Day vans - T4 v Vito

[Garett]

Has anyone owned either? Or can anyone give us any pointers to look for, there seems to be less info online for the Vito as the T4 is more popular. Is the T4 the better van or are they just more popular because they are 'cool'?

We're currently looking at getting a 'day van' for throwing the bikes in and going on camping trips away. We're mainly looking at vans that are partially converted or people carrier versions.

After initially looking at Mazda Bongos but discounting them due to insurance purposes amongst other reasons we drew our shortlist to the VW T4 or the Vito mk1.

Our budget is around £3K. This seems to buy an average VW or a pretty nice Merc. The VWs seem to have a bit of a 'scene tax' on them due to amount you see slammed on RS4 alloys but we're not interested in that side of things one bit. Steelies on m+s tyres will be fitted to help with some light off roading up dirt tracks or muddy fields should we have too.

As far as I see it so far...

VW
+ wide choice, robust engines, hold value
- rusty arches, more expensive to buy

Merc
+ better value
- parts are expensive, can rust badly, smaller inside due to rwd (edit: not RWD)

Cheers!

Edited by Garett on Sunday 16th December 18:11

[Garett]

Bump anyone?

[anonymous-user]

I can only comment on a Vito - the VW I had was too old to count! The Vito - lovely smooth engine and auto box, fantastic driving position, handling dire, but then it's a van. Rust is by far the biggest problem, my Vito was still a very solid and reliable drive at 180k miles. Looked good on a set of alloys. Sliding doors both sides is a real practical bonus. Lack of bulkhead and flat floor make an excellent base for a conversion. Very well equipped for a van, with electric windows, AC, CD etc. Mine was a green 51 reg rusted to hell but mechanically sound, I think I bought it for £3k and sold it for £1200. Maybe £1400, I can't remember exactly.

I'd have another. I don't think I'd give a VW a second look at that price range to be honest.

[Garett]

Cheers Bob. We looked at a Vito today, in the same green yours was I'd imagine. It'd had a recent respray so it looked pretty good but you could still see a few spots where the rust had bubbled up previously, but it was only superficial rust and didn't look structural.

It was certainly in better condition that either of the T4s we've seen so far, they just seem a bit overpriced for what you actually get.

[Little Lofty]

I've looked at Vito's a couple of times and both times I've been put off by the rust problems they have.If the one you've just looked at has had a recent respray I'd bet it wont be long before it takes hold again.

[Garett]

I've no doubt it would, but to be fair the T4s I've been looking were rusty too, albeit in the usual places you would expect i.e. rear arches etc.

[telecat]

I'm involved in Motorcycle Trials and many lads have vans for carrying the Bikes discreetly to events. Most of the mk1 Vitos are now with the younger lads and have been well looked after. They do seem to go forever but as some have said, some of them have fallen victim to rust. If they do "break out" then it seems they go quickly. The VW Vans do seem to be pretty good but it has to be said aren't as popular. They do tend to be much more expensive to buy for similar mileages condition. Most of those not bought as "Combis" from new came from the AA and seem to have disappeared quickly. The New Vito is a better van than the old and some will be in your price range. They also do not rust as badly. Many are buying the Vivaro/Trafic/Primastar as so long as the Van is well looked after they seem to be that much cheaper. Just watch out for the gearbox. Heavily used ones can be a problem.

[cptsideways]

Vito = Rust they dont last long

[martin mrt]

T4s rust, Vitos rot there is a significant difference

Based on that alone I would be buying a T4

[With these feet]

I looked at the Vito/T4 vans earlier in the year and ended up with a transit.

Neighbour at work has a traveliner - basically a Vito with more seats.
Wiring on it is basically st. It eats itself, they used cheap wiring, wheel speed wiring is forever failing.
The van always has some form of electrical issue from one week to the next.

T4's certainly charge a premium and most have intergallactic mileages as well.
Lots of ex service vans about some better than others.
IMO the T4 is the better vehicle purely in that it will hold onto most of its value due to its popularity and motor factors keep the majority of parts in stock.

[egor110]

What insurance issues have you had with bongos?

We've insured ours with rac via compare the market this year, last year was admiral and before that we used a jap import specialist broker.

[bristolracer]

Ive got a Vivaro(same as primastar and traffic) for work six speed gearbox its quiet and drives well.
£3k should get a tidy one, dont really see rusty ones about, there are firms out there who will put bonded windows in for £150 a pop. Mines got 130k on it and it does regular uk wide trips no problem and will keep up with the lane 3 audis!

I have also just bought a camper based on a toyota regius and did look at some vws, they are subject to a massive scene tax and people are offering t4s with more miles than the starship enterprise for silly money, not bad vans but a bit agricultural compared to modern stuff like vivaros, mk7 transits etc. toyate hiace may be worth a look to.

[egor110]

bristolracer said:

Ive got a Vivaro(same as primastar and traffic) for work six speed gearbox its quiet and drives well.
£3k should get a tidy one, dont really see rusty ones about, there are firms out there who will put bonded windows in for £150 a pop. Mines got 130k on it and it does regular uk wide trips no problem and will keep up with the lane 3 audis!

I have also just bought a camper based on a toyota regius and did look at some vws, they are subject to a massive scene tax and people are offering t4s with more miles than the starship enterprise for silly money, not bad vans but a bit agricultural compared to modern stuff like vivaros, mk7 transits etc. toyate hiace may be worth a look to.

You didn't go for a bongo then. How does your regius compare?

[bristolracer]

egor110 said:

You didn't go for a bongo then. How does your regius compare?

Ill tell you when i pick it up next week!

We went to see some bongos and they had the regius there too with a new conversion in it, it just felt roomier and more headroom in the back. Regius won the day (but its nothing to do with the 3ltr turbo engine )

[egor110]

bristolracer said:

Ill tell you when i pick it up next week!

We went to see some bongos and they had the regius there too with a new conversion in it, it just felt roomier and more headroom in the back. Regius won the day (but its nothing to do with the 3ltr turbo engine )

Yeah the bongo is narrow, we only sleep in it 1 or 2 nights normally.

It'll be interesting to see what mpg the 3ltr engine gives you.

Got any trips planned for 2013?

[bristolracer]

egor110 said:

Yeah the bongo is narrow, we only sleep in it 1 or 2 nights normally.

It'll be interesting to see what mpg the 3ltr engine gives you.

Got any trips planned for 2013?

I believe from other regius users 24 to 30 mpg is doable with a light right foot which is maybe slightly worse than the bongo, i may see whats possible on the veg oil.

As for trips bodyboarding in cornwall is on the cards, wales and maybe france in the summer!

[EighteenMPG]

I've owned a Vito for a while now, and bought it after looking for similar budget T4's for months. Scene tax is one problem for T4's, as is a lack of refinement in my opinion. The Vito is big enough to squeeze a double bed sized mattress in for camping, really well specced and does 300 miles for £50 of diesel.

Yeah it's a bit tatty in terms of corrosion but nothing (touch wood) structural and this reputation is 100% the reason why you can pick them up for sub £1500 on an X plate with 80k FSH

Good luck.

[nagsheadwarrior]

Ive sold campers based on all of the above t4s are bombproof and drive great but i couldnt hugely split it from the vito and at that budget id buy the best of either you run into.
Personally a swb trafic or similar would tempt me or the hiace panel van is proper bombproof and a leftfield choice.

[E31Shrew]

egor110 said:

What insurance issues have you had with bongos?

We've insured ours with rac via compare the market this year, last year was admiral and before that we used a jap import specialist broker.

I pay £125.00 pa for a 2.5 V6 Petrol Bongo...Strange that youve had issues

Gratuitous pic of said thing!

[Triumph Man]

Garett said:

Merc
+ better value
- parts are expensive, can rust badly, smaller inside due to rwd (edit: not RWD)

Cheers!

Edited by Garett on Sunday 16th December 18:11

The current Vitos are RWD...