VW T4 Vans - Any info out there?

Thinking of a purchase of a van next autumn, and was wondering about the T4 VW transporters, the idea to transport 1-2 bikes to TDs, the Ring, the odd surf trip etc.

Obviously I'd go for a diesel, now this is where the questions start, from what I gather there are a few engines:

1.9D - needs Fred Flinstone feet to acheive motion
1.9TDi up to 104 ish hp as standard
2.4D no power
2.5TDi up to 104 ish hp as standard

So if I went for a 100+hp TDi engine, what's the main difference between the 2.5 and 1.9 besides one extra cyclinder? Is one easier to chip reliably for more poke? Is one better on the motorways? Is one more reliable? Is one more economical than the other?

Also would 2 bikes fit in a standard wheel base one? Or would I need to opt for a LWB option?

I'm not too bothered about going for a tarted up with alloys VW scene van, just something for hauling bikes that will sit on a motorway and be reasonably civilised if using as an everyday vehicle, so would 3-4k happily see me right?

Any other issues or weak points with these vans?

[Red Herring]

I used to borrow my mates 1.9 SWB VW van. Brilliant piece of kit, plenty of room for two bikes, fast enough, economic, and last time i saw him almost up to 300,000 on the clock.
Always said if I ever need to buy a van it would be one of those...

Was it the TD model or NA?

[Red Herring]

Turbo diesel.

[maviczap]

Pretty sure we use the 2.5Tdi as our towing vehicle. Its a bit of a rocket ship, although acceleration isn't stunning.

Happily cruise at 80+ all day. I need to look at the logbook to see which model we've got and I'm not in the office until Saturday.

No issues with it yet, but its still young

But pretty unbeatable as you'd expect with a VW

Thanks for that, any info would be good.

the 2.5 should pull more weight what are the torqu spec's ?

[maviczap]

Yes, that's what ours was bought for its towing potential.

Getting another one before March too

Replacing a Transit which to be fair has been a good workhorse, but illegal to tow our trailer & kit as the combined weight is too much for the Transit's power

ive got a volkwagon LT panel van (same as merc sprinter), absolutely bulletproof vans, mines the 2.5TDI (109ps), although you can get the same engine that puts out 169ps, ive driven both and the one with more horsepower is not really any faster it just will shift more weight, theres probly not much in it though to be fair, insurance was alot more expensive IIRC, hope this helps

[Spikenipple]

What's the cheapest way to insure a van for personal use?