What New VAN????

[Smilers]

Hi All,

I've just sold my 05 plate ford transit connect, I have around 4ish thousand to spend on a new van, I had intended on getting a Vivaro but I have been warned of with stories of dual mass fly wheels and other costly common faults.

Anyway I'm looking for something around about the size of the vivaro but when I have spoken to a mechanic he tells me everything is rubbish except the VW Transporter!! "Thanks for picking the one van that is out of my price range!!"

So what do you guys suggest and can anyone confirm the problems with the Trafics,vivaro and primastars?

Please post what you drive and if you love it or hate it and a bit of an explanation as to why hopefully this thread will become useful for others in the same boat as me.

Thanks Again

 

[sprocketflup]

I had the same prob when looking for a new van, for every diff one there is reports of good and bad things ( even the VW transporter shock)

I wanted and ended up with a SWB Trafic, been absolutely A1 so far

 

[Smilers]

How old is it sproc? Mileage?

 

[welchyboy]

Think every van will have its bad points

I had an old 03 trafic but gearbox went(they are renowned for this) but apparently have been redesigned now if newer than an 04 plate

Bought another new last year as I have allways liked them, good size, very comfy, drive well, ok on juice and don't get mistaken for a pikey

Just hope the gearbox lasts

 

[Dairyspark]

This probably won't help but if I could ask my dad who is a mechanic in a van only garage I could ask him on Thursday when I go to see him, just a thought lol

Cheers

Bobby

 

[Andy™]

no matter what van you get, you will always have some kind of problem at some point

 

[pewter]

I bought my 03 transporter 7 years ago. No problems yet. Only changed tires, exhaust, cam belt, filters and battery.

It's the best van I have owned and driven. Planning t5 facelift next year.

My neighbour sells vauxall vans and said they can knock loads of money off new ones,

 

[Sharpend]

I'm happy with the Vw, had a trafic, nice and comfy, but at first service (18000), Renault told me I'd need new discs as they had corroded badly, was not impressed at that point.

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

I bought a new Vivaro in Feb 10 and its fantastic. Only complaint is the air con has got a leak and its not worth the hassle of a warranty claim when i can get it done by a mobile guy. The older Vivaro's apparently had gearbox problems over 50K miles but mine will probably never get that high and thats the pre-facelift ones of i think before 05

 

[Jono Pashley]

Thinking of going down the Dispatch/Expert route later this year, almost everyone ive spoke to about them has had nothing but praise for them.

 

[ivor dispatch]

Thinking of going down the Dispatch/Expert route later this year, almost everyone ive spoke to about them has had nothing but praise for them.

I think those vans are an advert ,,,,,cheap n will only last 3 years... may be,,,,,,, if I am not insulting you ........................## Ford Transit,,,or VW Transporter might be a better buy

 

[Sharpend]

If you want a van that thinks its a car then get a VW, if you just want a van take anything else!

 

[m4tty]

Can't go wrong with a tranny ... Must be good if the pikeys love em lol

 

[steptoe]

I think those vans are an advert ,,,,,cheap n will only last 3 years... may be,,,,,,, if I am not insulting you ........................## Ford Transit,,,or VW Transporter might be a better buy

:slap

I have a Y reg [01] scudo with almost 160k, went through MOT last month with only a couple of minor advisories - leaking sump[a known issue, I had already bought a new one for

 

[M107]

VW transporters also have DMF's..........bottom of the thread shows the mess they make when they let go.

Problems........ - VW T4 Forum - VW T5 Forum

I have the Renault Trafic & have no complaints with it............as I said to another forum member on the phone, it beats the old Berlingo into a tin hat.

---------- Post Auto-Merged at 23:04 ---------- Previous post was made at 22:54 ----------

Should have added;

I did ask the question about gear box/clutch problems when I bought it (heard the same warnings) & was told by the dealership (anchor vans) that 04 plates onwards had no issues.........I also asked as the body shapes were the same across manufacturers were the engines also the same, well the Vauxhall & Renault are one & the same it is only the Nissan that has the nissan manufactured engine & gearbox & thats why they hold their price higher than the other two "Japanese motors are quality & rarely go tits up" I think the quote was.

 

[batty]

My last van was a transit had it for ten years with no major problems. Two cam belts snapped but not due for change but no major engine rebuild was needed both times. Rest was just usual wear and tear things. I have a newer transit now which is more comfortable and a lot more powerful as its TD they are chain driven so hopefully no more cam problems. Both have been ex BT. A chap I know that works for BT says the Vivaros they use are always in the workshops but if you pay 10k for a van you can't expect to much. I think with vans you can be lucky or unlucky although some seem more prone to problems than others.

 

[Jono Pashley]

:slap I have a Y reg [01] scudo with almost 160k, went through MOT last month with only a couple of minor advisories - leaking sump[a known issue, I had already bought a new one for

 

[steptoe]

funnily enough my mate said the same, we have used it a few times on petrol tanks,

the problem was I couldnt see exactly where the leak was till I had it off anyway, and didnt want to be without it for too long if it was serious,

turns out it was below the oil level so needed to come off anyway even for a repair, so if you know anyone needs a repairable sump give me a shout.

 

[streetlighter]

The Vivaro is a nice van to drive but I would never buy one myself due to all the problems I had with mine ( company fallout van )

I like my Vauxhall Combo van only issue I have is that there isn't as much room in the cab as say a VW Caddy, but the trade off is more space in the back.

 

[sellers]

Vw is the van to have, but it attracts the higher pric!

I have a vivaro, it's been great saying that I have just shelled out 600quid for a new gearbox fitted this morning. It went last week.

Mines on 140k and to be fair I'm not that fussed, they are renowned for bad boxes, but that 600quid could easily be spent repairing other vans.

One thing I like the vivaro for is on motorways, it will do 90 easy which is handy. My transit was a battle to keep momentum in.

Whatever you get just keep on top of the jobs, I give my van to a local garage when I go on holiday. I ask him to service it and give it a drive round for a bit and do anything that needs doing.