Van opinions

[lacroupade]

With the shop picking up steam and a website due soon, I'm looking to get shot of one of our T2s (probably the 02 manual) and put the money towards a van of some kind.

I like the VW Transporter but its a bit too small, so thinking about a Mercedes Sprinter/Vito, or Transit or perhaps a Renault Trafic....probably 4-5 years old with max 50-60k miles.....just wondered what people opinions and experiences were on the van front?

 

[Timbo_1975]

The Merc is good, look out for injector bottom seals chuffing.

Avoid anything french, including the vaux vivaro.

Tranny is average, watch out for expensive injector and DMF / Clutch problems.

 

[briggie]

With the shop picking up steam and a website due soon, I'm looking to get shot of one of our T2s (probably the 02 manual) and put the money towards a van of some kind.

I like the VW Transporter but its a bit too small, so thinking about a Mercedes Sprinter/Vito, or Transit or perhaps a Renault Trafic....probably 4-5 years old with max 50-60k miles.....just wondered what people opinions and experiences were on the van front?

id go for the vw everytime .... before i was ill i was a courier .....how about the vw grafter ?

 

[kbekl]

the vito is probably the better overall

iirc they had one that shifted

 

[zippy656]

also look into what ones can run on bio or svo wvo.. save a little there too

 

[Adz]

Tansit
Sprinter
VW

 

[Timbo_1975]

also look into what ones can run on bio or svo wvo.. save a little there too

Nothing with commmon rail then.

 

[rustic]

I have noticed a lot of body rust on the merc vans, some less than 3 years old.. Why? :doh
Some are from stone chips, clearly they are never waxed but other vans seem to be ok.:nenau

 

[lacroupade]

Wasn't looking to use SVO.......useful feedback as I was already favouring the Merc.

 

[zippy656]

to use not to use...

was just thning if you could save a bob or two...

 

[Adz]

Just thinking me boss to loose some Tax money goes for the Citreon Relay & it goes like fook & never had any problems & it uses the Iveco lump :thumbs
Does a ton loaded or empty, up or down hill :thumbs
So i'll re do my list :doh

Citreon
Transit
Sprinter
VW

 

[Deleted account DD]

I drove the big VW & Transits quite a lot up until about ten years ago so dont know a great deal about the more modern vans but I can say both were pretty much the same overall . However the VW definitely had a more solid feel to it and was more reliable. The transits were a tad faster :augie

As for the merc sprinter engine timbo is correct, I didnt know about the merc chuff until it appeared a few weeks back on mine (2 went)

However a quick purchase from this bloke and head under the bonnet for an hour all sorted.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250669251613

Very easy fix :thumb2

 

[cncfabs]

I would go for peugeot boxer same as citroen relay used to drive one down to spain like adz says it will do a ton all day long fully loaded and that was the old 2.5 newer ones are 2.8 or 3 litre

 

[cncfabs]

one good thing about the merc is they get faster as they get older as pieces of rust start to fall off

 

[makeitfit]

one good thing about the merc is they get faster as they get older as pieces of rust start to fall off

Yep my mate in town has a three year old Merc Vito with extra seats in the back. He uses it for deliveries too but wishes he hadn't bought it as it's rustier than my Maverick
Goes like stink but it's a tea bag:doh

 

[extreme-4x4]

to be honest paullllyyyyyyyy.

there is not a van out there id be in a hurry to buy, the newer vans with common rail are fast and car like. i've had a few.

but while the common rail engines are fast and economically better . they dont seem to last like the older diesel engines. its always head gasket or more common the injectors ( that are always chipped the the ecu) that fail
and its always expensive

my only advise is go buy a cheep van that looks straight and sounds right. pop in the auction and pick something up for the right money.

dont buy by brand or model
dont rush
dont go alone. (your crap at it ) lol

keep your options open , and buy something that will fit what you need to run about and is the right price.
dont buy from a dealer

i think you will find most vans like cars have the same euro shite engines in all will be the same (shite )
and will eventually go boobs up. thats what common rail engines do ...... trouble is you need one. so make it the best cheapest buy you can

 

[rustic]

If you buy transits, they are often stolen for spare parts, like engines etc.
It used to be a problem with diesel cars that were the type used for high milage taxis, 2 litre diesel cavaliers/vectras were targeted a lot in the 90's

I guess that will apply to a lot of vans though.
But you see a lot of white transits towing caravans from one place to another.
As a matter of fact, what vehicles do van hire companies use, they need good vehicles but only tend to keep them 2 years then sell on as they are well worn and abused.
What vehicles do the major companies use, BT use transits.
Post office? mind you they used to use LDV :nenau

Why not consider lease? :nenau maybe an option in a few years, but why not look into it.

 

[lacroupade]

all good points lads....trouble is I don't want to lay out for a new one at this early stage of the business but its got to have a decent image so around five years old is where I'm aiming.

I'd suspect the Peugeot/Citroen diesels must be OK as they have an excellent track record in that area - just ask any Nigerian LOL - but not sure what bodywork lasts like on those motors.

Tranny would probably be the cheapest to fix I guess?

While I'm on it though, anyone know roughly what interior floor space is on any of these (not looking for a seriously LWB)...its just I have an Ifor Williams twin axle that I paid a lot of dosh for new and I was toying with the idea of sticking an ally-clad top on it to turn it into a box trailer...its an 8' x 5' so not sure if it would be as much as a van? That way I could tow it with the wifes T2 :naughty ...but that brings me to my other question....fuel economy in White Vanland??

 

[extreme-4x4]

if your towing a trailer for your deliveries, i wouldn't bother . well not if you have a few deliveries, the cost of dragging a trailer about really will cost you.
obviously you missed my last point. as im sure when you visit the auction you would be allowed to look around the vans to decide what is big enough, im sure you have a rough idea what will fit into what ?

with most french vans running on french engines and the same for german. apart from the slight body differences and aerodynamics the fuel consumptions will be the same.

another thing to watch out for most newer vans come with a range of bhp options obviously varying mpg too.

one thing a dealer told me once..... if your looking for a car / van buy the cheapest best you can buy and dont shop with a specific car / van in mind .

with the obvious exception of tata skoda lada etc.

but with vans being vans citroen pug fiat are all the same.
vw merc the same
transit ldv the same and most likely the same aas cit pug and fiat now.

 

[MontysMaverick]

Top vans got to be the "older" sprinter 2.7 not the new shape, they are good on fuel we used to do Stoke to London and back fully loaded both ways on 1/2 a tank flat out motorway cruiser, the new ones are shite, crap economy, not comfy. Just think all the continental express couriers use them, starship mieages can be accomplished, get a 53/54 plate one owner with fsh and preferably from a private owner then youll be fixed up for at least 10 yrs with what you are going to do with it.

Hope this helps