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Buying a van...opinions please.

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PostPosted: 15:31 - 01 Dec 2009    Post subject: Buying a van...opinions please. Reply with quote
I have set a budget of £2k max.
At first i thought i'd just buy a transit but now i'm not sure.I have owned loads of old transit's and they were all horrible to drive on motorway's and just too loud generally (and look rough now).
The only transit's i've drove that i really like were 2005 reg ones which i'm not going to get for 2k.

I also drove a few vauxhall vivaro? and renault master vans which were excellent but again they were 2005+.

So ebay is showing me:citroen,vw,renault,ldv,transit,iveco,merc e.t.c. but having never driven them i'm hoping some of you can give me some advice on which to go for.

I'll be using it as my daily transport and about once a month+ going down the country to do some off-roading.(this would mean my bike[s] in the back and me sleeping in the back overnight so it has to be a transit size van really,swb hi-top.)

Appreciate any advice.

Thanks
Dave
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pa_broon74
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PostPosted: 16:14 - 01 Dec 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
LDV at that age are a no/no.

We've had two LDV minibuses, very cheap to buy and rust buckets in a matter of months. No where near as comfortable as a transit, which last forever.

I haven't driven any of the others, Merc's are expensive is about all I can say about it.

(Also, with the transit panel van, I found when ever I passed a gypsy, they'd ask if I want to sell it to them.)

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Raffles
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PostPosted: 16:32 - 01 Dec 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
I've used Ford Transits as the Company's delivery vehicles for some time now. Although unremarkable they have always been reliable little workhorses. The older ones were, in my opinion, built much better than the more recent versions. The bean counters at Ford seem to have pared the new Transits down to the bone. Everything about them now seems cheap and plasticky (is there such a word as plasticky?). All of the trims and fittings are flimsy. None of the controls or switches have a solid feel about them and everytime that I use one I half expect it to break off in my hand.
Six years ago I purchased an Iveco Daily and I have not regretted doing so. They are comfortable to drive and they are also quite nippy. You should certainly put an Iveco Daily up towards the top of your wish list.
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wizzzard
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PostPosted: 16:43 - 01 Dec 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
pa_broon74 wrote:


Also, with the transit panel van, I found when ever I passed a gypsy, they'd ask if I want to sell it to them.


I've had that with the transit to.

We have two vans here are a Transit and an Iveco with a split camp on which is the best. My boss praises the Iveco build quality and durability but I find it to slow with scratchy horrible plastics and way to much body roll. Driving the Transit is much more like driving a normal car to the point I prefer being in it than my actual car.

A friend has an LDV which he swears by for it's ease of maintainance and to be honest for the big milages it covers it's not done to bad with only a few minor niggles along the way.

The worst van I've seen is one a rep who comes here uses. It's a Merc sprinter and it looks like a huge mound of rust on wheels.


*Edit* Just seen raffles (the boss) post and you see what I mean about the split camp. The Iveco is still dog slow and totally awful to drive IMHO Wink
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PostPosted: 17:33 - 01 Dec 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Cheers for the reply's Thumbs Up

So it's looking like the transit's winning Very Happy . The older ones are a bit cheaper than the newer shape ones,but it's the engine that put's me off them.
The newer transit has a much more car like- engine.The old ones make a hell of a racket.(the newer shape looks much smarter aswell)

So anyone got experience of the VW /renault master vans?
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pa_broon74
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PostPosted: 18:25 - 01 Dec 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
We've been looking for a minibus for a wee while and thought about a VW caravelle/transporter. We had to rule it out because they're megabucks. (Might not be the case for the panel versions although while looking on gumtree/autotrader/etc it didn't seem to make much difference.)

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stinkwheel
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PostPosted: 18:30 - 01 Dec 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
justmetoo125 wrote:
Cheers for the reply's Thumbs Up

So it's looking like the transit's winning Very Happy . The older ones are a bit cheaper than the newer shape ones,but it's the engine that put's me off them.
The newer transit has a much more car like- engine.The old ones make a hell of a racket.(the newer shape looks much smarter aswell)


The engines in the older ones are the best bit though. The newer ones are nowhere near as reliable or fuel efficient.

If the noise bothers you, fit a good, thick bulkhead behind the seats.
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PostPosted: 19:25 - 01 Dec 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
pa_broon74 wrote:
We had to rule it out because they're megabucks. (Might not be the case for the panel versions although while looking on gumtree/autotrader/etc it didn't seem to make much difference.)

Thumbs Up

I thought they were expensive,but even ebay has a few within the 2K area,i've just never been a VW person so not sure about them.

stinkwheel wrote:

The engines in the older ones are the best bit though. The newer ones are nowhere near as reliable or fuel efficient.

If the noise bothers you, fit a good, thick bulkhead behind the seats.

My old L reg transit was only getting about 20mpg which didn't seem to be much different to the 2005 one i used.
I used the 2005 one for a year and seriously booted it every single day(as in revving out in every gear and abusing the gearbox) and the thing never give up once! The old ones seemed to be plauged with oil leaks.

My problem with the noise is the actual engine noise! it sounds prehistoric.Saying that,most of the old transits i had were the non turbo models Is there much difference between them (noise wise)?
EDIT: Cant find an older model that has a turbo diesel engine? did they?
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WildGoose
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PostPosted: 21:04 - 01 Dec 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
You wont get a non biased opinion on vans from me anymore, so pre 2000's Transit everytime. Thumbs Up

Quote:
My problem with the noise is the actual engine noise! it sounds prehistoric.


It's part of the charm Wink , yes they are all loud, some are louder than others. It's a 60's engine design, the diesel is based on the old 2.4L Ford York diesel engine which was first fitted in Transits in '72. Revised in 84, as the 2.5DI (direct injection).

Some go to great lengths to soundproof the cab and engine bay in the older transits, I ripped all my soundproofing out because it gets in the way. Laughing

Same thing with the oil leaks, most do that sooner or later all the leaks can be fixed quite simply (and cheaply) if you can be arsed.

The older models came with turbo's as an option from '91. But i'd choose a non turbo everytime for simplicity and reliability. Turbo's made 85 or 100PS depending on year, and the normally aspirated put out 70 or 76 to compare.

Plenty of well documented and very expensive problems with the newer Transit, the latest model I dislike simply because it is a computer on wheels and i'd not be able to fix it at the side of the road. If you can afford to pay a dealer £60/hr to plug a computer in to your van then good luck to you. Thumbs Up
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PostPosted: 21:22 - 01 Dec 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
WildGoose wrote:


It's part of the charm Wink ,


Not when you're planning on driving 300 miles along the motorway at 70mph Tut Tut

WildGoose wrote:
Turbo's made 85 or 100PS depending on year, and the normally aspirated put out 70 or 76 to compare.

I thought the turbo would make a bit more of an increase than that! Although i was mainly thinking the turbo version would be a quieter engine - probably not.(i do have earplugs Thinking )


I'm going to find out a little bit more info about the others i posted to see how they are in comparison but might well reconsider the good old tranny.

Cheers for the info Thumbs Up very helpful
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WildGoose
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PostPosted: 21:48 - 01 Dec 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
Not when you're planning on driving 300 miles along the motorway at 70mph


Depending slightly on diff and gearbox, that would be considered flogging it Wink , they are much happier, and quieter at 60, 65 tops. Seat is comfortable enough that an extra 30-45mins mins over 300 miles does'nt make a great deal of difference.

The merc sprinters and vw LT's will sit all day at 85-90 just like a car, but you will feel it in your pocket at the pumps. The Iveco daily's I have driven have been thirstier still.
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PostPosted: 22:11 - 01 Dec 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
WildGoose wrote:

The merc sprinters and vw LT's will sit all day at 85-90 just like a car, but you will feel it in your pocket at the pumps. The Iveco daily's I have driven have been thirstier still.


Could they really be that worse on diesel? i mean the average transit driving round the doors is going to be around 20-25mpg maybe 35mpg at best on motorway?
So what's the rough difference in actual mpg? surely not enough to really notice.

Starting to warm to the transit though,and after another look on ebay it seems i could get a really clean well looked after one for under £1500 which would be nice Very Happy
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stinkwheel
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PostPosted: 01:19 - 02 Dec 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
I use just as much fuel going over to my girlfriends house in my transit van as I do on my bike. It's just I get there in two hours on the bike and three hours in the van.
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PostPosted: 11:19 - 02 Dec 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
stinkwheel wrote:
I use just as much fuel going over to my girlfriends house in my transit van as I do on my bike. It's just I get there in two hours on the bike and three hours in the van.


I think you're bike has a fuel leak fella Smile
If i remember rightly you have a vfr800 and a gpz type thing,so surely the above statement must be wrong?
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PostPosted: 11:46 - 02 Dec 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
I had a 2000 Transit - used it for a few months, dinged it, then sold it for more than I paid.

Like others have said, slow and noisy but the fuel consumption was excellent. I do miss it but I simply did not use it enough to justify keeping it.
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karoshi
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PostPosted: 12:25 - 02 Dec 2009    Post subject: Re: Buying a van...opinions please. Reply with quote
justmetoo125 wrote:
I'll be using it as my daily transport and about once a month+ going down the country to do some off-roading.(this would mean my bike[s] in the back and me sleeping in the back overnight so it has to be a transit size van really,swb hi-top.)


£1600 worth of 3door Hard-Top 110 Landrover + £400 on a 2nd hand bike trailer.

Benefits:

- 110 landrover will be as fast as a transit that you'll get for £2k, and probably a little quieter on the motorway

- with an air-mattress & a sleeping bag you can sleep in the back of a 110 no worries

- bikes go on the trailer meaning that you're not continually tracking half a field into your bedroom

- 110s are a lot easier to live with for daily use than a transit

- if you want to expand your living quarters, you can get a roof-rack and roof-tent for a 110

- your appearance in the works car-park is at least 50% less pikey than if you have a crusty white transit Smile

- bull bars and darwin stickers on a 110 don't look that stupid Very Happy
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PostPosted: 13:12 - 02 Dec 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
I have a car with a tow bar and a really expensive trailer but it only fits one bike on it.
With the van i can take my dt for off roading and the deauville to have a little ride around the area when i get there so it makes sense.
Have my heart set on a van now anyway Thumbs Up

I think i'll go with the older transit now and just put up with the noise.
Cheers for all the reply's anyway lads Thumbs Up been a great help.

Thanks
Dave
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Jamie S
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PostPosted: 13:20 - 02 Dec 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Citroen relay/fiat ducato/pug boxer
All the same vans, re badged accordingly.
I picked mine up on a 52 plate for £500 with 72k on it, great little runner, 2 Ltr HDI , sits at 80 with ease, 45mpg.

https://is.gumtree.com/ad_image/live/big/243798250.jpg
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stinkwheel
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PostPosted: 15:26 - 02 Dec 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
justmetoo125 wrote:

I think you're bike has a fuel leak fella Smile
If i remember rightly you have a vfr800 and a gpz type thing,so surely the above statement must be wrong?


Nah. Sitting at three figure speeds for two hours solid with luggage all over the aerodynamics will do that to the fuel consumption. (it's a VFR750).
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.
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PostPosted: 16:14 - 02 Dec 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
jamie stokes wrote:

I picked mine up on a 52 plate for £500 with 72k on it, great little runner, 2 Ltr HDI , sits at 80 with ease, 45mpg.

https://is.gumtree.com/ad_image/live/big/243798250.jpg

Spanner in the works Thumbs Up that looks like a nice little van*runs off to ebay on the search*

stinkwheel wrote:


Nah. Sitting at three figure speeds for two hours solid with luggage all over the aerodynamics will do that to the fuel consumption. (it's a VFR750).


I see you're point Smile Thumbs Up
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lukamon
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PostPosted: 18:18 - 02 Dec 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
NO fiat ducatos!!!

had one at work, build quality is shite, slow as shit, and serveal gears gor all the teeth ground off them within a few months Middle Finger Twisted Evil Middle Finger
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lukamon
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PostPosted: 18:19 - 02 Dec 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
and, and the door vibrated around an inch in/out above 60
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lukamon
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PostPosted: 18:20 - 02 Dec 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
and if you looked in the back you could see daylight around all the doors
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Handsome
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PostPosted: 18:53 - 02 Dec 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Talking of Transits there's a load on Autotrader for around 500/1000, some of them are pretty decent aswell...

Might consider one myself instead of the Astra van I was thinking of...
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PostPosted: 19:16 - 02 Dec 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
I haven't seen many! although i'm looking for really tidy ones Laughing i dont want a rusty old banger.
Think i might have to buy a newer shape one now as all the pre 200's are rough as hell.

Looking on ebay there's LOADS of those fiat ducato type vans with broke gearboxes.That can't be a good sign.

Back to square one again now,this could take some time Embarassed
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