Iveco, ford, vauxhall. new van ??

[the repair man]

Hey all, buying a newish van, it'll be around an 07-10 plate.
I have an Ldv maxus, and its a piece of the proverbial.
I'm torn between a Vivaro, Transit and Iveco daily.
I know the ivecos outclass the others on build quality and reliability, but for cheaper parts, cheaper insurance and better economy the ford and vauxhall seem good. I'm a little unsure of the v'haul hauling a van around with a 1.9 vectra engine, but 115 bhp, its as good as most.
Any informed opinions? Your personal preferences aren't really useful lol I'm a ford fan, but have heard so many bad reports about the new transits. The iveco Im looking at is a DAILY 35S12 MWB High Roof, so quite big. Anyone know first hand what sort of mpg is realistic on these. It's 2.3 120hp

 

[Fazerruss]

the Vauxhall I think is the same van as the Renault traffic, Nissan primestar ect. Not sure what engines/ gearboxes are used in them but our 61 plate Traffic has had to have a new gearbox at 27k due to a failed internal bearing!
Its being done under warranty and is a lease van but It wouldn't get my vote if I had to part with my own money.

 

[zx9]

I hired a high roof MWB Iveco Daily to shift some equipment that was too big to fit into the Vito. It was quite a nice drive once I got used to the comparatively long throw of the gear leaver and stopped dropping it into neutral each gear change. I thought it was very thirsty, low twenties in town but that might have been down me revving the nuts off it trying to drive it like I do a 150 bhp Vito.

 

[the repair man]

the Vauxhall I think is the same van as the Renault traffic, Nissan primestar ect. Not sure what engines/ gearboxes are used in them but our 61 plate Traffic has had to have a new gearbox at 27k due to a failed internal bearing!
Its being done under warranty and is a lease van but It wouldn't get my vote if I had to part with my own money.

Yeah they are all same chassis, I assume they use their own suitable engine/box, but that worries a bit, a 100bhp diesel in a car is fine, but pulling up to 3 tonne day in day out isn't what they were designed for.
In the past I would have said Transit everytime, for parts, ease of repair etc. But these days, they aren't so good and everything electronic.
I like that the iveco is more commercial, agricultural even.
Some sites, even Whatcar say the iveco is good for 33mpg average and the vivaro up to 38mpg..I can't help thinking I'm gonna get the iveco and get 22mpg!

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

I don't know if they still use the same 1.9 lump as they always have as the Nissans Vauxhalls and Renaults all suffered from the injectors failing then seizing in the head and shearing on removal.

 

[AndyStobbs]

Transits suffer fuel system problems like no other van around. Injectors, HP pumps, EGR valves, all expensive to repair. Dual mass flywheel failure also cause starter motor failure (often the only symptom). Added to cam ladder failures; inadvisable to tow start them.

Iveco, I've less experience of, but got a fiat ducato in at the moment with a common fault (same engine) which is throttle body water ingress - mainly due to bad fiat design - hopefully Iveco have it better sussed.

Any reasonably modern diesel will likely have a diesel particulate filter - avoid one of these if you can!

BHP is a bad measure of van suitability - 20hp will pull 10 tons - all be it slowly. It depends how fast you want the work done (as is the deffinition of BHP, work done (torque) W.R.T time taken = power expended)

All injectors seize bar the ford ones generally, its much of a muchness in that respect.

I could ask the owner of the ducato what sort of MPG he gets if you want? Its LWB and getting on for 9 feet from floor to roof.

 

[the repair man]

Transits suffer fuel system problems like no other van around. Injectors, HP pumps, EGR valves, all expensive to repair. Dual mass flywheel failure also cause starter motor failure (often the only symptom). Added to cam ladder failures; inadvisable to tow start them.

Iveco, I've less experience of, but got a fiat ducato in at the moment with a common fault (same engine) which is throttle body water ingress - mainly due to bad fiat design - hopefully Iveco have it better sussed.

Any reasonably modern diesel will likely have a diesel particulate filter - avoid one of these if you can!

BHP is a bad measure of van suitability - 20hp will pull 10 tons - all be it slowly. It depends how fast you want the work done (as is the deffinition of BHP, work done (torque) W.R.T time taken = power expended)

All injectors seize bar the ford ones generally, its much of a muchness in that respect.

I could ask the owner of the ducato what sort of MPG he gets if you want? Its LWB and getting on for 9 feet from floor to roof.

Hi, I know what you mean about the bhp, I meant, the likes of the banana engine, they were made to work, not for refinery and they lasted. Where as the 1.9 td's that vauhall, renault etc use where designed for cars, much lower workload. Yes would be great to have 1st hand info about mpg, the web reports vary greatly, although about 30mpg seems average.
I didn't know the fiat uses the Iveco engine, I knew Iveco was ford&fiats commercial range, but thought that ended.
In fact, that bit of info means I might even consider a fiat..!

 

[pedrobedro]

The bike shop has had Transits for the last 6 years and had no problems at all with them, previously had Primastar and the only problem with that was a crank position sensor.

 

[the repair man]

We have 3 transits laid up at work. The older ones were good, but new have several known probs, inc dual mass flywheel failure, central locking problems, injector problems etc.
A lot of it is luck of the draw I suppose, I just need the most likely to be reliable as I'm at the limit of my funds just buying one! If it broke in 6 months I would have to be a rent boy for a while, and at my age / condition wouldn't make much..!

 

[normspanners]

as said The vaux/ ren have gearbox probs some people having had 2-3 gearboxes in not many miles but now most vans that are fwd have these issues.
Having said that another friend has had his tranny with ALL the usual issues so got p8888ed off and bought a 2.3 iveco as his brother has a 2.5 iveco no problems apart from cam belt (their bad they left it too long) and has had loads loads of issues with it and found it not good on fuel compaired to the 2.5 !! so its a bit of a lottery, they ALL seem to have their bads, and as regards gear boxes I would go rearwheel drive and iveco or sprinters are good

 

[matt1978]

I have a Renault Trafic, Crewcab SWB Sports 2.0DCi (115PS). Automatic box and the gearbox is crap. Lots of times it cannot make its mind up whether to be in 1st or 2nd so you get a few seconds of nothing then a big lurch forward.

The Renault and Vauxhall SWB are made at the same factory in Luton and the LWB are made in France. Identicle Chassis, Gearboxes, Engines etc.

They both do a Sports version, the Renault seemed to have more extras on for the equivilant spec (Vauxhall = Sportive), Renault had same features as Vauxhall but with the addition of a full colour screen Sat Nav.

The main difference is that with Renault you can only get the 2.5 lump in the LWB but Vauxhall offer it also in the SWB.

They are comfortable to drive and layed out well, and look the part as well with the body coloured bumpers/alloy wheels etc but fuel economy is no where near as good as quoted on official brochures, best I have acheived is around 32mpg, but usually its more like 30mpg.

 

[the repair man]

Cheers for that Matt, although I decided the Iveco will hold its value better and hopefully be more reliable, so made an offer on it today. Fingers crossed now.
My missus wanted the sportive etc because its prettier, I decided I want something that will do most tasks and be a workhorse. She can put some furry dice in or go faster stripes on it lol

 

[the repair man]

as said The vaux/ ren have gearbox probs some people having had 2-3 gearboxes in not many miles but now most vans that are fwd have these issues.
Having said that another friend has had his tranny with ALL the usual issues so got p8888ed off and bought a 2.3 iveco as his brother has a 2.5 iveco no problems apart from cam belt (their bad they left it too long) and has had loads loads of issues with it and found it not good on fuel compaired to the 2.5 !! so its a bit of a lottery, they ALL seem to have their bads, and as regards gear boxes I would go rearwheel drive and iveco sprinters are good

Went for the Iveco, rear drive, much heftier chassis and running gear, parkers and What van seem to think its the best of the bunch, so fingers crossed. It wont be doing many miles so hoping it'll hold its value fairly well. Cheers

 

[dan.taylor.1]

What about a VW LT or whatever theyre called now, same as a Merc Sprinter just less expensive.

Dan

 

[the repair man]

What about a VW LT or whatever theyre called now, same as a Merc Sprinter just less expensive.

Dan

Bit out of my price range, I wanted max 5 years old, very tidy, low mileage etc
The Iveco MWB, Ducato LWB, and some transits fitted the bill, 7k being the limit. You don't get much v.w / merc for that money!

 

[julieanncharters]

funny i bought a maxus lwb high top and its been fine.
was 2 years old when i bought it with 18k on clock its a 57 plate.
put 40k on it and its had no issues,
was half the price of me m8s transit which has cost him a fortune in repairs which was an 08.
its a shame they went bust a few more years would prob have improved any issues.
had a sprinter before the maxus ,great engine but surface rust broke out all over the body total **** considering what they want for them.
use to be gearbox issues with some of the vauxhall/renault variants .
all things can go bang old and new.
ford common rail diesel pump or injector failure is well documented on the net and can be a very costly repair.

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

We run 2 56 plate maxuses. The tinwork is sh** but engine and box seem nice. Goes like schtink too...

 

[the repair man]

We run 2 56 plate maxuses. The tinwork is sh** but engine and box seem nice. Goes like schtink too...

I've got a Maxus, it's the 2.8 120, 120hp, it's a VM engine, Italian made. Apparently, crap, but it does go like stink, interior and body is crappy, but it flys. A transit blew up at work today, I do mean blew up, fire brigade an all. Turbo problem, the driver turned engine off and got out. Engine revved its nuts off ( with no key in ignition ) until its exploded..!! It blew all the rad hoses, fuel lines, oil..its scrap metal now.!

I would have considered an Ldv but hey depreciate so fast I can't afford the loss.

 

[julieanncharters]

agreed the body on maxus is made up of tin foil, panel fit up is crap but its a decent sized van and cheap, ticks my boxes .
if your the kind of guy who has the background to fix owt with 4 wheels then no prob.
if not stay well clear as no dealer network to hold yer hand.
clutches can be weak if pulling excessive loads electrics hit and miss on some of them.
drove an iveco daily the other day can't say it made me want to rush out and buy one.

 

[julieanncharters]

I've got a Maxus, it's the 2.8 120, 120hp, it's a VM engine, Italian made. Apparently, crap, but it does go like stink, interior and body is crappy, but it flys. A transit blew up at work today, I do mean blew up, fire brigade an all. Turbo problem, the driver turned engine off and got out. Engine revved its nuts off ( with no key in ignition ) until its exploded..!! It blew all the rad hoses, fuel lines, oil..its scrap metal now.!

I would have considered an Ldv but hey depreciate so fast I can't afford the loss.

sounds like it used its engine oil for fuel after turbo bearing failure .
usually a spectacular meltdown