VW T4 Caravelle L8 PL8 M8

[urpert]

Very happy with it. Feast your eyes on the acres of diagonally striped grey fabric:

 

[djim]

Looks really nice, these are great vans. 

Here is my old one, currently with my Dad, though I might be getting it back soon as he is getting on a bit and doesn't really drive much anymore. 

 

It is a 5 pot petrol auto and acceleration is leisurely at best but definitely a comfy way to get about. 

 

[urpert]

Quite jealous of the auto box as changing gear in this one is a case of imagining where it might be and throwing the stick in that rough direction with as much wrist strength as you can muster. 

[djim]

Heh, sounds about right, at least you'll get a workout, you can save money on the gym 🤣

The auto in this one supposedly learns how you drive and adapts but in practice it just gets lazy and you have to use VCDS to reset it again. Does yours have the blue clocks? 

 

[urpert]

  On 05/04/2025 at 17:55, djim said:

Heh, sounds about right, at least you'll get a workout, you can save money on the gym 🤣

The auto in this one supposedly learns how you drive and adapts but in practice it just gets lazy and you have to use VCDS to reset it again. Does yours have the blue clocks? 

 

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Yes it does - feels very weird being in a T4 with indigo backlighting when all the rest of the switchgear is early 90s VAG. 

[urpert]

Quick update on the bus. Not discovered any horrors yet… reapplied the rubber door seals with new tape and plastic pegs as the one above the sliding door kept sagging. 

I did consider replacing the head unit with an original VW Gamma one, but this Blaupunkt one is such a good fake (right down to the red backlighting) and has proper modern Bluetooth and aux support. It works brilliantly:

[HMC]

Great headunit- the font even looks correct.

[urpert]

  On 10/04/2025 at 12:50, HMC said:

Great headunit- the font even looks correct.

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I know! Not even that expensive - mine came from this eBay seller and arrived next day:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255077414399

[Imhotep]

Those Blaupunkt HUs are great for 80s, 90s and 00s stuff as they look almost OEM in any car you fit them to. I’ve got one in my MG for exactly the same reason. 

[barefoot]

  On 05/04/2025 at 17:45, urpert said:

Quite jealous of the auto box as changing gear in this one is a case of imagining where it might be and throwing the stick in that rough direction with as much wrist strength as you can muster. 

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Think that's bad? You should try a T2 with a three foot lever connected to 14 feet of linkage and a gearbox just this side of the noisy cupboard.

[dave j]

  On 10/04/2025 at 14:28, barefoot said:

Think that's bad? You should try a T2 with a three foot lever connected to 14 feet of linkage and a gearbox just this side of the noisy cupboard.

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I like to think of it as an anti theft measure as no one else will be able to find the gears!

[urpert]

  On 10/04/2025 at 14:28, barefoot said:

Think that's bad? You should try a T2 with a three foot lever connected to 14 feet of linkage and a gearbox just this side of the noisy cupboard.

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I have previous form:

 

[urpert]

Somehow got 37.5mpg out of the first half a tank. 
 

Today, a 3 point seatbelt to be fitted to one of the middle seats. 

[urpert]

Pressed into immediate family service:

 

[Volksy]

  On 10/04/2025 at 14:28, barefoot said:

Think that's bad? You should try a T2 with a three foot lever connected to 14 feet of linkage and a gearbox just this side of the noisy cupboard.

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Haha! My old '61 LHD Split required you to lift your right leg, then repeatedly smash the gearknob into your plums to obtain reverse gear. 

[urpert]

This particular (cracked) trim panel is causing lots of grief with the sliding door. Trying to work out what it’s called.