CM project 2010 Volkswagen Caravelle 2.0 TDI DSG
Project Volkswagen Caravelle
Volkswagen Transporters have a huge following – either as a standard panel van, Shuttle, Kombi, Multivan, or here as the Caravelle. Plus, of course, the camper van versions (California being VW factory made). That means prices of any of them are generally more than the equivalent Ford Transit.
Although I've introduced this project as a van, it is classified as a 'diesel car' on the logbook with a MPV body type.
As mentioned in my Editorial on page 3, our Caravelle was reclassified at auction from a Grade 2 to a Grade 4. I took this up with BCA before I paid the invoice. They investigated and came back within a couple of days, saying that they had Graded it as a 2 for a commercial vehicle. As it is not, or has not, been used commercially, they decided to Grade it again as a car.
Our auction-bought Volkswagen Caravelle. Based on the Transporter T5.1 (launched early 2010), our model was registered in September 2010 and has the slightly modified bits from the T5 models – daylight running lights being one of those. While the 1.9 TDI PD was used in other Transporters, the Caravelle didn't option this. Instead T5 Caravelle models ran either the 5-cylinder 2.5 TDI PD (130PS or 174PS), or a 3.2 V6 petrol. With the T5.1 facelift, both those engines were dropped and in came the VAG common-rail 2.0 TDI (140PS or 180PS). Our Caravelle is the Executive spec with 140PS, front-wheel-drive, with dual-clutch autobox (DSG).
I accepted their investigation, paying the £10,883.96 – after Buyers fee and Essential Check fee was added to the £10,400 hammer price.
Big money, especially considering the 201,523 warranted miles.
Why this Caravelle?
Many things have to align for me to be interested in a particular auction vehicles. This Caravelle ticked many boxes – 2 owners since new, 9 services (8 at main dealer), plenty of fitted kit and the BCA vehicle appraisal highlighted just eight bodywork faults. Plus an MOT test in March 2024 – passed with one advisory for offside rear shock absorber has light misting of oil.
As you can see from the images, the SWB Caravelle does look in great condition for 200,000 miles, but shown in the close-up images, there are some bad points (to be expected).
Like many of us, I'm not a fan of 25k oil changes. However, the service history stamps go like this...
Nov 2011 = 24,819 miles
Jul 2012 = 49,525 miles
May 2013 = 74,268 miles
Feb 2014 = 98,774 miles
The first owner was putting in some serious annual mileages up in the Manchester area.
Lo
