Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Danny Guest on August 05, 2012, 02:55:10 pm
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What are people's opinions on these vans Considering value for money, reliability, maintenance and depreciation
Danny
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I don't think the Vivaro or equivalent is man enough for the job of WFP. It may be OK for light duty transport of equipment but not for our requirements. (Many owners on this site will also tell tails of woe although some have never had any issues.)The newer Trafics/Vivaro and Nissan suffer from injector issues and will be an expensive repair out of warranty. The newer ones also have clutch problems which is common across the manufacturing years exacerbated by the weight of our loads.
A friend has an 03 Vito and that has cost a fortune in engine repairs and I can't believe the rusty state of the body. Injectors are a real problem. There is always a chance that one will seize on break when trying to remove it. The only solution is to very gently super heat the cylinder head in a furnace type oven until the damaged injector drops out and then very slowly reduce the temperature back to ambient. This can take a couple of days to do and usually cheaper to scrap the van and put the cost of the repairs toward something better. Of course they won't want to do only one head, so you might have to join a waiting que until they can do several at the same time.
The older Transits do rust, especially around the bottom of the rear doors and wheel arches. The new Transits seem much better.
I have no experience with the VW except that they command high prices second hand even with high mileage examples. Depreciation on these vans would seem to be lower at the moment, by resale value is all about supply and demand. Repairs can be costly.
Leaving the VW out, I would head for a newer Transit T280 with as low a mileage as possible.
I might even consider a T220 or T230 Ford Transit Connect if there was just me with a 500 litre tank and I was younger.
They all depreciate in value but the amount of depreciation also depends on your annual mileage and the way you care for your vehicle. But in the end the Transit will always be more desireable as a trade in or private sale.
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I love my traffic a great reliable van
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Iv`e just had a lwb vw transporter t32 130 2.5 tdi kombi,it`s a beast ;D
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I have a 57 plate vivaro for the last 2 years with no problems what so ever. i also carry 650lt of water with all the other bit plus two of us in the front and it pulls like a train so what can i say but outstanding van. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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I have a 56 Vivaro, 650 litre two man system and like James's, mine fits the job very well.
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I got a brand new Vivaro SWB just before Christmas and can say it's a dream drive with a 650 tank in the back full to the brim and you can't feel the weight,much better drive than my 56 plate Golf but I suppose I have only had my van eight months so early days yet but at the moment it's a superb van and probobly the most classy looking of all mentioned! :P ;D
I used to have an 04 Transit T230 and rust became a problem very early around the wheel arches but Ford are cheap for parts,I can't comment on the other two as I never owned them but I do think the new Transporter models are nice but even the SWB Vivaro has more room in the back.
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sorry spruce,normally i like what you write,but about the vivaro not man enough,sorry your wrong on that.
transit have no guts in them just pain work horses,and a good vivaro will leave a transit standing with a full 650lt tank.
my 56 plate vivaro as been trouble free,touch wood.and runs like a dream :P
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sorry spruce,normally i like what you write,but about the vivaro not man enough,sorry your wrong on that.
transit have no guts in them just pain work horses,and a good vivaro will leave a transit standing with a full 650lt tank.
my 56 plate vivaro as been trouble free,touch wood.and runs like a dream :P
Mmmm. I knew when I wrote that Franky that I was going to be mobbed by the guys who have had good service from them. One of my customers brought an 09 plate with low mileage and still under manufacturers warranty. New injectors under warranty and as the garage didn't do the job properly they had to replace engine with new block assembly.
According to him Renault workshop manager admitted that they have an injector issue at present and Renault aren't even querying the claims. He had a loan van for 3 weeks while they sorted this one out. He uses the van to move his bicycles and also to sleep in if they go cycling on the continent.
2 guys have them here for WFP. 07 plate with 60k has had to have a new clutch assembly just recently and the fitter says they done a few. The other van is an 04 plate and is falling apart - side sliding door tracks and rollers need replacing and generally looks tatty. - around 85k on the clock Its not 'mothered' but then most van's aren't.
A friend of mine in an electrician and uses his to transport his tools around. In the last year his has had a new clutch, turbo and a couple of other problems. His said to me that the repair costs never seem to stop -"its always something." Interestingly, neither of these 2 older vans have had gearbox issues like some have had on here.
I also read with interest the issues that some have had on here with various mechanical components, especially GAV- hence the reason for my comments. I did however say that some have never had any issues.
I honestly like the look of the van and the cabin layout, but I still wouldn't buy one because of the experiences some, although not all, have had. So IMHO I still stand up and say that I would worry about their suitability for our job generally. When I was in the motor trade the Trafic had been out for several years, and TBH the perception in the trade was of caution.
With Transits you would always get a buyer. body work wasn't a major issue as mechanically they were bullet proof. Not many vans have that bullet proof tag.
Yes, the older Transits are slow work horses, but again that's fine for me as I don't want to race around with 600 litres of water behind me. There is still a good demand for used Transits, which speaks volumes for me.
Sorry to those who have been offended by my comments. I guess my post was to proceed with caution and based on my own opinion and perception, which is what the original poster asked for.
Also, the Vito had been out for a while as well and the trade's perception of them was to stay well clear of them.
Spruce
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Hi
vivs are great, but gearboxs go just spent 2 k on new one. aprt from that been a great van.
however as i do cc and pw as well need something bigger, so iam looking at mwb mr transit 350 can take a 1000 litre systemn but still be used for the other disciplines.
cheers
john
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no fair play spruce,
i come from the other side with the transit,in the fact that my brother in law was a ford workshop manager for many years and now runs his own garage specializing in ford,and when looking for a van said dont buy the new transit as it very unreailable and problems no end,if your going to buy a transit then buy the older ones,but the body will fall apart before the rest of it
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I'm on my third Fiat Ducato and I wouldn't consider anything else.
The 2.3ltr engine is the best and low 30s on fuel too.