combo vans

[ocatoro]

thinking of downsizing my t4 once my tdi conversion is finished.

looking around, the postman special combo vans sort of 2004-2006 reg's seem to be selling for £1000-1400, which for a newer van is pennies. and theyve all got pretty low miles on for what i am used to.

anyone had one and know anything common that is a dick on them? are they a good van? i've only ever had french and vw vans before so i'm not familiar at all really.

i know on the 1.7's the fuel pump is something like a grand to replace if it gives up. anyone seen a cheaper method for that job?

which engine is better? the 1.7 or the 1.3? presumably the 1.3 is a newer, more efficient design. (is it the same as the one fiat used in the doblo?) i won't be carrying much weight, maybe 100-150kgs of dog, plus me, maximum.

in fact it'll probably be lowered too, so load pulling is irrelevant entirely so the 1.3 being gutless won't bother me.
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CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[Cashhead]

I've got an 06 Combo with the 1.3 in it. Its not a bad van to be honest, decent load size, mine has got a sliding door on it too. I've done about 50,000 miles in it in 18 months, its a bit painful on the motorway and steep hills, but otherwise not a lot wrong with it.
Having said that, its just done 80,000 miles and I've just had to have the cam chain replaced as it was rattling really badly at a cost of £500 and the EGR cleaned!
Other than that it hasn't had too much else done to it, a couple of new rear springs (I put that down to driving it around rural Gloucestershire)

[ocatoro]

hmmm, just done a quick search and found the cam chains are very prone to snapping on them

seems to be a lot for sale with the mileage they "usually go" at too, so i think that engine's best avoided.
____________________
CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[woll]

I'd personally avoid the 1.3 engine. If you search on here you'll see the thread i made about one blowing up on me in less than a week. I had another one, the engine started to sound rough after a few thousand.
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Current Bike- Suzuki DRZ400 SM K6
Previous bikes - Derbi Senda Xtreme50r, Honda CBR 125, Kawasaki ZZR 250, Yamaha DT125R, Suzuki Bandit 600, Gas gas ec 250, Honda CBR600FW
Damaged spleen, damaged kindey, 2 popped lungs, 2 broken ribs, broken face, broken wrist and 5 back fractures... remember kids walls hurt

[Cashhead]

Yeah, I've got to say I'm not sure I'd have another.

It did also do this thing where if I went on a longish (20 miles or more) motorway journey then stopped briefly, then try to restart it, it would quite often be really hard to start and be almost like it was only running on a couple of cylinders! However it didn't ever not start at all!

Is the 1.7 the cdti or is it just the standard diesel, if its the cdti I've heard good things, certainly about the ones in the Astras, though I imagine the're be a bit more money!

[binge]

Go for the 1.7 Isuzu engine if you can.
Good on derv, reliable, and relatively cheap to fix for most jobs.





Ben

[ocatoro]

[AlexW]

[_Iain_]

[ocatoro]

ok cool cheers for the help guys. the 1.7 was my preference anyway, but least i know now to avoid the 1.3 completely.

probably regret selling the t4, but it means i'll be able to get a bigger bike, and a nicer one, and sooner and still have a van for work as well
____________________
CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[Easter Bunny]

The 1.7Di is (I believe, but I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong) the only model with a 1.7 Isuzu engine, I've got one.


mines got 92K on it '04 and as far as I'm aware never had a cam belt replaced (the interval is 100K on the Di) so its in the gambling time of its life, getting it done in the next 3K

54mpg driven at 70 motorway
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The light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train!

[_Iain_]

Definately wrong.

They stopped using em in mk3 astra vans and switched to a GM lump. Looking under the bonnet if you have a black rocker cover with TURBO on it in red its isuzu, if it looks like its got the same rocker cover as every other 8v petrol vaux its a GM.
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[AlexW]

[ocatoro]

[andyscooter]

my mate sold his as he couldnt fit in it

he had to take the seat off the runners and weld it as far back as he could

he still was in agony after a few miles

he bought an escort van instead and now has a swb lo top trannie
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[ocatoro]

i'm only 5ft8, i'll be ok haha
____________________
CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[drzsta]

I had a 2002 Corsa Van with the 1.7 DI Isuzu lump without intercooler, pretty bulletproof motor and suited the corsa's small size to a T.


Probably would have another corsa van but I was paying same road tax and insurance as I am in a 2008 LWB vivaro. Only difference is I got over 50mpg with the corsa and the vivaro I get just over 30mpg.
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Current Bikes - BMW S1000RR ‘17 & KTM 690 SMC-R ‘12

[Easter Bunny]