Van ~£6K

thepeteh

thepeteh

thepeteh

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North Yorkshire
I'm after some advice, looking to purchase a medium sized panel van as soon as I can decide which one to go for. It will be initially used as a toy chest :p push bikes and the like, but in the next year or so it may be used for my own specialised construction company that I hope to set up, though it will still always have fairly light use even then.

I have my V70 to sell or part-ex, which I expect to sell for ~£3K privately, perhaps £2.3K part ex.

Ideally I'd not like to spend over £6-6.5K including the sale of my car.

I've been looking at Mercedes Vito's and VW Transporters mainly as I know they're fairly car sized so are practical enough in small car parks.

These are the two I have my eye on;

http://www.kcvansales.co.uk/vans/11425/volkswagen-transporter-t28-tdi-pd-102-ps/

http://www.dewsburyvancentre.co.uk/22327/showroom.htm

Does anyone own/use either or could share opinions. Alternatives?

Thanks.
 
I have the slightly earlier VW Transporter 2.5TDi

P1020264.jpg


It does drive nicely.... just like a car really.

As for the Merc Vito... I'm not sure about that one but I know earlier ones rusted just as badly as old Lancias!
 
you've said the obvious choices already, Vito or transporter, though i wouldn't discount a tranny either, famous for having car like handling ;).
 
RenoRanes007 said:
I have the slightly earlier VW Transporter 2.5TDi

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f344/Reno49/Billing%20Fun%20Run%202010/P1020264.jpg[IMG]

It does drive nicely.... just like a car really.

As for the Merc Vito... I'm not sure about that one but I know earlier ones rusted just as badly as old Lancias![/QUOTE]

Where bouce you from? :D


You say your construction company but how much would you be carting round?
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I'd take the VW over the Merc.

I think the Transporter is likely the best of the bunch really and residuals are better than other vans.
 
I used to have a T4 2.5TDI also, ala;

4353753210_79c0833da1.jpg


I do like them and think they drive great, but really I'm after something slightly newer.

As for rust, from reading it was only MK1 vitos that suffered badly, 2003 onwards are OK.

It would be rope access kit, so basically lots of ropes and climbing gear, tools and occasional heavy stuff such as weight boxes for roof anchors.

I think im leaning on the VW side of the fence.... as for transits I've driven lots of them and they're alright... might have a look and see what the French have on offer too!

Cheers
 
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I've had 2 vito's (albeit minibuses) they racked up a fair bit of maintenance,

Im my experience the best is the fiat scudo. averages 40mpg fully loaded, and 160hp is very nippy although that is the top model.

thats from, transit, trafic(vivaro), traveliner(vito), shuttle(transporter), sprinter.
 
The Vw transporters are pretty good, hold on to their value well wierdly (must be vw rep from cars)

Anything that doesn't have a an LDV should be a good start!
 
breadturbo said:
I've had 2 vito's (albeit minibuses) they racked up a fair bit of maintenance,

Im my experience the best is the fiat scudo. averages 40mpg fully loaded, and 160hp is very nippy although that is the top model.

thats from, transit, trafic(vivaro), traveliner(vito), shuttle(transporter), sprinter.
Click to expand...

Scudo, Dispatch, Expert is a good shout... something like this looks good for the money, I'll take on board what you say about maintenance cost for vitos. Whatever I get I want it cheap to run.

http://vans.autotrader.co.uk/makemo...0fd232f77cb30132f8f9426411e4/featured-listing

edit-

Am I being silly for wanting 6speed box to avoid the motorway hum of a screaming diesel?
Many Vitos (if not all?) can be had with a 6speed box, I see the top model scudos have 6speed
 
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RenoRanes007 said:
I'd still head towards the VW T5 Transporter you posted before, the Fiat you posted only being a 1.6 90bhp is going to be slow compared to the VW.
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I agree with this, the VW engines are far better than the merc and fiat offerings.
I dont know which engine is in the T5, but i had an LT35 150 and it was a beast in van terms, in fact its the only 3.5 panel van I've owned apart from a 135 lwb transit that was capable of doing over 100mph.

If the differential carries down to the smaller vans in the range then yes, the VW T5 is the only choice here, as everything else will either be too slow, too thirsty, too expensive to maintain or just plain rubbish.
 
Id always stick with T4 or T5 now :)

currently have a 2003 T4 ( last year they did them) vie heard the t5 engines aren't as good as the t4?
 
drive a vito at work now and again and never been impressed. All vans are crap imho, how about an LDV maxus, yes its uber crap but half the price of anything else
 
Not a Vito for me. My mate's had two, the first generation which went on for ever and took mile after mile of abuse and neglect, with only some rust showing, traded it in after 8 years for a 54 plate new shape which he's had for about 3 years now and all it does is rust, spreading like cancer, its all over the tailgate, one sliding door and the entire length of the drivers door was crumbling last time we spoke. He said "what next, soon the plastic wings will start to rust!"
 
Waved goodbye to the volvo today :(, so I hope to go pick up a VWT5 on Monday. Looking at spending closer to 6.5K now on the T28 1.9TDI 85ps version.
 
energy said:
Not a Vito for me. My mate's had two, the first generation which went on for ever and took mile after mile of abuse and neglect, with only some rust showing, traded it in after 8 years for a 54 plate new shape which he's had for about 3 years now and all it does is rust, spreading like cancer, its all over the tailgate, one sliding door and the entire length of the drivers door was crumbling last time we spoke. He said "what next, soon the plastic wings will start to rust!"
Click to expand...



Purely from a drivers point of view, the Merc would be the better, but equally, it would probably bankrupt you whilst it disolves before your eyes!

Great driveline, crap body.

Some but by no means all,similar vintage Merc trucks can be equally bad for rust appearing everywhere.
 
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