Vans....

[GingerWizard]

I need to get a new one. Some of my blokes got rear ended by a clio over the weekend, the van was a nissan primstar (the p had fallen off so it always made me smile) but i think its a scrap job. (chassie floor twisted)

So I have 8k-10k to spend, but where to place the money?

Requirements are:

Fuel efficent.
Robust.
Cheap to maintain. parts/easy of work
Must be tranist sized...
about 1 ton load weight.

My father likes the Vauxhal Movano??? I am saying Ford Transit.


No Mercs, or French Vehicles (we don't get along! )

So can anyone add anything i should be looking at. I need to purchase this week, on finance, in Kent.

Any thought or helpful dealers would be greatly recieved.

ta

Gwiz

[redgriff500]

Transit, Toyota Hiace, VW Transporter were on my list.

You'll get most money back on a Transporter when you sell it.

[MX7]

If being robust is important, the Transit. If it's for light work, the Movano.

I guess you know that the Movano is a Renault?

Edited by MX7 on Monday 11th April 12:23

[AdeTuono]

MX7 said:

I guess you know that the Movano is a Renault?

Edited by MX7 on Monday 11th April 12:23

As is the Primstar.

[PH lurker]

For Transist sized vans, my dad always went for the transit and it tended to work out well.
I still know of his 2002 LWB High Roof 125 ps(?) 2.5 he bought new and it's still working hard with no trouble.
Plenty of dealers too.

[TAHodgson]

A few good friends of mine with a few vans in their fleets are still of the opinion that if you need a specific van, find that specific transit.

[supersingle]

If you go within the m25 make sure whatever van you get is Euro4 compliant due to the LEZ.

[Hudson]

AdeTuono said:

As is the Primstar.

Nissan are french? or have i misread something :P

[AdeTuono]

Hudson said:

AdeTuono said:

As is the Primstar.

Nissan are french? or have i misread something :P

Suggest you have a look at a Renault Trafic (sp), Vauxhall Vivaro and a Nissan Primastar side-by-side. You'd swear that they were all English/French/Japanese (delete which-ever country you refuse to buy from)

[v8will]

Hudson said:

Nissan are french? or have i misread something :P

Nissan have been using Renault engines/platforms for years. The latest Micra is basically a Clio and their complete range uses Renault diesel units IIRC.

[Lets Torque]

I would get a Vauxhall Vivaro or VW Transporter.

[wackojacko]

Vivaro
or Transporter, have had both and are very very good.

So much nicer to driver than a Transit !

[Jazoli]

I wouldn't buy a Vivaro, I have had mine nearly 3 years, it's had so far.

An engine
A cylinder Head
5 Alternators
Lots of suspension parts
2 radiators
Most of the hoses replaced
3 Turbo's
and lots of other niggly jobs in its 150k miles.

Thankfully its a lease van but they are very very cheaply made pieces of crap, we have 60 of them in the company and loads of them have had similar issues to mine.

I'd be buying a transporter personally.

[stuttgartmetal]

Boring but true.

The transporter started life in the vw factory, it was just a type 1 [beetle] chasis used for moving kit around ze factory.

[papercup]

VW Transporter

[wildoliver]

If you like your staff Transporter or Sprinter.

That said I'd probably buy a tranny but that's a whole different thread

[rpguk]

I picked up a delivery mileage poverty-spec transit for a shade over £10k from a main dealer who also threw in wood panelling. Apparently nice enough (I've not driven it myself) but not quite as well put together as the transit connect the driver had before.

[DrDeAtH]

The newer Transits are not the best in build quality, probably why they are so cheap. Oh, and the FWD ones lose traction as soon as possible... As previously mentioned, the trafic/vivaro/primastar are all french based and built in Luton... Best to go for the Transporter or a Vito

[PaulGT3]

Transit, the 06 onwards ones are nice to drive also. On par with a Sprinter anyway and a lot more robust and reliable.

My 58 plate sprinter in 1 year and 26k miles had a whining rear diff, juddering clutch, knackered gearbox (lost 6th gear with a large bang), door hinge fault (door stayed wide open at side of road and wouldnt shut leaving me stuck at side of road), electric steering column fault (had to hang off wheel before you could start van), hole in drivers seat and it kept blowing bulbs constantly.

My 59 plate one it got replaced with is holding up better but at 36k miles isn't driving anything like it did new, has again a juddering clutch and the keyfob broke meaning again I was stuck at side of the road as it works as an electronic key.

Fair enough residential couriering is a hard life on a van but pretty poor for such new vans, an owner driver uses an 05 plate transit with well over 200k on it and it has never let him down.

[jamiebae]

I hate Sprinters, rubbish gear change and lots of potential faults. Transits are the most popular vans for a reason, I have a 04 plate with 200k on the clock and still runs really well. They're cheap to fix, comfy and great to drive, you need a very good reason not to buy one!