Relay, Boxer or Ducato
Discussion
I am considering buying one of the above to convert into a campervan. I have chosen just these three as they are under 6m and wider than a VW or MB. Looking at spending around 5-7k max and hopefully will get a decent van for that. BUT the frog vans are quite similar and the italian has a different engine.
What should I be looking for and what and why would you recommend your choice. I am NOT considering any other make.
What should I be looking for and what and why would you recommend your choice. I am NOT considering any other make.
mikal83 said:
Busterbulldog said:
I have had many , easily the ducato is the best in my opinion.
Is it the engine or......I have read somewhere that it gets better mpg, (it will be a diesel of course) but only a later model?Busterbulldog said:
I can really comment on the mpg as such , I have had about 6 new shape ducato motorhomes they have all been great all 2.3i jtd engines at the moment I have a relay van 2010 for work i really cant take to it after the fiats, it feels cheaper it has too many irritating warning bongs and I don't trust the transit engine. The paintwork is so crap I am scared to jet wash it as it comes off lol. Cant comment on the Peugeot as not had one.
This is hilarious... the bodies are painted in same factory!My Boxers are all painted in Banchisa 249 - doesn’t sound very French to me.
My 1999 Boxer Motorhome cab with no rust is painted in Bianco Corfu... wonder if there’s a theme here.
Edited by windowshopping on Tuesday 19th May 20:08
Busterbulldog said:
I can really comment on the mpg as such , I have had about 6 new shape ducato motorhomes they have all been great all 2.3i jtd engines at the moment I have a relay van 2010 for work i really cant take to it after the fiats, it feels cheaper it has too many irritating warning bongs and I don't trust the transit engine. The paintwork is so crap I am scared to jet wash it as it comes off lol. Cant comment on the Peugeot as not had one.
They are all built at the same factory and engines/gearboxes apart are identical except for badges and some exterior trim.To quote Autoexpress from their 2018 test of the Citroen Relay : 'The Citroen Relay, known as the Jumper in other markets, is built on a platform shared with the Peugeot Boxer and Fiat Ducato - in fact, there are so few differences between the three vans that it can be hard to tell them apart.'
and
'For our on-the-road impressions featured later, when we say ‘Citroën’, readers can think ‘Peugeot’ or ‘Fiat’ as all three vans are identical apart from the badges and a few minor spec differences.'
The Fiat definitely uses a different engine to the Relay/Boxer. Fiat build the chassis and sell to Citroen/Peugeot who fit there own engine. Most other parts are just rebadged between the 3. Never had a Relay but it’s no different to the Boxer. I wouldn’t buy another Boxer as the dealers are crap and many don’t even have ramps that they fit on. I sold a 4 year old Boxer with 100k on for £2k spares and repair once to cut my losses so won’t buy another. We have bought Fiat Ducato’s at work as they are cheap and we spec them up to suit us. Also they are supplied and serviced by truck dealers mostly so the back up is better than Citroen or Peugeot can offer. We had one bad luck Ducato but was all sorted under warranty, gearbox and clutch, instrument cluster, couple of radio units but other than that we’ve not had issues.
The Fiats have a cambelt whereas the Peugeot/Citroen have the 2.2 PSA/Ford chain cam engine, so factor in the cost of cambelt changes if going for the Fiat. Early EURO5 Ford engines had oil pump issues but that should be sorted now. The equivalent Fiat is marginally more economical than the Ford engined vans. Apart from that they're the same van.
king arthur said:
The Fiats have a cambelt whereas the Peugeot/Citroen have the 2.2 PSA/Ford chain cam engine, so factor in the cost of cambelt changes if going for the Fiat. Early EURO5 Ford engines had oil pump issues but that should be sorted now. The equivalent Fiat is marginally more economical than the Ford engined vans. Apart from that they're the same van.
So your vote would against the fiat due to the cambelt?I've got a Wildax campervan built on a 2019 Citroen Relay XLWB.
I've also got a 67 plate Sprinter, 12 plate Sprinter, 17 plate Fiat Talento,15 plate Transit and a 69 plate Iveco on my company fleet. I drive them all regularly.
If I was building a campervan to keep long term I would always use a Sprinter. You are better off with a higher mileage older Sprinter than a newer of any of the above.
The Citroen Relay is very comfortable to drive. It has the best seats and driving position of them all. Will the Citroen match the 12 plate Sprinter for reliabilty and performance when its has done 180k miles at 8 years old? I doubt it.
If you can't stretch to a Sprinter then just buy a Boxer/Ducato/Relay based on spec/mileage condition.
I've also got a 67 plate Sprinter, 12 plate Sprinter, 17 plate Fiat Talento,15 plate Transit and a 69 plate Iveco on my company fleet. I drive them all regularly.
If I was building a campervan to keep long term I would always use a Sprinter. You are better off with a higher mileage older Sprinter than a newer of any of the above.
The Citroen Relay is very comfortable to drive. It has the best seats and driving position of them all. Will the Citroen match the 12 plate Sprinter for reliabilty and performance when its has done 180k miles at 8 years old? I doubt it.
If you can't stretch to a Sprinter then just buy a Boxer/Ducato/Relay based on spec/mileage condition.
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