Hi, had the Wagon for a year now. A couple of months ago i discovered its famous....

[peteT30]

Should find it all in the links

 

[peteT30]

I have changed a few parts chiefly the alloys and the spare wheel carrier. The original spare wheel carrier was an adapted bike rack, it was okay but damaging the the tailgate so purchased the N4 carrier through a 4x4 specialist in the UK. It was made to order in France and took an age to come through.... There was a gerry can holder on the towbar but tbh it was all heading towards the gross weight without passengers and basic kit so had to slim down a bit.

 

[peteT30]

Forgot the roof rack.... the original, was very light but very damaged and secured with angle iron which was a bit on the heavy side and rusty so I picked up a good used 3/4 front runner, but I might cut it down to half rack size to reduce the weight on the roof. I think its around 28 kgs at the mo with the brackets.

 

[peteT30]

For some reason vw commercial vans can't tell the difference between a caravelle and a california

 

[crookrise]

I'd be more worried about the 19 breakdowns....
only done 18,000.....
Thats less than the 0 for mine and the same mileage is it a Friday Van ?

 

[peteT30]

Have you driven across africa as well?
Can't see how a comparison can be made on reliability based on different driving terrain.
My works T5.1 have covered 250k on the original clutch its all down to driving style and types of journey your van does IMO

 

[Alexlex85]

Have you driven across africa as well?
Can't see how a comparison can be made on reliability based on different driving terrain.
My works T5.1 have covered 250k on the original clutch its all down to driving style and types of journey your van does IMO

with the potholes and weather lately he might have a point

 

[pchmlk]

I’d be very disappointed with the dealer re this. Even if you don’t have any issues, any thorough research but subsequent interested buyers will surely be off putting. Great story though.

 

[Alexlex85]

Go on then…..don’t leave me hanging, let me guess…….trumps tour bus

 

[peteT30]

I’d be very disappointed with the dealer re this. Even if you don’t have any issues, any thorough research but subsequent interested buyers will surely be off putting. Great story though.

Its a keeper buddy

 

[peteT30]

Re the breakdowns, if you search through the menus you'll find a section- Mechnical Mishaps.
With exception of the clutch most of it is run of the mill stuff tbh given the terrain.

 

[crookrise]

Have you driven across africa as well?
Can't see how a comparison can be made on reliability based on different driving terrain.
My works T5.1 have covered 250k on the original clutch its all down to driving style and types of journey your van does IMO

I've driven all of them in Belgium, just saying.
3 vans of which I still own 2 and one sold on
Van 1 T5 120,000 miles no breakdowns, a few sensors changed mainly ABS
Van 2 T5.1 (sold on) now on 80,000 no breakdowns, a few sensors changed ABS and Air temp/mass airflow. Roof fault plastic ram mount broke.
Van 3 T6.1 OK so far....

 

[peteT30]

Monday builds then

 

[peteT30]

I've had 11 t5s and one t4 all been good. But if I drove any of them through a jungle or desert they wouldn't last 5 minutes......

 

[peteT30]

Going off the thread a bit here.... I only posted this up to get the story out there to anyone thats interested in what this Cali has endured. The van has been through an epic journey and still running sweet. But its not just about the van, its also about a very courageous man that made it happen, even though he was suffering from a incurable condition. All of this to help others who didn't understand Parkinsoms disease. Yes the vans not a low miliage minter, but its a piece of history that I will keep running as long as I can and tell its story to anyone who asks.