ryn004

I'm looking to buy a used closed panel van, what would you recommend?

• Volkswagen Transporter
• Mercedes Vito
• Ford Transit
• Toyota Hiace
• Renault Master
• Other?

Looking to spend £5000 on a 2006 or newer model. And on what websites can I search on?

Thanks.

Matteeboy

VW will have to be a leggy example at that price/age.
Similar with a Vito and heard of a number of engine issues with them (my bro in laws engine blew up on his Vito)
Ford Transits are ace - a bit basic but they just work.
Hi-ace might be a bit small?
Renault vans are good but a Transit will last longer.
Vauxhall Vivaro worth looking at - extremely good VFM and seem to go on and on.

Jimpreza

I have a 2009 long wheel base Vauxhall Vivaro, touch wood, I can't fault it. I bought it pre registered as it was much cheaper than a Ford Transit. A friend is a van Salesman and he reckons that a lot of Vivaro's that he part ex's look like an elephant has stampeded on the roof as they always have dents. Don't take this as gospel though as he is a typical gobsh!te salesman

BOB.T

Renault Trafic, Vauxhall Vivaro, Nissan whateverit'scalled are all exactly the same van with different badges

I've done over 120k in mine, it's had a turbo, turbo pipe, engine mount, the seat rewelded and the usual tyres and brakes... pretty impressed with it really and it doesn't get an easy life!

If you do get one, take the wheel trims off! They fall off for fun or if then do stay on they rub the paint off the wheels and make them rust.

Jimpreza

Bob - What van have you got? Hoe can you be happy with it if the turbo, engine mount and seat have needed to be fixed or replaced.

Scooby Soon!

have a search on here for the last thread on here about vans, Mercedes followed by VW the others are so far behind they don't even warrant a mention.

alanbell

iTrader: (6)

for that price id get a 311 merc, good vans . ive had 15plus, I have newer Mercs now good vans, Ive one newer transit thats been a good van just over 2 years old and trouble free ,

sti-04!!

As Alan says. Either a 311/313 or a transit. Cant fault either, like everything else they do have there problems but are easy repaired.

ryn004

Sounds like the Ford, Mercedes and Vauxhall are getting the thumbs up.....

Anyone know of a used Commercial van lot near Bristol, Luton or Gatwick?

turbs

Whatever you do dont buy a 2003 onwards T5 transporter unless you constantly want it being repaired.

These thing keep me in a job (parts sales,all makes).

Ask any late tranporter owner and I bet it has either new driveshafts, gearbox, clutch and dual mass or all of the above!

And i'm talking vans with less than 60k on them.

A sprinter will go on forever if looked after, we have a guy that has 312k on it always servicing it and has never needed more than clutch.

A transit is a safe bet too

shaun

BOB.T

It's a Vivaro. Like I said, it's done 120,000 miles. It's always loaded right up, does LOTS of towing and has a fat knacker driving it!

The turbo was replaced during a service, if I'm honest I think they wanted some work cos I never noticed anything. The pipe that failed connects to the turbo... Engine mount, not really surprised with all the towing and I think lack of grip on snow and ice finished it off. The seat has me sat on it all day!

Happy with it? I'm amazed to be honest, think it's spot on!

ryn004

Hmmm.... The Vauxhall looks more affordable then the Transit.

Does buying a van without VAT, mean I have to pay additional VAT or?

alanbell

iTrader: (6)

if you find a van vat freee , thats good, but most will be price plus vat,

ryn004

So there is no downside finding one at vat free? If so why do the ones exist with VAT?

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

Dad has generally had Transits. Nothing wrong with them at all and I think a Fifth Gear test a few years ago showed they were quicker than a Sprinter becasue the Sprinter gets a lot of electronics to stop you driving it like a nut.

Of course if you are delivering cakes that might be what you want but Sprinters do seem to have a lot of stuff you don't need where a Transit might have a lovely heated screen you do want!

Don't get an 85 though, way to slow.

5t.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Vivaro is just a rebadged Renault Traffic.

Not the worst van out there as they take abuse faily well, but a transit does it better.

Vitos rust badly. Nothing structural but they end up looking very tatty. They are durable vans, but they are by no means buelletproof - they do break and are more expensive to fix.

Fiats/Peugeots/Citreon Ducato/Boxer/Jumper (again, badge engineering like the Vivaro except some versions use Fiat for the big engines while the smaller ones are PSA/pug/Ford derived engines). Generally, regardless of badge, they fall apart.

JackClark

I have a 2005 Transporter and have so far spent bugger all on it. 60,000 miles so not heavy duty.

Nothing drives as well as a Transporter, it's a big car and in my case registered as such. It'll never beat a Transit in some areas as unlike the Ford you can over rev a Transporter and they're not the cheapest by any means so on price others will win. But trust me, nothing drives as well as a Transporter.

Jimpreza

My Vivaro has been fine but doesn't take any abuse and I only do 10k miles a year in it.

The wife and I have a part time business that we keep under the VAT registration limit. If you are VAT registered you can claim the VAT back. We wanted to find one with no VAT but they were few and far between.

chris666

We run a fleet of vitos 06-59 plates & non have any rust
the older ones before 04 did rust very badly
all ours are in silver maybe better paint than white ?
the only problems we seem to have is windscreens every van is on its 2nd
& a couple 3rd
fuel wise not so bad can get 500miles to a tank £80
passenger seat is very uncomfortable on long runs

mattvortex

Transporters tend to be overpriced vans for the city boys who think theyre surfers at weekends! Vivaros are great workhorse and not the cliche for the weekend that is a Transporter. Even the later Transits, have a decent engine and hell to be different ( and not a weekend clone with a vw) go Toyota Hiace.

In summary, vw very overpriced, go for something more reliable and exclusive!

Jamieee

I got a 59 plate VW Transporter done 61000miles never missed a beat, nice to drive good MPG £85 to fill = 575 miles, it's like driving a car.

mattvortex

So what?? Any car /van could do that! The Vw is too much of a cliche (overpriced one). To be fair , iam referring to the middle aged men who buy one thinking its going to take them back 20 years and make them a cool surf dude!

To the general builders etc who use them for WORK, not referring to you although you still got ripped off by the VW brand marketing!

yellowsierra

I have a VW LT35 MWB
(Good van and same as Sprinter, just different running gear on almost same van)
Had mine about 2 years
Goes to work everyday and does what it says on the box

5K will get a nice one as well

When i was Van shopping i found it was better to pay the right money for a clean well looked after van rather than hunt down the elusive bargain which will cost you more in the end if it has not been looked after
Whatever van you get, make sure its been properly serviced as you will be relying on it to do its job and you will kick youself if it dont.

Mines quite good on fuel too , £85 to fill it up and i get 350 miles from that and thats normal day to day driving

Mines gets washed every other week and i change the oil every time i tax it so i remember so thats twice a year and have it serviced in between that

Being a work van all the costs (Including buying it)are offset and set against my books

If you are self employed, you can put it down as an asset and claim for it

WRXrowdy

iTrader: (2)

Couple near Gatwick, Nathan Antony Commercials in Horley, or Leatherhead Van Sales, on the A24 at Beare Green (just after the A29 joins the A24).
My guvnor just bought an 06 transit lwb hightop from Leatherhead van centre. Good van, although it just went in to the local Ford dealer to have a rear step fitted and came out with a brand new back axle free of charge, as there was a recall on them.

Jamieee

Easy tiger, im just adding my 2p worth and referring to the earlier post.

I never got ripped off by the way, as It's a company van. VW all the way!

mattvortex

Good for you- rag the **** out of it then ( to hell withe the fuel as well)

Show it no mercy!

Matteeboy

Transporters are genuinely very good vans though - good engines (the 2.5s not the pants 1.9s), well made, nice(ish) to drive, well designed - there's a reason they are popular.

But being a surfer down in Cornwall I do see a lot of mid life crisis specials - slammed on 20s with rims not made for van weights, bazzed up in every way then covered in surf stickers.

IMO a 110 Landy makes a better surf van - it goes anywhere and...

the XS model has heated seats! Very few surfers (especially mid life crisis ones) actually sleep in their vans - it's just an image thing. Most of the good surfers I know have a "normal" car anyway.

I have noticed a lot of Transporters think they are hot hatches. Yes the 174PS (and now 180PS) versions are quick for vans but compared to cars, they aren't quick at all. And they can't do corners properly.

So yes, a bit of an image crisis thing but they are decent vans. I've driven many from the lowly 80PS ones to the 4Motion Californias with the 174PS engines - all good.

mattvortex

Exactly- too much of a cliche in the surf areas! I wouldnt care how well it went, if it was so much of cliche and so common , and associated with city boys/midlife crisis men, i would rather drive anything else! Even a Mazda B2000 panel van, popular with carpet layers due to its load lenghth!!
( in fact what a cool van that could be, and loads more exclusive than a damn vw!)

Jamieee

lol

ryn004

Thanks guys for the info. In order of preference looking for:

1. Ford Transit
2. VW Transporter
3. Vauxhaul Vivaro

One last question, how are the roads at the moment southwest of the London border? Hopefully snow-less.