| If Youre Put Off By The Blandness Of | | | | engine develops its peak torque of 400Nm from |
| Bog-Standard Panel Vans, Volkswagen Have The | | | | just 2,000rpm making the Transporter quick |
| Answer In The Shape Of Their Extrovert | | | | off the line and surprisingly unfazed by |
| Transporter Sportline. Steve Walker Reports | | | | hefty payloads. The 0-62mph sprint takes |
| | | | 12.2s and theres a 117mph top speed but fuel |
| When images of Volkswagens Transporter | | | | economy remains at a manageable level where |
| Sportline first appeared in our office, they | | | | owners can expect in excess of 40mpg on the |
| attracted an unusual amount of interest. If | | | | open road. |
| the Sportline was an Italian supercar or the | | | | |
| latest Japanese rally replica, a certain | | | | Given what youre actually getting in the |
| amount of fuss would have been par for the | | | | Transporter Sportline package, you wouldnt |
| course but it isnt, its a panel van. The | | | | expect it to be cheap and it isnt. Youll pay |
| reason why this comparatively unassuming | | | | just over £21,000 for the short wheelbase |
| vehicle caught the imagination quite so | | | | model and £500 more for the extra capacity |
| readily will be immediately clear to anyone | | | | of the long wheelbase. Its a hefty sum for a |
| who lived out their misspent youth during the | | | | businesses to find when you consider the |
| mid to late 1980s. Decked out in Diamond | | | | prices of more ordinary panel vans but |
| Black paint with 18-inch alloys, roof spoiler | | | | Volkswagen are confident that the vehicles |
| and chrome side rails, the Transporter | | | | road presence and car-like specification will |
| Sportline is a dead-ringer for the A-Team | | | | secure its popularity. The target customers |
| van. | | | | are user choosers who want something more |
| | | | distinctive than your typical panel van or |
| All thats missing is a red stripe down the | | | | else surfers, skiers and trailbikers who want |
| Transporter Sportlines flanks and it truly | | | | to move their equipment from place to place |
| would be the modern day equivalent of the | | | | in a bit of style. |
| 1983 GMC G-Series van that Hannibal, BA, Face | | | | |
| and Howling Mad Murdoch made famous in the | | | | Weve touched on the standard Transporters |
| A-Team TV series. The youngsters who watched | | | | less than inspiring outward appearance which |
| The A-Team on its first airing all those | | | | the Sportline successfully addresses but |
| years ago (regular re-runs can still be found | | | | inside theres a real touch of class about the |
| on satellite TV channels) will now have | | | | place that the Sportline inherits. Drivers |
| grown-up and may well be in one of the | | | | will be pleased to find a raft of storage |
| numerous professions where a practical panel | | | | options for odds or ends, including a |
| van like the Transporter would be just the | | | | lockable glovebox, and the whole ambience has |
| ticket. Its reasonable to assume that a good | | | | that distinct air of Volkswagen quality. The |
| few of them will warm to the idea of heading | | | | gearstick sprouts from the centre console, as |
| out to work each morning in a vehicle similar | | | | is the fashion at the moment and it falls |
| to that in which the A-Team survived as | | | | nicely to hand. As do the controls on the |
| soldiers of fortune in the Los Angeles | | | | gently sloping facia which are simple to pick |
| underground, avoiding the unwanted attentions | | | | out and manipulate without diverting |
| of Colonel Deckers military police. Even if | | | | attention from the road ahead. |
| you have no recollection or interest in the | | | | |
| A-Team, theres a good case for taking a | | | | You could easily be in a people carrier from |
| closer look at the Transporter Sportline. | | | | the top of the Volkswagen passenger car |
| | | | range, such is the refinement and simplicity |
| A companys commercial vehicles act as an | | | | of the cabin. Good though the Volkswagen |
| extension of its public image and those | | | | Transporters interior is, the crowning glory |
| wanting to project a youthful, dynamic | | | | in this vans make-up has to be its |
| persona to the world at large may have found | | | | performance on the road. Even without a load |
| their ideal van. The standard Transporter | | | | onboard to appease the heavy-duty suspension, |
| exterior is jazzed-up considerably by the | | | | the ride is exemplary and the steering is |
| Sportline special edition features. At the | | | | perfectly weighted. The squeaks, creaks, |
| front, theres a chunky spoiler and two | | | | rattles or hums that seem to creep into |
| (count-em) chrome grilles with the bumper and | | | | commercial vehicles have been successfully |
| spoiler ensemble fully body-coloured. The | | | | banished and the engine noise is noticeably |
| mirrors and door handles are also | | | | well suppressed. |
| body-coloured while the back end benefits | | | | |
| from a roof spoiler and impressive-looking | | | | Theres a solidity about the T5 Transporter |
| Sportline badging. | | | | suggesting that, like its predecessor, this |
| | | | model will run and run. Volkswagen have |
| Chrome side rails span the lower edge of the | | | | thrown the options list at the Transporter |
| van between wheelarches which are filled | | | | Sportline and the result is one of the most |
| admirably by 18" Borbet five spoke alloy | | | | distinctive panel vans officially available |
| wheels shod with low profile all-weather | | | | in the UK. The standard Transporter base |
| tyres. The whole package is then given a more | | | | vehicle is a highly competent van but it |
| aggressive stance by the inclusion of Eibach | | | | certainly isnt one of the more exciting |
| suspension springs which drop the ride height | | | | offerings to look at in the sector. What this |
| by 30mm. | | | | Sportline derivative does quite successfully |
| | | | is inject a little visual dynamism that |
| "Volkswagen have thrown the options list at | | | | should help the Transporter glean sales from |
| the Transporter Sportline" | | | | more attractively-styled models like the |
| | | | Vauxhall Vivaro and Mercedes Vito. |
| Looking at a well-stocked equipment list like | | | | |
| this, you may have to stop every so often and | | | | The A-Team famously loved it when a plan came |
| remind yourself that this is a panel van were | | | | together and Volkswagen will be hoping that |
| talking about. Inside, theres more of the | | | | Sportline gets a similarly positive result in |
| same with electric heated door mirrors, | | | | the marketplace. |
| electric windows, air-conditioning, a CD | | | | |
| stereo, remote central locking, leather trim, | | | | Facts At A Glance VAN: Volkswagen Transporter |
| a Sportline gearshift cap and a drivers arm | | | | Sportline ENGINES: 2.5-litre TDI PD 172bhp |
| rest. The Transporter Sportline is available | | | | PAY |
| in short or long wheelbase form, creating | | | | |
| load lengths of 2,543mm and 2,943mm | | | | LOAD CAPACITY: 795kg 1,245kg LOAD LENGTH: |
| respectively. Both versions are powered by | | | | 2,543mm - 2,943mm |
| Volkswagens 172bhp 2. | | | | |
| | | | STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: ABS, traction |
| 5-litre TDI diesel engine which endows them | | | | control, drivers airbag. |
| with strong performance characteristics. The | | | | |