Me Vans Died!

[Wendelspanswick]

After 7 yrs of good service the dual mass flywheel on my VW T4 Transporter is self destructing, add in it will also need a cambelt/waterpump change soon and the fact that its looking scruffy I have decided I need to replace it.
I have a budget of around £6-7000 plus vat for a traditional size panel van. The VW T5 is out of my price range so its Transits, Vito's etc.
What do I need to look out for?

 

[AndyStobbs]

Sprinters!

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

Renault traffics are supridingly good. We have 3 at work all between 2007 to 12. And over 100k on 2 of them very few pproblems. Comfortable big in the back and not slow.

 

[doubleboost]

The new transits are very soft
Sprinters are great (to drive not work on)

 

[Barking Mat]

This is a well timed thread for me, I've just had my '96 Citroen Relay written off by a careless driver who didn't see it, when it was parked. The insurance have coughed up 2500 euros (which is nice) and I am looking at something cdi as my previous 2.5 td was returning 12 ish litres per 100 km's (no idea in mpg), and I'm looking at a Vito, boxer, sprinter, but then merc cdi are reknown for injection issues and as a traditional diesielist I am reluctant to touch an injection pump with more than one wire. But none the less, beggars can't be choosers, so when you have a problem with a cdi sprinter how bad is it?

 

[Wedg1e]

my previous 2.5 td was returning 12 ish litres per 100 km's (no idea in mpg)

About 23mpg!

 

[Wedg1e]

I'm looking at a Vito, boxer, sprinter, but then merc cdi are reknown for injection issues

One of our Vitos was stranded in Edinburgh when the airflow meter died last year... had done about 100K miles from new.
Otherwise it just keeps going (07 plate, now on 120K, about to be chopped in for a Transporter...).

My Connect is up for replacement, I hear they're looking to fob me off with a VW Caddy Maxi - we already have two Caddys and they're sluggish, noisy, plasticky and rattly. And sluggish. And they're noisy. And have wind-up windows, no aircon and seats so small a deckchair would be more spacious. Oh, and they're sluggish.
I've suggested the new Connect (now with cruise control and about time!) would be more suitable for all the long-distance stuff I do but am waiting for prices...

 

[zx9]

My current Vito a 115CDi 08 reg. is on about 120.000 mls and has not given me any problems in the 40.000 mls since I bought it. If the T4 is used to move full sheets of plasterboard or ply be warned they will not fit behind the bulkhead of a standard size Vito you will need the longer body (extra 200mm or so behind the rear wheels) or the LWB version.

 

[bullet]

why do sprinters look like they are crabbing when your following them?
I have a vivaro, no probs up to yet and its just done 100k

 

[nickk]

why do sprinters look like they are crabbing when your following them?
I have a vivaro, no probs up to yet and its just done 100k

yes -i notice that often[ btw were all following sprinters-they're so ....kin fast]!

 

[the snooper]

yes -i notice that often[ btw were all following sprinters-they're so ....kin fast]!

hence the name

 

[brightspark]

the ultimate wh

hence the name

the ultimate whitevanman