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. 

[MrBig]

VW call it a B-pillar trim, left upper.

This one I think, but there are various colour and fitment versions. If you want to PM me your VIN I can try to double check.

Genuine VW T4 TRANSPORTER CARAVELLE LEFT B PILLAR TRIM sliding door seatbelt | eBay

[camryv6]

  On 14/04/2025 at 15:18, Volksy said:

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. 

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I bet it didn't, you just liked to do it for fun !!

[urpert]

  On 15/04/2025 at 17:17, MrBig said:

VW call it a B-pillar trim, left upper.

This one I think, but there are various colour and fitment versions. If you want to PM me your VIN I can try to double check.

Genuine VW T4 TRANSPORTER CARAVELLE LEFT B PILLAR TRIM sliding door seatbelt | eBay

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Thanks, that’s also the one I’m watching! It’s a little bit HFM but there aren’t any others I can find. PM sent. 

[stuboy]

looks great

[stuboy]

ohh.. do they have a bad design in the gearstick that i seen lot of angled knob adjusters?

[Alusilber]

  On 05/04/2025 at 10:21, reb said:

According to Wikipedia it was Bradford before '74 and Sheffield after

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But this is a post-2001 plate so in this case it's Northampton.

[reb]

  On 15/04/2025 at 22:15, Alusilber said:

But this is a post-2001 plate so in this case it's Northampton.

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yes. That's what I said to begin with. This was specifically concerning pre 2001 plates.

[wuvvum]

  On 15/04/2025 at 20:57, stuboy said:

ohh.. do they have a bad design in the gearstick that i seen lot of angled knob adjusters?

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It's too short, the angled things are more of an extender than an adjuster.

[tom13]

  On 15/04/2025 at 20:57, stuboy said:

ohh.. do they have a bad design in the gearstick that i seen lot of angled knob adjusters?

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Stops you hitting the legs of the passenger as bad if you are running 3 seats across the front and it does help raise it a little.

[tom13]

Looks nice this @urpert

I just got another T4 recently and will be looking at one of those head units as they look really smart.

[purplebargeken]

Have a piccie of ours, just a converted van but it’s ace just the same.

 

[BorniteIdentity]

  On 15/04/2025 at 20:57, stuboy said:

ohh.. do they have a bad design in the gearstick that i seen lot of angled knob adjusters?

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They look like a horses cock, but still aren't quite long enough.  Mine gave me back ache for about the first month until I built up the requisite lower back muscles, after which it was never a problem.

You can buy a cock extender if it continues to be an issue.

[stuboy]

  On 16/04/2025 at 19:27, BorniteIdentity said:

You can buy a cock extender if it continues to be an issue.

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i accidently bought one for my galaxy after 7 years of ownership.... though wasnt compatable.. 

[doug]

Here is mine. Currently sorned while I plooter about with the C15. Also just a van.