Berlingo multispace/Peugeot Partner Tepee type MPVs - Any experience?

SensibleSarah

I'm looking into a new (used) vehicle which could accommodate crates for multiple dogs, but also fit 5 people at other times. Mileage around 12-15k a year.

Having a rather ugly car that looks like a van is not an issue for me but having never had a dreaded 'french' car before - I'd appreciate some experience of these particular types if anyone has it?

I'd probably be looking at something fairly old with my budget - up to 7-9 years old and 80k plus miles on the clock.

I'm working on the logic that something essentially built to be a van and with a decent diesel engine should run and run - or is that just wishful thinking?

gary_jules

Personally, I'd avoid French cars like the plague. Might be better to go for a large Volvo estate, like the V70?

SensibleSarah

I perhaps should have mentioned that a little bit down the line I'd like to use the vehicle for offering dogwalking services - so a van-looking vehicle tends to look more professional - and that's my reason for leaning towards one of these at the moment. But I take your point that Volvo don't have the same reputation as French cars!

gary_jules

Out of the two, Peugeot probably has a slightly better reputation. I'd still be weary buying a 8-9 year old French car with one of those HDI engines. Injectors, DMF, turbo could all amount to expensive repairs- not to mention the infamous electrical issues that are synonymous to French cars. There is a good reason why French cars are generally cheap.

Do you do a lot of motorway driving? If not you may be better off with a petrol. The Toyota Corolla Verso seems like a good shout

Marktheshark

HDI especially the 1.6 is a ricking timebomb engine, over blown old design engine that has serious carbon build up issues unless it has half way oil changes between every service.
Once is gets the black death as its known , its scrap

PasturesNew

I bought a BM 2nd hand 5+ years ago. I get it serviced when the MoT comes round and so far all it's needed has been a new set of wiper blades.
Loading/unloading's brilliant and I like all the "cubby holes" for things/stuff.

gary_jules

PasturesNew wrote: »

I bought a BM 2nd hand 5+ years ago. I get it serviced when the MoT comes round and so far all it's needed has been a new set of wiper blades.
Loading/unloading's brilliant and I like all the "cubby holes" for things/stuff.

Well, you've clearly been one of the very few lucky owners. Like the previous post - the 1.6 HDI is riddled with problems. OP the Honda FRV is a another good recommendation.

Norman_Castle

I've had two Citroen ZXs. A 1.4 petrol and a 1.9 diesel estate. The petrol was brilliant on the motorway happily doing 80+mph and the diesel was massive in the back for the size of car. Both were good to drive. Both were reliable and cheap to own. The only problem I remember was central locking faults on both.
A friend currently has a 2.0 hdi xsara which cost £700 and has averaged 18,000 miles per year for the last few years. Apart from a failed alternator causing the instrument pod to give false readings its been reliable despite having almost no preventative maintenance..

OP You may get an older 1.9 diesel engine blingo as I think they are quite common. They are not fast and are noisy but should be reliable.

BeenThroughItAll

gary_jules wrote: »

Personally, I'd avoid French cars like the plague. Might be better to go for a large Volvo estate, like the V70?

gary_jules wrote: »

Out of the two, Peugeot probably has a slightly better reputation. I'd still be weary buying a 8-9 year old French car with one of those HDI engines. Injectors, DMF, turbo could all amount to expensive repairs- not to mention the infamous electrical issues that are synonymous to French cars. There is a good reason why French cars are generally cheap.

Do you do a lot of motorway driving? If not you may be better off with a petrol. The Toyota Corolla Verso seems like a good shout

gary_jules wrote: »

Well, you've clearly been one of the very few lucky owners. Like the previous post - the 1.6 HDI is riddled with problems. OP the Honda FRV is a another good recommendation.

Not your usual suggestions DM. What about a BMW, Audi, or a Yaris?

bigjl

There is nothing really wrong with French cars and small vans.

The 1.6hdi is one to avoid with the 1.4Hdi being little better when it gets old.

Renault Kangoo is another possibility. The advantage with the Kangoo is you can confuse the anti French car brigade by buying the version with a Mercedes front end stuck on it, the Citan.

The Transit Connect would be anther choice but I don't think they are the version with seats for the UK market, it is sometimes used as a Taxi in the U.S. I believe.

Another left field option would be a small MPV, Old shape C Max or mk2 Zafira would be half decent. Though I would avoid the 1.6tdci for reasons already mentioned and probably stick with the 1.8 petrol engine in the Zafira as the 1.9cdti can be troublesome, the 1.7cdti has a better reputation and I think it is an Isuzu engine again so might be worth a shout, but is likely to be more expensive than a 1.8 petrol.

Also as you are looking at 7/9 yrs old that again points me towards a Kangoo, the 1.5dci is pretty long lived if looked after.

bigjl

Marktheshark wrote: »

HDI especially the 1.6 is a ricking timebomb engine, over blown old design engine that has serious carbon build up issues unless it has half way oil changes between every service.
Once is gets the black death as its known , its scrap

The 1.6hdi isn't really an old design.

Before it blows up it is an economical and flexible engine.

Don't ask we why but failures seem to less common in Volvos fitted with the engine.

If I was buying new to keep I would do, as you suggest, the extra oil chAnge.

Though the 2.0hdi or tdci is a better engine in nearly every way.