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Car Forum / Land Rover Cars / July 2006Way OT: Vans - opinions please..
I'm looking at getting another van. I've had a couple of Transits and a new-ish VW LT28 in the past. Transits are OK, but fancy something different! Can anyone tell me why the LDV Pilot/Convoy (what's the difference BTW?!) is sooo cheap! I mean, a 1999 with 61k for £1000 is a fairly typical price - OK it is probably ex RM, but I can't imagine that it would be treat any worse than a builder treats a van! Should I just stick with what I know? (i.e. Transit!) I don't really want to spend more than about £1500, but would go to £2k for a really good one. I'll be transporting antique furniture in it up and down the motorways, so nothing that heavy - I want a van under 3T so I can get a regular MOT. What about the Pug/Renault/Citroen stuff? Any opinions gratefully received on anything Transit (pref LWB) sized. Cheers, Matt > I'm looking at getting another van. I've had a couple of Transits and > a new-ish VW LT28 in the past. Transits are OK, but fancy something [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Matt Personally, I wouldn't touch a Pilot or Convoy with a VERY long pole. They're extremely basic in design with nowhere near the comfort or sophistication of the Transit. In the ones I've driven (2000MY onwards) the drivers position is very cramped with limited fore/aft adjustment on the seat and no vertical adjustment at all. An hour in one of those and I have trouble standing up straight again for several minutes - an arthritic problem made worse by the lousy driving position. The current Citroen is very nice although I've only driven 2005/6 models.  SignatureRegards Steve G >Personally, I wouldn't touch a Pilot or Convoy with a VERY long pole. >They're extremely basic in design with nowhere near the comfort or [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >I have trouble standing up straight again for several minutes - an >arthritic problem made worse by the lousy driving position. have to admit, I modified mine by fitting a sierra seat - the additional side support makes it a different van altogether. Then again, transit drivers seats are only good when new as well, they suffer the same collapsing at the edge as the LDV ones. My transit also has a sierra seat in the driver's position, although it does gain height adjustment compared to the LDV. Mind, you could nick a tranny seat complete with the height-adjust frame and bolt that into the LDV. main advantage in the LDV is the obvious one you've pointed out, you get about 100000 fewer miles and about 4 years less aging for yer money. Also the Convoy/Pilot are way better than the older 400/200 models in terms of dash and suchlike. but the same applies to LR 110s - the standard seat is crap. You'll no doubt guess what I fitted to mine :-) but seriously, the sierra seat, minus the underpinnings (4 bolts and they all come off) is far and a away the best seat I've found in anything recently, and available from yer local breakers for about a fiver. Passenger ones are often less worn, and the more "sporty" looking one with the obvious side-bolsters is the best. Much better lateral support and adjustable lumbar support as well. The seat itself is not all that deep and thus easy to mount on most things. SignatureAustin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that If all be true that I do think, There are five reasons we should drink; Good wine, a friend, or being dry, Or lest we should be by and by; Or any other reason why. - Henry Aldrich (1647 - 1710) > The seat itself is not all that deep and thus easy to mount on most > things. We had an R reg Convoy at work which had height adjustable doofer on it. I don't know if it was an option extra. I avoided driving it as it's when they swapped from V8 to the Diesels ... at least for our purposes anyway. Lee D > I'm looking at getting another van. I've had a couple of Transits and > a new-ish VW LT28 in the past. Transits are OK, but fancy something [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > typical price - OK it is probably ex RM, but I can't imagine that it > would be treat any worse than a builder treats a van! the reason they are cheap is because they are "cheap" the convoy uses transit engine /gearbox so fairly reliable in that department front axles need kingpins greasing very regular otherwise it's new stub axles but the interior build quality does leave a lot to be desired but I think they are worth it if it breaks down throw it away and buy another > Should I just stick with what I know? (i.e. Transit!) I don't really > want to spend more than about £1500, but would go to £2k for a really [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Any opinions gratefully received on anything Transit (pref LWB) sized. convoys tend to be 3-3.5T but transit size whereas pilots are under 3T but not the same carrying capacity SignatureAndy SWB Series 2a ( dressed as a 3) "Bruce" It's big, it's mean it's really, really green > I'm looking at getting another van. I've had a couple of Transits and > a new-ish VW LT28 in the past. Transits are OK, but fancy something > different! ... ok - I've held off till you got some sensible replies - I suspect this isn't gonna help you at all, but when I was looking for a van I chose the 110. Does everything I ask of it. SignatureWilliam Tasso 110 V8 > ok - I've held off till you got some sensible replies - I suspect this > isn't gonna help you at all, but when I was looking for a van I chose > the 110. Does everything I ask of it. I suspect you may be right - I've had 2 in the past. The only thing that is putting me off is the fact that on many of the hills I seem to come across in France they are *very* hard work - like 2nd gear screaming all the way to the top just to keep it going. The old 2.5Di engine might be reliable, but it isn't exactly powerful! The turbo models seem to be pretty rare (at least in the price range I am considering!) Matt >> ok - I've held off till you got some sensible replies - I suspect this >> isn't gonna help you at all, but when I was looking for a van I chose [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > turbo models seem to be pretty rare (at least in the price range I > am considering!) Sorry - getting confused now - for whatever reason for 110 I read LWB (i.e. Transit LWB!) ????! I'd love to be able to use a 110, but it just isn't big enough for what I need - it might *just* do internally, but the rear door opening is nowhere near wide enough. I often used to struggle with the P38 for width with some items! Matt >>> ok - I've held off till you got some sensible replies - I suspect >>> this isn't gonna help you at all, but when I was looking for a [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Matt Keep the P38 mate!!! Dont leave us now..... SignatureSubaru WRX Range Rover 4.6 HSE (The Tank!) 200cc Dirt Bike (Dirtbag) We might be going on a summer holiday, the Greece Ball rally!!!! > Keep the P38 mate!!! > > Dont leave us now..... P38 is already sadly departed :( 1000 miles a week soon got the mileage to over 200k, and I decided at that point that it was time to part company before something serious broke! Just waiting for things to settle down with house (& country!) move before figuring out how much money is left to buy a nice LR play thing. For whatever reason I've got a hankering for a Series III 109. Matt >>> ok - I've held off till you got some sensible replies - I suspect >>> this isn't gonna help you at all, but when I was looking for a [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Matt BTW, i just got a 200cc dirtbike home in the back of mine!! No front wheel & i had to take the bars off, but it did fit!!! nige SignatureSubaru WRX Range Rover 4.6 HSE (The Tank!) 200cc Dirt Bike (Dirtbag) We might be going on a summer holiday, the Greece Ball rally!!!! >> ... >> I often used to struggle with the P38 for width with some items! > > BTW, i just got a 200cc dirtbike home in the back of mine!! No front > wheel & i had to take the bars off, > but it did fit!!! cool - I have to go collect a bonnie in a few weeks - front wheel and bars off, that's my strategy too. SignatureWilliam Tasso 110 V8 >>> ... >>> I often used to struggle with the P38 for width with some items! [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > cool - I have to go collect a bonnie in a few weeks - front wheel and > bars off, that's my strategy too. A real one, or a new one? I have to say, I've always hanlered after a classic Trumpet, even now. Stuart >>>> ... >>>> I often used to struggle with the P38 for width with some items! [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >> > A real one, or a new one? Middlin' - '79 - unit 750, MKII Amals &c. > I have to say, I've always hanlered after a classic Trumpet, even now. After having riden Harleys for a few years I'd forgotten how much fun the Triumph twins are - so light in comparison. Sadly - this bonnie needs a bottom up refurb - hubs to head-stock - I think every part needs attention or replacing. so, my shopping list now includes one o them blaster thingies - damnitt I need a bigger shed - anyone got a heavy duty canvas gazebo? :) SignatureWilliam Tasso 110 V8 >I'm looking at getting another van. I've had a couple of Transits and >a new-ish VW LT28 in the past. Transits are OK, but fancy something [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >typical price - OK it is probably ex RM, but I can't imagine that it >would be treat any worse than a builder treats a van! The pilot is small and has the peugeot 1.9 diesel which is not really suited to a van. The Convoy is a lot bigger (but SWB ones are same wheelbase as the pilot) and uses transit DI engine and box (later ones have the duratorq). Good sound van, harsher ride and noisier when compared with transit. bigger Convoys are twin-wheel. I'm just selling a minibus... had it for a year and it's nice and easy to drive, likesay a bit noisy and harsh compared to the tranny but not unbearably so. There are a few convoys around with air suspension on the back end. SignatureAustin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose" Alphonse Karr (1808 - 1890) Les Guêpes, Jan 1849 > I'm looking at getting another van. I've had a couple of Transits and > a new-ish VW LT28 in the past. Transits are OK, but fancy something [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Matt A lot of the self employed couriers working for our lot ( DHL) have gone for the Vauxhall Movano they reckon its a whole lot more civilised and Vauxhall are giving them good deals I wouldn't mind a couple of weeks out of the Merc the novelty of Tacho's wore out about 15 years ago Derek > A lot of the self employed couriers working for our lot ( DHL) have gone for > the Vauxhall Movano they reckon its a whole lot more civilised and Vauxhall > are giving them good deals I wouldn't mind a couple of weeks out of the Merc > the novelty of Tacho's wore out about 15 years ago > Derek One of the traders on the market I work at has one. Says it's reliable, but has the worst steering lock of any of the vans that attend here. He has to do multiple point turns where other vehicles get round in one. SignatureRegards, Danny http://www.gaggia-espresso.com (a purely hobby site) http://www.malabargold.co.uk (UK/EU ordering for Malabar Gold blend) >> A lot of the self employed couriers working for our lot ( DHL) have >> gone for the Vauxhall Movano they reckon its a whole lot more [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > but has the worst steering lock of any of the vans that attend here. He > has to do multiple point turns where other vehicles get round in one. Also slightly out of reach of my £1500 budget! :-) Anyone had any experience with a Merc Vito? I've read some dreadful reviews on 'tinternet and a only few good ones. Mostly the bad ones are based around how unreliable they are. Surely they can't be that bad?! Have seen a nice 2000 110CDi (ok, yes - way above my original budget, but I did say I would go more if I found the right one!) Matt >Anyone had any experience with a Merc Vito? I've read some >dreadful reviews on 'tinternet and a only few good ones. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >budget, but I did say I would go more if I found the right >one!) thought they were mostly smaller than you were looking for? The sprinter is the van-of-choice, it seems, for them as can afford it. SignatureAustin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that "It is a characteristic of the human mind to hate the man one has injured" Tacitus (c.55 - c.117) Agricola, 45 >> Anyone had any experience with a Merc Vito? I've read some >> dreadful reviews on 'tinternet and a only few good ones. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > thought they were mostly smaller than you were looking for? The > sprinter is the van-of-choice, it seems, for them as can afford it. The older model suffer major engine trauma around 80k my wifes business had on & it went too. Nige > thought they were mostly smaller than you were looking for? The sprinter is > the van-of-choice, it seems, for them as can afford it. Well, I'm trying to work that one out! I could probably cope with a Vito sized van as it is quite wide, tho a LWB Transit would be more useful sometimes, but when I had one I only used to half fill it a lot of the time. A Vito with 2/3 removable seats in the back means I could abandon one of our cars, so one less vehicle to cost me money! Hence why I could afford more to buy it! Most Sprinters seem to be over 3T, which means non-standard MOT and greater difficulty with insurance/breakdown cover etc. etc. Matt > Most Sprinters seem to be over 3T, which means non-standard MOT > and greater difficulty with insurance/breakdown cover etc. etc. What actually are the difficulties? I have a vehicle who's name I must not mention that went in as a 4-tonner with a class 7 MOT, didn't seem any harder than a normal MOT. The testers were a damned sight more sensible than normal too. Insurance was with a specialist so may not be what you'd go for with a van. SignatureBlast off and strike the evil Bydo empire! >> Most Sprinters seem to be over 3T, which means non-standard MOT >> and greater difficulty with insurance/breakdown cover etc. etc. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > sensible than normal too. Insurance was with a specialist so may not > be what you'd go for with a van. Difficulties are that I will be living in France, so I don't want to mess about when I come back to get the thing MOT'd finding a station that can get it MOT'd at - I want to take it to my usual garage I know and trust. Also, seemingly I cannot get anything over 3T onto a private vehicle policy so my broker tells me (My dad, so I believe him!) and the European wide breakdown cover I get with my private vehicle insurance (invaluable in my opinion) I cannot get on a commercial policy. If I go for the Vito I can also pass it off as an MPV with the ferry company, which makes trips back to the UK a lot cheaper too! Why don't I buy a French reg LHD van you may ask - well, take a look at the prices and you will see exactly why!! Matt >> Most Sprinters seem to be over 3T, which means non-standard MOT >> and greater difficulty with insurance/breakdown cover etc. etc. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >sensible than normal too. Insurance was with a specialist so may not >be what you'd go for with a van. recent experience of "The Ministry" getting a PSV is that it worked fine. I think you'll find that the cut-off for vans is 3.5T gross, though. SignatureAustin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that "I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine... War is hell" Gen. Sherman (1820-1891) Attr. words in Address at Michigan Military Academy, 19 June 1879. |
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