Smallish van for bike

uk_ryan · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 17 Jun 2014 Karma :

Hi ,
I need a van for work but i want it too be able to fit a yam r6 in the back if needed but not too massive like a tranny with resonable mpg and not mega slow. I was thinking a vw caddy maxi, will it fit in? Any other suggestions?

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Fairly tight fit.

Vitos are surprisingly nice and cheap to run... I can't say the Transit Connect I drove was any good at all on fuel, so adding a bike to it would be horrendous Thumbs Up

Mario_Kempes · Trackday Trickster Joined: 12 Jun 2013 Karma :

small vans look a pain to load a bike into.

jjdugen · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jun 2011 Karma :

Peugeot Expert.
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

A caddy maxi seems to be *just* ok; I've wondered about one in the past - maybe even a normal size one and take out the passenger seat for putting bikes in. However the Vito has a bit of extra height - dirt bikes are tight as it is in it. Fuel economy isn't bad on long runs, especially if driven carefully - not so great around town.

VW T4/T5 similar to vito - the later Vitos are RWD which gives a decent turning circle (while the T4 is pretty horrendous.)

Fladdem · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2011 Karma :

A mate got his DT 125 in a 1998 Vauxhall Combo.

My boss uses a vito, we got two crossers in the back of his 109. The vito also carries his gixxer track toy around too. Vitos are meant to be pretty un-killable too. Thumbs Up

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STONEY! · Brolly Dolly Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Karma :

Peugeot Expert, Citreon Dispatch, Fiat Scudo all the same van 3 engine choices.

1.9 non turbo = very slow but cheap, reliable and 50mpg
1.9 turbo = reasonable performance, reliable and still 50mpg but not if driven fast
2.0 hdi = fastest and quietest but more to go wrong, 40-45mpg driven sensibly.

you can fit most bikes easily in the back, 2 enduro's 3 at a push. they dont really rust, cheap to buy, parts are cheap too. on the downside they are looked down on for being french and door locks are pretty crap so most have aftermarket locks fitted.

Al · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Karma :

Fladdem · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2011 Karma :

Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

Val · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Nov 2012 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

The bush at the lever end definitely has 'issues' - as I found when the vertical actuation stopped working leaving it stuck in neutral just as it started to rain REALLY hard in the start of rush hour traffic on the way to it's MOT - luckily was ahead of time for once, so managed to drive it to the MOT in third once I'd worked out it was a problem there not under the van and get it working again in the car park.

Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

Generally (but not always) when the bushes go you lose one or other plane of movement, if it's the cables, they start to become very difficult to select gears, usually starting with the extremities (fifth and reverse) but second can be a bugger as well.

The lever gets really stiff as you move across the gate and/or going into gear; in extremis, either you won't get into gear at all, or it will jump out, unless you hold the lever.
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

It jumps out of first unless the lever is held in - typically you feel a kind of 'double click' to get it into first on most cars/light vans, but it doesn't seem to go that far - as it isn't able to lock in properly.

It's stiff to get into second.

Both seemed they could be consistent with there being a bit of slop in the vertical play - or so I decided once it had popped out completely.

Rest of the gears are pretty much ok, bar being slightly stiff maybe.

jjdugen · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jun 2011 Karma :

Mines a '98 Expert 1.9 TDI. Been the most reliable of any vehicle I've owned. Holds everything up to a Harley but does need the bike loading at an angle so is best with two hands loading and a longish ramp.
Radiator went about five years ago, its had an engine mount and a new silencer system and some tyres. Still hums along like a good 'un. 145000 miles up, can't speak highly enough of them.
One downside is that you can't go into the inner London area due to emissions restrictions, but I would never go there anyway.
____________________
The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi?

STONEY! · Brolly Dolly Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Karma :

Later expert/scudo/dispatches can go into london fine.

Only those who dont know any better dismiss the french vans with the exception of the renaults that do seem to live up to the poor reputation. In reality I firmly believe they are the best option overall. Look at the competition:

Merc sprinter, like a car to drive but rust like hell, go wrong a lot and expensive to fix.

Nissan vanette, slow uneconomical rust bucket but reliable and will pull a house down

Toyota hiace, good but poor mpg and quite small inside

Ford transit cheap but unreliable poor mpg bit bigger rust bucket.

Vw transporter, these are very good but sadly poor on fuel, if you get 30mpg your doing well. If it weren't for this I would have one but when you consider doing 20,000 a year its going to cost £1500 or so more in fuel than the any of the french vans.

Dischord · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 May 2005 Karma :

I'm not sure some of you guys realise just how much a Mercedes Vito rusts? and it's not even the new ones they all suffer from really bad rust just do a google search!

If this was me I'd be buying a Peugeot Expert or LDV Cub / Nissan Vannette Thumbs Up

I've driven plenty of French vehicles with work and they take a thrashing, my dad did 8 years and about 60k in a Peugeot Partner without touching a thing, not even servicing it - it's still going strong now!

I think deep down everyone would like a T5 but for me the cost is just too much!
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Jonathan A · Crazy Courier Joined: 23 Jun 2012 Karma :

LDV Pilot?
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STONEY! · Brolly Dolly Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Karma :

Ldv cub ans vanette are slow rot boxes!

Ldv pilot is also a slow rot box and being rwd a bit high to get bikes in and isnt that big inside

STONEY! · Brolly Dolly Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Karma :

Transporter t5 is a bit of a let down to be honest most seem to have lots of problems. The t4 however is a quality machine.

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

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