The driving position is good and urban drivers will appreciate
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the power steering. The gearchange is far from slick, but it's quite precise and feels dependable.
Another welcome feature to have made its way from the Caravelle is a pair of vents in the centre of the dash. Omitted from earlier models, these provide fresh air as an alternative to the always-warm flow from the heater system.
Why doesn't VW change to a Japanese-style air-control system to let in cool air or allow recirculated hot air to warm things up more quickly?
The fascia is the usual robust, highquality Transporter installation; there's a reasonable amount of oddments space, though it's hardly exciting to look at. Presumably the multi-coloured seat cloth is a tribute to the German idea of "fun".
Apart from safety considerations, the biggest problem with vans that lack a full bulkhead is the intrusion of road rumble and boom from the body; this Transporter is no exception. It is noisy by any standards, even those of the direct-injection Transit 150 that we tested last year (CM 14-20 January 1993), but the surprise is that much of the noise seems to be mechanical. We would expect the sophisticated rear suspension to damp out tyre noise, and the streamlined body to cut down wind noise, but there is simply no ignoring the engine and transmission.
Though measured noise levels differ little from the five-cylinder model (which lacked even a half-bulkhead) the quality of the noise is hard-edged and irritating, and earplugs are a must for sustained use.
With this and the "whistling kettle" turbo-diesel LT, Volkswagen's Noise, Vibration & Harshness engineers seem to have made an art form of the objectively acceptable but subjectively terribly noisy van. Back to the drawing-board, lads...
SUMMARY It's tempting to see the 800 Special as a challenge to the Transit, but in fact its appeal will lie with drivers of car derived vans who want a step up. As such, it makes a very sensible buy. Its manageable size, easy loading and power steering should make any car driver feel at home, and suit it to urban delivery work.
It also fills a gap in VVV's range: without a high-cube CDV it's a long way from the Golf van (which costs just £1,300 less) to the Transporter. Despite the possibility of a van based on the Golf Estate, as seen on the Continent, this is a problem for VW's marketing department. We think the Special is largely successful, and may create its own niche.
The van is not without its faults: noise is the worst, and will put many drivers off long journeys. That's a shame, because its motorway behaviour is exemplary.
Good re-sale value and growing dealer expertise ensure that it's more than an impulse buy.
When VW produces a bad Transporter we'll let you know; but don't hold your breath.
E by Toby Clark