Bipper, Nemo, Fiorino??

Pottler

Anyone driven one of these? I'm looking at getting a Fiorino(1.3multijet 75hp) as a run-about for work, mainly for the economy(all my other vans are biggies and fuel is starting to become a huge cost) and as a "go see jobs/fast response van for smaller call-outs". The published consumption runs from low 60's to almost 70 mpg and that is very tempting. I've read they are a bit bouncy on the road but I don't know anyone with one so just wondering if anyone has first hand experience? The Fiat is apparently the pick of the bunch due to higher torque/lower consumption from its multijet diesel but are they any good?? Thanks in advance. I'm test driving one on Monday..

Nissan doctor

Those 1.3jtd engines are good for big miles when looked after correctly. I've seen numerous ones heading north of 200k with no engine issues.

Published economy figures are generally not real world and what you will actually get depends on the driver and the weight you carry.

Guy:Incognito

Is the 75bhp engine in the Nemo(the only one listed on the Citroen site) not the same 1.3 engine (doesnt list capacity I dont think)?

Pottler

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Those 1.3jtd engines are good for big miles when looked after correctly. I've seen numerous ones heading north of 200k with no engine issues.

Published economy figures are generally not real world and what you will actually get depends on the driver and the weight you carry.

Cheeers ND, the engine having a good rep is the biggie for me, weight is not too much as it's just got to carry a basic toolkit- 6 drawer cabinet with sockets spanners etc, a few cordless tools and various plumbing fittings. I saw a Noonans liveried one last week and I actually like the look of them. The Jeeps parked up, just eats the diesel on long runs and it is costing me €120 for diesel to send a van to a job in Belfast which has to be passed on to client(which causes whinging). At this stage I'm putting in €500+ of diesel every monday morning (the local ss love me) to not even fill the vans and topping up all week to the tune of another €300 - €400. That is getting old fast so I plan to cut vehicles down and start getting everything delivered to jobs and run smaller vans to move men and basic tools. Hence the Fiorino.

Pottler

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Is the 75bhp engine in the Nemo(the only one listed on the Citroen site) not the same 1.3 engine (doesnt list capacity I dont think)?

Not 100% sure Guy but I think the Citroen and Peugeot use a different engine to the Fiorino - they have less torque and a bit less economy I think??

Guy:Incognito

Pottler wrote: »

Not 100% sure Guy but I think the Citroen and Peugeot use a different engine to the Fiorino - they have less torque and a bit less economy I think??

Parkers list differenct engines as being available alright but the Citroen site only list one for here and says 190nm , same as the fiat site.
AFAIk PSA dont do a 1.3 d engine. Their 1.4 HDI is available in the UK by the looks of it but a guess from the figures on the Fiat and Citroen sites woudl seem to show they both use the 1.3.

Nissan doctor

Pottler wrote: »

Cheeers ND, the engine having a good rep is the biggie for me, weight is not too much as it's just got to carry a basic toolkit- 6 drawer cabinet with sockets spanners etc, a few cordless tools and various plumbing fittings. I saw a Noonans liveried one last week and I actually like the look of them. The Jeeps parked up, just eats the diesel on long runs and it is costing me €120 for diesel to send a van to a job in Belfast which has to be passed on to client(which causes whinging). At this stage I'm putting in €500+ of diesel every monday morning (the local ss love me) to not even fill the vans and topping up all week to the tune of another €300 - €400. That is getting old fast so I plan to cut vehicles down and start getting everything delivered to jobs and run smaller vans to move men and basic tools. Hence the Fiorino.

What about getting an Astra van 1.3cdti? If you don't need that much carrying space then you get a proper car to drive and the engine is exactly the same Fiat unit.

Even the 1.7cdti model will give as good on economy with a decent bit more power.

Pottler

Nissan doctor wrote: »

What about getting an Astra van 1.3cdti? If you don't need that much carrying space then you get a proper car to drive and the engine is exactly the same Fiat unit.

Even the 1.7cdti model will give as good on economy with a decent bit more power.

I did!, I bought a 07 from Wilsons up the north(auction) and absolutely loved the drive, loved the economy and really like the way it drove. Drawback was if a tool I needed was near the front(it was loaded to the roof) I had to take everything out to get at it as there was no side door and it did not have enough height to fit one of our wetvacs in without lying it down, which fecked the filters. I stuck it on donedeal and bought a scudo which I still have, but no way in hell is the Scudo economical, I burnt €130 going to a job in Mallow and back(ok, pedal down all the way but still) and that has soured me a bit towards it. One of the lads has it now doing local work - size wise its ideal, fuel wise its cat. Edit, the VRT on the astra was mad, I went in clutching my €50 and she hit me for €1750! They came out with the classic"it could be converted back to a car!"" Yeah, if you cut out the feckin metal windows and somhow fitted rear seats despite the lack of rear doors/tilting front seats.....

David09

What about a transit connect? What would they be like for fuel efficiency? If they use the same 1.8 diesel as the focus then they can't be too bad.

George Dalton

The Transit Connect has a bit of a drink problem in my experience.

Pottler

George Dalton wrote: »

The Transit Connect has a bit of a drink problem in my experience.

From what I've heard from lads with them they are very reliable, not too comfy and hard on the juice. I'm kinda done with ford anyway having had couriers, transits and escorts, past and present. Last Ford I bought new was a Courier, I bought a new Opel Combo at the same time. Not mad about either but I did go out and buy another Combo and got good work out of them, the Courier, meh, gave no bother really, but meh, not a nice place to sit for any length of time. Nissan are doing great deals on the Primastars at the mo as well - if I buy three the deal is absolutely cracking financed over four years but that's a biggish commitment with the economy the way it is. The way I see it is the Fiorino would be no great stretch and if I get 1 and it fits the bill I can always get another couple. If it turns out to be too small then Primastars it will be. The 5 year warranty is very good but it might get called on too often though...