Fiat Doblo Van

Tesla

Tesla

Tesla

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Joined
19 Jan 2003
Posts
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Bristol, UK
Continuing from another thread:

Firestar_3x said:
Post some pics of the Van Chris :)
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So far I am very pleased with the Van. It drives suprislingly nicely too which I am shocked at. To look at It's very van-like but I do not think it looks dated (there is a facelift model of this van out). It looks purposeful which I like. Currently this is my only vehicle since I sold the Mondeo Estate. The plan is to purchase some sort of fun car when I can afford to do so. Hopefully not too long as the plan is the van will generate some more business!

I need to do a couple of van-like things. Top of the agenda is ply line it to stop it getting damaged from the inside out. I have seen pre-cut kits on the internet that you fit yourself (looks a doddle!) for £100-£150 so will order one of these up.

Need to fit my Parrot BT kit, It was a huge struggle getting the Alpine HU in and I am not sure how I will physically fit the BT kit cables in yet, I've found a space for the control box but no way of getting the cables upto the HU!

I then need to build some sort of custom racking, I will plan it out to fit my needs and probably recruit the help of my furniture-making friend. Also needs to be able to be removed if I need the full load space back (I was thinking of basing my racking around a platform covering most of the van so there are two load heights since I do not carry anything particularly tall).

Also, require a roof rack or at least bars for my ladders. Likely will go for the rack with a roller bar at the rear.

Finally, I need the van to generate me business so will get it written, possibly wrapped but I need to come up with a killer idea/design on either of these first. (PC repair and TV installation).

I may look into reverse sensors but would want something that looks OEM and works well, any ideas?
 
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Scuzi said:
I like how in true white van man fashion you've taken up two disabled parking spaces.
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I lost both legs in a freak accident. I can only wall mount TV's up to 75cm from floor level but work's ticking over.
 
Nice one chris, know you have wanted to sort out a van for ages !!! Im sure we can put that van to good use ;)

Sam
 
I've always liked vans, mainly from a practical view point, but also a lot of the car derived ones are well..... Derived from the estate versions, so drive just like them..

Maybe it's just going back to around 1994 when i had my first company vehicle, a Escort 1.6d van, fun having your mates sit in the sofa chair in the back whilst driving around,the back doors nearly opening up on handbrake turns :p:o
 
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Looks good Chris, did this come in at sub 5k inc VAT?

Parking sensor wise don't get that numberplate one its horrid, the hidden strips seem good tbh.
 
crankbro said:
Avoid the Fiat Doblo, my friend has got a 54 Plate one and has had nothing but trouble with it.... Broken down a few times and generally falling apart.
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Looks like a nice tidy van though! Can't really get an idea of size from the pics. Front looks like its a VW Caddy sized van, but back looks more like vivaro / traffic sized van.

How much did you pay for it anyway?
 
Thanks for the comments guys, suprised a van is well received here!

It set me back £3250 and was a private sale so no VAT, i'm not VAT registered you see.

It's an odd size really, it is a small van but the driving position is much higher than the car derived vans such as Berlingo and Combo.

As such the rear load space is much higher too although not really any longer or wider than the other small vans.

Yes the new retail park at Longwell, nice skills there!

I read some reviews on the strip parking sensor and it doesnt sound that great so I may look into other in-bumper solutions (I don't mind drilling a few holes).

Business is going OK, still not flat-out consistently but it's getting there. I am going to pay a proper design house to come up with something special for the signage/wrapping and hope it will pay for itself plus more in increased business. As a side-note a friend of mine sold his old van as purchased a new VW transporter. As he hasn't had time to be without the van to send it to the sign writers he has had a few customers phoning him asking if he has gone out of business (as they hadnt seen his van for a while!). So I think a good unique design would definately help.
 
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I like the Old Doblo more than the facelift, as much as it's possible to like the looks of a van.

austinpowers said:
but also a lot of the car derived ones are well..... Derived from the estate versions, so drive just like them..
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Maybe so, but the Doblo isn't car based any more than the Multipla was a Bravo.
 
Its not the van i would personally have got due to lack of a bench (i think this will come back to bite going on a fair amount of experience with vans and people that use vans daily).

However it certainly looks very good indeed for 3 grand - remember the van is the face of a mobile business and this looks really clean and professional unlike the mondeo. I'd get it sign written asap with something catchy, trust me catchy crazy logo's and HUGE phone numbers work :)
 
Looks a nice wee van.


Sorry if am mistaken, buy you install aerials, dishes etc?

Surly you can't fit many of them in there, or does it just look small?
 
I drove one of these for near on a year, always used to make me grin when thrashing the balls off it in turbo Y0!! Watch out for tyre wear on the fronts though, maybe because its a little understeery and I used to race it everywhere but the fronts would be gone within months.

Oh, and its weakest point is the rear door locks, both rears and the sliding door mechanisms broke - they're only covered by the the first years warrenty which is a bit crappy.
 
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