[clarkson]

 hi guys
 my vivaro finally died! 8 years 100,000 miles with a full 650 tank most days.

 cant complain really.

 looking at options and vanmonster rep suggested a merc sprinter!

 i know there massive for a window cleaning van, but ladders can go inside 1000 litre tank no problem and loads of load space for other gear like cc or pressure washing. and the fuel is not that bad compared to transit/ vivaro

anyone tried it?

cheers

 john

 

[AshWhite]

Check for rust, they're notorious for it.

[Blue Frog Systems]

Lovely motors to drive are the merc vans - but as said above they rust prematurely

[Bushboy]

I had one , nothing but problems
 

[clarkson]

hi
thats a NO! then

john

[AS Window Cleaning]

Never been a fan of mercs..... commercially anyway.  Not found them comfortable, and regularly have electrical problems.  And not the cheapest to buy in the first place neither!

[Spruce]

Sooner or later you will need to replace/recondition the injectors. A common problem is that 1 or more of them may 'weld' themselves to the alloy head they sit in.
If they break them trying to get them out (which is easily done apparently) then that's big bucks. Head has to come off and they have to heat the head up very slowly to very hot to remove the broken bit. Then the head has to be brought back to room temperature just as slowly to prevent it warping.

By the time you have had the head skimmed, injectors, valves, valve springs and guides replaced with anything else that needs doing, most find it's an uneconomical repair - send it for scrap if the van's an old one.

[thermoclean]

Best van on the road  why do dhl dpd the post office etc buy hundreds of them?
Newer ones don't have rust problems,  as you said plenty room for 1000 litre tank
Plus ladders poles trolleys etc and still pulls like a train.

[Londoner]

Too long to fit in an ordinary parking bay / parking space. Not that easy to park either. Wont go under the barrier anywhere thats height restricted. Fuel consumption awful around town. Their great advantage comes in big loads and long distances, neither applies to window cleaning.

[bobby p]

lovely vans, built like a truck not a car . the older ones do rust but strangely they rust only on the surface and not right thru the metal.thats  kraut steel  for you 

[AS Window Cleaning]

Best van on the road  why do dhl dpd the post office etc buy hundreds of them?
Newer ones don't have rust problems,  as you said plenty room for 1000 litre tank
Plus ladders poles trolleys etc and still pulls like a train.

maybe because they get good contract leasing terms 

when they are new they are obviously better, but once get fw miles on clock..... I know few people who had vitos and nothing but injectors, gearbox and electrical probs. you'll always get the odd rogue ones, but I'm just not a fan. as mentioned they are pretty long wheelbase, making them ideal load luggers, not so good 4 in and out of drives!

[steveo22]

New ones do rust, even then though, can't go wrong with a German. Sprinter, Crafter, Transporter, Caddy etc...

[Scrimble]

new ones dont rust? haha thats because they are new! give them a few years then they will be rusty just like the old ones

[AS Window Cleaning]

vw, now your on to a good one there. that being said still can have probs with them, flywheels etc.

but its a vw....last one went to 168k before I sold it still pulling like a trooper!

[Jista]

 hi guys
 my vivaro finally died! 8 years 100,000 miles with a full 650 tank most days.

 cant complain really.

 looking at options and vanmonster rep suggested a merc sprinter!

 i know there massive for a window cleaning van, but ladders can go inside 1000 litre tank no problem and loads of load space for other gear like cc or pressure washing. and the fuel is not that bad compared to transit/ vivaro

Mercedes sprinter stay away 2006+

anyone tried it?

cheers

 john

 

[Londoner]

New ones do rust, even then though, can't go wrong with a German. Sprinter, Crafter, Transporter, Caddy etc...

Except how many of the German vehicles are made in Germany or contain German parts. The 1.9 Caddy for example has a Peugot engine made by Ford. A lot of German build quality is not what it was. One of my customers has just thrown their Merc car back to Mercedes because of continual electrical problems since new which they have been unable to fix.

[steveo22]

New ones do rust, even then though, can't go wrong with a German. Sprinter, Crafter, Transporter, Caddy etc...

Except how many of the German vehicles are made in Germany or contain German parts. The 1.9 Caddy for example has a Peugot engine made by Ford. A lot of German build quality is not what it was. One of my customers has just thrown their Merc car back to Mercedes because of continual electrical problems since new which they have been unable to fix.

Peugeot engine in the new Caddy, who told you that?

[AS Window Cleaning]

ive got peugeout engine in my mitsubishi outlander, but didnt hear that it was also in the caddy....its the same engine as golf has i thought, vw own surely!

[steveo22]

If i thought the Caddy or any VW had a peugeot engine, that would be the last one i'd buy and i'm sure that would be the case for a lot of VW owners!! Nothing against Peugeot (other than they are crap) but a VW is a slightly higher mark!

[AS Window Cleaning]

car wise they are, but engine wise the peugeout, particularly the hdi engine, is superb!

snob.....