Appreciate the Transporter often gets slated, and it is an Elgrand forum, but let us open a debate as to why the Elgrand is 'better' than the later Transporters, or visa versa, analysing lots of angles.
First, let us not consider models with a huge price gap due to age/mileage.
Lets us, say compare a typical dealer 2008-9, S3, 3.5L, leather, 360 camera, few other options, fresh import, decatted, 65K MILES, undersealed Elgrand, fetching ~ £12K verses something like the 2L TDI, 150hp diesel transporter, say, an ex-RAC wagon, with say 70K miles, about a '17 plate, fetching about £16K
Elgrand is 'better' on:
The way it drives (I presume. I've never driven a 2L, 150hp diesel Transporter, but on paper it (the VW) has a decent slug of torque. But I can't see it handling like an Elgrand (which of course is okay 'for an MPV'), nor the 0-60mph sprint being as fast. But it might keep up with the 2.5L Elgrand?
Elgrand has exclusivity. Looks better than the ex RAC van (subjective of course, but come on). The Transporter being every forth van on the road. The Elgrand MUCH rarer.
Elgrand has MUCH more kit. Much more. Elgrand price in the above example being ~ £4K cheaper (again, in the example comparison above). Elgrand's kit is often leagues ahead.
Transporter better on (essentially the Elgrand's weaknesses due to it being an import)
Parts availability almost like buying mars bars. You want genuine VW anything for it, you can get it easily. Service manuals, torque settings everything much easier. You want an OEM door membrane. You can get it overnight. Try getting an Elgrand door membrane,. OEM if it leaks etc etc.
Servicing and repairs. Anyone (kind of) can work on them. Not like the Elgrand, where you're lucky if you can find a specialist, and many a place won't look at it.
Insurance. Transporter is hardly free, but a darn sight easier than the yearly Elgrand insurance dance.
After market stuff, if someone wants to go there, coming out off the walls for the Transporter.
SELLING ON: When looking at my own Elgrand, someone- a random off the street- asked someone who also was looking at an Elgrand if he wanted to sell his Transporter which he had. The thing looked like it'd spent 15 years in a war zone, but still a randowm, just like that, asked to buy it. Ditto if you're part exchanging a Transporter at a main dealership for a 'normal car', that's fine, ditto if selling privately. Generally 'easy'. Trendy Transporters got people at your door like dogs with a b*tch in heat. Car buying places such as Webuy etc fine with buying them.
With the Elgrand, you've got private, or maybe selling back to the place you got it from. Part exchanges at dealerships, large car buy places (webuy/motorway) often a no-no.
Trendiness works in the Transporter's favour, both ways.
I'm pro Elgrand, and wouldn't look at a transporter, and some of the above analysis might be factually wrong (feel free to correct/point out if so), but I'm balanced enough to see someone's draw to it, esp with regard to the 'once the novelty has worn off' practical things like servicing/repairs/selling on/insurance/parts availability/general technical information/supports.
So, all this considered, feel free to add other BALANCED pointers, is the Transporter that bad (yes, but still lol)
First, let us not consider models with a huge price gap due to age/mileage.
Lets us, say compare a typical dealer 2008-9, S3, 3.5L, leather, 360 camera, few other options, fresh import, decatted, 65K MILES, undersealed Elgrand, fetching ~ £12K verses something like the 2L TDI, 150hp diesel transporter, say, an ex-RAC wagon, with say 70K miles, about a '17 plate, fetching about £16K
Elgrand is 'better' on:
The way it drives (I presume. I've never driven a 2L, 150hp diesel Transporter, but on paper it (the VW) has a decent slug of torque. But I can't see it handling like an Elgrand (which of course is okay 'for an MPV'), nor the 0-60mph sprint being as fast. But it might keep up with the 2.5L Elgrand?
Elgrand has exclusivity. Looks better than the ex RAC van (subjective of course, but come on). The Transporter being every forth van on the road. The Elgrand MUCH rarer.
Elgrand has MUCH more kit. Much more. Elgrand price in the above example being ~ £4K cheaper (again, in the example comparison above). Elgrand's kit is often leagues ahead.
Transporter better on (essentially the Elgrand's weaknesses due to it being an import)
Parts availability almost like buying mars bars. You want genuine VW anything for it, you can get it easily. Service manuals, torque settings everything much easier. You want an OEM door membrane. You can get it overnight. Try getting an Elgrand door membrane,. OEM if it leaks etc etc.
Servicing and repairs. Anyone (kind of) can work on them. Not like the Elgrand, where you're lucky if you can find a specialist, and many a place won't look at it.
Insurance. Transporter is hardly free, but a darn sight easier than the yearly Elgrand insurance dance.
After market stuff, if someone wants to go there, coming out off the walls for the Transporter.
SELLING ON: When looking at my own Elgrand, someone- a random off the street- asked someone who also was looking at an Elgrand if he wanted to sell his Transporter which he had. The thing looked like it'd spent 15 years in a war zone, but still a randowm, just like that, asked to buy it. Ditto if you're part exchanging a Transporter at a main dealership for a 'normal car', that's fine, ditto if selling privately. Generally 'easy'. Trendy Transporters got people at your door like dogs with a b*tch in heat. Car buying places such as Webuy etc fine with buying them.
With the Elgrand, you've got private, or maybe selling back to the place you got it from. Part exchanges at dealerships, large car buy places (webuy/motorway) often a no-no.
Trendiness works in the Transporter's favour, both ways.
I'm pro Elgrand, and wouldn't look at a transporter, and some of the above analysis might be factually wrong (feel free to correct/point out if so), but I'm balanced enough to see someone's draw to it, esp with regard to the 'once the novelty has worn off' practical things like servicing/repairs/selling on/insurance/parts availability/general technical information/supports.
So, all this considered, feel free to add other BALANCED pointers, is the Transporter that bad (yes, but still lol)
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