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The trouble with vans, IME, is that they're all so horrible to drive. Upright seating position, horizontal steering wheel the size of Greenland, and even the pokey ones seem slow given the frontal area. And as for the handling, the CoG is going to make that a disaster from the beginning.
What's required, I believe, is a low-slung shooting brake with a taller boot. 2 seats up front - everyone else can take the bus. Tall loading bay at the back, with enough room to put 29ers in upright without taking the wheels off. If it's designed using a Kamm tail design it should be reasonably aero. Carbon chassis for rigidity and crash-protection, with carbon panels to keep the CoG down. Double wishbone suspension all round, with theomagnetic dampers for adjustability. Something pokey up front, maybe an LT5 lump. 750bhp should be enough. 4WD, sequential box if possible.
I can't believe no-one makes such a thing. There must be at least 3 or 4 other people in the world who'd buy one.
Brommers-
Obvs that's an extreme wishlist, but wouldn't a VW Caddy "R/GTi" do a lot of that?
Or a modified Skoda Yeti.
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I used to green lane motorbikes with a fairly well off bunch got into a who can build the fastest van thing, there was a lot of compatibility between Mercedes cars and Vito vans, the competition went over 350bhp.
If you want more the guy (Nourish?) who tested the Jaguar XJ220 engine in a transit is a friend of a friend?
hugo7
Dibble
Yes, there is deffo a reason why the parking areas at all the bike parks are usually full of vans!
I think leasing from VW direct is the best option for people like yourself in the ‘leisure’ category.
I actually think buying, or at least borrowing to buy is the better option with high end transporters, as they hold their value so well it will probably cost you less in the long run, as the depreciation you get hit for when leasing will not be realistic. Having the option to alter the space in the back to get exactly what you want out of it is obviously a big plus with owning outright. I don’t think you’d get away with modding a lease.