Fiat Doblo Good Or Bad

JAMES VTI S

I like the look of the Fiat Doblo (first generation) a lot
It's not a caddy or a berlingo which is every second small van

BUT it's fiat :rolleyes:
I don't want to be stuck on the roadside scratching my head wishing I went with something more "tested"

ba_barabus

Brother in law has driven one for eircom for a few years with the 1.3 multijet diesel and has found it flawless if a little bare inside

Bigus

Make sure you get a 1.3 multi jet, good yoke 60 mpg plus, reliable

JAMES VTI S

so i wont be calling for help on the road side

60MPG :eek:

dgt

JAMES VTI S wrote: »

so i wont be calling for help on the road side

60MPG :eek:

Unless it's been worked to death then no

JAMES VTI S

BUT power .. 1.3 + 60mpg = surely zero trills

what about having 300 kg in the back

Boscoirl

I have one for work, 1.3 multijet, great mpg,

The is a panel between the cab and back, a blessing on a cold morning, it heats up in no time.

dgt

JAMES VTI S wrote: »

BUT power .. 1.3 + 60mpg = surely zero trills

what about having 300 kg in the back

Well if bpmull sees this thread, a better view can be shared. The Astra had the same engine

A good friend of mine also has one and loves it.

I suppose one can't expect one with the other with an engine that size. You could try canning the nuts off it, try...

JAMES VTI S

what is multi jet
turbo? like the combo

dgt

JAMES VTI S wrote: »

what is multi jet
turbo? like the combo

If 1.3 then yes

colm_mcm

I'd have a doblo before a Berlingo or whatever. They look like they're made of Lego. Apparently they're pretty decent too. I've only driven the 1.3 and it was grand.

JAMES VTI S

I read there is trouble with the timingbelt

galwaytt

We built one at work and I drove it to UK for a show. Nice to drive, comfy....and runs on fumes. I liked it.

alias no.9

JAMES VTI S wrote: »

I read there is trouble with the timingbelt

AFAIK the 1.3 multijet has a chain

corkgsxr

My cat has more power in her farts. But if that dont bother you work away

MidlandsM

JAMES VTI S wrote: »

I read there is trouble with the timingbelt

can't be, they don't have one.

to be fair, Fiat never made a bad diesel engine........I'd have one...

sentient_6

corkgsxr wrote: »

My cat has more power in her farts. But if that dont bother you work away

This. Had one a few times as a rental with work & its very underpowered. It's completely dead till 2.5k rpm i found. Grand van other than that though.

GTDolanator

that engine has more issues in the combo than it does in the doblo for some reason,2 mates have had combos one from new and they've had a fair bit of bother with them

The Pontiac

What about the 1.9 engine?

Anyone any opinions on this?

NuckingFacker

The Pontiac wrote: »

What about the 1.9 engine?

Anyone any opinions on this?

They're fine, but again, sluggish and if you cane it, thirsty, surprisingly thirsty. Dogged enough engine -with servicing they just plod on and on. Timing belt on that one btw. I had one as a yard runabout with 500k miles on it - still have it as a matter of fact and it's doed and taxed -must get someone using it again!

Bpmull

I had an astra 1.3cdti which has the same engine. It was a good reliable van. Firstly the 60mpg thing is a fantasy IMO the most I ever got was 51mpg and that was driving it easy enough. Add 300kg you would doing well to see mid 40s to late 40s. The most I put in my astra was about 400 ish kg of wood flooring and it was struggling. My astra hated hills even empty. There was one perticular steep hill I travelled alot and I had to go up it in 1st no joke would not go up in 2nd.

It's a good engine reliable and reasonably powerful for a 1.3 but at the end of the day it's only a 1.3. So don't expect to put 300kg of weight in the back and not feel like your carrying it and I wouldn't expect 60mpg. But if that doesn't bother then its would be a good van and should be very reliable.

I sold my astra in January and bought a focus van 1.6tdci and although I have had some issues with it it is alot nicer to drive in terms of power even loaded full with 1/2 a tonne there's no issue with power biggest problem is stopping it when it's loaded.

The Pontiac

NuckingFacker wrote: »

They're fine, but again, sluggish and if you cane it, thirsty, surprisingly thirsty. Dogged enough engine -with servicing they just plod on and on. Timing belt on that one btw. I had one as a yard runabout with 500k miles on it - still have it as a matter of fact and it's doed and taxed -must get someone using it again!

Bpmull wrote: »

I had an astra 1.3cdti which has the same engine. It was a good reliable van. Firstly the 60mpg thing is a fantasy IMO the most I ever got was 51mpg and that was driving it easy enough. Add 300kg you would doing well to see mid 40s to late 40s. The most I put in my astra was about 400 ish kg of wood flooring and it was struggling. My astra hated hills even empty. There was one perticular steep hill I travelled alot and I had to go up it in 1st no joke would not go up in 2nd.

It's a good engine reliable and reasonably powerful for a 1.3 but at the end of the day it's only a 1.3. So don't expect to put 300kg of weight in the back and not feel like your carrying it and I wouldn't expect 60mpg. But if that doesn't bother then its would be a good van and should be very reliable.

I sold my astra in January and bought a focus van 1.6tdci and although I have had some issues with it it is alot nicer to drive in terms of power even loaded full with 1/2 a tonne there's no issue with power biggest problem is stopping it when it's loaded.

Cheers lads.

Have my eye on a Citroen Berlingo too after a bit of searching. It'd the 2.0HDI model. Any opinions?

beertons

I had a berlingo for a while. Bit of a bone shaker. Upgraded to the doblo. Man that was a great van. Sold it on to my uncle after gear box trouble, and 130k miles. Have a transit connect now, 1.6. Still long for the fiat. 1.9, 110 bhp.

Bpmull

The Pontiac wrote: »

Cheers lads.

Have my eye on a Citroen Berlingo too after a bit of searching. It'd the 2.0HDI model. Any opinions?

My dad drove a few of these. As a few years ago he would have been buying a good few vans for his business. He always just ended up buying the 1.9 as he wouldn't be driving them and reconed the 2.0 hdi was abit quick for the lads and might end up on the wrong side of the ditch. Although they still managed to write off a 1.9 I don't know how as there very slow. But I think for driving it yourself a 2.0 hdi would be nice. My uncle had one for 2 plus years and never had a bother with it reliability wise.

The Pontiac

beertons wrote: »

I had a berlingo for a while. Bit of a bone shaker. Upgraded to the doblo. Man that was a great van. Sold it on to my uncle after gear box trouble, and 130k miles. Have a transit connect now, 1.6. Still long for the fiat. 1.9, 110 bhp.

I'm reading conflicting reviews. A lot were saying the Doblo was terrible to drive.

Guess I just have to drive a few myself. Not looking for anything major with a small van, just reasonable comfort. Don't care about handling or anything.

The Pontiac

Bpmull wrote: »

My dad drove a few of these. As a few years ago he would have been buying a good few vans for his business. He always just ended up buying the 1.9 as he wouldn't be driving them and reconed the 2.0 hdi was abit quick for the lads and might end up on the wrong side of the ditch. Although they still managed to write off a 1.9 I don't know how as there very slow. But I think for driving it yourself a 2.0 hdi would be nice. My uncle had one for 2 plus years and never had a bother with it reliability wise.

Reading good things about the 2.0HDI. Think I could manage to stay in the right side of the ditch. Reliability more of a concern, but a bit of power is nice too.

beertons

The Pontiac wrote: »

I'm reading conflicting reviews. A lot were saying the Doblo was terrible to drive.

Guess I just have to drive a few myself. Not looking for anything major with a small van, just reasonable comfort. Don't care about handling or anything.

Wasn't great going round corners, but my dad probably skimped on tyres. I'd get one again in a heart beat if the transit ever made a fuss. Till then, i'm sticking with the connect.

Supergurrier

Would love one of these as a daily, funky looking little things too

NuckingFacker

I've gone off all these smaller "carvans" majorley and won't buy them any more - they just aren't really practical day to day - the backs too small, they're not as economical as people shyte on about and they're awful to drive day in and day out. Honestly. Smallest I'm buying is a Hiace or a swb Transit - I've an awful lot of vans - I'll live with the extra bit of fuel for the bigger capacity, higher driving position and ability to actually pull themselves out of bed.

Also, if it's french, Italian or feckin anything other than a transit or a hiace, I'm not buying it anymore either. Too much grief, tbh. Or a Hyundai H1 - good van. That is hard earned and expensively acquired advice. Buy a Hiace or a Transit or a H1. My honest opinion after many, many hundreds of thousands of euro spent on vans and repairs. Nucking.

The Pontiac

NuckingFacker wrote: »

I've gone off all these smaller "carvans" majorley and won't buy them any more - they just aren't really practical day to day - the backs too small, they're not as economical as people shyte on about and they're awful to drive day in and day out. Honestly. Smallest I'm buying is a Hiace or a swb Transit - I've an awful lot of vans - I'll live with the extra bit of fuel for the bigger capacity, higher driving position and ability to actually pull themselves out of bed.

Also, if it's french, Italian or feckin anything other than a transit or a hiace, I'm not buying it anymore either. Too much grief, tbh. Or a Hyundai H1 - good van. That is hard earned and expensively acquired advice. Buy a Hiace or a Transit or a H1. My honest opinion after many, many hundreds of thousands of euro spent on vans and repairs. Nucking.

Thanks.

Might just go with a Transit Connect then. Don't really need massive space. The smallest Connect would be fine.

NuckingFacker

The Pontiac wrote: »

Thanks.

Might just go with a Transit Connect then. Don't really need massive space. The smallest Connect would be fine.

connects are tough, easy to service, electrically straightforward, not too economical and very uncomfortable to drive. The last bit I'd ignore in favor of the first bit. Top plus is they're not french. Be my choice in your position anyway.:)

eire-kp

+1 for a Berlingo 2.0 Hdi I had one for the last year. Reasonably lively for a van when empty.

Timing belt is cheap to do. Just make sure the supension and bushings are good. They're pretty sought after though and its a sellers market I could have sold mine 10 times. If it was a 1.6 hdi or a 1.9 I'm quite sure it would still be sitting on my street.

Supergurrier

Doblo would be no worse than a connect tbh.

As for the hiace they are a pointless van platform way too small to be considered even as viable as a swb transit.

For proper vans its lwb french van or bust

jacob2

a friend of mine has a fiat doblo diesel 1.3 multijet clutch master cylinder prone to break were it connects to the cluth pedal its a plastic shaft the new one he fitted has a metal shaft. the fiat dealer said he sells 6 clutch master cylinders a month it a common fault and 80 euro less out of your pocket its a 2006 model