VW Caddy Maxi, Decked out to be perfect for outdoor enthusiasts

– 140bhp, 6-speed, factory-fitted 5-seater
– Lined, leisure battery, lighting – great van for outdoorsy people and stealth campers
– 2011 plate, 192k miles
– MOT -> July 2026

Photos can be found here – https://photos.app.goo.gl/gxKntX7AzraXpAKt8

For sale is this 2011 VW Caddy Maxi Combi, modified internally to be an ideal van for outdoor enthusiasts, stealth campers or families looking to haul plenty of kit.

It has the solid 2.0 TDI engine, with 140bhp and plenty of torque, all put through a 6-speed manual gearbox. This engine is known for its reliability and doesn’t suffer from the same sticky injectors that the 1.6 engine can.

Though it has 191k miles, it still pulls incredibly well away from the lights, makes light work of over-takes, and will motor along comfortably on European motorways at 80mph. It’s exceptionally comfortable on long drives, with cruise control taking care of things.

It’s rarely been used for short trips – usually a minimum of 45 minutes. I’d happily jump in it tomorrow and drive to the Alps.

The two front seats are heated, with an armrest for the driver. There’s a Kenwood Android Auto head unit, electric mirrors and plenty of storage.

In the middle, there’s a 60/40 split rear set of three seats, which can be removed, all of which have 3-point seat belts. The rear windows are factory-fitted, not aftermarket. There’s storage in the footwells.

The rear has been fully lined with some insulation installed – it’s not a full camper conversion, but it is definitely comfortable enough to sleep in – just throw in a camp bed.

The floor is covered in a one-piece rubber mat, which is easily cleaned, while there are two rows of lashing rails on each side – great for keeping bikes, bags, boxes or beds secure.

The van has a leisure battery professionally fitted, which offers a couple of USB charge ports as well as ceiling, tailgate, and spotlight lighting – all way more handy than you’d think.

The Dubflecta front window deflectors mean you can have the windows open a touch while sleeping in the van, and they help reduce buffeting when the windows are down while driving.

I purchased the van in 2017, and since then it has been looked after pretty much exclusively by Streetwise Automotive, a VW specialist. They’ve serviced it annually and have completed the required works. Any MOT failure has been fixed immediately.

At 100k miles, a new gearbox, clutch and DMF were fitted. It has also had a new alternator and EGR valve in 2020, a cambelt in 2021 and battery in 2026. It’s had various droplinks, regasses, filters and bushings replaced as and when needed.

In 2018, the van was tastefully lowered on Bilstein B14 shocks and dampers.

Front tyres are Kumho, rear are Goodyear.

The bad bits…

No 2011 vehicle is going to be without a few bad bits.

There are stone chips on the bonnet and splitter, a few scuffs in the paint, and some bits of rust on the roof – nothing structural. The plastic trim was painted with Raptor Paint, but this is starting to wear off.

Since the wind deflector was fitted on the bonnet, no new stone chips have appeared.

Look closely, and you’ll spot imperfections, but from a middle distance, it’s a very tidy-looking van.

There are rear parking sensors, but one of them (and thus all of them) doesn’t work. It’s not a hard job to replace them if you’re comfortable with vehicle electronics/bodywork.

It currently needs a new exhaust as it’s split in the middle. The van still drives totally fine (if a touch louder), but it will need replacing before its MOT.

The two keys’ immobiliser chips are, I believe, a little lacklustre, so the key needs to be engaged for a couple of seconds before the engine will start perfectly every time. This is my diagnosis and my solution, only.

As noted in the MOT, the front sub-frame is corroded, but not weakened. The daylight running light has been replaced.

The windscreen washer system has a leak, and so it needs topping up more frequently.