Which Van?

Savman

Anyone have any info on the following *cheap* boxes on wheels:
Ford Courier
Citroen Berlingo
Opel/Vauxhall Combi
Peugeot Partner

or similar (1.9l or under)

fanks

jetsonx

whats the load ?

Savman

hmm, a lot of music gear not sure in exact kg

Squirrel

What about a VW Caddy? Or if used a Seat Inca?

bazz26

Savman wrote:

Anyone have any info on the following *cheap* boxes on wheels:
Ford Courier
Citroen Berlingo
Opel/Vauxhall Combi
Peugeot Partner

or similar (1.9l or under)

fanks

Did you look at the Ford Transit Connect? http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=286874

Also the Citroen Dispatch:
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=325516

Peugeot Expert:
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=222769

Renault Kangoo:
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=322506

Nissan Kubistar:
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=204690

If you want something very cheap then one of these:
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carid=308545

Savman

yeah quite like the Caddy & Inca and I guess a Ford Escort Van would do the job for a while (although admittedly the image would suffer )

I'm just small bit wary of any notorious problems with specific manufacturers, a few ppl have said the Peugeot's are a nightmare...

HashSlinging

How much you gonna spend if you want new, the only way to go is the caddy.

ecodub

Savman wrote:

Anyone have any info on the following *cheap* boxes on wheels:
Ford Courier
Citroen Berlingo
Opel/Vauxhall Combi
Peugeot Partner

or similar (1.9l or under)

fanks

Forget about them, try out the FIAT Dolbo, streets ahead and much less expensive

Savman

nah it'll have to be 2nd hand for about €3k - I've never heard any good reports about anything remotely related to Fiat

jimmeh

I drive a combO,
According to the drivers manual it has a max load of 1285Kg,
Top speed of around 95mph.
does around 40 to the gallon unlaiden.

Tidy van to drive.

Litcagral

I had an Escort van for four years and didn't have a minute's trouble with it. It was 1.7 and returned over 50mpg.

Consider van with additional side door(s) - very useful. I think it's available as an option on the Berlingo.

Savman

aye that side door would be advantageous

greglo23

avoid the three f's. fiat,ford and anything french. vw caddy or seat inca as others have mentioned would get my vote.

dogg_r_69

greglo23 wrote:

avoid the three f's. fiat,ford and anything french. vw caddy or seat inca as others have mentioned would get my vote.

don't completely agree there ford has some very good vans I've known a few people with escort vans and no more trouble with them whatsoever dispite being abused.
I'm buying a van at the moment Decided on the transit connect Since I started researching I've heard a few bad stories about Inca, berlingo, partner, most vans so it's all who you listen to

Savman

yeah I guess so, I have to say for price the Ford's are ok, I own a mondeo diesel so I know they're reliable anyway and I just need something that moves for the first while until I upgrade in '07

Quite literally a box on wheels!

stag39

have an 18 month old berlingo....nice drive cept for the knocking from the anti-roll bar.... stupid spped ramps...:(

Gary ITR

I drove a 02 caddy for a year and I never had any issues with it, after it I had a 05 transit connect and an 05 berlingo both of which were hugely disappointing compared to the caddy. The caddy could carry a load without me noticing it in fuel consumption but put more than an a4 pad in the back of the others and the fuel gauge flew down. Caddy was much faster and way more comfortable too

jwt

I was buying a van recently for the company and tried the doblo but settled on the transit connect.

the Doblo 1.3 multijet diesel is astonishing. If they ever produce a 1.9 version I'll take it. Didn't particularly like the Doblo interior but all in all it appeared to be a good van and people who had one already were very happy

I would have gone for it but they only had red in Ireland and no other colour due in till feb 06

The transit is much more solid, heavier and comes across as a beefier van.

Only available in 1.8 (70 or 90 bhp versions) and is pretty basic in standard trim, no electric mirrors windows, cd player, abs (or airbag can't remember which).

but its a far better drive on open and twisty roads than the doblo IMHO.

John

Savman

jwt wrote:

Only available in 1.8 (70 or 90 bhp versions) and is pretty basic in standard trim, no electric mirrors windows

John

No elec windows on the Transit Connect then?:eek: That's a pain, no use to me whatsoever, for when you have to pull over and ask directions or whatever (its the little things )

That's interesting about the Doblo, have heard some good things considering its a Fiat but will defo check it out if I can go with new vehicle...

oooh santa....

Gary ITR

The transit lx model has lecky windows

lostinsuperfunk

The Ford Courier is horrible, imo. It just feels very light and bounces all over the road. Like a biscuit tin on wheels. It's cheap and reliable though. The Seat Inca is much better to drive.
Some manufacturers have bad reputations based on their petrol-engined cars, but their vans can be good. I think Citroen might fall into this category, maybe even Fiat too.

jwt

Onkle51 wrote:

The transit lx model has lecky windows

But the LX isn't standard trim, you pay extra, but thats the one I went for


With a side door, solid steel bulkhead, metallic (How a metallic is considered optional these days beats me), and interior alarm sensors (standard is perimeter only) all as optional extras


John

BrianD3

I'v driven the Ford Courier and Opel Combi. The Ford handles better and feels faster, the Opel is quieter, feels more solid and has better mirrors.

Also my mate has a fleet of Ford Couriers that gave plenty of problems at low mileages. On several vans, the power steering leaked out all its fluid. Not sure whether it was to do with the pump or the rack. Also had problems with drop links going in the front suspension.

Savman

Well I'll be van shopping early in the new year and preference would defo be the Citroen Berlingo 1.9

Does anybody know if I was to import from Northern Ireland if the Berlingo is classed as a Commercial for €50 VRT??

dogg_r_69

The Courier was based on the Fiesta and had rattley doors and so one and had a loty of trouble with them That's what I was told from a sales rep from a Ford garage so if they bad mouth them I reckon they can't be that great