Discussion
Having heard about the problems people are having with the mechanics on the new Transit, friend included, i decided to order the VW Transporter.
Went into 3 different VW Van centres and was basically overlooked, so decided to give Swiss Vans a try.
Spoke to a lovely chap there called Tom Jones (no joke) and i must say, in all my years of buying vehicles, he was the most helpful salesman i've come across.
Anyways i've gone for a T5 T32 DSG 4Motion LWB Kombi with the full Sportline kit.
The only downside is the lack of demos available to test drive, so i've committed without actually sitting in one.
And the other downside being that i won't take delivery until 1st March 2015. The up side is that it'll be '15 plate.
Pete
Went into 3 different VW Van centres and was basically overlooked, so decided to give Swiss Vans a try.
Spoke to a lovely chap there called Tom Jones (no joke) and i must say, in all my years of buying vehicles, he was the most helpful salesman i've come across.
Anyways i've gone for a T5 T32 DSG 4Motion LWB Kombi with the full Sportline kit.
The only downside is the lack of demos available to test drive, so i've committed without actually sitting in one.
And the other downside being that i won't take delivery until 1st March 2015. The up side is that it'll be '15 plate.
Pete
flatso said:
Vans offer a lot of bang for the buck, especially if you have kids and want to travel a lot with them. With speed cameras now more or less ubiqutous in almost all european countries (Germany still offers a bit of freedom, Gott sei Dank), the name of the game ist now space (which translates into a form of comfort) and versatility. I am also looking into vans, prefferably some light camper style; the ultimate would be a fullsize van with off-road capability and sleeping for 2 adults + 2 kids, a small galley and shower.
By the way, the Crafter is basically a Sprinter with a VW badge. They roll off the same plant in Düsseldorf as far as I know.
Don't forge,t in the UK at least, you're limited to a lower speed than you are in a car.By the way, the Crafter is basically a Sprinter with a VW badge. They roll off the same plant in Düsseldorf as far as I know.
2manycars said:
Having heard about the problems people are having with the mechanics on the new Transit, friend included, i decided to order the VW Transporter.
Went into 3 different VW Van centres and was basically overlooked, so decided to give Swiss Vans a try.
Spoke to a lovely chap there called Tom Jones (no joke) and i must say, in all my years of buying vehicles, he was the most helpful salesman i've come across.
Anyways i've gone for a T5 T32 DSG 4Motion LWB Kombi with the full Sportline kit.
The only downside is the lack of demos available to test drive, so i've committed without actually sitting in one.
And the other downside being that i won't take delivery until 1st March 2015. The up side is that it'll be '15 plate.
Pete
I won't tell you my stories about the transporter then, and why I'm now in a custom Went into 3 different VW Van centres and was basically overlooked, so decided to give Swiss Vans a try.
Spoke to a lovely chap there called Tom Jones (no joke) and i must say, in all my years of buying vehicles, he was the most helpful salesman i've come across.
Anyways i've gone for a T5 T32 DSG 4Motion LWB Kombi with the full Sportline kit.
The only downside is the lack of demos available to test drive, so i've committed without actually sitting in one.
And the other downside being that i won't take delivery until 1st March 2015. The up side is that it'll be '15 plate.
Pete
BMWBen said:
2manycars said:
Having heard about the problems people are having with the mechanics on the new Transit, friend included, i decided to order the VW Transporter.
Went into 3 different VW Van centres and was basically overlooked, so decided to give Swiss Vans a try.
Spoke to a lovely chap there called Tom Jones (no joke) and i must say, in all my years of buying vehicles, he was the most helpful salesman i've come across.
Anyways i've gone for a T5 T32 DSG 4Motion LWB Kombi with the full Sportline kit.
The only downside is the lack of demos available to test drive, so i've committed without actually sitting in one.
And the other downside being that i won't take delivery until 1st March 2015. The up side is that it'll be '15 plate.
Pete
I won't tell you my stories about the transporter then, and why I'm now in a custom Went into 3 different VW Van centres and was basically overlooked, so decided to give Swiss Vans a try.
Spoke to a lovely chap there called Tom Jones (no joke) and i must say, in all my years of buying vehicles, he was the most helpful salesman i've come across.
Anyways i've gone for a T5 T32 DSG 4Motion LWB Kombi with the full Sportline kit.
The only downside is the lack of demos available to test drive, so i've committed without actually sitting in one.
And the other downside being that i won't take delivery until 1st March 2015. The up side is that it'll be '15 plate.
Pete
japaneseskoda said:
Truckosaurus said:
Sadly, it's been several years since the Transit was built in the UK. Current ones come from Turkey.
Yes the Tranny, they are built in Asia now. If you want british buy a VauxhallIs the Renault built in England too? So cool if it is
Yes they are, but the Renault variant is better specced and you can have one that looks like this...
Butter Face said:
japaneseskoda said:
Truckosaurus said:
Sadly, it's been several years since the Transit was built in the UK. Current ones come from Turkey.
Yes the Tranny, they are built in Asia now. If you want british buy a Vauxhalljapaneseskoda said:
Is the Renault built in England too? So cool if it is
Yes they are, but the Renault variant is better specced and you can have one that looks like this...
Not now, I think the previous variant was built on the same line as the Vivaro but the Trafic is now built in France I believe. I would have preferred to buy the Vivaro but the spec is far inferior to the Trafic and it's more expensive to contract hire. The vauxhall dealer I spoke to was pretty disappointed with the new Vivaro spec compared to the Trafic.Butter Face said:
japaneseskoda said:
Truckosaurus said:
Sadly, it's been several years since the Transit was built in the UK. Current ones come from Turkey.
Yes the Tranny, they are built in Asia now. If you want british buy a Vauxhalldeeen said:
Interesting.
I drive a 2012 transit on 86,000 miles and a VW crafter on 152,000. The VW still drives like new, taut suspension, decent brakes, firm seat, etc. The transit feels shagged already and has already eaten 1 oil pump.
Now I realise that was the previous model transit (did they carry the engines over?) but after my experience, if I was putting my money in, it would never be a transit, unless I was going to move it on in less than 50,000 miles and the low initial price / decent resale made it impossible to ignore.
The company that leases the VWs rates them over Mercedes, also.
Similar experiences. I had three Transits with a previous company and they all felt knackered at around 70k. The 06> on models were horribly unreliable too. EGRs failed regularly, as did starter motors and various other issues, not to mention rust!I drive a 2012 transit on 86,000 miles and a VW crafter on 152,000. The VW still drives like new, taut suspension, decent brakes, firm seat, etc. The transit feels shagged already and has already eaten 1 oil pump.
Now I realise that was the previous model transit (did they carry the engines over?) but after my experience, if I was putting my money in, it would never be a transit, unless I was going to move it on in less than 50,000 miles and the low initial price / decent resale made it impossible to ignore.
The company that leases the VWs rates them over Mercedes, also.
I own a Toyota Hi-ace now, which sailed through an MOT with no advisories at 8 years old and 120k. Its horribly dated, slow and thirsty. But it actually drives quite well, is utterly reliable and feels much tighter than a Transit half its age. But it is solely a work vehicle, I wouldn't entertain it as a lifestyle vehicle!
I was disappointed by a 14 Plate Transporter 9 Seater I hired recently. It was nicely finished, but utterly average in every other aspect. The seating and pedal positions were dreadful and it triggered my reoccurring back pain quite severely. It was hellish for the passengers as it was a hot day and they had no openable windows in the rear and we were freezing up front with the AC on full!
Have the injector and gearbox issues been addressed with the new Trafic/Vivaro? I'd probably have opted for one of them had it not been for the horror stories!
Rickyy said:
Similar experiences. I had three Transits with a previous company and they all felt knackered at around 70k. The 06> on models were horribly unreliable too. EGRs failed regularly, as did starter motors and various other issues, not to mention rust!
I own a Toyota Hi-ace now, which sailed through an MOT with no advisories at 8 years old and 120k. Its horribly dated, slow and thirsty. But it actually drives quite well, is utterly reliable and feels much tighter than a Transit half its age. But it is solely a work vehicle, I wouldn't entertain it as a lifestyle vehicle!
I was disappointed by a 14 Plate Transporter 9 Seater I hired recently. It was nicely finished, but utterly average in every other aspect. The seating and pedal positions were dreadful and it triggered my reoccurring back pain quite severely. It was hellish for the passengers as it was a hot day and they had no openable windows in the rear and we were freezing up front with the AC on full!
Have the injector and gearbox issues been addressed with the new Trafic/Vivaro? I'd probably have opted for one of them had it not been for the horror stories!
I've only had my Trafic for two years but it has been totally reliable. The new model I'm getting has the new 1.6 Bi turbo engine so hopefully will be just as reliable.I own a Toyota Hi-ace now, which sailed through an MOT with no advisories at 8 years old and 120k. Its horribly dated, slow and thirsty. But it actually drives quite well, is utterly reliable and feels much tighter than a Transit half its age. But it is solely a work vehicle, I wouldn't entertain it as a lifestyle vehicle!
I was disappointed by a 14 Plate Transporter 9 Seater I hired recently. It was nicely finished, but utterly average in every other aspect. The seating and pedal positions were dreadful and it triggered my reoccurring back pain quite severely. It was hellish for the passengers as it was a hot day and they had no openable windows in the rear and we were freezing up front with the AC on full!
Have the injector and gearbox issues been addressed with the new Trafic/Vivaro? I'd probably have opted for one of them had it not been for the horror stories!
I know it seems to be generally recognised that reliability wise Transits are not what they were.
But is there actually such a thing as a reliable van these days.
Ive heard horror stories on ALL OF them at some point or other.
The exception seems to be the Toyota Hiace - which a) isn't offered in Europe anymore - and b) aren't so nice to drive by all accounts.
Are Fiat Ducatos and their Pug and Citroen sisters any good these days????.
But is there actually such a thing as a reliable van these days.
Ive heard horror stories on ALL OF them at some point or other.
The exception seems to be the Toyota Hiace - which a) isn't offered in Europe anymore - and b) aren't so nice to drive by all accounts.
Are Fiat Ducatos and their Pug and Citroen sisters any good these days????.
In saying that my sister has a Nissan Primastar - same van as old model Traffic and Vivaro just a different badge for her work - and I haven't heard her complain of any issues.
Actually that's not quite true - the engine management light came on one day as she was driving - and by luck the next town she was traveling to - had an Opel dealer (we are in Ireland) in it - she popped in - van sorted in an hour.
Given how critical the van is for her business (specially kitted out - so you can't exact go to hertz and hire a replacement lol) - im sure id have heard noise if something big went in it.
Haven't a clue what they are like normally - but I warned her off them when she bought it originally (she ignored me ) because as someone else mentioned earlier - they had a reputation for gearbox issues.
Actually that's not quite true - the engine management light came on one day as she was driving - and by luck the next town she was traveling to - had an Opel dealer (we are in Ireland) in it - she popped in - van sorted in an hour.
Given how critical the van is for her business (specially kitted out - so you can't exact go to hertz and hire a replacement lol) - im sure id have heard noise if something big went in it.
Haven't a clue what they are like normally - but I warned her off them when she bought it originally (she ignored me ) because as someone else mentioned earlier - they had a reputation for gearbox issues.
DrDeAtH said:
The full size transit is a pig ugly beast. Buy a sprinter. Looks much nicer. Probably better built too.
The Transit really is ugly, but after massive discounts, it is a no brainer. List price is v similar to Sprinter but after 34 per cent discount it came out about £4,000 cheaper, so have ordered a long wheelbase dropside and will see how it goes. The last dropside we bought was a Sprinter, it's been fairly unreliable, drivers complain that it's gutless and it is always the last vehicle to be taken out when thry have a choice. DrDeAtH said:
The full size transit is a pig ugly beast. Buy a sprinter. Looks much nicer. Probably better built too.
The Transit really is ugly, but after massive discounts, it is a no brainer. List price is v similar to Sprinter but after 34 per cent discount it came out about £4,000 cheaper, so have ordered a long wheelbase dropside and will see how it goes. The last dropside we bought was a Sprinter, it's been fairly unreliable, drivers complain that it's gutless and it is always the last vehicle to be taken out when thry have a choice. Little Lofty said:
japaneseskoda said:
Is the Renault built in England too? So cool if it is
Yes they are, but the Renault variant is better specced and you can have one that looks like this...
Not now, I think the previous variant was built on the same line as the Vivaro but the Trafic is now built in France I believe. I would have preferred to buy the Vivaro but the spec is far inferior to the Trafic and it's more expensive to contract hire. The vauxhall dealer I spoke to was pretty disappointed with the new Vivaro spec compared to the Trafic.Butter Face said:
japaneseskoda said:
Truckosaurus said:
Sadly, it's been several years since the Transit was built in the UK. Current ones come from Turkey.
Yes the Tranny, they are built in Asia now. If you want british buy a VauxhallSir Fergie said:
I know it seems to be generally recognised that reliability wise Transits are not what they were.
But is there actually such a thing as a reliable van these days.
Ive heard horror stories on ALL OF them at some point or other.
The exception seems to be the Toyota Hiace - which a) isn't offered in Europe anymore - and b) aren't so nice to drive by all accounts.
Are Fiat Ducatos and their Pug and Citroen sisters any good these days????.
The Hiace isn't as nice to drive as modern vans, but the chassis was pretty much unchanged since it was introduced in 1996. The D4D engine versions are much nicer to drive though. I don't actually think it's a bad drive, but Transporters and Transits do feel a lot more car like in comparison and the Toyota's interior is hideously dated, the heater controls don't even illuminate at night!But is there actually such a thing as a reliable van these days.
Ive heard horror stories on ALL OF them at some point or other.
The exception seems to be the Toyota Hiace - which a) isn't offered in Europe anymore - and b) aren't so nice to drive by all accounts.
Are Fiat Ducatos and their Pug and Citroen sisters any good these days????.
What you state above about the horror stories is why I ended up with the Toyota though! I concluded that every van had some sort of issue:
Transporter = Unjustifiably expensive
Vito and Sprinter = Rust!
Transit = Rust and unreliable
Trafic/Vivaro = Injector issue and gearbox issues on 6spd models
Boxer/Jumper/Ducato = Gearbox issues and all look knackered at a young age!
Keen to see how the new Customs turn out, as they are perfect for what I need and could be a potential purchase in a few years.
What is going on with these new vans? I've got 58 plate vivaro which I think looks alright but the new vivaro/trafic looks bloody awful. I really don't think I could get used to it, it just makes me feel sad looking at it. Big Transit is plain offensive looking.
My next van will have to be a Transporter.
My next van will have to be a Transporter.
japaneseskoda said:
Yes the Tranny, they are built in Asia now. If you want british buy a Vauxhall
Ah yes the Vauxhall, it's a British built version of a French van Some old shape Trafic vans were built in Luton, but near the end of the production Renault pulled the build and built them in Spain as Vauxhall weren't great at building them, and there were lots of threats of strikes when GM were talking about closing plants in the UK. The Trafic is built in France now
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