MikeCapon
|
| posted on 2/2/14 at 03:31 PM |
|
|
White van man?
I need to buy a van for my business but am not at all up to speed on what's reliable, OK to drive, economical etc...
It needs to be Transit ish (proper Transit not those tiny Connect things) size.
It needs to be able to tow from time to time without needing to thrash it to death.
Oh and it does not need to be white.. 
Budget of £10K ish..
So what to buy and what to avoid?
Thanks in advance,
Mike
www.shock-factory.co.uk
|
|
|
|
|
Jon Ison
|
| posted on 2/2/14 at 03:55 PM |
|
|
There are going to be fans of every make however,
We need a van for aour buiness, had problems with VW transporters, (expensive problems) problems with vivaro's (even more expensive) bought a
high top (2 year old) x coca cola transit 3 years ago total spend to date, tyres and brake pads, never missed a beat, next one will be same again.
Great on fuel too.
|
|
|
trikerneil
|
| posted on 2/2/14 at 05:03 PM |
|
|
I'm currently looking for a Toyota Hiace (<£2.5k though) they look to be pretty good according to my research.
HTH
Neil
ACE Cafe - Just say No.
|
|
|
Simon
|
| posted on 2/2/14 at 05:12 PM |
|
|
I'd get a Vivaro/Trafic as they drive brilliantly, are very comfortable, economical and tow excellently (took toy car from Paddock Wood to
Emerald in Norfolk and you'd have not known the trailer was attached.
If I hadn't of been able to find a newer Espace, I'd have got a lwb Vivaro Crewcab
ATB
Simon
|
|
|
doobrychat
|
| posted on 2/2/14 at 05:25 PM |
|
|
i have a Vivaro and use it everyday as my car.. looked at the new transit and due to pump failures and other problems i'm pleased i got what i
have... shame to see that someone has had bad issues with a T5 as that was the only other i was going to get...
the 2.0 trafic/ vivaro have injector issues like not being able to get them out.. so if you do go for one check that it has been done in the history..
|
|
|
renetom
|
| posted on 2/2/14 at 05:26 PM |
|
|
Hi
I would recommend diesel transit
Bought ours new in 2001 never a hicup until last year
when the diesel pump went.has 74,000 miles on it now
& still pulls like a train , its a 280 swb td 100si
selling it now as we no longer have the business, only kept it to tow the trailer with our kit car , it tows great.
For that budget you should get a good low mileage one.
Good luck.
René
[Edited on 2/2/14 by renetom]
|
|
|
Jon Ison
|
| posted on 2/2/14 at 05:32 PM |
|
|
Google vivaro gearbox.
|
|
|
doobrychat
|
| posted on 2/2/14 at 05:34 PM |
|
|
google transit problem over vivaro problem... I wouldn't change my van for anything.. My MK would go before my van
|
|
|
JoelP
|
| posted on 2/2/14 at 05:42 PM |
|
|
I've broken one vivaro gearbox, but the replacement has taken a whole load of abuse no problem. And they are nice to drive and tow with. However
if the fan belt snaps it takes out the timing belt, which seems a poor design.
|
|
|
Jon Ison
|
| posted on 2/2/14 at 05:54 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by doobrychat
google transit problem over vivaro problem... I wouldn't change my van for anything.. My MK would go before my van
Your Vivaro gearbox will let go before your MK that's for sure............... <- smiley.
|
|
|
bigrich
|
| posted on 2/2/14 at 06:08 PM |
|
|
If I was spending my own cash it would be a transit without question. Yes it has issues but for a van thats easy to work on comfortable economical and
drives well it takes some beating. If you want a vacuum cleaner its a" Hoover". You want a van its a"transit"
.JPG)
A pint for the gent and a white wine/fruit based drink for the lady. Those are the rules
|
|
|
benchmark51
|
| posted on 2/2/14 at 06:09 PM |
|
|
I use a Nissan NV200 and it's been brilliant. Never towed with it, so don't
know about that side of things. It will take 2 euro pallets in the back, sliding
load doors both sides, removable cab to load bulkhead. Options include
combo version, full seating version, half and full windows. They have even
made and tested a full electric version. Very tight turning circle and apparently
conforms to taxi requirments. Air con, satnav, bluetooth all available too.
Worth a look.
|
|
|
doobrychat
|
| posted on 2/2/14 at 06:44 PM |
|
|
i bought my van cheap and did the work and a few upgrades... i can assure you my Mk will go long long before my van gearbox does... hehe
|
|
|
Dualist
|
| posted on 2/2/14 at 07:34 PM |
|
|
I brought a 52 plate transit about 5 years ago 'cos I was warned off getting one with the common rail type injection system and I'm glad I
did. 180k now and it's never missed a beat and parts are so bloody cheap, I would have no problem in buying another one.
Rotary build coming soon...
quote:
Originally posted by RichardK
I recently discovered that pigs can p i s s sideways when being transported 
|
|
|
Simon
|
| posted on 5/2/14 at 10:31 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Jon Ison
quote:
Originally posted by doobrychat
google transit problem over vivaro problem... I wouldn't change my van for anything.. My MK would go before my van
Your Vivaro gearbox will let go before your MK that's for sure............... <- smiley.
Pre 2006 Vivaro boxes had issues. £10 grand will get you as near as damit a new one, with 4 years warranty etc.
Your transit will probably either be made in turkey or have been used by the "Got any scrap metal" brigade or have that stereotype
ATB
Simon
|
|
|
Jon Ison
|
| posted on 5/2/14 at 10:47 PM |
|
|
Van snobbery, don't you just love it............................
|
|
|
owelly
|
| posted on 5/2/14 at 10:52 PM |
|
|
My dad was an avid Merc bloke and has always run Merc vans....until the last few years. His Sprinter-sized truck has dissolved (a 2006) and his vans
(2002-2006) have all let him down. Engines that render themselves scrap with 'Black Death' and bodywork that rusts just for fun.
All vans have their supporters but for reliability and cheapness for spares when they do go wrong, I'd buy a Transit.
http://www.ppcmag.co.uk
|
|
|
dhutch
|
| posted on 6/2/14 at 09:58 AM |
|
|
Anyone ever run a Peugeot van? parner/boxer/etc?
|
|
|
BangedupTiger
|
| posted on 6/2/14 at 12:06 PM |
|
|
Mercedes sprinter
Everything else is dog turd
|
|
|
mcerd1
|
| posted on 6/2/14 at 01:21 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by dhutch
Anyone ever run a Peugeot van? parner/boxer/etc?
my dad used to run an old citroen dispatch (~Y reg I think) aka a fiat scudo or pug expert - probably a bit small for the OP (and he could probably
buy a hundred of them that age for 10k now)
mechanically it was ok, but he found out that the suspension parts were quite a lot more expensive than the transits (I think these are the same bits
as the 806 / C8 etc...)
the old 1.9 pug diesels in them at that age are just the same as they were in the cars too - the turbo ones are proper old fashioned tubo, quite quick
and reliable but with lots and lots of lag
the non-turbo one like my dads with any load in it was the slowest, most gutless thing I've ever driven - and my car at the time was a 45hp 106
basically the small pug/citroen vans are just like the cars they are related to - and you'll either love that or hate it 
can't speak for the big vans though.....
both my dad and my brother run transits now, my brothers newer one had some injector / pump issues - but all got sorted for not too many boor tokens -
they'd both still have a transit as the first choice
[Edited on 6/2/2014 by mcerd1]
-
|
|
|
mcerd1
|
| posted on 6/2/14 at 01:23 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by BangedupTiger
Mercedes sprinter
Everything else is dog turd
got a mate who thinks like that too....
...but he also reckons they are faster off the line than any super car - I guess everyone has there little fantasies
another mate who only calls them "F***ing german bedfords!"
[Edited on 6/2/2014 by mcerd1]
-
|
|
|
Simon
|
| posted on 6/2/14 at 04:44 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by BangedupTiger
Mercedes sprinter
Everything else is dog turd
Funny that, I was chatting to the bloke who supplies our consumables at work. They bought two new Mercedes vans and both had to go back for rust
within TWO weeks. German quality is a myth. Period. Oh yeah a friend thinks they're great and his needed seem welding
ATB
Simon
|
|
|
Heather
|
| posted on 6/2/14 at 05:05 PM |
|
|
Hi
I am Fleet Administrator of a fleet of 250 vans - 235 SWB Medium roof Transits and 15 Sprinters (which we have had alarming numbers of electrical
problems with).
We have recently undergone a review of all vans and have chosen once again the Transit, we find it is a good reliable van and parts when they are
needed are readily available, there is not a van in the market place that does not have some inherent problem or other and there are good and bad with
them all so it really is ‘you pays your money you takes your choice’.
My experiences would say from the 56 plate model change when the ECU gave huge issues (any van with the problem would have had it resolved) the only
year that we seem to have had the most issues was 12 plate.
Ford has easily replaceable and affordable parts and in my experience the van gives good reliable service and will tow your car easily.
We personally have a 3T SWB medium roof transit which we towed the race car with for 4 years and also doubled up as garage and sleeping quarters, my
husband uses it for work and it is still used as the shunt vehicle when we want to move the trailer around or are only at circuit for the day, it
starts 1st turn of the key every time even when it has stood for a few weeks and has only needed routine maintenance.
My pen'uth
Regards
Heather
|
|
|
Krismc
|
| posted on 6/2/14 at 05:08 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Jon Ison
There are going to be fans of every make however,
We need a van for aour buiness, had problems with VW transporters, (expensive problems) problems with vivaro's (even more expensive) bought a
high top (2 year old) x coca cola transit 3 years ago total spend to date, tyres and brake pads, never missed a beat, next one will be same again.
Great on fuel too.
here here on the vw......very expensive repairs on our fleet. 5k a year to run/own one for us from new. compared to transit connects at 2-3k
Built, Ivaed, Drove and now Sold - 2011 MNR VORTX RT+ 2000cc Zetec on R1 Throttle boddies.
|
|
|
tango man
|
| posted on 6/2/14 at 05:40 PM |
|
|
transit for me , all my vans av been tranys ,tryed citreon relay 3.5t never again , they turn to chocolate as soon as you show em any work , not fit
for purpose
|
|
|
