Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Feen on February 26, 2020, 07:44:09 pm
-
My work, as I'm sure your's does, involves short distances and many stops. I have a 64 plate Ford Transit ( had the older model before). The build quality is poor imo. I have had lots of problems with the doors esp hinges. They do get lots of use throughout the day but this is what I need from my van. I have also had lots of minor problems such as the remote central locking packing up. Using the key in the door repeatedly has loosened the whole mechanism. Any advice ? Vivaro? Transporter? Other? thanks in advance
-
I have a 2015 Vivaro , had it 3 years, replaced 2 tyres and rear brake pads, been a brilliant van.
-
I have had numerous people warn me off the mk8 Transit, they are very poorly made, the door hinge thing is a common fault. Same with the locking and injectors ate troublesome too. Im getting a Vivaro or Trafic next. Dont buy anything PSA related. (Peugeot Citroen group), tbey are not good either. I just got rid of a mk2 Dispatch that had been a money pit since I bought it just under 2 years ago.
-
I have had numerous people warn me off the mk8 Transit, they are very poorly made, the door hinge thing is a common fault. Same with the locking and injectors ate troublesome too. Im getting a Vivaro or Trafic next. Dont buy anything PSA related. (Peugeot Citroen group), tbey are not good either. I just got rid of a mk2 Dispatch that had been a money pit since I bought it just under 2 years ago.
The new Vivaro is a rebadged Citroen.
They have all got their problems. My Peugeot Boxer is made in Italy in the joint owned Fiat/PSA factory. They use 2.2 ford diesel engines. The deal with Ford on the back of the hdi engine deal they did was to fit PSA 2.2 hdi engines into the cars and Ford Puma engines into the commercial vehicles. The ford engine is heavy on fuel. Oil pumps are an issue especially with poor maintenance. Owners are told that the timing chain never needs replacing. Yes it does and it's more expensive to replace than a cambelt.
-
I have had numerous people warn me off the mk8 Transit, they are very poorly made, the door hinge thing is a common fault. Same with the locking and injectors ate troublesome too. Im getting a Vivaro or Trafic next. Dont buy anything PSA related. (Peugeot Citroen group), tbey are not good either. I just got rid of a mk2 Dispatch that had been a money pit since I bought it just under 2 years ago.
Sorry mate I completely disagree with this. I’m on my 3rd new Berlingo now in 8 years, every one of them has been superb. The perfect window cleaning van for a single operator imo.
Before that I had a vivaro, what a money pit that was. Never again.
-
We have run all kind of vans and the 2015 onwards 1.6 Vivaro's have been the worst to own. Followed by the PSA offerings. Most reliable has been Fiat 1.6 Doblo's and Transit Customs.
-
I have a 2015 Vivaro , had it 3 years, replaced 2 tyres and rear brake pads, been a brilliant van.
Not going to pretend i know alot about motors but ive always been put off vivaros because of the gearbox problems that was associated with them a few years back ,is that all sorted now?
-
The gearbox issue was with the earlier models.
-
I have had numerous people warn me off the mk8 Transit, they are very poorly made, the door hinge thing is a common fault. Same with the locking and injectors ate troublesome too. Im getting a Vivaro or Trafic next. Dont buy anything PSA related. (Peugeot Citroen group), tbey are not good either. I just got rid of a mk2 Dispatch that had been a money pit since I bought it just under 2 years ago.
Sorry mate I completely disagree with this. I’m on my 3rd new Berlingo now in 8 years, every one of them has been superb. The perfect window cleaning van for a single operator imo.
I had a 51 plate Berlingo 1.9 about 8 years ago great van, bulletproof engine, then got a mk1 Dispatch with same engine ,another great van1.6, worst van I ever had, nothing but problems, paid £5k for it and spent a fortune keeping it on the road since. Sold it to a Citroen enthusiast in France earlier this week , for a fraction of what I paid and spent on it,, he has the diagnostic computer and is working his way through the list of fault codes.
Spruce I know the new Vivaro is a Dispatch/Expert in disguise,its not a new one I’m looking at.
-
Thanks all of you for your feedback. Minefield. ::)roll
-
Thanks all of you for your feedback. Minefield. ::)roll
At the end of the day it doesn't matter what make of van you go for as they all have their problems.
-
I bought a new Hyundai iload "Comfort" in March 2012. I have just turned over 48,000 miles. Payload 1068kg.
Other than pads, discs and tyres it has needed nothing except an auxiliary drive belt at the last service. (didn't snap - just shiny and my garage recommended changing it - only £20.
It is still on its original battery and it also has a leisure battery to charge.
Warranty (5 year - 100,000 miles) issues - 1 side door handle snapped off and was replaced.
No cambelt, RWD. 2.5 litre high torque 343 Nm with mediocre BHP (114)
Rear door hinges are worn in as much as they blow shut in the wind so I have put a hook and eye on them!
-
I have a 2013 plate Berlingo with 225,000 miles on it and drives like its done 80,000,
Granted, the clutch isn't too good and will probably need replacing soon but still looks and drives like a new ISH van!
Probably put the kiss of death on it now!
-
I think what this thread proves is that finding a reliable van is purely down to some degree of good luck. All makes and models have problems. Some of our most unreliable vans have been new lease vans and in contrast some of our older vans run with no trouble at all.
-
I think what this thread proves is that finding a reliable van is purely down to some degree of good luck. All makes and models have problems. Some of our most unreliable vans have been new lease vans and in contrast some of our older vans run with no trouble at all.
I agree.
What I also believe is that can also be owner related. This might be a strange thing to say but when I was in the trade we had a fellow buy a brand new C5 Citroen. It seemed to spend a lot of its time in the workshop having warranty repairs done. When it was a couple of years old he traded it in for a brand new C5. Huh?
Vardy's put that C5 up on the lot and it sold shortly afterward. A few years later that new owner told us it was the best car he had ever had with absolutely no issues.
Please can someone explain that.
My second car was a Volvo 122 Amazon. When I bought it it needed a bit of work. In the end that car cost me a fortune. My then girl friend's father called it my Involver.
The last straw was when it threw a ring. I stripped the engine down and completely overhauled it; rebore, crankshaft regrind and new bearings, cylinder head skimmed and valve seats and valves reground.
I resolved to sell it once the engine had bed in which I did. A local car sales yard offered to sell it for me which they did. It ended up that the dealer went bang and I came very close to loosing the lot. Thankfully that dealer had just had a cash sale and paid me out of that.
A few years later I saw it parked in the street in Bulawayo and a chap was getting into it. I asked him how he found the car. He also told me that the previous owner must have really looked after this car as it ran perfectly and had never missed a beat since he purchased it from that garage that stopped trading.
I was gutted because I loved that car. I still ask myself if I sold it too quickly.
-
I’ve been thinking about a new van for my compact round and have concluded that a horse and cart is probably the way to go. Very green. Not much can go wrong. Customers will love it.
-
I think what this thread proves is that finding a reliable van is purely down to some degree of good luck. All makes and models have problems. Some of our most unreliable vans have been new lease vans and in contrast some of our older vans run with no trouble at all.
really?what problems have you had with new vans then?
if you get a brand new van you should expect to get many, trouble free years out of it with the odd service here and there and consumables replaced(tyres,brakes,etc)
-
I’ve been thinking about a new van for my compact round and have concluded that a horse and cart is probably the way to go. Very green. Not much can go wrong. Customers will love it.
It seems every customer but one who has bought a horse has become a slow/bad payer. These things are expensive to maintain especially when vet bills come along.
-
I’ve been thinking about a new van for my compact round and have concluded that a horse and cart is probably the way to go. Very green. Not much can go wrong. Customers will love it.
How would you stand legally with a gas bottle on board and your tank strapped down?
-
I've owned a Viraro 66 plate the DPF sensor comes on now and again
-
Just bought myself a 16 plate Vivaro, 65000 miles one owner.Get it Friday.
-
Just bought myself a 16 plate Vivaro, 65000 miles one owner.Get it Friday.
good luck!.....i hope its ok......i woudnt have one even if someone gave me one for free....one of the worst vans you could have bought IMO.....
-
Threads like this always make me laugh, everyone just recommends the van they own.
It’s the same with threads like ‘what pole’ or ‘which brush’ everyone’s just plugs the brush and pole they use. Then it turns into a row. 😁
At the end of the day, we all like different vans and tools for the job, but my 2 pence worth? A transit custom. Why? Because I own one. 😂
-
Threads like this always make me laugh, everyone just recommends the van they own.
It’s the same with threads like ‘what pole’ or ‘which brush’ everyone’s just plugs the brush and pole they use. Then it turns into a row. 😁
At the end of the day, we all like different vans and tools for the job, but my 2 pence worth? A transit custom. Why? Because I own one. 😂
i tend to listen to garage mechanics......not one has ever said to me "get a vivaro they are great vans!"........
-
I've got a Vivaro 16 plate. Gearbox needed a complete overhaul after 18000 miles. It's also had 2 new master cylinders on the clutch since I bough it. I won't be recommending it
-
I have a mate who works in a commercial van centre. His advice is to get a VW Transporter or a Mercedes sprinter. They tend to have less problems although I also hear good reports on the Ford Transit Custom
-
I've got a Vivaro 16 plate. Gearbox needed a complete overhaul after 18000 miles. It's also had 2 new master cylinders on the clutch since I bough it. I won't be recommending it
i dont blame you mate....thats terrible.....all the mechanics i know say they are rubbish vans and to stay well clear......
-
my brother has a mercedes sprinter...he paid £3900 around 5 years ago now and its still going strong(2003 model)...he s hardly spent any money on it either....
-
Threads like this always make me laugh, everyone just recommends the van they own.
It’s the same with threads like ‘what pole’ or ‘which brush’ everyone’s just plugs the brush and pole they use. Then it turns into a row. 😁
At the end of the day, we all like different vans and tools for the job, but my 2 pence worth? A transit custom. Why? Because I own one. 😂
i tend to listen to garage mechanics......not one has ever said to me "get a vivaro they are great vans!"........
We’re on a window cleaning Daz, therefore, vivaro Owners Will recommenced them, based on the fact we all basically recommend what we drive.
My mechanic always says transporter or sprinter, but he admits my custom is reliable, and the main reason I’ve got a custom is I love the looks, size and cab. As well as it being reliable.
I would never buy a vivaro, traffic or primastar. Ever.
-
I had 2 x Traffics and a Vivaro, they were all virtually trouble free. I bought a Custom the time before last and that was Brilliant it was just too small. I looked at the Custom H2 LWB when I came to replace at the end of 2017 but felt it was well overpriced at around £28K so I bought a Peugeot Boxer it was about £18K brand new including the VAT and I bought it on interest free credit over 3 years. It’s paid for in October. Had no problems with it other than the Ad Blu which drives me mad. A couple of friends have told me the new Traffic, / Vivaro is meant to be the Dogs Danglies.
-
I watched 2 TV programmes a few weeks back 2 transit customs were involved in head on collisions,I’ve test driven 1 and I thought the same as the policeman at the scene the cab is very cramped,on both incidents the cab was almost pushed back to the bulkhead after seeing that programme I would never buy 1.
-
I watched 2 TV programmes a few weeks back 2 transit customs were involved in head on collisions,I’ve test driven 1 and I thought the same as the policeman at the scene the cab is very cramped,on both incidents the cab was almost pushed back to the bulkhead after seeing that programme I would never buy 1.
The Transit Custom gets 5 stars in the N cap ratings, that’ll do for me. I’m really surprised that you went to the trouble of test driving a Custom given your infatuation with the Transporters. I take it that it was the pre-facelift that you shoe horned yourself into? There’s a lot more leg room for passengers in the newer model.
-
I know alot of people who run Vivaro/Trafic and they have bought second and even third vans the same. The mk7 Transit custom 56 to 14 plate were good vans, I had an 07 plate but it was thirsty and a rotbox. My neighbour has always run Transits and bought a 15 plate new 5 years ago, he didn't keep it long,he said the body quality was poo. They are poor build quality the mk8 from 14 to 18, I have heard numerous bad feedback about them, easy to break into poor performance, injector trouble, and poor fitting panels. I heard from 1 owner who couldn't do more than 50mph without someone in passenger seat because the wind would get in behind the hinge area and the pressure used to force tthe door open. .Even the RAC man who attended me when I broke down once said the new Transit was poor compared to previous model I just got rid of a. Dispatch that cost me loads in repair bills., the Vivaro comes with 2 year warranty and I only intend to keep it 3 years then trade up again. Buy a 3-4 year old van every 3 years now, that way I'm sticking with a fairly new van each time and not having to spend a huge chunk to upgrade. Merc Sprinters are rot boxes too the Transporter is a reliable van hence used by AA and RAC but ugly looking and cramped cab area. You can only speak as you find. As said everyone will have had problems with any make and model of van at some time
-
I had quite a few hire vans when my new van was delayed by 10 weeks, here are my findings.
VW Caddy - Solid van with a decent cab ( was a high spec model ) good to drive
Citroen Berlingo - Didn’t like it, unresponsive steering and a gear stick you could stir soup with, but they’re cheap so I can see why people like them.
Vauxhall Vivaro - Decent enough to drive, but felt really cheap and tinny when closing doors.
VW Transporter - Good to drive but ugly as sin, look like a box on wheels.
-
If that van has a good rating then the ratings are complete crap,both the vans in that programme the cabs were crushed beyond recognition.
The cabs are still cramped I’ve recently sat in one the roof in them feels like an old mans flat cap on you lol.
-
If that van has a good rating then the ratings are complete crap,both the vans in that programme the cabs were crushed beyond recognition.
The cabs are still cramped I’ve recently sat in one the roof in them feels like an old mans flat cap on you lol.
Aye Ok then...NWH said it so it must be true. lol lol lol
-
I saw the programme, can I just say, both incidents were head-on collisions into HGV type vehicles- with zero deceleration before impact. ANY VAN would have suffered the same damage, only an idiot would think otherwise!
-
Love my transit custom, mate of mine has a transporter, I don’t like the interior in it. I prefer the interior of the custom, plus the custom looks the best of the bunch from the exterior.
At the end of day, who cares what what other people drive, as long as you’re happy.
-
Exactly. Agree about Transporter as well. I like the look of the custom and the interior, but still wouldn't buy one. Transporter hasnt changed in years, the interior is drab and dull yet they cost upwards of 26 grand.
-
I wonder what Ford and VW have in the pipeline for their joint commercial vehicle partnership?
-
I wonder what Ford and VW have in the pipeline for their joint commercial vehicle partnership?
The next generation Ford Ranger / VW Amarok now that Mazda are no longer involved after 20 years.
-
I wonder what Ford and VW have in the pipeline for their joint commercial vehicle partnership?
The next generation Ford Ranger / VW Amarok now that Mazda are no longer involved after 20 years.
Yes that’s for starters. Reading between the lines Ford will be taking the lead on the large/medium vans with VW taking the lead on the smaller vans. I suppose time will tell.
-
I have a transporter which I've driven 81,ooo miles in, I love driving it, reliable. Looks ugly as sin and boring inside but it's a good work van.
I also have a merc vito the previous version and I love that thing, engine built to run forever, doesn't look box styled, spacious and quiet. Sheep in wolf's clothing, love it when a bmw thinks they can burn you off at the lights to be left behind on many occasions, it shifts, but then it's not a base model, it's in stealth mode, prefer it that way.
-
I’d much rather have a good looking van than one that starts every morning and is more reliable lol heard it all now,if you go for the VW with body options they don’t look boring they look class.
-
I’d much rather have a good looking van than one that starts every morning and is more reliable lol heard it all now,if you go for the VW with body options they don’t look boring they look class.
I use a 2002 (Mazda built) Ford Ranger with 175k that does just that. Had it for eight years and has been the most hassle free vehicle I've ever owned.
Can't say the same for the Ford built Rangers after 2011 though.
-
I’d much rather have a good looking van than one that starts every morning and is more reliable lol heard it all now,if you go for the VW with body options they don’t look boring they look class.
I use a 2002 (Mazda built) Ford Ranger with 175k that does just that. Had it for eight years and has been the most hassle free vehicle I've ever owned.
Can't say the same for the Ford built Rangers after 2011 though.
I've just sold my 2005 supercab :(
Missing it already :'(
-
I have a lovely old Toyota Hiace. Nuff said.
Eventually, I will stop doing all my add ons and just get a Toyota Hilux, ideally the Vigo Intimidator import version.
-
I've used a partner van for the last 8 years it has the 800kilo payload it's only on 97k but due to my son joining us in July, I've searched every type of van but couldn't decide, then I spoke to my mechanic and he told me the must vans he ends up working on, then told me a couple his never had through his doors Mercedes Vito 3ltr v6 auto and the sprinter, myself I'm looking for Vito 3ltr auto.
-
I've used a partner van for the last 8 years it has the 800kilo payload it's only on 97k but due to my son joining us in July, I've searched every type of van but couldn't decide, then I spoke to my mechanic and he told me the must vans he ends up working on, then told me a couple his never had through his doors Mercedes Vito 3ltr v6 auto and the sprinter, myself I'm looking for Vito 3ltr auto.
Could that possibly be because for every Vito 3ltr v6 auto that’s out there, there are probably around 100 Vauxhall Vivaros or Transit Customs?
-
Do Ford vans still have a reputation for rusting out or are they properly galvanised now. Found a low milage, good price custom limited version and considering trading in transporter possibly
-
Don't!! Not such a problem with rust but the 14 plate onwards has terrible body build quality, read other posts about it in this thread
-
Don’t make the worst mistake of your life and change that VW for a Ford,if you do get the cramped ford make sure you get the 2 bonnet stripes so you look like a plumber lol.
-
So what's the virdict then just get what ever take a chance seems the only option.
-
No that’s not the option the thing to do is to buy the best you can afford,if can stretch to a VW even if it’s a couple of years older I’d go for that.
I’ve spoke to numerous van salesman they all hope you haven’t driven a transporter before you pull up to drive the ford.
-
Don’t make the worst mistake of your life and change that VW for a Ford,if you do get the cramped ford make sure you get the 2 bonnet stripes so you look like a plumber lol.
Once again you’re talking absolute rubbish. I am having my roof replaced at my house at the moment, the roofer turned up on Friday in an 18 plate VW Transporter. I took the opportunity to sit in it and the Cab is smaller and more cramped than my Custom, so there you have it, a direct comparison whilst the vans were side by side. I can only assume that you didn’t have the common sense to adjust the seat and steering wheel when you ‘allegedly’ shoe horned yourself into the Custom?
-
Transporters are really crap (cab wise)..plus their overpriced IMO......I'd rather have a ford any day of the week for work....
-
Probably had the seat pushed forward was he bordering on dwarfism lol,the world and his wife know what’s best there not almost double the price for nothing you get what you pay for in this life.
-
Don’t make the worst mistake of your life and change that VW for a Ford,if you do get the cramped ford make sure you get the 2 bonnet stripes so you look like a plumber lol.
Once again you’re talking absolute rubbish. I am having my roof replaced at my house at the moment, the roofer turned up on Friday in an 18 plate VW Transporter. I took the opportunity to sit in it and the Cab is smaller and more cramped than my Custom, so there you have it, a direct comparison whilst the vans were side by side. I can only assume that you didn’t have the common sense to adjust the seat and steering wheel when you ‘allegedly’ shoe horned yourself into the Custom?
I agree having been in both, one an AA van the other RAC, the Transit was more spacious and comfortable than the Transporter, more aesthetically pleasing both internally and externally. I would have bought one had it not been for the bad reputation they seem to have. Obviously not every one is going to be bad, but too many people singing from the same hymn book put me off.