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Van dilemma

I am looking for a second hand van and can't decide between the swb ford transit or the vauxhall vivaro. I prefer the vauxhall but have read the clutch and gearbox are a bit soft and if pulling a trailer regularly, which I do, can be a problem. The transit will probably be hardier. Any advice from anyone with experience of these vans will be much appreciated. Thanks.

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  • PRO

    We had a LWB transit on a 55 plate for just over a year around 3 years ago. It was slow, rattled like anything and niggly things kept going wrong, and was off the road too often. So got to the point where we sold it to we buy any van for £1300 and it appeared at a well known large van dealers forecourt for £3995 at few weeks later...

    So avoid the bottom end of the market unless your good friends with a mechanic! This experience led me to leasing new vehicles around the £200 + vat range pcm. What I save on fuel / repairs / downtime / hassle is enough compensation vs buying a mid cost used van that may have problems. Not to say new ones don't, but they are covered by better warranties.

    We have a new shape LWB vivaro on a 64 plate and it's lovely to drive, takes weight well. The only thing I have to say about the older shape SWB transits is that I was talking to a appliance service engineer in a SWB transit custom about his van, and he didn't like it, especially with weight in the back and he preferred his previous SWB transit. The custom was more comfortable etc, but was skittish loaded compared to the older transit. Kind of important to him.

    • I am not quite at the bottom end of the market but am looking between 8 and 10k. Comfort is important but practicality and reliability more important.
    • PRO

      Although I bought a 2006 LWB hi roof transit 2 years ago for 4k (same mark 6 as your 55 plate) and it has been faultless

  • I have a mwb mid roof transit, front wheel drive with the 6 speed gearbox. It's a 2010 model and I bought it 4 years ago with a very high (120 000I think) mileage, it's done 160 000 miles now and been completely reliable so far.I don't like the fact that they're easily broken into and easy to steal. I think I'm right in saying Merceds can't be beaten for reliability though and the running costs look good....on paper anyway.

    • The fwd transit isn't much good for towing any great weight though. 

  • though not a vivaro or transit, i was looking at those before and then decided upon and purchased a citroen dispatch (same van as peugeot expert different badge). seems more reliable and less issues than the vivaro/traffic.

    My short list were the dispatch/transit and when test driving / looking at i preferred the dispatch to the transit. I got the L2H1 version, 2015 36,000 2litre in black for £10,500 inc vat. could've got a white one for about a grand less.

    Only had it less than a month but I like it a lot. It's quickly become my fav vehicle since my first car of a classic mini back in 2002 (had about 8 vehicles since then)

    • I've had the Peugeot version of this for about a year and so far so good.

  • PRO

    What are the Vivaro/Trafic problems ?

    • fuel injectors and gear box are the main ones i recall

      my friend had so many problems with her fuel injectors

      • PRO
        I guess no brand is immune from
        problems. One can never be sure of the vehicle history, level servicing or care when you hear about it from a 3rd party.
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