Surely when deciding on a van the most important factor will be what do you need it for and not how cool it'll be.
What do you need to carry? I reckon the transit will give you the best option on sizes.
I've got an old mk6 transit,lwb and med roof. Does what i need it to do, dead slow because it's the least powerful one (75bhp) and it handles, well like a van. But it is nice enough to sit in.
The newer transit, mk7 are much nicer inside. I use a 140 lwb for work ,it nips on for such a big van, still handles like a van though.

 

No 1 good van
No 2 Good van
No 3 **** van

So there really is only two options unless you like doing gearboxes

 

If I was going to let other people drive, Transit. Want to drive 1000 mile days, Transporter.

And who let the image conscious Gay in?

 

2007 swb medium roof Transit its going to be.

What are your thoughts about engine size/variants for economy? Speed is not an issue.

 

If considering the Vivaro, you would be better off with the Renault Traffic, the Traffic, Vivaro and Nissan Primastar, are all the same van, made by Renault, just with subtle differences, but the Renault is usually better equipped for the same money.

The Renault also comes in a lovely shade of yellow

 

Problem with the Renault version can be the dealers;

If you buy the van from a commercial dealers (Renault trucks ) its probably not so bad, but the Renault car dealers (some of which do sell vans) can be terrible.

 

Transit 125 T260: Front wheel drive 2.0 125ps; Running gear is straight out of a Mondeo. For heavy loads in the back, go for something with heavier duty rear springs (T280, T300 etc).

Could do with a 6th gear for better motorway MPG though. Later model years get the six gears and a 2.2 engine. Longer wheelbase version were always 2.4 litre of varying power outputs.

90ps just about does the job and is the most common engine version (as thats what all the ex-lease vans are), but I'd prefer a version with a bit more power.

 

I always thought you were the oracle! The transit isnt a 90PS its an 85PS.
Vivaro, Trafic & Primastar are 90PS.

 

You can get either 85 or 90ps Transits.
85ps are 2 litre front wheel drive, normally swb.
90ps are 2.4 rear drive.
It is possible to get rear drive swb, but they are not that common and the rear load deck is lower on a front wheel drive I believe.

 

Exactly what I wanted to read, cheers!

 

So if it is only 90PS why is it called a 100? Or are they seperate models?

Dad had the 100/T260 for ages and loved it. Much better than the 85. Possibly a good mix for performance v economy if you don't want to go for the 125 and as fast as possible. Depends if you are an express courier or not!!!
5t.

 

We run a Transporter, Transit and Movano.

VW is the best by far. What utter guff about image, when the hell did white vans start having snob value??

The Transporter is great to drive, bit of a flying machine (we have the 130ps), reliable so far, and just a better feel and quality about it. Downside is that they eat front tyres, they are a little high for rear loading, and purchase price and servicing is higher than the Ford. But residuals are better too: reckon the depreciation should balance out.

Trannys are still good, drive very well but watch for rust.

We've just sold a real oddball Transit: ex council 2.3 Zetec petrol on gas, heavy duty but SWB, and rear wheel drive. Was VERY high loading, did go very well, but zero torque. But a highly entertaining, unlikely sideways maching.

VW for me, but for the OP, a Tranny should do just fine too.

Can't comment on the VauxhallRenaultNissan, although I did drive one for a couple of weeks on an abroad job, and it drove very well.

 

Yep different power output.
100(power output) T(transit) 260(load weight)

Lots of different power outputs available, 85, 90, 100, 115, 125, 135(I think) and 140ps models are ones that I know of.

 

VW all the way
Mines a lt35 mwb 95 hp
I filled mine up last week when the red light came on and zero'd the trip and so far i have done 360 miles of normal driving.
I recon the light will be back on at some point tomorrow but its safe to say it does 380 to a tank
Might go 400 if it was not all town driving though

 

I filled my 130 Transporter up in Southern Spain and drove it home on the same tank. Might have cheated a bit with the ferry, but still.

 

Transit, great if you like vans based on an out of date design with a cheapo interior!

one step up from one of those awful Movano's

 

have you been in a new transit ??

 

yes, I hired one a few months back the new version is just a rehash of the model they brought out 10 years ago, complete pile of poo.

just had this delivered to me an hour ago does a transit look anything like it?

 

That's just a great wodge of moulded plastic...same as the current Transit IMO.

 

Transporter dash knocks spots of that.

 

No copy of The Sun, no unpaid bills, no tea cups with mould in, no tools, no used parts, no foot prints, no old screws, no dirt....gheyer van!

 

You forgot the can of red bull, the sticky residue surrounding the cup holders, and muddy footprints on the passenger side dash/airbag cover, not to forget the sweat stains and *** burns on the seats.

Two things I look for in van interior; comfy driving position and nothing to break incase a knuckle dragger has to be contained within the cab area.

 

I drive a long wheel base high roof Trafic and its a cracking van, its the 2nd one I have had and they drive just like a car and handle excellent. I recently had a long wheel base high roof master on loan from the dealers to try it out and its a excellent van as well, a bit too big for my needs. They have a much higher seating position when driving and the added sat nav in the mirror attachment is really good plus they have loads of little storage areas all over the cabin. I'm really considering buying one next year.

 

I work on them all (a lot) and I'd have the transit. I did write out a big reply about faults with the various models, hit post reply and it wiped it al out.

The latest model of the vivaro seems ok, I had a new one for a while but when i got the latest Transit it just felt a much better van. When the vivaros go wrong it just seems they fall apart, when they ge to the point the fuel pump packs up the gearbox will closely follow etc.

Beware of transit DMF faliure, I've changed lots of these they also suffer egr faults.

It never ceases to amaze me the faults on even the brand new vans out there. I replaced the sump on a 10 plate sprinter the other day that's been leaking from new and so has it's sister van, a common fault on the newer ones. Ford decided to 'revise' the 10 plate transits (seen some 59's too) with one of the over braided fuel lines resting against a main coolant hose that rubs its way through after about 12k miles (I've seen dozens and dozens like this). If anyone out there has a new transit, check the coolant hose because I'd say ratio wise 29 out of 30 will have the fault.

 

Currently looking at getting a VW transporter for various reasons....bike trackdays, moving large art canvases for my business, camping etc. if anyone is looking to move one on and fancies a P/X with a mkV golf gti with DSG/full leather/touchscreen nav/hard drive etc. let me know!!