Johannesburg - It’s a good thing that with age comes wisdom - well most of the time.
If someone had called me across as a youngster and told me that one day I would be testing a big old bus and that I would really enjoy it, I would have opened another beer and laughed haughtily.
You see, we were more interested in fine-tuning a Renault Gordini or looking at ways to slot a 1.6 TS engine into the back of the little car; playing with Alfa Romeos and Ford Cortinas to get them to do things the designers never envisaged and converting VW Beetles into Baja Bugs. Meanwhile, the old folks were poring over station wagons and Kombis.
Fast forward a couple of decades and I’m behind the wheel of a big old bus and thinking it would suit the family just fine. Well, it’s not exactly a big old bus, but VW’s 4th-generation Caddy long-wheelbase Trendline. It’s a long way from the offerings our moms and dads had to put up with.
Seven seats and a boot
Although it’s unlikely to walk away with the most stunning design trophy, the people at VW have to be commended for a decent package - particularly the interior.
The long-wheelbase does take up most of the garage space, but if you’re looking for a proper seven-seater you’d be hard-pressed to find much better.
I couldn’t always get my head around why people would want one, and the first time I heard someone debating the merits of driving it was a couple of years ago when The Star editor, Kevin Ritchie, mentioned that his had gone in for a service and that it would cost a small fortune to repair.
By his own admission, his car history is dodgy at best so best not to mention it, but it got me thinking again last year when, shortly after our wedding, my wife and I headed down to Durban for a week with our Brady Bunch of four boys ranging from 11 to 19 years old.
It doesn’t matter how big the Hilux or Defender is, six people into five seats wasn’t ever going to work so it needed two cars, which inevitably meant more fuel, double tolls and a larger pack of those pesky fines that arrive unwanted in the post.
The Caddy would have been the answer because it’s a really comfy seven-seater with enough space behind the third row of seats to load all the baggage with relative ease.
Attractive package
And because it’s a VW, you’re assured of the best of German engineering, build quality and ease of driving.
Inside you’re provided with a very attractive package indeed. An easy to operate infotainment system, uncluttered lines, dials and gauges which are easy to read and get to, and enough storage spaces with a roof shelf to suit even the most cluttered person.
The driving position and comfort would make a long-haul Translux bus driver green with envy and 103kW 2.0 TDI engine with DSG transmission suits the Caddy perfectly, even fully loaded.
Sure, you’re not going to beat the neighbour’s son in his hot hatch but remember with age comes wisdom and keep in mind, today’s petrol head’s vehicle comes out go-fast standard so he would never appreciate the frustration of having to figure out a classic Weber or Holley carb.
Carrying a full human load comes with no small amount of responsibility and to keep them safe, the Caddy has everything you need and more, such as an automatic post-collision braking system, driver alert system and ABS.
If you’re a big family or need masses of space and comfort to load everything from mountain bikes to tents and furniture - and want decent fuel economy to boot - the Caddy has to be in your cross-hairs.
The VW Caddy is a comfortable seven-seater with enough space to load baggage with relative ease.
FACTS
Maxi 2.0TDI Trendline auto
Engine: 2-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel
Gearbox: 6-speed automated dual-clutch
Power: 103kW @ 4200rpm
Torque: 320Nm @ 1750 - 2500rpm
0-100km/h (claimed): 10.9 seconds
Top speed (claimed): 186km/h
Price: R433 800
Warranty: 3-year / 120 000km
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