Van recomendations/ avoidances?

[madwayne]

My Renault Kangoo Van engine has died and to be honest as a 2005 model its not worth replacing it/ fixing.

whilst I have been thinking of something newer, not sure what vehicles I should avoid looking for something similar in size around 2010 mark and around 4K.

The kangoo road tax was over £200 a year so something cheaper would be nice, but want a good reliable van.

Fiat doblo, Ford Connect or ??

if anyone can suggest why I should or shouldn't look at these models let me know.


Thanks

 

[Burnerman]

Personally I'd go for one of the Transit derivatives.....superb vehicles and a dealer on every corner.
Unfortunately the underbody rustproofing and paintwork is truly dreadful but that can be taken care of.
One thing though.....vans aren't changed because the ash tray is full - there's always a reason for it being on the forecourt. Avoid local authority gear, ex GPO and look for low mileage.
John

 

[SammyInnit]

Bought a Transit a few years back and I dont think I'd have anything else again. The MK7.

I do like the look of the MK8 but after having a go in one, the customs aren't anywhere near as big.

I've used a mates connect and that seemed like a solid van. Plenty space for its size.

Depending on what you want though they can get pricy. They hold the money quite well with lower miles.

 

[nickso]

Transit Custom is not a repalcement for the MK7 Transit. The Mk8 is the real successor to that and it looks huge but they are not as common as the Custom.

I have a Custom and I'm not convinced I would get another unless they changed the engine. Cleaning it every week shows Ford have learned nothing about Rust prevention still. The front doors on Customs will be rotten through inside ten years.

Having said that it's probably the best of a bad bunch unless you want to pay ludicrous prices for a VW. Get a Custom Limited and the interior spec is second to nothing on the market.

 

[SammyInnit]

Transit Custom is not a repalcement for the MK7 Transit. The Mk8 is the real successor to that and it looks huge but they are not as common as the Custom.

I have a Custom and I'm not convinced I would get another unless they changed the engine. Cleaning it every week shows Ford have learned nothing about Rust prevention still. The front doors on Customs will be rotten through inside ten years.

Having said that it's probably the best of a bad bunch unless you want to pay ludicrous prices for a VW. Get a Custom Limited and the interior spec is second to nothing on the market.

I read from a lot of different forums and websites, if you plan on carrying any substantial weight, the WV isn't the best option. I'm not sure myself but it seems to be parroted on a lot of van forums.

I know what you're saying about the custom and the 'transit' but personally, I don't consider the 'transit' practical beyond being a spacious van. No good if working in city centres anyway, too big.

 

[just pumps]

I`ve had 3 VW Caddys, best in its size by miles but get the 1.6 TDI not the earlier 1.9 TDI.

 

[nickso]

I read from a lot of different forums and websites, if you plan on carrying any substantial weight, the WV isn't the best option. I'm not sure myself but it seems to be parroted on a lot of van forums.

I know what you're saying about the custom and the 'transit' but personally, I don't consider the 'transit' practical beyond being a spacious van. No good if working in city centres anyway, too big.

Yeh I'm not sure Ford got it right with the sizes of them. Mine is mainly city centre and is OK but the big transit would be a pain to park.

Weights were not an issue for me but price was and the Ford gives so much extra for the money. The newer VW is a poor re-hash of the previous model for an exorbitant price IMO and despite what folk say I don't believe the reliablity is as good as claimed.

If mine wasn't leased I would definitely be getting it re-mapped to try and get some sort of MPG out of it....it is truly woeful for a diesel. Even taking my lead foot into account my old 2.5 auto BMW petrol did comparable MPG.

 

[just pumps]

Average 120k per van, most annoying troublesome fault the electric bloody window motors/ sensors! No serous faults otherwise. Agree overpriced though.

 

[Burnerman]

A cautionary tale.....
I consider myself reasonably competent when looking over second hand vehicles, however it doesn't always work.....
Asked to look over a tipper truck for a mate with a landscaping garden business. From a 'specialist dealer' pops up an 07 plate Iveco - looked well, not over bulled up for sale, right price and mileage, drove superbly, 3 month warranty. Cash changed hands.
Over the course of a few months, many niggling problems - mostly electrical, but still causing the truck to stop on occasion.
During my investigations, I found the dash underside - and inside the doors - to be thick with mud.
You've guessed it, dear reader - the bloody thing had been under water . Eventually the truck was so much bother it had to be traded on.
Caveat emptor at its very best!
John

 

[DaveHerns]

There's supposed to be quite a few submerged vehicles on the market. They seem to avoid being written off by insurers and recorded on the total loss register. Might be OK for now but eventually the connections etc corrode.

 

[Burnerman]

What I couldn't understand about this one, was for mud to be packed under the dash, the engine would have to have been underwater too - yet mechanically it was fine (until the high pressure diesel pump packed in.)
Believe me, there was no trace of this at viewing time - I guess the cab must have been pressure washed out at some time.
John

 

[madwayne]

Looked at the doblo this morning, looks okay until you look at the exhaust looks completely out of place (so badly rusted) everything else seems okay, but I am not amechanic, had rear parking sensors which was a plus point under 40k miles.

heaviest thing is me and everything else is relatively very light, may be my drills being the heaviest and the products.

 

[keyplayer]

Looked at the doblo this morning, looks okay until you look at the exhaust looks completely out of place (so badly rusted) everything else seems okay, but I am not amechanic,

You might expect a rusty exhaust on a low mileage van, especially if it's only been doing mainly short journeys. It'll rust from the inside. Not too bad to replace.

 

[Mursal]

Transit as above, but lord they are hard to work on, just no room under the bonnet, oh and the rust as mentioned.