advice on topaz

we are thinking of buying a topaz 2,5 automatic diesel approx 2009 could someone reassure us we making a good choice its a big financial step for us any information technical or other we would be most grateful thank_you

Hi jack anderson.... We have a few Topaz owners who will no doubt give you some feedback, as a new member you may find by introducing yourself in the welcome section that you are more likely to get a better response though.



CC

In terms, of Topazes, we have had 3 of them. Two were on the T4 and one on the T5.
I’ve not had an automatic on the T5, but all accounts give a good report. If you are looking for a 2009 model then this will be on the VW T5.

Our T5 was a 2008 model. It was an excellent drive. The 2.5 tdi engine is superb, economical and very refined.

The quality of the conversion is like a lot of motorhomes these days not as good as some of the older, but more old fashioned A/S vans. As with all the motorhomes these days, there is much use of plastic and most wood is laminated. The sink is first class. The table storage in the T5 vans is not very good. One is put in the front locker using up valuable space and making removal difficult, especially as everything else in the cupboard sits on top of the table! The small table is mounted in the wardrobe again wasting valuable storage space. The T5 is very light and modern inside, the large Heki roof light is fantastic. The bathroom is a good size for a van conversion. The tip up basin in the bathroom is a bit iffy staying closed. We had the whole panel replaced under warranty as it started to split. A/S know they have a problem with these basins but seem reluctant to do anything about it.

The bench seat is not that comfy due to its depth. Pulling it out a bit does help.
The van is a good size for two people and a clever design. You can have single beds or double beds. The double is not too fiddly to make once you get the hang of it. If you or your wife are tall, (over 6ft), you may find the beds a bit short.

I am pretty sure that the automatic is built on the 3000kg chassis and not the 3200kg used in the manual models from about 2007 onwards. This will reduce your payload significantly from around 550kg to 350kg.

I could probably rant on for hours, but if you have any specific questions you can always send me a private message (PM) and I'll try and help.

John