Can Anyone Recommend a RELIABLE VAN?

[wild nomad]

Hi all!

I'm looking for a reliable van to through my ever expanding tool kit into. Can any one recommend a good model? Size wise I'm looking for something about the size of a VW paddy (postman van). Any ideas?

Thanks in advance

Mike 🙂

 

[shaky]

Get the caddy good van.

 

[leepoll]

I have the Citreon Berlingo Enterprise at work. Had no issues with it and its good on fuel.

 

[SimonG]

I have a 2007 Fiat Doblo 1.9. Had it 4 years and all its cost me is wishbones, tyres and front wheel bearings. But it does have 123,000 on the clock.

 

[townfanjon]

Caddy here !!! , ready for a new van and will probably be another Caddy or maybe the new connect

 

[rpm]

Check passenger side electric window on a Caddy for any sign of looseness as it raises as it`s a known fault.

 

[PlumbersMate]

Love caddy but think they're maybe too small

 

[Chris F]

Vw Transporter. Make sure it's got history though.

 

[simon0703]

My company van is a doblo, don't buy one even if its free. Went with a mate to look at a new transit the other day. I looked at the connect, its w proper nice but of kit

 

[rpm]

Had a Doblo around 2003 I think (one of the early ones) great van but others I know of ate headgasket, gearbox, clutch and water pump below 60,000m, but the JLD version or whatever it was could wheelspin through the first 3 gears on a dry road and give many a car GTi cardriver a scare so great fun.

 

[wild nomad]

Hey, thanks for all the tips guys!

I've been searching around and there looks to be some good deals on the Ford Connect's. Anyone out there had any experience with one?

Cheers
Mike 🙂

 

[Ermintrude]

Yes. Ok vans we had one. Blower for heaters went, power steering pump. Other than that nice van. Ours was 55 plate and went in 2011.

 

[gassafe]

Most vans are fairly reliable if looked after, my van has full service history & I plan to do service every 10 - 12k with proper oil. Filters! ... Similar to boilers I guess, look after them and they don't give much hassle

 

[Elverstown]

I've had a Citroen Dispatch Hdi for 10 years and 220k miles, just wear an tare + ball joints. need to change soon, compact but 3 seats? I also need 10th post:vanish:

 

[Pipes Plumbing]

I have a caddy maxi on a 10 plate... So far it has had 1 x Gearbox (destroyed itself when reversing up a hill), Dual Mass Flywheel & Clutch (flywheel failed and took out the clutch), 1 x section of wiring loom to the rear lights, 1 x Front brake caliper.
Luckily this was all under warranty, otherwise it might have been parked through the VW dealership's window.

*Edit* Not to forget it eats light bulbs almost every other week.

Even VW are surprised at the amount that has gone wrong with it. Plus it handles like a barge and is unstable in the slightest crosswind with the roof rack and tube on top.

Due for a new van this year, will it be a new Caddy? No...
Will it be another VW? Probably not...

Might be tempted by a LWB Transit Custom though.

 

[CXR100]

I had a golf gttdi 130 6 speed once, the amount of spending I did on it I would keep clear of vw, I now have a 06 ford connect and a 10 plate for connect lwb (work van), both fantastic vans! I ad a swb medium top transit 56 plate before the work connect, brilliant van! ad good on fuel!!!

 

[Solderwire]

Citroen nemo for me 50 plus miles to the gallon, nippy, and reliable hasent put a foot wrong in 113,000 miles, another one towards my 10.:smilewinkgrin:

 

[PlumbersMate]

Citroen nemo for me 50 plus miles to the gallon, nippy, and reliable hasent put a foot wrong in 113,000 miles, another one towards my 10.:smilewinkgrin:

How you get any gear in it?

 

[Ermintrude]

We have nv200 just do ch so easy enough space unless u need. To fit in a box of armour cell 2m lagging or a 6* 2000 DPX

 

[Solderwire]

How you get any gear in it?

well most of my workload is breakdown and service work,so its plenty big enough for me, but you can get a boiler in the back when needed, new baths need delivering :smile5:. what i like most is its easy to park anywhere, its true though its not for everybody.

 

[Admin]

VW Caddy all day long.

 

[IDCHAPPY]

I love transits 😉

 

[thomas donovan]

medium wheelbase transit i can keep my pipe inside get 8x4 sheets and virtually a whole heating system inside and other cars move over when you're heading towards them.

 

[BristolPlumbing]

Got to be a Transit all day long. How many old batterd white transits with one red door covered in rust and dents do you see driving about?

Answer: Loads!

That's because they just go on, and on...

 

[newcastle phill]

Old Transit - the van of choice for pikeys

 

[KGB]

Beware of Caddy van's built 06-10, the 102bhp TDi engines in them (BLS engine code) are very prone to going pop. VW claim there are no issue's with them but Google 'BLS engine' and you'll find differing opinions.
A friend's van just had the conrod escape out through the block, engine destroyed, he'd owned the van from brand new, serviced religiously every 10,000 miles at main agents and only ever driven by himself, was used as private transport never carried any weight, 83,000 miles and game over lol.
Nice van when they are running though!!

 

[plumba66]

Toyota hiace, ask any breakdown man & they will tell you that they hardly have to deal with these

 

[mikey_d]

Mercedes Vito is also a nice choice.. But transits are always good vans had a few and never had much trouble with them this includes a old mk6 with 200k+ keep them well serviced and you can't go far wrong just keep a look out for rust on sills side foot steps chassis and rear leaf spring mounting points.

 

[newcastle phill]

Vitos are a pile'o'sh1te 🙂
Teabags the lot of em.

The only van where the payload goes up by 150kg as the van gets older lol

 

[markfxy]

Got to be a Transit all day long. How many old batterd white transits with one red door covered in rust and dents do you see driving about?

Answer: Loads!

That's because they just go on, and on...

Thats because they rust like f**k and the red door is all that's left of the original van:yesnod:

 

[bright spark]

I'm on my 4th renault trafic now over the last 12 yrs. never had to change anything only tyres and usual service bits. Did about 75k on each then past them on, bought from new.
every1 had their favourites.
Had a transit from new, had terrible probs.
also had a couple of hiaces which were bulletproof too, but that was yrs ago. It was when they had no bulkhead. A lad I worked with nearly got mashed by his own tools in a crash.
Got a trafic with a bulkhead after that. I find them really comfy to drive.

 

[newcastle phill]

Never had to replace anything except 3 vans LOL [emoji1]

 

[bright spark]

Keep em 3 yrs then shift them. Move em on b4 probs. don't need d hassle of a van off d road with bother. As soon as warranty up I get rid. Latest 1 I bought as a demo 3 months old 3k on d clock €4.000 off. 5 yr unlimited mileage warranty on this one.

 

[newcastle phill]

Sounds like a plan

 

[wetdrip]

Buying a used van:
Buyer's Guide