Best Second-hand Van on the market

agrostar

Hey there just wondering if anyone on here can offer me any advice on what is the best second-hand meduim sized van on the market. We have a 00 transit at the mo but its getting very tired and shuck now so we'll have to change it. I am in the building trade, the van would be used for transport to and from site, carrying tools and equipment, fairly light work the majority of the time and pulling a trailer not that often with weight from 250kg-1500kg. Was thinking of something along the lines of a VW Transpoter because i currently have a 1.9tdi Passat and it would pull the life out of the Transit and run on a fraction of the fuel:):) Heard their giving some trouble though(clutches and turbo) Vivavro are nothing but trouble(gearbox)Reliability would be my first priority with fuel consumption next. I understand all vans will have their weakness's but overall which vechicle would be the best???????

Bjorn Bored.

I had a Nissan Primastar for yrs and never had a moments problem with it, I know the Vivaro is from the same platform but I think the Nissan is still different in some ways. For Pulling loads the Merc is the best but surely the most expensive? For reliability you just have to go with the Japs though.

Theanswers

agrostar wrote: »

Hey there just wondering if anyone on here can offer me any advice on what is the best second-hand meduim sized van on the market. We have a 00 transit at the mo but its getting very tired and shuck now so we'll have to change it. I am in the building trade, the van would be used for transport to and from site, carrying tools and equipment, fairly light work the majority of the time and pulling a trailer not that often with weight from 250kg-1500kg. Was thinking of something along the lines of a VW Transpoter because i currently have a 1.9tdi Passat and it would pull the life out of the Transit and run on a fraction of the fuel:):) Heard their giving some trouble though(clutches and turbo) Vivavro are nothing but trouble(gearbox)Reliability would be my first priority with fuel consumption next. I understand all vans will have their weakness's but overall which vechicle would be the best???????

Check this machine out, I'm selling her.
http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/commercials/1726812

Mods If this message shouldnt be here please delete!

agrostar

Theanswers wrote: »

Check this machine out, I'm selling her.
http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/commercials/1726812

Mods If this message shouldnt be here please delete!

Hey lad checked out your ad there is the mileage right 220,000??? Thats fair driving, was hoping for something with lower mileage:):)
Did you have any trouble with it?
Whats your fair assumption of the transporters???

agrostar

Bjorn Bored. wrote: »

I had a Nissan Primastar for yrs and never had a moments problem with it, I know the Vivaro is from the same platform but I think the Nissan is still different in some ways. For Pulling loads the Merc is the best but surely the most expensive? For reliability you just have to go with the Japs though.

Hey Byorn dont really no that much about the primestar/vivaro only a friend of mine has one and has unending problems with the gearbox. That said he wouldnt be the best or worse driver in the world but I think that they are just soft in general.
What would be the other Jap vans on the market in the meduim size range?
I can only think of the Hiace

bazz26

I know they are pretty old now and have an image problem but the Toyota Hiace might fit the bill. Very little goes wrong with them as they haven't really changed over the last decade or so.

Theanswers

agrostar wrote: »

Hey lad checked out your ad there is the mileage right 220,000??? Thats fair driving, was hoping for something with lower mileage:):)
Did you have any trouble with it?
Whats your fair assumption of the transporters???

She was on the road everyday doing light delivarys. Always well serviced as the ad said.

My fair opionion?

I think there quite an reliable van. Have had overall very little trouble. We do have a number of them on the road.
If your looking for a good cheap van she's it.

However what ever you buy dont let mileage be the deciding factor. It could be a rough 100,000 or an easy 100,000. There both not the same.

Well servied/ respected is the main thing.

agrostar

Theanswers wrote: »

She was on the road everyday doing light delivarys. Always well serviced as the ad said.

My fair opionion?

I think there quite an reliable van. Have had overall very little trouble. We do have a number of them on the road.
If your looking for a good cheap van she's it.

However what ever you buy dont let mileage be the deciding factor. It could be a rough 100,000 or an easy 100,000. There both not the same.

Well servied/ respected is the main thing.

Yeah definitly how they are driven and serviced would have a major affect on the overall reliability of whatever van i would choose. But its just so hard to tell, your kinda working in the dark and checking for obvious signs of hardship but this isnt always successful.

Fiat Scudo are supposed to be very soft now as well which is very dissappointing as i once worked for a fella with a Ducato with the Iveco engine and it was a great reliable van and good to go. Body was a bit badly put together but overall a good machine.
Anyone got an opinion of the newer shape Fiat Scudo, Citreon Dispatch or Peugot Expert vans??

waxon-waxoff

Get a Hiace. They are boring looking but they dont go wrong. People who know about vans and are owner drivers drive Hiaces and Transits. Traffic/Vivaro look modern but they dont last, thats why they are cheap secondhand. Transporters are nice to drive but they give trouble, same as Vitos.

Darth Phoenix

+1 on the hiace, i used it as a basis for a project and wouldnt have dared used another van, fierse reliable and pure workhorse of a van.

Im gonna use a 14 year old one i modified to drive to belurus to drop off medical supplies and clothes etc to the kids hospital there from the chernobyl disaster..

I agree with wax on wax off they are a bit boring to look at, though i love a challenge

heres a pic of the before and after.