Best price on a new VW Transporter

bigjl

Henwardian wrote: »

I have a quote for a new T6, it's the bottom of the range startline 2.0TDI 84PS EU5 T26 with a medium height roof option added. I added several free options (tailgate replacing double doors at back, removed lashing rings and load side lining and specify interior and exterior colours) and specified I would pay cash. The dealer quoted me £20 000 for this (inc VAT, 1st registration, 1 year road tax and transport from factory to dealer).

This price represents £2700 (inc VAT) off the list price, or a 12% discount.

Is this the best sort of price I am likely to get or can I get a significant further discount?
What would be the best way to go about getting the best possible price? (I am considering AutoeBid but wary of getting locked into buying with them when a good offer might be possible just by talking to a few dealers).
Does anyone happen to know what the mark-up on a VW Transporter is? I know, for example, that some equipment I buy is sold at a 40% mark-up on the trade-price from the supplier, is anything like this big a margin for Transporters?
Looking at a Renault Traffic, there are websites offering these for a 40% discount on list price straight off the bat. To me, it stands to reason that VW must be able to still make a healthy profit while offering at least 20-30% off list price is their competition is offering such huge discounts. What am I missing?

You are forgetting that VW has never been a big discounter.

That is how they have maintained their resale value.

And due to the "robust image" the demand is kept high.

I would probably buy a Renault Trafic or whichever offers the biggest discount from Vauxhall/Nissan/Opel for the same van.

Look at the number of Private and NHS Ambulances that are made from Renaults and Vauxhall vans and even the Fiat Ducati.

But not very many Fleet Managers chose VW!

Yorkshire did go with VW in some remounts but they have gone back to Mercedes now, not that the difference between the LT and Sprinter are huge.

That extra discount you are talking about on a Renault would give a big boost to the conversion budget.

There is also the fact that the Trafic is made in the UK, or at least it used to be.

The biggest issue with Renault vans is gearbox and clutch problems, but you are not likely to abuse your van or do huge mileages.

But if you have your heart set on a VW then go for it.

A mate did a conversion years ago on a Caravelle was an old one though, P Reg I think and it was petrol not diesel. He didn't do huge miles and made a nice little profit when he sold it.

He didn't go all in with a toilet or cooker/sink unit. He had an awning he used to park the back in if I remember correctly.

He used the Caravelle because things like Windows and insulation were already done. I think it had a lifting roof aswell, hinged on one side.

Only reason he sold was a need for an Auto.

I am more than a little jealous.

As having the freedom to just head off for a few months is something not many of us have.

bigjl

Iceweasel wrote: »

A camper conversion - interesting!

Here's mine:



I've had it from new in 1998 -

LHD - sliding door on both sides - perfect for European journeys.

Single front seats - no passenger bench - and Minibus headlining

I also ordered it with cabin night-heater and air con.

Fantastically versatile machine - all the interior bits I built so that they can be taken out easily and I still have a full van load space.

Good luck with your search and enjoy it!

That age of Sprinter is the last of those available with the 2.9 diesel If memory serves.

A hardy engine and the driving position was better for me than the later Sprinter.

Ghana is chock full of those Sprinters now. A few brave souls are now using the newer CDi Sprinters. Not my idea of fun with variable diesel quality.

But those old ones are difficult to kill indeed.

The engine also sounds like a proper meaty diesel.

We had a P Reg for event work a few years ago.

Was ex Wales I think and had done well over 300k on the original engine.

Was sold to a relative who dismantled it and send most of the bits to Ghana as that is his business , Sprinter parts.

Hardly used any oil that old thing.

AdrianC

burlington6 wrote: »

OP, if you really want a camper that you can you use buy a proper one. You'll soon get sick of the lack of room in a Transporter.

Very much depends - we lived for 17 months (~40k miles and 20+ countries) in a Transporter, and not only did we not get sick of the lack of room, we actively did not want a bigger vehicle because of the compromises that would have entailed, both in terms of where we could take it and where we could park it.

bigjl

Agreed.

I think space will only be an issue of the owner wants or expects to spend the entire time sitting in the vehicle.

A decent sized awning or tent that that fits over the read of the vehicle can easily provide some outdoor space without the problem of getting wet in poor weather.

People make acceptable campers from things like Berlingos with the addition of a tent or awning in this way.

AdrianC

BykerSands wrote: »

Doesn't exactly fit in with the OPs brief.

Stealth-camping doesn't tend to include sitting round outside the van, either.

bigjl

AdrianC wrote: »

Stealth-camping doesn't tend to include sitting round outside the van, either.

Don't tell me.

BykerSands has been stalking my posts again?

BykerSands

AdrianC wrote: »

Stealth-camping doesn't tend to include sitting round outside the van, either.

Why would he need to be inconspicuous?

To avoid campsite charges?

Henwardian

I camp in all sorts of places in many countries, very rarely in campgrounds, sometimes keeping a low profile is needed, sometimes not. I don't really want to debate about the merits, morality or practicalities of "wild" camping in a van though, another thread for another time

bigjl wrote: »

You are forgetting that VW has never been a big discounter.

That is how they have maintained their resale value.

And due to the "robust image" the demand is kept high.

I would probably buy a Renault Trafic or whichever offers the biggest discount from Vauxhall/Nissan/Opel for the same van.

Look at the number of Private and NHS Ambulances that are made from Renaults and Vauxhall vans and even the Fiat Ducati.

But not very many Fleet Managers chose VW!

The biggest issue with Renault vans is gearbox and clutch problems, but you are not likely to abuse your van or do huge mileages.

But if you have your heart set on a VW then go for it.

I am more than a little jealous.

As having the freedom to just head off for a few months is something not many of us have.

Thanks. This is really helpful. I'll take another look at the Trafic and it's clones... My hope on converting this vehicle is that it will last 20 years and do 200 000+ miles before it needs retired. Is that also a realistic expectation for a Trafic? (assuming that gearbox/clutch replacement is an expected expense) I thought the Transporters were so popular as campers partly because they tend to out-last all the cometition, is this no longer the case?

I think commercial fleets look for slightly different things to what I look for, so this can be one reason why they don't go for a VW. They tend to buy new vehicles and then sell them after 5 years/100 000 miles or some such, so long term reliability isn't such a concern for them.

bigjl

I can only go by the last generation Master.

They were a lot better than some people think.

The 2.0tdi engine is not as robust as some think, oil pump and DPF seem common issues.

Though you will likely do longer runs instead of town running.

You can have DPFs cleaned though as that is what LGVs and Buses have done for years.

I would hope that with the introduction of AdBlue maybe DPFs would be less of an issue though they are a lot better than when they were first introduced.

Perhaps the vehicle choices made by the mainstream converters could give you an insight into what are consider good choices?

The problem you will find is that modern common rail diesel vans are designed to last a reliable 150k miles or so.

I would give them all a good test drive.

And don't forget that Mercedes use a Renault Kangoo for the basis of the Citan.

They wouldn't do that if they thought the van was no good.

I am a little biased as I have always liked Renaults and have had several French cars with few issues.

For long term use simple is usually best.

If the character of the Transporter does it for you then crack on.

Are you going to install a raising roof?

Do they make a high roof Transporter?

Henwardian

bigjl wrote: »

I would hope that with the introduction of AdBlue maybe DPFs would be less of an issue though they are a lot better than when they were first introduced.

I am a little biased as I have always liked Renaults and have had several French cars with few issues.

For long term use simple is usually best.

If the character of the Transporter does it for you then crack on.

Are you going to install a raising roof?

Do they make a high roof Transporter?

The Transporter I was quoting for has an EU5 engine. It's £2300 more for an EU6 with Adblue, meaning something like 15 years of driving before the savings on fuel made it worthwhile.

I'd love to be able to buy a simple vehicle, sadly they don't exist any more. Every single new vehicle is a giant computer these days

No raising roof, but I will have a medium height roof (factory option). High roof is of no benefit because I can't stand straight in any van and its just extra space, weight and air resistance that I don't need.
Disadvantage of the Trafic is that there is no medium roof option, only a high roof option which is unncessarily high.