[mark shannon]

Can anyone recommend any places to source vans at a good price?

Also whats the most reliable SWB van ?

Mark

[Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus)]

Mark

Highly recommend VW Transporter, good build quality, not the cheapest around but I think Steve Gunn got a good deal on his one.

Steve

[davep]

Vw Transporter and Merc Vito are best

Next up would be the similar Vauxhall Vivaro, Peugout Boxer, Citroen Relay etc

[Paul Davidson]

Can anyone recommend any places to source vans at a good price?

Also whats the most reliable SWB van ?

Mark

w ww.motorpoint.co.uk do some fantastic deals on nearly new vans

cheers

Paul

[spencer davies]

Stay clear of Vivaro - Primastar or similar, gearbox and engine management sytems are a major problem, we had a Vivaro from new, no less than five people in my town had exactly the same troubles as us.

We have a VW Transporter T5 and a Mercedes Sprinter, both first class.


S

[Jim_77]

What payload do you currently need it for and what's likely for the coming few years?  If you're going to go for a truckmount I'd forget the transporter/Vito as you'll be stuffed for space and axle weight if you wanted to put a truckmount in it.

I've been looking at MWB Sprinters vs the VW LT and really for the price difference what the hell are you getting?  Some of the sprinters are double the money of a similar age/mileage LT but looking at the photos of the load area they've been absolutely hammered around by couriers.

I think that's the most important thing if you're buying 2nd hand, find out how it's been used before.  If it has high mileage, forklift scrapes all over the floor and looks generally battered inside, it's a nail.

[rich hand]

How does thes Transit rate against the VW and Merc? Was looking for a Vivaro or Traffic but Spencer has put me off  , not heard of these problems when reading up on them but you cant argue with the reality.

[Joe H]

Hi Richard
Got a couple of mates with Vivaro/Traffic, early ones with 5 speed box caused g/box problems, but also heared of ignition/electrics problems and not cheap to sort.
Sprinter is OK but again heared of Vito problems and also watch for Vito rusting.

I have a 52 plate Cit Relay which is same as Pug Boxer and Fiat Ducato, and the bodies on these seem ok. Mine used to be Steve Gunns and before that Solutions UK and neither of them report anything major other then servicing.

Mark is looking to fit a HM Boxxer 318 into a van so I think the Transporter might be a midge too small, although it gets good reviews.

[Neil Grainger]

vansdirect.co.uk  best prices for new vans in the country

[davep]

When are you getting your van Rich?

[rich hand]

That confirms it Joe and I would have been looking for early models too.

Dave I was going to be waiting until January but im keeping an eye out now

[Darren O]

Ive got a nissan primaster had it for nearly 2 years brilliant van not had one problem with it also heard after the 55plate all vivaros,traffics.primaster are fitted with nissan gearboxes and engines.

[davep]

Rich I sent you an email earlier, im looking at getting a Transporter in a couple of weeks, would be good if you where in the market too, get a good deal that way 

Got my eye on a couple..

[colin thomas]

i've had a high roof vivaro for nearly 2 years, not one problem, fingers crossed!!

colin

[spencer davies]

Ours was the six speed Vivaro, I am sure there are good ones about, but ours cost me a fortune.

Our Transporter is a 55 plate and is superb and the Sprinter the same reg and is bullet proof, such a well built van.

Regards



S

[rich hand]

Rich I sent you an email earlier, im looking at getting a Transporter in a couple of weeks, would be good if you where in the market too, get a good deal that way 

Got my eye on a couple..

Dave that is an old email and I cant change it for some reason, you havent got one either so get me on richardhand2099@hotmail.com, cheers

[Fintan_Coll]

I have driven many vans in my time from the old Thames van ( the one before the Transit) VW, Renault, Bedford. Toyotas but everything considered the Transit is my favourite van.(                                                                                                             

[rich hand]

Can anyone tell me what the actual gearbox problem is with the vivaro and how much it costs to fix?

[derek west]

i got a great deal on a vivaro lwb sport version so alloys and matching trim, a/c e/w e.t.c. brand new no owners no miles, cheaper than all the net prices and they had second owner, where they register them and sell them as new, had to work on the price though, £12500. arnie clark.
hope i dont have probs with the gear box though, got me worried now.
anyway imo, best looking van on the road,
derek

[davep]

Looks ok here

h ttp://www.parkers.co.uk/vans/reviews/vauxhall/vivaro-2001.aspx

but have heard stories about engine management?