Diesel Transporter set for success?
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'OLKSWAGEN'S diesel Transporter (CM, January 24) looks set to trve a sizeable chunk of the light van market for itself, especially in )untries where diesel fuel is cheaper than petrol, writes STEVE RAY.
It made sense, then, for VW to ke a party of journalists to Verna in Italy —a country where e cost difference is substantial to try a new model.
The Transporter uses a ightly de-rated version of the esel unit fitted as an option in e Golf, Jetta and Passat pasrnger cars, but the Transporr's 1.6-litre engine has an outit of 37kW (50bhp) which is rme 3.3kW (4bhp) less than for e cars.
Because of the small space the 'gine has to fit into — it is still ar-mounted — the radiator has ren fitted at the front, and hile this is common enough on any psv, it is unusual for comercial vehicles. Another reason r the front radiator was to reice the amount of power leded to run a fan, which 3uld be much greater for a rear diator.
A two-speed electric fan is ed up front to cool the radiar, and an expansion tank and servoir are mounted in the enle compartment.
To maintain the same floor ight as the air-cooled petrol, gined vehicles, the diesel has en inclined from its normal
15°to 500 which has necessitated a different sump and other detail changes.
Tublar engine mountings with three-point fixing and bonded rubber joints have been used to reduce vibrations and cut noise, and these changes have resulted in an increase in weight against the petrol model with 30kg (66 lb) being added to the front axle and 65kg (143 lb) at the rear.
According to VW, the diesel Transporter meets all noise regulations, and during a drive of over 60km (37 miles) through the countryside round Verona, the van was no noisier than the average saloon. It must be said, though, that a full bulkhead behind the driver may have contributed to this.
The engine itself was very flexible — maximum torque of 103Nm (76 lbft) came in at 2000rpm — but this might have been due to the Transporter's light load. Nevertheless, there was plenty of power for overtaking and hill climbing.
The four speed gearbox is well matched to the diesel and is a pleasure to use, while with extra weight over the front wheels, the VW diesel handles better than petrol models, being apparently less susceptible to side winds or uneven road surfaces.
Fuel consumption worked out at 7.95 lit/100km (35.5mpg) for the run but this was, of course, with a part load, the weight of which I was unable to find out.
VW says normal consumption laden will average around 10.5 lit/100km — (26.9mpg) which compares with 15 lit/100km (18.8mpg) for the petrol version.
As far as price is concerned, the VW diesel costs 13 per cent more than the petrol in Germany and is expected to be £500 dearer in Britain. Deliveries to the UK are scheduled to begin in April this year.