Recommended vans

ellectrastar

Hi all,


I am looking to get a Ford Transit type van. Currently have a Fiat Ducato which has lasted a long time but on occasion has proved a bit more costly than average when getting parts and repairs done. Know that Transits tend to be popular and easy to maintain at a lower cost as parts etc are more available and they're easier to work on.



I had a look at a Transit at the weekend. It was the basic model, about five years old, but already getting rust (which I always thought Transits were known for) despite the dealer telling me they don't have the same rust problems they used to...


So, can anyone recommend a similar size van that is also cost effective to run/maintain? Ideally I want something that has some towing capacity as well. The only ones of this size I've had are a Transit and the Ducato so that's as far as my knowledge goes.




Many thanks!

foxy-stoat

I bought a Vauxhall Vivaro LWB which has been looked after well all its life and its been 100% reliable since I have owned it.........I have since learned that they are utter !!!!!e, one of the worse vans one can buy, so dont get a Vivaro. Transporter, Merc or Transit would be were my money is spent next time.

gord115

My brother in law is a courier and only uses VWs.
He sold his last one to his brother and it is now almost 10 years old and in excellent condition. 300k miles, and apart from wear and tear parts and a Dpf clean at 200k,it still runs brill.
When I see Transits of the same age they are always showing signs of rust.

sevenhills

foxy-stoat wrote: »

I bought a Vauxhall Vivaro LWB which has been looked after well all its life and its been 100% reliable since I have owned it.........I have since learned that they are utter !!!!!e, one of the worse vans one can buy, so dont get a Vivaro. Transporter, Merc or Transit would be were my money is spent next time.

Well your Vivaro was good, but people always moan about cars/vans.
A Vivaro can be bought for £149pm, the cheapest.

sevenhills

Maybe this website knows best?


https://www.parkers.co.uk/vans-pickups/best/2018/medium-vans/

System

Renault Trafic/Nissan Primestar/Vauxhall Vivaro which are all the same van as well as Merc. VW are overpriced, Transits rust.

Ganga

I used to drive a Transit,the early one with rear wheel drive,serviced myself including changing timing belt,ran for nearly 10 years till the company sold it.
Had a Renault traffic,good to drive but never away from the garage ( different company,not maintained in-house ) fuel injector went,head had to come off,cost a fortune,gearbox and gearchange never right,steer clear.
The newer Transits are front wheel drive and the only bad news appears to be the clutch cost due to duel mass flywheel.

ellectrastar

foxy-stoat wrote: »

I bought a Vauxhall Vivaro LWB which has been looked after well all its life and its been 100% reliable since I have owned it.........I have since learned that they are utter !!!!!e, one of the worse vans one can buy, so dont get a Vivaro. Transporter, Merc or Transit would be were my money is spent next time.

So it was good, but then not good?! Don't quite understand it if it's been 100% reliable since you owned it how can it be rubbish?


So Renaults, Nissans and Vauxhalls are all the same thing? Similar to the VW Audi set up? Whatever happened to all these separate companies- just one big one ate them all up?


I do like the VWs and have always had VW cars but the Transporter looks a little smaller than what I'm after.


I checked the link out - this is for new models and I'm definitely buying a used one but interesting to see how they rate anyway.



I may well be using it for towing too - should I be looking for a higher BHP for this?

Brummie85

The ones I'd stay say from are the Merc vans. The number of those I spot in bad shape due to rust seems to be significantly higher then any other van.

Vauxhall, Nissan, Renault and Fiat. Same van in a slightly different dress. The Renault ones we had at my last job were prone to wiring faults and premature turbo failure.

Citroen & Peugeot. Same van. Hated every van from these I've ever had the misfortune of being handed.

Transit. Far too easy to break into and steal. Seen it done with just a pair of plumbers pliers.

Heard good things about the Toyota Proace. But they are pricey and I've personally not had an experience with one. If you look at one, I'd recommend a try before you buy.

Brummie85

Just found that the Toyota is also shard with the Citroen and Peugeot models.

Maybe the french are upping their game !

sevenhills

ellectrastar wrote: »

So Renaults, Nissans and Vauxhalls are all the same thing? Similar to the VW Audi set up? Whatever happened to all these separate companies- just one big one ate them all up?

The body of the vehicle is the same, the fittings and engine may be different.
I drive a large van in my job, my normal van is a VW Crafter, which has the same body as a Mercedes sprinter. Different controls and dashboard, not sure about other things.