Everyone keeps telling me that they cost a heap to service and if something goes wrong an arm and a leg,..
Any comments from people who drive one,..
I'd only be using it to cart my gear around and long road trips,..
I'm looking at second hand, which obviously will have lots of km on the clock,..
The alternative is Toyota Hiace LWB,.. also with a few km,...
Any comments are more than welcome,..
Cheers

B.E.

You might also be careful in how the two drive, compared to one another. The VW will be much quieter in the driver's area and it will be easier to drive, particularly on long trips.

Toyos: parts everywhere, including wreckers and importers.

Repair manuals here: http://www.pitstop.net.au/view/manual/finder/query/details/TOYOTA|HI-ACE

VW: more specialised, less parts outlets, less mechanics able to work on them. There is a VW T5 forum in the UK that you could tap into that might be helpful.

Repair manuals here: www.pitstop.net.au/view/manual/finder/query/details/VOLKSWAGEN|TRANSPORTER. Also, the VW might require a high-spec, high cost engine oil, particularly if it's a diesel.

Use the Castrol, Mobil, Shell web sites to find the correct engine oil etc, for both vehicles, the find out the price of the oil at Repco/Supercheap etc.

Check here www.rycofilters.com.au/catalogue/application to see if both models are covered, get the part numbers, then go to Repco/Supercheap etc. to see how much they cost. On the VW, get a price for the genuine filter from a VW dealer, to get a feel for parts pricing.

Finally, I'll modify a saying that one of my friends told me and give it to you: "When you're driving the VW, you'll be glad you bought it. When you get the VW serviced, you'll wish it was a Toyota".

Re-read par. 1.

Hope this helps.

bigesy,
Check out the sizes of the interiors. A hiace commuter LWB might be bigger inside....If you want to sleep in it as well as stash your gear ...you might get more length and elbow room.
cheers with that

Thanks guys,.. Yes interior is probably more important as I do want to fit it out to sleep and store gear,..! And as I'm getting older, I'm getting more practical so the extra cash saved on servicing can go towards sails and boards,..! :)
HiAce it is,..! Looks ain't everything and long drives I'm used to,..
Cheers,..

Very happy with my Ford Transit Van Medium Wheel Base Medium height roof picked up S/h for $13000. Can stand up in the back, heaps of room for gear and heaps of room for sleeping. You need to research what year you get as there are a couple of years that where lemons. Have owned it for 12 mths 300000 on the clock and love it

+1 ''

In Transits, the one to buy is the VM model.