Which van ?

[PSQ]

Makes a change from asking ‘what pickup?’ at least.
I’m after a medium sized van for weekend use (half tonne of gear to haul about) and I’m looking for something about 2 years old and Transit / Vivaro / Sprinter sized, medium / long wheelbase, reasonable economy, bit of poke and nice to drive on an 800 mile round trip.
Also thinking in a few years of adding a tow bar to pull a 2t trailer for a hill climb car.
I can’t find a van that doesn’t have lots of detractors, the local mechanics seem to hate modern van build quality.
Is there at least a van that’s regarded as ‘less crap’ than the rest?
@Courier

 

[B R C]

Chopped a ranger in for transporter lwb highline spec so pretty comfortable with nice cab, very happy with it and done 10k miles in about 5 months. If you are loading/unloading so much better than a pickup. Tows 2.5t. Take one for a test.

 

[ED.D]

Have a pair of Vw transporter 4motions and they’re not perfect but a lot better than most of the competition and being four wheel drive quite capable. Each have done approx 50k miles with nothing more than tyres and brakes.

 

[Bury the Trash]

ide have a Mercedes Sprinter, if i had the money, lovely to drive van, excellent useable space and dont grip to bad in a bit mud relatively speaking either .

 

[JeepJeep]

V6 Vito

 

[JP1]

What do folks reckon to the Vivaro / Expert / Dispatch / Pro-Ace? Useful combi fold up rear bench in some models, limited slip diff / raised suspension . Tows 2500kg but doesn't look too big

 

[Courier]

LWB Trafic would probably suit you was also known as Primastar and Vivaro but newest Vivaros are now based on Peugeot.

Relatively compact, Front wheel drive and with decent (Agilis Cross Climate) tyres on will go where a disco on road tyres wont.

Will legally carry more weight than a LWB Sprinter and give 37 mpg all day.

Beats driving most cars, with cruise control etc - I have left Yorkshire at 03:00 delivered in Paris at 16:00 and come back to sleep in my own bed before now (Not a regular occurrence.)

I have a perfectly serviceable 59 plate Renault Master for sale with 360,000 miles if that takes your fancy for £1250.

Main thing with a van (as with most vehicles ) is to use it regularly - Most problems seem to occur with vehicles used for short runs never getting properly warmed up

 

[How much]

as a drivers vehicle a VW t5 or T6 take some beating done some big trips in our 13 or 14 hrs and got out as fresh as a daisy , 2 ltr turbo DSG gearbox the T6 is disappointing on service intervals its on variable service and only doing 11 to 13 k between services the t5 did 18 to 19k

we only keep them for 3 years so cant comment on long terms reliability but other with t4 and T5 seem to suggest they are good for very big mileage

i would imagine all newer vans wont be a reliable as older stuff juts to many sensors and omissions stuff to cause issues these days but i could be wrong

down side of VW's is cost both new and used they are expensive

 

[ollandroverman]

We have had two different 19 plate Transporters and a slightly older Transit Custom at my off farm work, and in my opinion the Transit is the better vehicle. Despite them all being swb, we can easily get some of our bulky equipment in the Ford that in no way will fit in the Transporter. Plus the transporters have suffered from some simple but debilitating issues despite being brand new.
Plus the Transit is fantastic to drive, more car like than many cars!

 

[JP1]

We have had two different 19 plate Transporters and a slightly older Transit Custom at my off farm work, and in my opinion the Transit is the better vehicle, despite them all being swb, we can easily get some of our bulky equipment in the Ford that in no way will fit in the Transporter. Plus the transporters have suffered from some simple but debilitating issues despite being brand new.
Plus the Transit is fantastic to drive, more car like than many cars!

Loads of trades round here swapping their Transporters for Transit Customs

 

[ollandroverman]

Loads of trades round here swapping their Transporters for Transit Customs

Other than minor face-lifts and ditching their reliable 1.9 diesel, the Transporter is unchanged since this shape was launched in 2003!
Other vans are significantly leaving Vw behind

 

[ACEngineering]

Following Keen to replace my 2011 Iveco 35S13 MWB high roof in the next 6 months or so.

Thinking i might go Peugeot Boxer, but i dont like the ride height so would need to give it a little lift with camper van springs front and rear or possibly air bags on the rear?

Its that or a FWD transit? which will be top end of what i want to pay for a van just to carry spanners about.

Always had rear wheel drive but they just getting too expensive now

 

[Lincsman]

Cant be much wrong with a transit Custom, they sell more than the rest put together, and if they were a car they would be in the top 10 best sellers.

Still seem a lot of money for a van though.

 

[Cotswoldperformance]

MWB Sprinter wipes the floor with any other Van as far as I’m concerned.

I’ve worked on them all over the years and I firmly believe the Sprinter is the best put together.

They remap easily to 190hp, no matter which model engine you choose (they are identical, just different software). Our laden work van returns 29.5mpg local and 33mpg + on a run. It’s a 2014 313 and we love it!

 

[ollandroverman]

MWB Sprinter wipes the floor with any other Van as far as I’m concerned.

I’ve worked on them all over the years and I firmly believe the Sprinter is the best put together.

They remap easily to 190hp, no matter which model engine you choose (they are identical, just different software). Our laden work van returns 29.5mpg local and 33mpg + on a run. It’s a 2014 313 and we love it!

Mercedes were always some of the best diesel engines, but I assume you have been swapping for newer before the horrendous rot got hold underneath?

 

[Kidds]

I currently have a Vivaro and I like it. LWB and highest weight capacity. Only has 1.3m height at rear doors though, can be an issue with some pallet but one of the reasons I like it is because it is compact.
Best van we ever had was a Movano, beat the Sprinters, Transits, etc that we have also had.

 

[Cotswoldperformance]

I’m no stranger to dealing with Merc rot! I own an old

814 Vario too, for my sins. Spent over 300 hours welding last winter. Inner/outer sills, rear crossmember etc etc
The older sprinter is more prone to scabby paint, especially the white ones. Does it put me off? Definitely not

 

[Bury the Trash]

I currently have a Vivaro and I like it. LWB and highest weight capacity. Only has 1.3m height at rear doors though, can be an issue with some pallet but one of the reasons I like it is because it is compact.
Best van we ever had was a Movano, beat the Sprinters, Transits, etc that we have also had.

In what way did the movano be better?
I'm quite keen on a vivaro as I guess it will be cheaper than a sprinter...

 

[Kidds]

In what way did the movano be better?
I'm quite keen on a vivaro as I guess it will be cheaper than a sprinter...

It was quite high spec for us, we normally had poverty spec vehicles so creature comforts were better. Makes a big difference at the end of a long hard day.
Load space is generous, nice to drive, quick, never broke down carried way beyond what it should quite comfortably. Had it a long time, lot longer than any others lasted.

Whatever you get, assuming it’s second hand make sure it is well looked after, low mileage and good service history. They are all expensive to fix and one big repair bill leaves you wondering why you didn’t lease or buy new.

 

[JeepJeep]

We ran LWB Sprinters and LWB Hi Top Masters.

Sprinters were Ballistic and a Nicer Van to drive..

Appeared bigger but they were heavier than the Masters and we could get a bigger volume load on the Masters.

Masters Cheaper to rent aswell.