Ah so...I thought you were talking about the Mircobus (aka Transporter, Type 2, etc.). I keep forgetting VW had other vans as well.

So, is that LT a front engine/rear wheel drive setup?

This is the BEST answer to your question.

Keep in mind also, that most all of the opinions noted will make a huge difference in how each one is maintained. You can get a million miles out of a junk motor if you care for it regularly.

If you are talking shear horsepower, nothing is cheap!

The LT vans pictured have a Front mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout with the option of having 4x4. The latest models (known as the "Crafter") shares the same chassis and layout of the Mercedes Sprinter.

The old one can hold quite a bit of load.... consider some versions have a 3.5 ton capacity and they also come in dually configuration too....

Agreed... each one made their duds in the day...
I know you have a Ford and love it... But all that aside; in terms of maintenance, etc... was there ever a moment you wished you had gone over to the Chevy side???

To me, that van looks like it needs some kind of turbo-diesel?? What kind of engines come stock in those? Why are you wanting a gas v8 anyway?

Having been a Chevy guy from the start, and working for their RaceShop in R&D, you would think I would vote for the 5.7 or LS motors.

However, the choice is obvious ...

I'm actually a Dodge boy at heart! My first auto was a Chevy and I owned a V6 turbo'd Gran Prix back in 1990 and it was a sweet car, but to answer your question NO! Mainly for the reason that is slightly rearing it's ugly head in your thread.

I grew up racing Mopars, and beating all the local street cars. I lived by a motto back then, 'put up or shut up' I earned the title 'King of the Road' way back when I used to run on the streets. Never even knew it until after I gave it up. Anyway, the Chevy lovers were always the mouthiest and I had the most pleasure in shutting them up with my ride.

That being said, I have nothing against any (American) brand or the people that love them. They all have their good and bad points.

The van came with a tuned Audi 100 inline 4 petrol engine that gave good torque and there was a 2.4 ltr inline 6 cylinder turbodiesel engine too. Despite the small engine it gave enough power and mileage even under full load... I guess that's why the vans are used so much Europe... Fuel is expensive there....
Over here diesel is more expensive than ordinary petrol. So in my case it would be better to have a gas engine. I could go in for a VW engine from a new LTs, but being such a fan of American V8s, I thought I'd go in for one of those.

Besides... I don't like the noise of a diesel unless its a Duratec or Vortec....
I'd rather have a gas V8.


You make it sound like you prefer Ford even though you are a Chevy guy.
Am I right????

When I was buying my Alfa 156, quite a few people tried to convince me that it was a poor choice. I had options of a Nissan Altima and an old Chevy Lumina SS (Holden Comodore) with an LS engine.
But once I drove that Alfa all the others seemed to fade away... I was hooked... that was it. Anyways my friends all spoke to me about reliability issues, etc... and that was a factor I considered when I bought the car... but everyone who was against the decision changed their minds when they drove it. Alfas do that so well.
I was about ready to prove them wrong in terms of reliability and to be honest my car did prove to be reliable for a 1st year or so... I was proud to rub their noses in it... but then slowly little problems started creeping in.... it was my fault actually; not the car. I kept loaning it to my brother who basically thought he was race driver everytime he got behind the wheel and slowly the problems started coming in....
Now my friends started their "I told you so" routines.... not knowing the real truth behind the car's faults.

I'd love to prove that a Ford motor is equal if not better than the Chevy and prove my mechanic friends wrong.... but its a huge gamble if they're right... :P

Click the link, it's hidden in the ellipsis. Then all will be clear.