Van ideas

[Dizzy_Maskell]

Guys looking at getting a small van transit connect size what are people views and reliability practicality etc of various vans and what do you use and recommend
Thanks

 

[Octopus]

I think he was making reference to the fact VW have hardly been trustworthy of late...

Corrected that for you!

Who would have thought that the squeaky clean Germans would do such a thing!

 

[telectrix]

Sorry but that is complete rubbish. The majority of cars and vans on the road are front wheel drive and manage just fine.

they manage perfectly well till the drive shafts wear out, the diffs clunk, and as for accessing things for repair - try changing a starter motor on a berlingo.

 

[Harni]

they manage perfectly well till the drive shafts wear out, the diffs clunk, and as for accessing things for repair - try changing a starter motor on a berlingo.

Funnily enough i did one on a Partner (same as a Belingo) about a month ago. Took me 20 minutes.
Driveshafts and diffs can still wear out on something RWD and its the same procedure to replace them as it is a FWD car. Only difference you'll probably find on a FWD vehicle is there is an intermediate bearing that needs removing on the OS drive shaft. Still just as easy.

 

[telectrix]

never had to replace a prop shaft in my life.

 

[Harni]

Maybe you've just had bad luck with FWD vehicles but from spending the majority of my younger working life around cars, I've never noticed more of an issue with either FWD or RWD. Only thing i will say is its usually easier to change a clutch on a RWD but then if you don't drive like a complete prat that shouldn't be a job needing to be done often!

 

[telectrix]

haha. having driven for almost 50 years, only ever had 1 clutch burn out. that was on a saab, pulling 2 ton of waterlogged sloop up a 40deg. slipway.

 

[GMES]

Vivaro for me, never had any issues with them and personally would only ever buy a small van if I was delivering sandwiches for a living, after 12 months you will be wishing you had bought a full size van instead of half of one.:teeth_smile:

 

[Harni]

Exactly. And i still find it comical how some guys manage to ruin clutches in no time. My last company car was a 9 month old Octavia. Was given to me with 25k on it and a brand spanking new clutch in it because the guy who had it before me had cooked it!

 

[Hellmooth]

Trafic for me, had a transit connect but was too small in the end, thought about getting another smaller van as they're good on fuel etc but glad I went with the Trafic!

 

[GMES]

Trafic for me, had a transit connect but was too small in the end, thought about getting another smaller van as they're good on fuel etc but glad I went with the Trafic!

It can be a false economy though because a large van designed to carry a decent weight will perform better than a florists van that's carrying 3 times more stuff than it is meant too.

 

[Hellmooth]

It can be a false economy though because a large van designed to carry a decent weight will perform better than a florists van that's carrying 3 times more stuff than it is meant too.

Very true, all I know is I'm putting in at least £100 a month more with the Trafic lol!

 

[GMES]

Very true, all I know is I'm putting in at least £100 a month more with the Trafic lol!

Yeah but think of the comfort!!

 

[telectrix]

trafic is a nice van, but the one i had was a rogue. had 4 camshaft sensors fail in 12 months, apart from other ecu related faults.

 

[Hellmooth]

Yeah the comfort is worth the money without a doubt!

Yeah heard a lot of horror stories, just got to treat it right and hope for the best!

 

[Hellmooth]

What do you think of the Proace Tel? I looked at them as well after seeing your love of the hiace!