Transit-sized vans

High mileage isn't that big a problem, but it is an old vehicle with quite a high mileage, and is something that needs to be considered.

Glow plug light should only come on briefly in cold weather, but it should still start without waiting for the light to go out. Most modern diesels still have glow plugs, but you'll only notice the glow plug light in cold weather.

IIRC, the V-reg Vito will have the old sprinter engine, and unless it's done a high mileage, it seems a bit strange that it's had a new engine.

If looking at transits, have a good look at the underside. Some literally fall apart with rust quite quickly (I've seen 6yo condemened due to rust), but others that are still immaculate without a hint of rust in the same time.

I wouldn't rule out the Renault Trafic/Vauxhall Vivaro/Nissan badged version, as they are fairly good vans. They're not the most robust of vans, but they are pretty reliable provided you don't abuse them. We get less problems with them than transits at work.

John Stumbles (John Stumbles ) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Be fair! J-reg is 16yo now, so 200k is not THAT much over your average mileage...

aka "diesel"...

They certainly shouldn't be on for very long.

Was it badged as "CDI"? If so, then that is a nice modern (expensive to fix, gawdhelpyou if you put petrol in) common rail diesel.

You think an 8yo Merc can get tatty, wait until you see what a similar age Tranny can look like..

If you're francophobic, then avoid Nissan & Vauxhall - because they're rebadged Renaults - and Fiat & Peugeot - because they're the same as the Citroens.

You'll be avoiding some very decent vans, and some decent bargains because plenty of other people wear the same blinkers as you, but...

Iveco Dailly.In a different league than transits and will run away from the rest on a hill. Mark.

Odd vans, they are.

Especially the long ones, which appear to be built on the same wheelbase as the short ones.

Some different bits though, beware of 4.5t ones with 3.5t badges. The weight load on the really long ones isn't that high so the short wheelbase makes them more manouverable. Quite a nice drive though & they tow beautifully.

If the cylinder heads been done then that's not a high mileage

I found the 2nd door got in the way even more, but it depends what you're putting in them

There's some nice transits out there, but if you're tight on budget the little renault/vauxhaull/nissan traffic/vivaro's quite good.

My Renault Kangoo is instant start most of the time cos the glow plug light goes out immediately. I have noticed in the recent cold snap that it stays on longer. I guess they are linked to temperature sensors nowadays?

Gearbox went in my Kangoo, main shaft snapped, no warning. Rare but acknowledged fault apparently. Takes 7:5 hours to remove & refit a gearbox. I was surprised at this. Experienced transmission guy shrugged & simply said "its French innit".

Great van other than that, but when it eventually needs upgrading I'll look at Ford.

Was it a typical gallic shrug?

In message , moray writes

From personal experience, working for a company with 60 or so Sprinters and 5 Vivaros, give the Vauxhalls a wide berth, the sprinters are all around the 120 to 140 thou mark, and very few problems. The Vivaros have an average 60 thou and are never out of the garage for wheel bearings, ball joints and suspension faults. Their drivers seats are all sagging and knackered, and the load capacity is s**te compared to a short body low top sprinter.

Main sprinter faults: drivers door hinges sag, and door check strap fails allowing doors to open too far damaging metal. Back door hinges seize, especially the 'full-fold' type, and the doors then 'pinch' out the rubber seals. Rear door's are held open by wire checks which bend and break, allowing door to swing in the breeze. Gear linkages stiffen up making gear changing hard work. Muppet drivers kerb the tyres, and out of alignment steering eats tyres for lunch.

They eat front nearside tyres even if treated nicely...

Every oldish (ie, over 5 years) Merc van I see seems to have a frightening amount of rust. IIRC some of the VWs are Merc clones.

The Citroen Dispatch and the numerable Pug / Fiat clones (all the same vehicle) seem to be very reliable if slightly smaller than an SWB transit. A lot of the panels are galvanised too. Ours has done something like 170k without trouble, however the NA diesels are very slow.

And FWIW, it coped with me driving it for commuting this summer, which meant being driven full throttle for about 10K without respite, doing about 1k a week for a while. Only major gripe with the thing is the size of the A pillar and the turning circle.

Different engines but otherwise identical on the LTs/Sprinters. So they've both got crap seats compared with an LDV Concoy;-)

No, a typical motor trade shrug :-)

...

I don't mind the garlic, just wanted to know if they're decent motors. From what I've heard & seen their MPVs are s*1t, but I didn't know if that applied to their commercials too.

Accompanied by the sound of a chisel on slate Doki, managed to produce the following words of wisdom

I picked up a Citroen C2 from Leeds the other night, if you think the pillars on a Despatch are bad, try one of those little Citroens.

Otherwise, the 1.1 but it was pretty good considering. Well specced as well, electric windows, reasonable 4 speaker stereo setup, trip computer and a few other gubbins. The pillars were horrifically bad though. Bugger all front

I am used to somewhat larger vehicles, I think that may affect things.

Look for an early Merc Sprinter. Preferably NOT an ex courier vehicle though ;-)

Ah yes. The one that precedes the quote for (mumble) hundred pounds.

One place I work at has a number of Renault Masters and Traffics and despite considerable abuse by a variety of drivers seem pretty reliable. Good to drive too.