"Volkswagen LT 28": specifications and reviews

"Volkswagen LT" is, perhaps, the most famous in Europe and Russia series of trucks. LT stands for the abbreviation Lasten-Transporter, which translates as "transport for the transport of goods." One of the first copies of this series is Volkswagen LT 28. Photo, review and technical specifications - later in this article.

Design

The exterior of the car by today's standards is significantly outdated. This is not surprising, because the car was made since the 70-ies of the last century. Now "Volkswagen LT 28" can be attributed to the category of rarities. However, these days they are still used for cargo transportation. But basically it's restyling models.

Unlike the previous one, this "Volkswagen LT 28" has a new, rectangular shape of optics. In the rest it remained the same - angular shapes, black grille and an unpainted bumper. By the way, the design of the car was the same, that for minibuses, that for trucks. But if we consider 5-ton specimens, they differ slightly in the location of the optics and in the narrower radiator grille.

By the way, there are two emblems on the grille - "MAN" and "Volkswagen". No, this is not a people's tuning - in this form the car came from the factory. The fact is that in the 80's Volkswagen worked closely with MAN, thanks to which the line of trucks was replenished with a new 5 tonne. Although the design of the car painfully resembles "Volkswagen LT 28".

Body and Corrosion

Reviews say that the cabin has a high-quality color. If before that she was not scratched and did not tolerate blows (not as in the photo above), the metal will be almost eternal. Now on sale you can find a lot of "live" copies. The same applies to bodies. If we talk about the minibus "Volkswagen LT 28", then the roof on it is made of fiberglass. The most vulnerable places are the thresholds and the rear wheel arches. But with proper care (regular and deep washing, polishing) there will be no reason for corrosion even after 30 years.

Salon

The car has a classic interior design - a large and slim two-spoke steering wheel, flat door cards and an ascetic dashboard. The latter contains the scales of the tachometer and speedometer. There are also a number of control lamps here. By the way, on 5-ton modifications the dashboard was changed. So, the speedometer here was combined with a tachograph. The latter was opened with a special key. Of course, the "shaba" with the modes of work and rest was paper. Electronic versions of tachographs began to appear only in the mid-2000s. Among the minor shortcomings, the owners note the absence of a radio tape recorder. But in the central console there is a special hole for it. And besides, 90 percent of the owners have already equipped the car with music before you. In which case, you can quickly "throw" the wires and replace the radio with a new one. If it is a question of more load-lifting versions, there is a question on installation of a walkie-talkie. Usually it is mounted on the center console, and the antenna is hung on the roof.

Despite the fact that the truck "Volkswagen LT 28" engine is under the cabin, the cabin is almost flat. This is a significant plus. After all, you can move around the cabin without problems. The gearshift lever is located between the front passenger and driver's seat and is recessed into the floor. As for the seats themselves, they are quite comfortable - note the reviews. Especially fortunate owners of those cargo modifications that were equipped with armrests. Finishing materials - hard plastic. But he does not rattle on the bumps even after so much time. Sound insulation is also good, but the rumble of a diesel engine is unaccustomed. After all, he is practically at the feet of the driver. All vibrations and knocking are clearly audible in the cabin. But you can get used to it. The salon is very ergonomic. If we talk about passenger versions, the rear row can even be equipped with a pull-out table. Also in the car there is a wide glove box on the passenger side.

«Volkswagen LT 28»: specifications

Initially, the car was fitted with gasoline engines. Versions released in the 75th year were equipped with a two-liter engine from the CH series. With a working volume of 1985 cubic centimeters, he developed a power of 75 horsepower. This motor was installed on low-tonnage trucks and minibuses of the "LT" series until the year 82.

The successor to this unit was the DL engine. With a working volume of 2384 cubic centimeters, he developed a power of 90 horsepower. Unlike the previous one, this engine had at its disposal 6 (and not 4, as before) cylinders. This solution allowed to increase the volume and torque.

The last in the range of petrol was the unit 1E. It was installed on cars of 88-95 year of release. It was also a six-cylinder unit, but with an injector rather than a carburetor injection. Improvement of the intake system allowed to increase engine power up to 94 horsepower with the same working volume (2384 cubic centimeters).

Diesel versions

A large part of the "LT-shnyh" trucks was exactly with diesel, as it should be any commercial vehicle. But the first "solid fuel" unit appeared only three years after the launch of the serial production. They became the atmospheric engine CG, which at a working volume of 2680 cubic centimeters developed power of 65 horsepower.

In the 88th year, the light developed a more refined, six-cylinder in-line engine 1S. With a working volume of 2384 cubic centimeters, he developed a power of 70 horsepower.

Versions with turbodiesel

Many believe that the old Volkswagen LT 28 had only atmospheric engines available, and the turbo appeared only in the mid-90s on the more recent versions of the LT. But this is not so. The first diesel unit, equipped with a turbocharger, appeared in the line already in the 82nd year. It was a six-cylinder DV engine. With a working volume of 2383 cubic centimeters, he developed a power of 102 horsepower. There was also a weaker 92-horsepower engine equipped with a turbocharger. This unit was put on "Volkswagen LT 28" from 88th to 92nd year. At the end of production, in the 91st, another ACL engine appeared. This motor developed a power of 95 horsepower.

Transmission, consumption

"Volkswagen LT 28-35" was equipped with two mechanical transmissions. On the first version was installed "4-mortar". But already from the 80's all "Volkswagens" came with a five-speed manual gearbox. With regard to consumption, in economical mode, the diesel engine consumed about 10 liters of fuel.

Chassis

The suspension was slightly different depending on the load capacity built by the manufacturer. Thus, light versions of Volkswagen were equipped with an independent lever-spring suspension. The trucks came with small parabolic springs and disc brakes. The latter were powered by hydraulics, except for the five-ton versions of the Volkswagen-MAN (here the pneumatics was used). "Volkswagen LT 28" has a permanent rear-wheel drive.

A distinctive feature of the cars in this series is the availability of a lockable differential. This function is especially useful for carriers in the winter season. In addition, the Germans also built all-wheel drive modifications of the Volkswagen LT 28. These machines were specially designed for construction companies located in hard-to-reach regions. But there are very few of them on sale.

«Volkswagen LT 28»: reviews

Many owners praise LT for their reliability. Particularly hardy are diesel engines. These motors have the simplest device and a mechanical injection pump. "Volkswagen LT 28" - this is a truck in which from electronics only external and internal lighting. To start this car it was possible even without the accumulator. In the car there are no complex technical solutions, Common Rail injection systems and particulate filters. If you think that the Russian "GAZelle" is good because it can be repaired "on your knee", you simply did not own this "Volkswagen". The machine is made even easier than the GAZ-3302. "LT" is unpretentious to our oil and fuel quality. This is an "omnivorous", almost eternal dinosaur. And a sufficient number of them survived to this day. And the price of these machines is kept at a good level.

Among other advantages, it is necessary to note the presence of a differential lock. This function is not even in the modern "GAZelle Next". The locking of the rear axle perfectly helps in the winter, when passing through snowy debris. Carriers know firsthand how easily a small truck without load buries. Because of the easy "ass", the wheels begin to slip. The lock rigidly engages the two wheels and forces them to move in sync. The machine also copes easily with dirt.

Another advantage of Volkswagen LT 28 is low fuel consumption. Even in the absence of direct injection, the indicator for minibuses is about 10 liters in a mixed cycle. On 5-ton versions, the consumption is about 16-18 liters, which is also very acceptable. Also the car pleases with a warm stove, celebrate the owners' reviews.

The machine has responsive control. Suspension gently fulfills irregularities. However, if you are installing a high tent on the truck, consider the sail. A large booth can contribute to increased fuel consumption and a drop in dynamic performance.

"Volkswagen ЛТ 28" has also minuses, in opinion of motorists. There are not so many of them. The first drawback, which marks the reviews (or rather, the caprice of the owners) is the lack of an air conditioner. In the summer, you have to drive with the windows open. Also there are no electric windows. The hydraulic booster is not available on all models. And the most important disadvantage is the low speed of the car. Even with a five-speed box, the cruising speed of the truck does not exceed 70-80 kilometers per hour. The car clearly does not have the sixth gear.

Price

On Avito, Volkswagen LT 28 is sold at a price of 70 to 150 thousand rubles. Some versions of trucks cost about 200 thousand. Basically, such specimens are found in the western part of Russia. Closer to Siberia, these machines are virtually nonexistent. When buying commercial vehicles with this age, you need to understand that at any time you can run into costs. So, by the age of 20 the suspension elements wear out. Hub bearings fail. The clutch disc may burn.

Conclusion

With the development of trucks and minibuses of the LT series, Volkswagen has become a serious competitor for the Mercedes. After all, now you can buy a similar car by characteristics, which will be no less reliable, but at the same time cheaper. The machines were constantly subjected to modifications. Versions of the 80's and 90's can still be seen on our streets. These machines have survived an entire era. Thanks to a reliable engine design, they are valued by carriers to this day. "Volkswagen LT 28" is not valued for its design or comfortable interior. This is such a workhorse that will faithfully perform its work, bringing its owner a profit.