T6 or T6.1 - Am I being thick??

[Norfolk Jim]

Hi All.

I might be having a senior moment but can you explain the difference betwen a T6 and a T6.1 please.

Am I right in thinking the T6.1 came in around end of 2019 and is actually the current model? For some reason I had in my head there was something between 2019 and 2021......... I know there were issues with the bellows from about 2021 but is that all?

Sorry if it's covered elsewhere as I'm weighing up whether to go for a late T6 or and early (70, 20 or 21 plate) T6.1......

 

[CaliforniaJamie]

Hi Jim,

Not a silly question at all.

The T6.1 did indeed appear around the end of 2019 and it replaced the T6. The T6.1 came with an exterior facelift and a modernised interior change. There was no model change (other than this) between 2019 and 2021.

Hope this helps!

 

[Norfolk Jim]

Many thanks.

That's what I'd hoped for. I was alittle confused but it all makes sense now. My local VW dealer has 3 Oceans for sale. 2 in Ascot Grey (70 & 21 Reg) 150ps and a dark grey 21 Reg with 201ps all betwen 61 - 65k so in area I want to be

 

[ThomasHJ]

Hi All.

I might be having a senior moment but can you explain the difference betwen a T6 and a T6.1 please.

Am I right in thinking the T6.1 came in around end of 2019 and is actually the current model? For some reason I had in my head there was something between 2019 and 2021......... I know there were issues with the bellows from about 2021 but is that all?

Sorry if it's covered elsewhere as I'm weighing up whether to go for a late T6 or and early (70, 20 or 21 plate) T6.1......

This wikipedia-entry might shine some ligth on your question.

 

[yossarian]

Not necessarily 100% accurate as I've only ever had a T6.1 and not exhaustive.

	T6.1	T6
Control panel	Colour LCD	B/W LCD. Knob breaks.
Waterpump run dry protection	Y	N
Selectable charge level	Y	N but easy workaround
Comfort Dash	N	Y
Power management	Battery monitor on all three batteries	Single shunt for both leisure batteries. Can fail and does not tell you if the cube fuse fails.
Dog with a bone look	Y	N
Roof corrosion	Possibly	Definitely
Overly complicated heater	Y	N
Dimmable lights	Y Std on later oceans	N Y credit FB
Split top for sink and Hob	Y	N (Y later models, credit FB)
Top bed	Froli springs	Slats
Bellows	Late 2022+ potentially leaky 2019 - fold well	Easily pinched in the scissor mechanism
Headlights	Later oceans std w LEDS	Some have halogens and complementary white cane for driver.
ACC	Std on later (all?) oceans	?
Reverse camera	Std on later (all?) oceans	?
Edit: power steering credit: @RedWhiteMonkey	Electric -- allows crosswind assist and some other features.	Hydraulic
Lower cupboard lights [Corradobrit]	Y
RHD footrest for DSG model [Corradobrit]	N	Y
Tambour door on wardrobe [Corradobrit]	N	Y
Lower bed recline [Corradobrit]	Y	N
Lower bed length	Slightly shorter than T6

 

[RedWhiteMonkey]

I think this is the right way round, T6s have hydraulic power steering and T6.1s have electro-hydraulic power steering.

Having driven both I prefer the steering feel of the T6.1.

 

[P600BOO]

Not necessarily 100% accurate as I've only ever had a T6.1 and not exhaustive.

	T6.1	T6
Control panel	Colour LCD	B/W LCD. Knob breaks.
Waterpump run dry protection	Y	N
Selectable charge level	Y	N but easy workaround
Comfort Dash	N	Y
Power management	Battery monitor on all three batteries	Single shunt for both leisure batteries. Can fail and does not tell you if the cube fuse fails.
Dog with a bone look	Y	N
Roof corrosion	Possibly	Definitely
Overly complicated heater	Y	N
Dimmable lights	Y	N
Split top for sink and Hob	Y	N
Top bed	Froli springs	Slats
Bellows	Late 2022+ potentially leaky 2019 - fold well	Easily pinched in the scissor mechanism
Headlights	Later oceans std w LEDS	Some have halogens and complementary white cane for driver.
ACC	Std on later (all?) oceans	?
Reverse camera	Std on later (all?) oceans	?

I think the T6.1 top is now aluminium.

 

[Norfolk Jim]

Thank you all for this

 

[yossarian]

I think the T6.1 top is now aluminium.

As is the T6.

 

[WelshGas]

I think the T6.1 top is now aluminium.

Have always been aluminium..

 

[CamperFam]

Some other changes have also taken place, albeit not necessarily linked to the 6.1, but worth being aware of such as the removal of sport mode, engine powers (204s, to 199s, back to 204s etc).

Also worth keeping in mind that a chunk of T6s succumbed to luxury vehicle tax too (UK specific ofcourse).

Unfortunately a bit of a minefield.

 

[Daggartukvan1]

Looking at the list, I think there were changes to later T6's - my 2018 had A/C, reverse camera, colour control panel, dimable lights, LED headlights with DRL and split top for sink and hob.

 

[yossarian]

chunk of T6s succumbed to luxury vehicle tax too

True. If you can find one of these their tax regime going forward should be advantageous.

 

[andyinluton]

I think the T6.1 top is now aluminium.

Always has been on all models

 

[flying banana]

Not necessarily 100% accurate as I've only ever had a T6.1 and not exhaustive.

	T6.1	T6
Control panel	Colour LCD	B/W LCD. Knob breaks.
Waterpump run dry protection	Y	N
Selectable charge level	Y	N but easy workaround
Comfort Dash	N	Y
Power management	Battery monitor on all three batteries	Single shunt for both leisure batteries. Can fail and does not tell you if the cube fuse fails.
Dog with a bone look	Y	N
Roof corrosion	Possibly	Definitely
Overly complicated heater	Y	N
Dimmable lights	Y Std on later oceans	N
Split top for sink and Hob	Y	N
Top bed	Froli springs	Slats
Bellows	Late 2022+ potentially leaky 2019 - fold well	Easily pinched in the scissor mechanism
Headlights	Later oceans std w LEDS	Some have halogens and complementary white cane for driver.
ACC	Std on later (all?) oceans	?
Reverse camera	Std on later (all?) oceans	?
Edit: power steering credit: @RedWhiteMonkey	Electric -- allows crosswind assist and some other features.	Hydraulic

spot the 6.1 owner in that list who doesn't quite know what their talking about. dimmable lights on T6 by holding the switch(and they are so much simpler to turn on/off without faffing in touch screen menus ,split sink top on late T6 (which you're after). leaky bellows 'potentially' is an understatement unless sprayed with nikwax, alluminium roof on 6.1,they have always all been alluminium. control knob breaks on panel,maybe if you catch it yes,mine never has,even so an easy fix,unlike trying to fix a 6.1 touch screen that keeps freezing up. probably some other errors there too ,ignore that very biased list and get whats right for your budget. i'd be looking at price and mileage with good service history on both models.
good luck
ignore that list

 

[edocali]

My late T6 has the split top worktop and LED headlights. DSG with paddles.

 

[The Blue Merle]

T6 drives/feels more van like which I like, the dash has better usable storage on both premium/standard and not forgetting it’s still got CD. Not all T6 have CarPlay.
The t6.1 lots more gadgets and a car like feel when driving. Dash has has silly open storage in front of steering wheel (reflex’s onto windscreen so no point using) and has some super tiny storage slots/glovebox.
I’ve gone from t6 to t6.1 back to t6 and now back again to t6.1
Both great vans best to drive both and if your into your tech then t6.1

 

[66tim99]

spot the 6.1 owner in that list who doesn't quite know what their talking about. dimmable lights on T6 by holding the switch(and they are so much simpler to turn on/off without faffing in touch screen menus ,split sink top on late T6 (which you're after). leaky bellows 'potentially' is an understatement unless sprayed with nikwax, alluminium roof on 6.1,they have always all been alluminium. control knob breaks on panel,maybe if you catch it yes,mine never has,even so an easy fix,unlike trying to fix a 6.1 touch screen that keeps freezing up. probably some other errors there too ,ignore that very biased list and get whats right for your budget. i'd be looking at price and mileage with good service history on both models.
good luck
ignore that list

As a MY22 6.1 owner:
You can dim/turn the lights off with the individual switches - no need for touch screen.
The bellows don’t leak, and have the superb panorama panel
My touch screen has never frozen.

 

[flying banana]

As a MY22 6.1 owner:
You can dim/turn the lights off with the individual switches - no need for touch screen.
The bellows don’t leak, and have the superb panorama panel
My touch screen has never frozen.

wasn't having a go at 6.1s or trying to start a 6.1 v 6 argument.yes i believe the 6.1 single skin bellows are fine .but to say in his list they don't leak when there's a 140 plus page thread running about it i believe to be an understatement at best. imagine if he had said, should i get the ocean or the beach ?

 

[Corradobrit]

RHD T6.1 lost the left foot rest on drivers side.

T6.1 has lights in the lower cupboards and T6 had tambour doors

 

[yossarian]

to say in his list they don't leak

Where does it say this?

 

[Corradobrit]

T6.1 has a lower bed with a reclining feature.

 

[flying banana]

Where does it say this?

says 'potentially' which ithinks an understatement for many late 6.1 owners

 

[flying banana]

T6.1 has a lower bed with a reclining feature.

yeah i like that.

 

[yossarian]

says 'potentially' which ithinks an understatement for many late 6.1 owners

There are certainly T6.1 double skin bellows owners who don't have leaks. @andyinluton for example. The list more intended as a checklist of things a potential buyer might want to investigate further. A caveat emptor if you will.