Mercedes vito

[monkeynut11]

Hi, I'm looking for a vito, dont have a huge budget so the ones I am looking at are around 10 years old.

I'm just wondering what peoples opinions of them are? Also I have seen one that the interior and exterior look fantastic but has done 212000 miles, would you recommend or should I leave well alone?

Thanks

[anonymous-user]

When someone says Mercedes vans I think rust. I think the mechanicals are robust but I've seen 3yr old vitos and sprinters that have shameful amounts of rust - I'm suspicious of one with so many miles with good bodywork!

[monkeynut11]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, seems alot of them have a huge amount of rust, but there is the odd one without, its just they seem to sell within hours of being advertised!

[anonymous-user]

Given that most are rustbuckets, its perhaps fair to assume that those that aren't have been very well looked after?

[Ted Rolson]

yellowbentines said:

Given that most are rustbuckets, its perhaps fair to assume that those that aren't have been very well looked after?

Im a groundworker, lots of mud, water, sand etcMy old firm had 2 sprinters, 3 vitos and 4 trannysCannot fault mechanically (Mercs) ! But oh' hell did they rust!The trannys had habits of getting stuck in gear and eating clutches.We actually spent less on body repairs for the mercs than the trannys body & mechanical repairs.You might want to get a small sprinter, great vans 10/10!

[Pontoneer]

I have a friend who bought a Vito to run as his private car ( he plays in a band and needs a van to lug music equipment around ) , now only a year old has been trouble free and still looks new .

A previous employer of mine ran a fleet of a dozen or so Merc vans - at first 208D / 508D vans which were robust , reliable and lasted well , no rust in the time we kept them . When the Sprinters came out they did not seem to be as solidly engineered as the older vans and I seem to remember a few mechanical niggles but nothing serious ; I know now some people who run older Sprinters and that it can take a lot of work on the handbrake to get through the MOT .

Despite being a Mercedes fan and a lifelong driver of their cars , besides a few vans , I would suggest that if you are looking for a 'better' van , also take a look at Volkswagen before you make your mind up - VW are also very well engineered , an LT probably bigger than you need , but the smaller Transporter range very good and available with the Syncro 4x4 system which could be useful for you if you go off road onto muddy sites etc . The VW's do hold their prices quite well , so probably not an abundance of cheap ones about .

[4xTrader]

Hi,

I have a Vito 05 about 75,000 miles and had the car cleaned professionally every 2 weeks and it has rust in a few places. Apart from that, its been great!