VW Caravelle T3 2.6

Before Mercedes wowed us with their Viano and V Class people mover there was already a king of the hill in this segment. Here in South Africa VW with its Caravelle Kombi ruled from the 80's all the way into the early 90's, first with their 2.1 Caravelle followed by the 2.5 Caravelle and finally with their show stopper the 2.6 Exclusive Caravelle. In this video we take a trip down memory lane as we review the 2.6 Caravelle kombi, the ultimate Volksi Bus.

[@KholofeloSekhoyane-xk3if]

High School memories brought back 😢❤❤

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

It's amazing how the brain just floods with flashbacks. The T3 still feels so fresh so current so relevant and I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Thank you for watching.

[@VuyoXelitole]

Best bus ever made....I own one...I've had mine for 7 years

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

I had one and sold it like I mention in the video and I miss it all the time. Enjoy yours and keep it as long as you can.

[@siyabongakhoza1282]

My friend has one of the cleanest T3 kombi same model like the one you are show casing

[@thamil1365]

So glad i found this channel, so good👌🏾

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

Thank you for joining us on this journey.

[@stevanspringer]

Awesome video. Your love for these beautiful vans really shines thorugh. Nice to see all the modern improvements that were added in South Africa. Thank you!

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

Hi thanks for watching, we really adore these vehicles here in South Africa. You call it a Van we call it a kombi...great we can learn from each other.

[@Bruinou19]

I love that baby v10 sound😭❤

[@Preyser123]

Greetings from Bergvliet, Cape Town. Thank you so much for sharing this. It takes me back to the time when we had our 2.3l Microbus version of the kombi from 2002 to 2004 when we sold it and upgraded to our current kombi, a 2000 model Caravelle T4 2.5tdi, so we have one of the early turbo diesel kombis. I definitely remember the Microbus having the round headlights and metal bumpers compared to the Caravelle's square/rectangle headlights and plastic bumpers. I think the wheel rims on the Microbus are also slightly different to the rims on the Caravelle. On the inside, I've noticed that some of the Microbus models had an extra vynil piece on all the side panels which I personally like because it differentiates it a bit from the Caravelle interior side panels. and some others had cloth in place of the extra vynil piece like on the Caravelle. Our Microbus had the cloth piece on the side panels Mechanically, the 2.3l and 2.6l Audi 5 cylinder petrol engines are at their best when left as stock in terms of the way they sound. I think the T4 Caravelle has a much nicer diesel engine sound compared to the T5 Caravelle when it comes to 5 cylinder diesel engines, and I do like the sound of the 2.0l 4 cylinder turbo diesel engine in the later T5 Caravelle as well as the fact that it was the last shape to have the Caravelle feature a manual gearbox and manually controlled handbrake before the T6,but the T3 Caravelle and Microbus kombis will always have a soft spot for me. I would recommend another one of those to my family in a heart beat if given the opportunity.

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

Hi I'm glad you enjoyed the video on a vehicle that is close to your heart. I see you know these vehicles well. Keep watching.

[@clydevanniekerk8148]

What was the fuel consumption like on your 2.3i?

[@clydevanniekerk8148]

I'm looking to use one as a transportation vehicle/small business transport vehicle.

[@sandilembele6535]

the love I have for this car I cried the time my father sold it. Where can I get a fresh 1 like this?

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

Hi Sandile thanks for watching...very few good examples of the T3 Kombi left but always keep your eyes out and one day you will see one. At times its even best to buy one that is in a fair condition and you sort it out to meet your expectations. Goodluck!

[@KaGiLelaka]

Bro.. My old man sold our beige Microbus, too 😢

[@angelomanuel4848]

Really good content!

[@solidrecord7288]

I’m in Canada, I drive an 88 T3 Camper (or as we call it here, a Vanagon Westfalia) and they are beautiful machines here and some sort of cultural icon. Glad to see they are appreciated worldwide. I swapped the front actually, I had the Caravelle grille but ended up going with the Microbus one with LED lights (or again, as we call it here, the South African grille)

[@dre4011]

I've got №. 000554 from July of '86...1st dayof production for the 1987 models Its been in the family for 21yrs

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

Hi Dre that's amazing, it would be an honour to feature your vehicle on the channel and get the full family story on the fond memories the vehicle has created over 21 years...

[@maanraymags7875]

Inkomo nkomo 2.6 Mabhodlela, Cara Cara Baba💪

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

Thank you for watching, glad you enjoyed it.

[@thomasfx3190]

Cliff! Great video! We miss our T3 Vanagons here in the USA! 🫡😀 🇺🇸❤️🇿🇦

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

Hi Thomas we still have a handful here in South Africa but a mint one like this is not easy to find. Thanks for watching.

[@animeresume47]

Grootman your content is top notch...you just need to get a better camera and a better camera man coz he doesn't focus well on subject you you're talking about...e.g the cassette player, we didn't get to see that camera shot at all...but your job is professional Grootman 🙏🔥🔥🔥

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

Thank you, your points are noted and I will work on this for future videos.

[@neilmick7271]

T3 all the way 🔥🔥🔥

[@SaneleHlungwani]

❤ legend this car im owning a t3 2.3

[@kobebennette]

Lord knows I still wish to own one of these 😭😭

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

Dreams do come true...one day is one day!!!!

[@isaacseleteng8472]

I got, you can have it.

[@knottastu]

thats a memory there. nice

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

Hey Stu,, yip what a memory indeed. The moment I had this vehicle for a full day I knew I had to make a review because the Volksi Kombi a real South African darling. Remember the David Krammer adverts on this bus...I think that was his name.

[@noahman27]

Bless you Brother! Greetings from America! Love the Vanagon!!!!!!! I had an '89 Wolfsburg Carat, Two '87 Syncros. We never got a VR6 Vanagon in America. Was that a VR6 in this video? I remember in the early 2000s, I saw on VW of South Africa's website that they were still producing the Vanagon there and they came with a VR6, ABS, and Airbags. Is this true? I've been looking to find some vintage brochures that you would have picked up at the VW Dealer's Showroom. I would absolutely love it if you had any leads on vintage late model T3s. Its my favorite car to cruise in on secondary roads..up to 45-50 mph LOL. Thanks for the memories.

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

Hey there Noah, greetings from South Africa. Wow you had a Wolfsburg edition that was so rare here. We had the Syncros many used to be on the roads in the time. As a matter of fact I forgot to put a clip of a Syncro I filmed on the sand dunes in Cape Town. As for the VR6 variant we got that motor in the T4 Caravelle, I see you refer to it as the Vanagon. That was the last petrol powered Caravelle before they went fully diesel in South Africa with the T5 Varient. I would have been delighted to keep an eye out for you for late model T3's for you to acquire. However the cars in South Africa are right hand drive and in the USA you are on the wrong side (jokes). If you want a right hand driven one i would be happy to assist, may take a while but we can find one for you. However I will start a podcast soon and there I can mention your interest in a left hand driven T3 and maybe it will gain traction...Thanks for watching, I am humbled.

[@mduduzigumede605]

I came across a microbus 2.1 automatic. I loved that bus had to sell at some point. I would give anything to have it back, the only challenge was fuel consumption.

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

Hey Mdu get yourself a 2.6 you wont regret.

[@W8rrfsdY73]

These were on sales even much later than the early 90s, up to 2001 I think. The "kombies" from the 80s had smaller windows and 1 pair of lights in the front.

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

Yes the earlier vehicles had single headlight grills and as time went on the T3 underwent a few minor face lifts. I'm not sure to what year the T3 was sold but its still as relevant today as it was when it went out of production. Thanks for watching.

[@CalvinMagubane]

​@@cliffoncarsandthings 2002 was the final year they where sold.

[@khulekaninyuswa721]

Question... Do these buses have power steering?

[@KaGiLelaka]

Yep

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

Yes they do on the Caravelle I'm not so sure on the Microbus.

[@shaikhassan1482]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@Gikuyuriuki]

Hey cliff where can i get one...its my dream car "caravelle" ..

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

Hi brother you just have to keep your ear to the ground there are some out there and from time to time they pop up on used car websites but mostly word of mouth is the way.

[@thulanicele7843]

When the suspension travels u travel 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@khanyamatshikiza2230]

Please do vw mk3 golf .. I enjoy your content

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

Khanya VR6 drops tomorrow this ones for you !!!!!!!

[@khanyamatshikiza2230]

My notification 🔔 is on 😂

[@AshwinTheunis]

We have 1983 microbus with the JT 3000 conversion

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

Hi Ashwin..... wow that is a true Gem.. I would like to put it on the channel some day if that would be ok.

[@neilmick7271]

More videos of the T3

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

We will do so Neil, like and subscribe and push notifications so when the next T3 pops up you wont miss out. Thanks for watching.

[@neilmick7271]

Best on a long road

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

What a joy on the open road still is the best bus for family trips with the long benches and the doggy box for the kids at the back in the engine bay.

[@khulekaninyuswa721]

Checkout Team Nerdo's T3 VDub bus...🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

Hi Khulekani thanks for watching and I will be sure to check on Team Nerdo's T3 bus

[@KaGiLelaka]

Why's the Microbus a "lesser" version.. Because I know a Microbus 2.6i Exclusive & 2.6i Active.. Haven't seen it for the "special" caravelle.. Psshhh ya'll journalism 😂

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

VW started the trend with Caravelle as the top spec and the Microbus the lessor spec. Mercedes gave us the Viano and the Vito. The engines on the Caravelle and Microbus were the same it was just the fit and finishings which were scaled down on the Microbus but both were fun. In conclusion Caravelle came out fully loaded and had the exclusive as well which comprised really of the back facing captains chairs and the table.

[@khulekaninyuswa721]

Elomjolo

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

Kara Kara Mfana !

[@wandajekeqa5608]

this guy keeps on checking is surroundings hahahahaha cause you never know

[@cliffoncarsandthings]

Welcome to Mzansi !!!