[derek west]

jim
surely if your investing all that money your gonna ditch sm?
derek

[Jim_77]

shhh

[derek west]

good on ya mate, you've got the tools and the kernow how.
derek

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Who's van is it Jim?

The reason I buy new is that I have  got a full 3 years warranty with the van, imagine a TM that is ready for work but the van isn't! peace of mind albeit at a cost, you still have a loan to pay or other bills so it's better if you can keep on truckin IMO.

Shaun

[Jim_77]

Basically, I can get a blueline TM through SM, installed at alltec.  My plan is to pick up a decent 2nd hand van for about 6-7k but Robert wants to sell me the brand new package, with the overpriced plylining/waterproofing etc etc....

Excluding the truckmount/tanks/hoses the final price is 20k plus vat.

The little boy in me who likes toys says YEAH but the 25% Scots in me holding the purse strings says NOOOO.

Warranty is the poignant issue.  I've known several people take brand new relays and they've spent more time going back for warranty repairs than being out on the road.  It really has screwed them around.  But these were the previous model, like 04 to 56 plate kind of age.  Hence the question of this topic, now they've updated to the new design.

I've just bought a house, get the keys on fri, so my business is funding my personal life at the mo rather than generating spare capital to reinvest... therefore I haven't got oodles of spare cash knocking about to spunk on a shiny new van when 2nd hand will do just as well.

I think I've made my mind up... it'd be really nice but I think the brand spanker is my next move, not this one

[Tony Gill Carpet Smart]

Jim although i run a Renault Master i also have a Fiat Ducato tha Ducato is used as a base for thousands of motorhome builders and has a great reputation the only issues i am aware of is very early models ie before 2000 after very high milage developed sloppy linkage in the gear selectors next model upto i think 06 07 which is what i run no noted problems apart from a recall on the front brakes which you need to check has been done very easy check with a Fiat garage and an easy modification to do for FREE The latest model does have a very large issue with the reverse gear if you google fiat ducato reverse gear judder I know a number of people having this problem with motorhomes. In my opinion the Fiat engines are the best.

ps I still love the Renault Master

Cheers Tony

[Jim_77]

Thanks Tony.  Funnily enough, the linkage in my scudo went a bit "sloppy" a few years ago.... to the point of falling apart!  Got stuck outside a customer's house in 2nd gear, had to limp it 4 miles to garage

My scudo's a P reg, done 160k now, I've been driving it since about '03 when it had 90k on the clock.  The major mechanical stuff has been pretty good to be honest, it's all the little niggly things that fall off, break or stop working.

[Joe H]

Nothing really wrong with a Fiat - after all Michael Schumacher won many world championships in one!

Well Ferrari are part of the Fiat group. 

Similarly with Citroen, Sebastian Loeb won many world titles too!.

[Tony Gill Carpet Smart]

  Nice one Joe;D

There is a real prob on some of the latest new ones with reverse gear judder though.
Keep on TRUCKING

[murky]

Jim,

Have a word with Bob Daines in Cambridge he's with SM same as you, he  bought a complete set up from Alltec about 6 months ago, think it was a Renault package he bought.

Murky

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

we get quite alot out of the sales and trust me big vans are going cheap very cheap as people are down sizeing to smaller vans at the min , ok were lucky that we pay a rate rate of comshion as were trade , and we get the vat back this also helps

but if you are buying nearly new van say a year old with very little miles on the clock and is as not got two orange lights on the top  and a tow bar then you should be ok

 if you see a van you like most sales will tell you whos been the fourmer keeper this way you can have an indear whats its been used for

[alan lewis]

Jim

A mate of mine bought a new Relay about 18 months ago i think, it too has spent a fair bit of time in the dealers, a new gearbox amongst other things! but fortunately for him its all been under warranty, but as you say its the downtime and having to organise hire vans etc thats the real pain in the arse.... i know, with a Renault Trafic thats had 4 turbo's....... in less than 70,000 miles!!!! Am thinking of a new van myself...no poop i hear you say!!! have been thinking about a Crafter or Sprinter, i know they cost more but hopefully more reliable? or are they, has anyone got one of the aformentioned vehicles?

Alan

[derek west]

no disrespect alan, but 4 turbo's in 70k. do you not think it just might be the way you drive.
and same goes for gearboxes and clutches,
i personally think if you treat a vehicle with respect it'll see you right, unless your really unlucky and get a duffen.
derek
ps... watch mine fck up now.

[alan lewis]

Well Derek

If never going over 3000rpm or doing more than 80mph on the motorway is abusing it, i think i might try thrashing the arse of it as i may like that better!! I have never had problems like this with any car or van ive owned, if anything i nurse them.

Seriously though i must have a pig in a poke with this one as Renault said to me the other day when a oil feed pipe seal to the turbo blew! it must be to heavy, but as ive mentioned to them there are others  with the same vehicle and similar set up inside that dont eat Turbo's and the turbo issue with the 1.9 engine go way back (Do a search on google) and started on the Laguna and Megane range of cars...so i know its not weight that causes the turbo failures and Renault have never questioned replacement of a turbo (2 under warranty and the last one of which they paid 40% towards the cost)

The last one was replaced at 62,000 ! ill keep you posted.

Alan

[Jim_77]

Susan any MWB vans going at the mo?  1st choice is sprinter or crafter/LT but master, movano, ducato etc all considered

Alan, bad luck by the sounds of it.  Maybe you should thrash it around a bit, might rattle things in to place

[Dave_Lee]

Jim,
My 57 plate Relay is coming up 20,000 miles soon. Only time its been back to the dealers was early on for a recall job.
Dave.

[Darren O]

Ive got a Nissan Primaster swb got it new on Nov06 nearly 3 years only thing ive had to replace is the brake pads all in its been a great van touch wood when i do upgrade to a truckmount i will be buying a mwb transit.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Dave I think I had the same recall can't remember what it was for something on the computer I think. To say I have a FIAT (fix. it. again. tomorrow) I haven't had a blip from it.

I paid inclusive of VAT and road fund SWB 2.2 diesel 110 bhp £10500 which I thought was an excellent price because I did have a good look around.

Shaun

[carpetworx]

There over $47,000.00 here