Anyone on here bought a new-shape Renault Trafic yet?

[Ireland]

I'm looking at buying a new van shortly and it'll be just myself driving it so I'm thinking of one of the new-shape Renault Trafic vans, the 140 bhp Sport one is the one I'd go for.

I've driven it and it's not earth shatteringly fast but should be ok for what I want.

I had a 174 bhp Transporter up to last year and would ideally go for another one but I'm finding it hard to justify the 25% extra for the equivalent engine size with a more basic spec or the 50% extra for the 180 bhp one so the Renault is ticking a lot of boxes for me.

I am however afraid of one thing ..... it's a Renault

😱

What's your experiences of them so far folks?

Any problems or issues with them?

[DrDeAtH]

1.6 litres... Don't fancy that much, especially if the van is loaded right up.

[Ireland]

Yeah I know, that's a bit daunting alright



It'll be interesting to see what VW do when they release the T6 in June, I wonder will that be a 1.6 as well?

[daydotz]

It's a twin turbo job so may not be as bad as you fear

[DrDeAtH]

daydotz said:

It's a twin turbo job so may not be as bad as you fear

Highly stressed, small capacity engine in a van that can weigh 2.9 tons laden. I don't see it lasting too long without failure of some sort.

Fine in a car, but a van... More capacity would be better with the same specific output.

[daydotz]

You maybe right sadly this is the way it's going have you looked at the Vivrao just incase theirs a better offer

[bzh1p9]

and built in the UK

[Ireland]

I've looked at them alright (they're badged as Opel over here, no idea where they're actually built) but the Renault is priced about €2k cheaper for the same spec

I've sort of made my mind up to get the old thing I've been using patched up so I can hold off for a few months and ideally buy the T6 Transporter when it comes out (being launched in June with the first units likely to be delivered in September)

I've had several of them through the years and definitely prefer the VW to the Renault / Nissan / Opel stuff plus they do decent size engines



At least I'll have the van I want rather than knowing I've compromised and bought something I wasn't 100% sure of

[DrDeAtH]

Opel badged is built in luton, as is the Nissan

[Fast Bug]

All of the van engines will be downsizing sooner or later

I've driven it fully loaded and it's fine, long term reliability is too early to call though. Where in Europe are you based? Check if they run the Renault Business Promise, if they do Renault will keep you on the road at their own cost (via an Enterprise van in mainland UK) if there's a warranty issue for the life of the warranty.

[Nickbrapp]

Have you concidered the new transit custom? It's a very nifty van. Fold flat roof rack etc.

I've driven the new shape traffic and it's much the same as the old one I think. Wolly steering but decient punch.

[bzh1p9]

DrDeAtH said:

Opel badged is built in luton, as is the Nissan

Sorry you are not correct , The new vehicle , UK is building GM only , Renault are building in their plant in France , and Nissan are not taking the new Van .

[powerstroke]

DrDeAtH said:

daydotz said:

It's a twin turbo job so may not be as bad as you fear

Highly stressed, small capacity engine in a van that can weigh 2.9 tons laden. I don't see it lasting too long without failure of some sort.

Fine in a car, but a van... More capacity would be better with the same specific output.

I think it will be OK if you disregard the stupidity long service intervals change the oil every six months or 6 K unless its on a lease then its someone else's problem when it gets to the wrong side of 60k !!! Two turbos with gooey dirty oil $$$£££££!ouch

[daydotz]

Have you considered a swb master id guess they would be similar size & have a 2.3 lump

Edited by daydotz on Thursday 12th March 15:13

[Fast Bug]

SWB Master will be more expensive to buy and run.

[rufmeister]

I am considering these currently, ours will be run at max payload most of the time, and yes, the size of the engine worried me, relying on turbo boost to do most of the work, but they do come with a 4 year warranty.

[Alucidnation]

Fast Bug said:

All of the van engines will be downsizing sooner or later

Interesting you say that, as the new VW caddy has done away with the 1.9D, and are now 2.0D (& smaller petrol) engines in various states of tune, the highest being 150BHP for the diesel.

And it is also rumoured the new Transporter may have a 230BHP 2.0D option!

[rufmeister]

Anyone got real world experience of these with a decent load on? We will have 800kg most of the time. Be good to know as I am close to getting one.

[TimCAP]

As part of my job I've driven all the recent LCV newcomers at various events in Europe (I've also been to Hannover to see the T6 but sworn to secrecy!).

One of the most pertinent comments above is that engine size is less relevant these days. Times have changed but it is a challenge for manufacturers to 'educate' the buying public that this is the case. It's pretty safe to rely on PS although those who drive fully laden much of the time should also pay attention to torque figures.

[Little Lofty]

I've had one of these for 5 months now, mines the Biturbo120 and apart from a couple of 'new model' niggles its great, much much better than my previous 2.0 115 Trafic, much quieter, and amazingly for the size of engine has much more grunt, fuel economy is also 10-15% better. Two work friends of mine just got exactly the same van for £159 per month on a 18 month contract hire, mine was slightly more at around £180 for 24 months, the better deal came out just as mine arrived. I've had Renault vans for the last 10 years and have never had a serious problem with any of them, brakes and tyres are all I've ever forked out for.