CHASSIS The Long-Lasting VW T5, T5.1, T6, and T6.1 have been the cornerstone of this guide for over two decades. These vans are the epitome of durability, simplicity, and adaptability. The chassis itself has remained largely unchanged since 2003, which is rare in the automotive world, that’s a testament to just how well this platform works. Despite cosmetic updates and engine revisions, the fundamentals have proven solid. We recently picked up a running, driving and I’ll tentatively say ‘fully functional’ T5 for £995! (A mule for the S+S Poptop), Funny to think that if you ticked all the boxes on a new 2024 T6.1 California you’d be nudging £100,000. Same bones, same production line, same badge.

The best van to drive is an empty one, the second you add something, it gets worse. If it’s a joy to drive, you’ll use it more. It’s tempting, and very easy to over-convert. Try not to.

THE BASIC PANEL VAN The simpler, the better. Try not to get distracted by unnecessary gadgets or overly complex camper conversions. Do you need 200+HP, spoilers and large alloy ‘geezer’ wheels? In the most basic 86hp T6, you’re still hooning past 95% of campervans on the motorway while sipping fuel *and not blowing up your bi-turbos. If you want to have car-like handling and go fast, probably best to get a car.

EXCESS WEIGHT Whether you’re setting off on a trip or loading up for work, weight matters. A lighter van is more agile, fuel-efficient and just feels more fun.

CABIN COMFORT Important to remember it’s 2025, don’t overlook no-brainer mod cons. Aircon is quite nice etcetera, but be mindful that part of the charm can mean simplicity.

BARN DOORS vs. TAILGATE Tailgates, while rare, are ideal for those who want a simple, clean look with practical benefits (it’s a hinging, metal awning) Barn doors are common and practical but heavier, style and functionality wise, a tailgate gets the nod from us.

MANUAL VS DSG (automatic) DSG boxes allow for lazy wafting which is quite pleasant but are more problematic and are expensive to fix if they go bang. We like a trusty manual.

SEATING A single and bench up front is one of the best bit’s of vanning, a crew of three up front is always a laugh. The bench backrest angle is a little brutal and non adjustable for the passengers. A £100 bracket can be bought which allows a 15 degree tilt which is an essential mod. This setup is great for new families with baby / grommet between both parents and is just pretty fun way to travel with a new family. If you’re only traveling solo or as a pair ‘captain seats’ are a no-brainer. They allow a walkthrough access to the back and give a more car-like feel to the cabin.

KOMBI’S A Kombi is a van with a middle bench of seats. VW over the years has offered all iterations of this central bench. They all can be removed, it’s if you want to ever leave one, or two and get modular. A 2+1 bench in the back is probably the go-to as you can remove the single and store boards and bikes with full-length access. Our off-piste favoured setup if you’re going for a kombi is the whole 3-up bench. It’s the lightest setup and has the least mounting points in the floor.

WINDOWS If we’re honest nothing beats the aesthetics and security of a solid panel van. We like only putting windows in if essential. Those needs would be when you’ve got Kombi seats. Passengers like windows right? Sometimes just the sliding door window is a nice option. it’ll allow you to see left when pulling out a junction and gives the rear all the daylight you need. Rear glass is great if you don’t like reversing into things. Also worth noting, if you get a black van, and install black windows you’re getting both light and style points as it’ll look less ‘glassy’. SWB VS LWB We like the proportions of short. We’re only bickering about 1ft but it does make more of a difference than we care to admit in regards to turning circle, parking, and handling. LWB don’t quite look ‘right’ either.

SUSPENSION MODIFICATIONS It’s tempting to lower a van to make it ‘sit better.’ From our experience, leaving them on the original suspension is the go-to. Original suspension, an 18’ steel wheel with a 255, 55, 18 tyre equals no scrubbing, excellent comfort and an attractive, purposeful look. EXTERIOR ACCESSORIES We always recommend keeping it simple and tasteful. A pair of bars mounted to the roof, the first bar at the front, the second on the third mouthing threads back looks right and allows all the function for hauling toys and also fitting roof boxes. It will leave a big enough area for a 200w solar panel too if needed. A ladder is one of those things you don’t need till you have one and a tow bar is a great ‘parking sensor’ and towing stuff is great. Very expensive to retrofit so try and find one with it already installed.

CAMPERVAN ELECTRONICS We like to keep it simple. A split charger with leisure battery under the seat allows the van, when running, to keep the leisure battery topped up with juice. A 300w inverter connected to that will allow you to charge laptops and phones, a 1000 - 3000w inverter will allow you to power fridges and bigger appliances. A solar panel will keep the leisure battery topped up when the van is not running. In the T5 /T6 chassis we like simple setups like this and don’t install fridges etc. Yeti coolers keep ice icy for days.

COOKING We see a lot of vans built with a HUGE emphasis on cooking which for us is a real shame. The weight, costs, and infrastructure lost building a ‘rolling kitchen’ is something we advise against. Cooking inside is smelly and just cooking your bedroom full-time is a little weird. We advise cooking outside when possible. Big drawers that open up outside and to hide under awnings is smug way to do it. We keep it simple with disposable gas stoves. While a little ‘disposable’, the function, cross border ease and the ability to refuel outweighs the bulk of big gas bottles installed into hob systems.

WATER TANKS A lean, small, over-the-arch tank in the rear is an asset to these vans. Sandy feet, cleaning down kit and just having 20l of drinking water is something that keeps you stopping less and gives you the feeling to roam.

STORAGE Drop down storage is best. wall mounted accessories and elastic is a winner. Bulky cupboards and over thought-out solutions can be invasive. Try to take less, have one spot for your clothing, another for food and supplies. The less you have, the less rattles, noises, weight etc. It’s a liberating way to travel and once figured out, as hyperbolic as this sounds, it can change your life.

WHERE TO SHOP (Update for 2024) The market for used vans has only gotten more competitive in recent years, with prices rising due to increased demand for reliable vehicles. However, eBay remains the go-to marketplace for many buyers. When you’re looking for a deal, remember to filter by newly listed rather than best match and check daily to catch the fresh listings, and always be polite and courteous with sellers—it goes the distance. Van sellers can be geezers. And deal with geezers. Don’t be a Geezer.

2025 VW TRANSPORTER VS 2024 FORD TRANSIT: A Quick Comparison Both vans share the same platform due to the VW-Ford Alliance, they will cater for slightly different needs and driving experiences.

I’m not sure if this analogy is quite right, but if you buy an iPhone, you’re probably paying double... maybe triple the price for something that someone who doesn’t have an iPhone will tell you doesn’t make sense. Their Samsung has 10x the battery life, a far superior camera, a screen that probably isn’t smashed etcetera.. They’re not wrong, but what they’ve failed to deduce, the big one. How it works, how it feels to use.

For the last 20 years, this is the Transit / Transporter debate. The transit being Better on paper than a Transporter. Half the price too! But for those who’re aesthetic, design-y folks, there’s only been one choice, till now....

I was one of the first to drive the new transit and I’d have no business doing so if it wasn’t for the fact VW are sharing the same production line as Ford for the foreseeable future. That’s not snobbery, I just appreciate the way VW builds these things. So yes, both the transporter, and the transit, will be, aside from bumpers, grilles, lights, and other visual trinkets, the SAME from 2025.

Ford beat VW to the punch launching their variant two years sooner than VW, it will prove an interesting one for the historic and loyal VW customer. I have no idea on the pricing yet, but I have a hunch that you might be faced with a decision that involves thousands of pounds extra, for effectively the same van with a different badge... Given the choice of a hypothetical £5k price difference between the two, for effectively the same thing, with the difference being the badge, I’d wager if you want a brand new van, loyal VW guys will find it hard to wrestle with sense this time around and might be in Transits.

I think we’ll be looking at the T5/T6 era of the Volkswagen Transporter as a fairly iconic part of the story which I feel might be represented in values moving forward for the last German-built vans Volkswagen built.