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Whats the best mid size van
pinto - 31/10/09 at 08:40 PM

I'm now looking for a van
i have a Peugeot expert at the moment (i am a chippy buy trade so a fair few tools )
just wondered what people think is a good van don't mind a bit bigger or smaller
have about £7000 at most
have been looking but cant make my mind up so thought i would ask you lot
thanks

speedyxjs - 31/10/09 at 08:54 PM

Land rover

Thats what im getting

JoelP - 31/10/09 at 09:06 PM

dont get a vivaro! Absolute pile of crap. Im thinking transit next.

Ben_Copeland - 31/10/09 at 09:16 PM

I drive a Merc Vito, comes in many configurations.

Takes a 8x4 sheet in the back and over a ton payload.

I have a 55 plate and never had any problems. 80k.

Good on fuel and pretty quick. Nice to drive, electric windows etc. Best is the assisted brakes and stability control / traction.

morcus - 31/10/09 at 09:30 PM

Transit all the way.

JoelP - 31/10/09 at 09:59 PM

someone told me that new mercs arent built like the old ones. My 2000 sprinter was/is a proper solid van. Always fancied a vito 120 though!

a4gom - 31/10/09 at 10:30 PM

i too am looking at similar wheels, i don't have the same budget, probably 1/2 the 7k. it ticks the boxes at the mo, i don't need it for work but have two young lads so is bikes, quads, r/c cars, body boards, no matter where we go there is something to go. oh and there is the trailor and westfield to get to the track

i'm looking for something with the second row of seats, i was looking at a vivaro but maybe not now??

gazza285 - 1/11/09 at 12:15 AM

As Joel said, not the Vivaro, work swapped my Tranny for a Vivaro and it's shite. All the usual stuff, gearbox, clutch, wheel bearings etc etc have gone, as well as being possibly the worst driving seat known to man, which I find strange as the last Renault I had had the most fantastic seats I've ever sat in (a Fuego!). Fast and good on juice don't make up for the many many shortcomings.

Don't go for anything VW either as they have been living off a reputation built on flat four engines, they haven't made a reliable van since.

Citroens are good though, as long as you avoid the HDI stuff.

orton1966 - 1/11/09 at 06:24 AM

mid-size vans are very popular in my line of work with many people also using them for personal day to day transport. The general consensus being that the VW transporter is the best of the bunch.

Vito's are regarded as a little more "car like" to drive but are more fragile and older ones seem to rot more

Transits are utilitarian to drive and again early ones rot

Transporter's drive almost as well as the veto and seem to have the best bodywork also they hold their values well because of demand from surfers and the like

chrsgrain - 1/11/09 at 08:50 AM

I like my transporter, it my only car, and though I don't use it for work, it takes a fair bit of punishment. I've had 2 now, and never had them go wrong. Its low which is good for multi storey car parks and the like... comfortable to drive, I'll definitely have another one! Probably expensive for what they are though.

Chris

hillbillyracer - 1/11/09 at 10:11 AM

quote:
Originally posted by gazza285


Don't go for anything VW either as they have been living off a reputation built on flat four engines, they haven't made a reliable van since.


When looking for a van I asked a good mate who's made a good business from repairing & dealing in vans.
He reckoned the VWs were difficult to beat for reliability but made strong money & questioned whether the extra was worth it for most trades folk.
If folk thought the vans were anything like the flat fours last built in the 70s I doubt if anyone would even call in at the showroom, a reputation built on stuff that old counts for little when you're buying a working van. On the VW scene the water cooled crowd poke fun at the unreliable flat fours!

I now drive a T4 Transporter, it's my car aswell as a work van, 51 reg & 150,000 on the clock. I bought it with 138,000 in full confidence that it had loads of life left & it's been great so far, not been any trouble at all since I put it on the road. I'll run it for as long as it does what I need & doesnt cause me hassle
This replaced a Fiat Scudo & the difference in qualitiy is like night & day but the T4 is a bit more van-like to drive, the T5 which you'd likely be looking at is apparently nice to drive.

How about a look at the Toyota Hiace? If the build is anything like the rest of the range they wont be a bad machine if a little dull but in a working van does that matter?

Transits are what my mate makes his money out of, as a workhorse they're very capable, loads of space, reliability is good enough & there's so many around the problems are well enough known & parts fairly cheap. The real problem is the rot which unless you blitz it with waxoyl or the like it'll be getting scruffy at 6 yrs old.

The Vito he did'nt think much of, rust worse than the Transit & unreliable too but the Sprinter was a good van, capable of mega miles.

Jon Ison - 1/11/09 at 10:22 AM

The T4 VW is pretty robust, had two T5's here's the list.

Blown turbo. (parts ingested full engine re build)
Water pump x 2
Gearbox x 1
Rear brakes seized one side taking disc's.
Diff.
Always locking you out !!!!
Awful driving position for the "longer legged"
Very uncomfortable passenger seats for anything more than 20 miles.

I could go on.

thunderace - 1/11/09 at 10:50 AM

i had drove around 10 vans over the last 10 years and must say i love the transit cant fault it.lets face it its nor really changed much over the last 10 years just swaped the front and bumpers and updated the dash i like my 100hp fwd one i have at the moment it not new 2003 i think but it only cost me £2000 it has twin side loading doors and a hatch back .
parts are very cheep and you can get a new engine for one for £1000 on ebay with all the auxilarys.
i get 30-35mpg fron it .