I want a transit. . .

W!ll

W!ll

W!ll

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Coventry
Okay after talking with my father we have a plan to replace two trailers and my little 106 with a Small Van of some sort and really i'm after recommendations, it has to meet the following specs -

1. Short Wheel Base, normal roof height (normal transit for example) to fit 3 motorbikes.
2. Looking around 2000ish give or take a few years
3. Doesn't have to be a transit.
4. Must be pannelled or able to be.
5. Side loading door required.

So please fire away with your recommendations!
 
If you buy a transit make sure you get one with a 100bhp+ power plant, preferably the 125bhp unit as the other engines are a pile of toss.

The biggest problem for me was the door hinge mounting points rotting, the hinges on the rear doors pull away from the body and should ideally be repaired with new bolts and washers as opposed to welding or riviting, but ours were abused.

a transit is your best bet, parts are plentifull and cheap and the van is generally reliable, there are thousands of them out there so you can afford to be picky and spend time looking for a good one.
 
I've driven my fair share of vans and the Sprinter wins it for me. Although these will obviously cost a bit more. Tranist vans are perfect for the job they're required to do though so you can't really go wrong, just bare in mind the engines as atpbx said.
 
TripleT said:
I've driven my fair share of vans and the Sprinter wins it for me. Although these will obviously cost a bit more. Tranist vans are perfect for the job they're required to do though so you can't really go wrong, just bare in mind the engines as atpbx said.
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sprinters are usually the quickest/most powerful of the bunch but they're far too tail happy for my liking.
far too many of them have gone backwards through hedges.
 
transits are good. One hint tho is if u can smell burning on test drive it is probably the propshaft tearing itself limb from limb so walk away!
 
The Transits do the job though the later shape ones (mk5) I hear aren't as reliable as the earlier, pre 2000 oval grille mk4s. As said, go for a turbo version if you want it to move at a reasonable pace but if you can afford a Mercedes Sprinter or Vito, new or old, they are in a completely different league. They are much more car like and less agricultural, have a proper driving position, gear shift, ride quality, refined engines and are plenty powerful.
 
The Sprinter is a better drive imo, but the Tranny the cheaper option.


I worked for a company with a 250k mile Sprinter about 5 years ago, to this day, the sprinter is still in use and God knows what the mileage is now!

You want a Sprinter, not a transit. ;)
 
sprinter is all i can say


even it it means a lot more miles for your money, they run forever.

picked up a tidyish swb P plate (early Sprinter a couple of months back with 6 months t&t for 400 quid


sold it aftaer a quick service and it has since done 10000 trouble free miles

theres good honest cheap ones out there ou jsut have to look, just dont let leggy examples put you off they handle it well, they dont have a superb rep for nothin
 
another sprinter vote from me, i hired a 315cdi for a round trip from middlesbrough/manchester/lake district, and loved every minute in it, it shifts :D
 
Yes Sprinters are great but I'd buy a good transit over a rough sprinter so make sure your budget will cover a good one.
 
I drive a sprinter every day, 54 plate with 92k on it. It crunches into gears and theres a bit of a funny burning smell but guess thats what happens to hire vans!

I prefer the new Iveco Daily though tbh, better turning circle and seems to pull a bit better.
 
I've only driven the old Sprinter (R reg shape?) and the last Transit I drove was a G plate 2.0 petrol with a single 45 :p

Prefer the Transit, can't put my finger on why I just liked it better. And it's the van that build Britain ;)
 
As i said it needs the ability to hold 3 motorcycles, also toying with the idea of maybe a bed and one motorbike for those camping trips. . .just an idea though.

It's going to be my main four wheeled transport when i can't use a bike, so it has got to be livable, i am looking at a Medium Wheelbase, budget is going to be 2-3k.

Cheers for all the response!
 
:D
W!ll said:
As i said it needs the ability to hold 3 motorcycles, also toying with the idea of maybe a bed and one motorbike for those camping trips. . .just an idea though.

It's going to be my main four wheeled transport when i can't use a bike, so it has got to be livable, i am looking at a Medium Wheelbase, budget is going to be 2-3k.

Cheers for all the response!
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Another thing, with the Sprinter, you can tell the girls you drive a Mercedes Benz................ :cool: ;)
 
The Merc's have pretty poor bodywork I find. Lots of them rust even well looked after examples.

Can VW Transporters be found for this money?
The Renault Trafic isn't a bad van at all either.
 
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