5-6 seat Crew Cab - Vauxhall, Fiat, Renault -does it matter?

5-6 seat Crew Cab - Vauxhall, Fiat, Renault -does it matter?

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weeve

Original Poster:

181 posts

17 months

Thursday 9th November 2023
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Any views on here on which is preferred? Criteria are reliability, safety, able to drive around without being completely deafened at 70mph and to pass by unnoticed by the general population . I know I like the look of one of them less than the other two - but otherwise they seem much of much-ness otherwise. Circa 150bhp or little more. Nothing fancy. Will be deisel and a keeper to run into the ground. Needs very few toys, and the less style over substance the better. Low roof, long wb Renault Traffic size

Needs to be an auto as Im old and lazy. If its bought its for for personal use...few long trips but 99% of the time trotting around with sports stuff at weekends and the old bit of furniture buying.

Had a nearly new Caravelle Exec back in 2015 (when they were about half the price) but now it needs to be a van with a bulkhead to hide/dump stuff and race gear. Thank you.

Edited by weeve on Thursday 9th November 15:19

weeve

Original Poster:

181 posts

17 months

Thursday 9th November 2023
quotequote all
Thanks. Don’t want the Ford really… and prefer to avoid merc and vws as would prefer to look as low rent as possible whilst getting a nearly new one. Budget isn’t too important (within reason) as it’s a keeper. The renault traffic long with bulk head seems decent on the AT photos size wise … bigger than the Proace I googled but perhaps there is more than one of the latter and I got the dimensions of the wrong one? Really need a decent space and a bulkhead plus seats to seat 4 at a minimum. Any positive views on the Italian/French versions?

weeve

Original Poster:

181 posts

17 months

Thursday 9th November 2023
quotequote all
I’ve loooked again. Indeed there is one bigger Proace with not too many miles on AT. It’s a manual but will check if they do an auto on their website. It’s more money by looks of it than a Traffic but 10 years warranty sounds good to me if I service with them….
Still interested in views on the continental ones if anyone knows…

weeve

Original Poster:

181 posts

17 months

Saturday 11th November 2023
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Thanks for this. Actually just seen it now but went to look a bit today. Found the Toyota and a Ford…both manual so not for me but wanted to see what was what. Ford was fine, but seemed pricey for what it was. Better read up on which engine might actually last 10years. With the Toyota I didn’t like the seats at all and there wasn’t a lot of instant joy.. not a deal breaker but bit meh although clearly the warranty deal is good. I will try a Citroen/Fiat in next week or two. I might be eating my words yet and tootle off back to German van sellers, we’ll see…. I did sit in pretty new Land Cruiser for the fun of it as have been to some faraway places in very old ones. Was really rather nice. Just need to resign as Dad Taxi and swop the kids for some land…

weeve

Original Poster:

181 posts

17 months

Tuesday 2nd January
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Had to do some real work as opposed to van pontification for a living so not yet sorted. Have sat in most vans on the list though and low and behold (what a surprise) …the lwb/xlwb Merc and VW shuttle (caravelle too short, given up on a bulk head..) are the most desirable (to me). Also the most expensive … i almost bought a Vito from an eager salesman but backed away as was fried from working (and too much cheese) as was proper money and thought I might regret it as it was too nice really. Should do it before the outdoor brigade start buying again for spring though as the kids and stty weather have re decorated the back seats on the daily with various forms of mud and putting bikes on racks is wearing thinner than ever.
I’m going to try a sprinter as per the above advise next. Might be too big for the narrow roads around here (Lakes). Never driven one. My brother has an ancient one which was bought for £1 (really) about 30 years ago. Welded (by him) it un-died and it still carries stuff to his small sailing boat each year and otherwise just annoys the neighbours by glaring at them on his drive….I’m also going to to check out a cheap pick up as an interim measure and just hoof the crap in the back for a bit. Plenty of vans with 3 seats around by me for sale but leaving one child to rattle around in the back is apparently not the done thing …

Edited by weeve on Tuesday 2nd January 22:17