Which small van?

obrien88

I am looking at buying a small van, around 2011 with low mileage, which one does everybody reccommend?? Caddy/partner/berlingo/transit connect/doblo/kangoo/combo??

Mechanic365

obrien88 wrote: »

I am looking at buying a small van, around 2011 with low mileage, which one does everybody reccommend?? Caddy/partner/berlingo/transit connect/doblo/kangoo/combo??

Caddy is soft, noisy, troublesome and over expensive

Partner and berlingo are grand, economical but only good for low weight with just coil sprigs in the back, built more like a car and require very regular oil changes since these hdi 1.6 engines are delicate. Dont buy one that looks lower in the rear since this is sure sign that it had big Weight in the back.

Transit connect in 1.8tdci the best of the lot really, use leaf springs in the rear, better with heavy loads
the newer 1.6 transit connect is same engine as berlingo but better van than the berlingo

Doblo.......won't start , these things are an electrical nightmare

Kangoo,,,,,, wasn't good in the past, but maybe alright if you got one very cheap

Combo, haven't heard good reports but don't know much about them

obrien88

Mechanic365 wrote: »

Caddy is soft, noisy, troublesome and over expensive

Partner and berlingo are grand, economical but only good for low weight with just coil sprigs in the back, built more like a car and require very regular oil changes since these hdi 1.6 engines are delicate. Dont buy one that looks lower in the rear since this is sure sign that it had big Weight in the back.

Transit connect in 1.8tdci the best of the lot really, use leaf springs in the rear, better with heavy loads
the newer 1.6 transit connect is same engine as berlingo but better van than the berlingo

Doblo.......won't start , these things are an electrical nightmare

Kangoo,,,,,, wasn't good in the past, but maybe alright if you got one very cheap

Combo, haven't heard good reports but don't know much about them

Thank you so much for getting back to me, I had my eye on either a caddy or partner, I'm going to be using it as a work van as electrician, so I wouldnt be transporting large loads. Tools, cable, ladder would be mainly in it.

I had read the transit connect was a bit thirsty, you seemed dead against a caddy. Just wondering why that is, I was looking at a 2013 1.6tdi , 40,000 for equivalent of 8500euro in the UK.
Or a partner 1.6hdi from with 30,000 for around the same price over here.

Would you know which can has best mpg? And would the connect still be beat based on this info??

Mechanic365

obrien88 wrote: »

Thank you so much for getting back to me, I had my eye on either a caddy or partner, I'm going to be using it as a work van as electrician, so I wouldnt be transporting large loads. Tools, cable, ladder would be mainly in it.

I had read the transit connect was a bit thirsty, you seemed dead against a caddy. Just wondering why that is, I was looking at a 2013 1.6tdi , 40,000 for equivalent of 8500euro in the UK.
Or a partner 1.6hdi from with 30,000 for around the same price over here.

Would you know which can has best mpg? And would the connect still be beat based on this info??

Well my mind is completely set on reliability and mechanicals, and the connect tops reliablity (1.8tdci)
Only thing i have against the caddy really are all the reports ive heard against it, one of which is anyone that had the old 1.9tdi before getting a 1.6tdi noted more fuel consumption in real world and alot less low down power.
On top of this your bog standard caddy 1.6tdi has a few major drawbacks, one being that they dont have a fuel lift pump (like the 01/02 ford transits that suffer from injector pump failure as a result) and i feel this will cause headaces down the road.
Another friend of mine drives a 2012 caddy for work and only carries some tools in the back, after some 20,000 miles the vans rear shocks hardened and wore some bushings which within a week made the van un-driveable and required a rear axle rebuild! He too noted bad fuel consumption and a generally 'soft' feel to the van, his words were 'only really a van for good roads'
That guy bought a 2011 Transit Connect for himself recently after owning a 2008 citroen berlingo for 3 years and hasnt looked back, but he did note the berlingo was definitely lighter on juice and a quicker van to 60mph

Mechanic365

obrien88 wrote: »

Would you know which can has best mpg? And would the connect still be beat based on this info??

Id say the berlingo/partner (these are the same van minus some ply-lining) is the best on juice for your average 20/30minute trips
But the transit connect 1.8tdci is a van i reckon will hold its value better than any other because that engine will be sought after for its reliablility.

Its a bit like when citroen changed the berlingo from a 1.9straight diesel to the 1.6hdi, suddenly your slow old berlingo got valueble because the new ones just werent as reliable

obrien88

Mechanic365 wrote: »

Id say the berlingo/partner (these are the same van minus some ply-lining) is the best on juice for your average 20/30minute trips
But the transit connect 1.8tdci is a van i reckon will hold its value better than any other because that engine will be sought after for its reliablility.

Its a bit like when citroen changed the berlingo from a 1.9straight diesel to the 1.6hdi, suddenly your slow old berlingo got valueble because the new ones just werent as reliable

Yeh I see what your saying, I think I'm going to look into the connect a lot more now. My worry with the connect holding its value is that the new shape is now a year or so old and looks the bees knees but not in my price range. Which may take away from the value of the old model down the road.

Thanks so much for your input tho, definitely food for thought.

colm_mcm

If you don't need anything massive, a fiat fiorino should be considered.
Same 1.3 diesel as the combo. You'd get a very new one for your budget.

obrien88

colm_mcm wrote: »

If you don't need anything massive, a fiat fiorino should be considered.
Same 1.3 diesel as the combo. You'd get a very new one for your budget.

Yeh iv heard and read good things about it, I think it would be abit too small for myself taking into account expansion over the years. Very well priced though.