[Sparkkadian]

Ive been hankering after a vivaro for a while, maybe a lwb. Its such a lovely van, great looking, 6 gears, drives like a car, heavy payload.

But ive heard so many horror stories about reliability, massive repair bills etc. My mechanic told me to stay away from them.

However i have heard that all problems were solved after 06 plate vans? Does anyone else run one or know about them that could advise me please?

[rscleaningservices]

hiya mate I had a renault traffic 05 plate from new sold it now as the mileage was high but peeps told me they were a nightmare but the van was fantastic like you say they drive like a car and it was such a good van I had one thing go wrong in 5 years and that was the wireing loom which cost me £600 so couldnt moan I sold the van on to a freind over a year ago and hes had no probs with it ............So go for it you will hear storys whatever van you will get ...

[Slash]

Yes,I just bought a brand new one and picked it up Monday,very happy with it so far,runs much better than my 06 golf,very comfortable to drive and quite classy looking.

[deeege]

Mines an 06 plate.

Gearbox went earlier this year, £950 down the swanny.

Apart from that it's a great van. I think I'd only have another though if it was under manafacturers warranty.

[Paul Coleman]

Mines an 06 plate.

Gearbox went earlier this year, £950 down the swanny.

Apart from that it's a great van. I think I'd only have another though if it was under manafacturers warranty.

£950? n I assume you had the engineers stripping the box to repair that problem bit (gear selection cable and corroded bearing) as a new box is £3k+ .  I probably won't get another one of these vans (mine's the Trafic version).  My gearbox was replaced at 40,000.  Steering pump around 50,000.  I usually end up spending 2-400 at MOT time.  Don't mind the last bit so much.  It is a workhorse after all.  Mine's an 03.  I'll probably run it into the ground but would consider an upgrade in two years time when I've finished paying off a personal loan.  A brand new Hiace or Transporter would be my goal but will need to see how things pan out with money.
The current gearbox has now done nearly 60,000 (99,000 miles on the clock) and I just want to keep the van going as inexpensively as possible for two years or so.  It will still be worth money if it's a runner by then but will probably have done 125,000.

[deeege]

You assumed correct. I wasn't about to start spending £3k on a van that's book price was £5k.

[Sparkkadian]

Thanks for the feedback guys, im still a bit torn, my transit 330 is so strong and reliable, it would have to be a great van to replace it. But the vivaro is one of my favorite choices. Was also looking at the new shape citroen dispatch and peugeot expert etc, quite cheap for what you get.

[PureClean Window Cleaning Ltd]

my mate deals with a lot of vauxhall vans, and i told him about a lot of windys probs with them, and he said they werent servicing them regularly?

not sure if thats true?

does the gearbox get lubricated by the engine oil?

[easy clean]

Stick to your fords, I run a connect 60 reg, a fiesta van 55 reg and an 11 reg transit......the Ferrari is second choice to the transit everytime as its so much nicer to drive!

[Frankybadboy]

love my vivario got a 06 palte only done 52000 milaages and no problems,drives like a dream and a good work horse.fitted with a 650ltr tank.

[Neil Williams]

If you want to hear real feedback ask the AA or RAC mechanics, as they are the ones who will know what breaks down, around what millage, and what recurring problems.

[Paul Coleman]

my mate deals with a lot of vauxhall vans, and i told him about a lot of windys probs with them, and he said they werent servicing them regularly?

not sure if thats true?

does the gearbox get lubricated by the engine oil?

No idea but the service interval is the sooner of 18,000 miles or two years.  So I end up getting it serviced after about 18 - 21 months. I suppose an oil change half way through wouldn't hurt though.

[ashbash]

had no ends of problems with mine.

[jwplasterers]

got to buy toyota hiace nothing else

[Spruce]

my mate deals with a lot of vauxhall vans, and i told him about a lot of windys probs with them, and he said they werent servicing them regularly?

not sure if thats true?

does the gearbox get lubricated by the engine oil?

No idea but the service interval is the sooner of 18,000 miles or two years.  So I end up getting it serviced after about 18 - 21 months. I suppose an oil change half way through wouldn't hurt though.

Hi Paul,

does the gearbox get lubricated by the engine oil?
No. The gearbox is separate.

No idea but the service interval is the sooner of 18,000 miles or two years.
Common rail diesel engines do use oil, and since they started these longer intervals between servicing, they found that engine failure due to a lack of oil became more common as the average man in the street doesn't bother to check his oil regularily. One of the manufacturers, and I'm sure it was Renault recommended an interim oil change between the 18k service interval they were promoting. I would do an interim oil change even if they don't recommend it. An engine failure do to lack of oil isn't a warranty job - so for the sake of a tin of the correct oil and an oil filter, it's hardly worth not doing IMHO.

Spruce

[bad trippy]

had no ends of problems with mine.

what year is yours?

[Gav Camm lammy 283]

ive ad a 03 renault trafic 1.9dci
and a     07 vivaro swb 2.0cdti
they vivaro is a million times better
the renault nearly bankruted me