Transit Connect

[northwest]

thinking of swapping my van. As some of you know, my daily ride is an 09 plate Vauxhall Astra 1.7 diesel. It goes like the clappers thanks to an ECU "improvement" and I drive it enthusiastically. it costs me very little fuel wise and everything that needed doing on it has been done, it as 180K miles on it, approx. I have been offered a Transit connect on a 62 plate, it too is quite quick and about the same mileage, the swap will cost me my van and £1500 - is it worth it or am I going to inherit a nightmare?
I quite fancy the extra space and load capacity, = more tools and machines., maybe. I will lose a towbar momentarily.

 

[dobbslc]

Better the devil you know...

 

[northwest]

Better the devil you know...

I was thinking just that, but life is an adventure, right?

 

[8ob]

is it worth it or am I going to inherit a nightmare?
I quite fancy the extra space and load capacity, = more tools and machines., maybe. I will lose a towbar momentarily.

We ran Connects for quite a few years, tin worm killed them off in the end. Mechanically they are ok, no better or worse than a Vauxhall but as you already know the connect depending on type has a decent payload.

Bob

 

[Ton-up]

I believe connects have to stick to commercial speed limits.

 

[Parm]

I believe connects have to stick to commercial speed limits.

What’s that, warp speed 10?

 

[Westfield-builder]

I believe connects have to stick to commercial speed limits.

I'm sure all vans have had to do that, for a few years. Car derived or not.

 

[Ton-up]

Car derived vans can do car speeds.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

I had a connect for a bit as a site van, it was without doubt the most uncomfortable vehicle I’ve ever used. Couldn’t drive any distance in it without major back and leg pain

 

[brightspark]

I believe connects have to stick to commercial speed limits.

so does my partner van only fiesta vans and vauxhall combos etc use a car derived van chassis and is exempt from it

 

[pedrobedro]

Connect is not car derived it was made as a van

Car derived vans can do car speeds.

Berlingo vans come under the same ruling the car was derived from the van so the limits are lower for the van.

 

[Greeves246]

v55 tells you. M1 has car speed limits, N1 van limits. My VW T6 is N1 even though it is now motor caravan converted but DVLA won’t change classification without a high roof conversion and graphics. Your biggest problem will be Greater Manchester’s new emission zone rules that apply to vans that are not euro 5, ie £10 every time you enter GM.

 

[premmington]

There are so few new car derived vans being made/sold now.

Only few that comes to mind are: Fiesta van/Corsa van/Renault Zoe (Dacia do a commercial Duster I think?)

Van market has changed so much - no little 1/2ton pick up trucks. Very few car derived vans.

Vans new/used are so expensive new. Scary money!

 

[wyn]

Car derived vans can do car speeds.

I think that's only if they are below a certain weight.................2 tonnes or something along those lines.
I have a D3 commercial which is car derived and around 2.5 tonnes so keep to the lower speeds.

 

[highseas]

I believe connects have to stick to commercial speed limits.

Nearly ever work connect I have seen is driven to the limits of what physics (and the 19 year old behind the wheel ) say is possible
I don’t know about the newer connects but the “old” type were proper workhorses!

 

[qwakers]

Ive been driving connects since 2014 as company vans. I have had gear boxes, drive shafts, engine wiring looms and a whole host of other faliures on vans less than 2 years old and less than 40k on the clock. They go through brake pads faster than even my rx8 on track and are proprly uncomfortable.

 

[pedrobedro]

Someone used to park a 2008 Connect opposite us. It was sign written for a valeting company and looked tidy except the sills were like a frilly curtain. It used to bug me I could have had it looking good in a day but they scrapped it a couple of years ago.

 

[bricol]

There were a good few people on the speed awareness course I attended who had been caught out by driving to car speed limits in a car derived van that was actually taxed as commerical rather than plg. According the guys taking the course, you could have two vans, seemingly identical, parked side by side - but one "commercial" and one "plg" - a question to ask your employer if you don't have a V5 to look at.

 

[Blobber]

I dont think I would pay £1500 to swap to a van with about the same mileage?

 

[Migmac]

I’d keep the beast you know. Nothing against the wee Ford though. Sons one had been adjusted, it was like poop of a shovel. I found it fairly comfy to drive, even with all my aches and pains