery. Personally, I think the doc just liked to wind his patients up.

I'm not that tough :rotfl:

AdrianC

burlington6 wrote: »

Avoid the Transit Custom. I bought a brand new one for myself and the turbo took the engine out at 1110 miles. Ford replaced the engine but it always had warning lights on the dash after.

Ended up returning it under SOGA.

I was talking to a mate who works in a Ford dealer over the weekend - apparently there's been a full recall to address the cause, and a lot of engine replacements under warranty.

M5captainmac

AdrianC wrote: »

I was talking to a mate who works in a Ford dealer over the weekend - apparently there's been a full recall to address the cause, and a lot of engine replacements under warranty.

That's handy to know Adrian .....maybe they'll sort it out, I'll definately be bringing it up in any negotiation or during the test drive to see what the score is. If I go with the ford I think I'll be buying new just in case of issues.

Thanks again for sharing though, I'd not seen anything online about it