Which Van is best for an electrical contractor?

[Big n Daft]

"i've done 60k in mine in the last 2 years"
Get rid, its about to cost money, if its a company van...........thrash it!

 

[Lofty]

Well Big n Daft has a point. Mine's had a DMF flywheel go ( apparently a common problem) , an EGR valve ( apparently a common problem) and the handle on the side door ( apparently a .......).

The DMF ( or Dual Mass Flywheel ) is not restricted to the Transit either as it's fitted to most of there diesel engines from the Fiesta up.

Having said, I still like it and it goes well.

Cheers,
Lofty.

 

[Big n Daft]

A Dual Mass Flywheel is a way of extracting more cash out of any van owner.
Crafty buggers these van makers, Ford happen to be a bit craftier than the rest:smiley2:

 

[Lofty]

True and they won't fit a 'standard' flywheel unless you sign away any warranty.
One good thing in their favour is that our main dealer (a) has the stock all the time and (b) does keep our 'down time' to a minimum. Not sure about other dealerships but our local Ford one runs a workshop overnight, so drop it off at 5pm (ish) and collect either later that night or at 7:30am.

 

[GalTom]

Toyota Previa, it use less gas and pretty cool. It may not suit plumbersimp: but it is great for electricians.:cool3:

 

[Rockingit]

Groan!! I'm also just in the middle of trying to decide what to get as next vehicle and now my thoughts are all over the place having read this thread!! Preferred choice is to a contract hire, and with a maintenance option (so no headaches) but does anyone have any experience of this?

 

[boberty]

All vans seem to come with some horror problem or other, was looking at getting vivaro then heard of the tales of fuel pumps dealers not been able to remove injector pipes and recomending owner buy new van!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! transits with rotting wheel arches. I keep looking on autotrader but just havent found that one that sticks out. Need somthing some as i feel im just running my mondao estate into the ground. And any resale value is going fast.

 

[laney06]

I am going for a peugeot expert, it's mid size and has the three seats up front and also twin sliding doors.

Pre 2008 models, don't bother locking it. No point. Takes about 4 seconds to prise the locks out with a small screwdriver. Got one. Found out the hard way....

 

[IrishSparks]

Anyone have any experience of the Citroen Dispatch or Peugeot Expert vans?

 

[Gylesr]

Hi, im looking for my first small van as im starting out! particularly like the vauxhall astra sportive CDTI as it looks smart and isnt a slug. bit worried about the practibility of them with no side door etc and how easy too rack out?.. has anybody had one? used one?
advice needed
cheers

 

[joe_berks]

i too bought an ex british gas transit connect , fantastic. dead locks, excellent racking although as someone else said can be a pain when you need to put loads of rubbish in or whatever.

 

[joe_berks]

my view is that for value , ford are the most robust and reliable. VW are more desirable and as a result more expensive. citroen and peugot should be avoided .

 

[joe_berks]

oh and one more thing, the ex bg transit connect has a 12v outlet in the racking in the back, so you can put a microwave/ kettle/ beer fridge in there lol

 

[olliep]

Hi, im looking for my first small van as im starting out! particularly like the vauxhall astra sportive CDTI as it looks smart and isnt a slug. bit worried about the practibility of them with no side door etc and how easy too rack out?.. has anybody had one? used one?
advice needed
cheers

The Astravans are good vans, however I prefer the Combo as they have side doors, they do an SE version of the combos are nice. We have both and they are both good vans but I recommend going to the 1.7 engines rather as the 1.3 engines as when they are loaded up they aren't very quick.

 

[Gylesr]

The Astravans are good vans, however I prefer the Combo as they have side doors, they do an SE version of the combos are nice. We have both and they are both good vans but I recommend going to the 1.7 engines rather as the 1.3 engines as when they are loaded up they aren't very quick.

Thanks for the info will have a look at the combo
cheers Gyles

 

[R4BOE]

we have sprinters and transits 315 cdi,s a 140 lwb transit and the 200 bhp transit jumbo, all bought new, and pretty well looked and to be honest i would say we have had more issues with the transits, the 200bhp transit is just 2 years old and we guest its been of the road for 3 months in that timed with gearbox issues. the sprinters are good not to many issuses but oner critisism is the metallic paint is so thin any marks on it shows, its that bad the paint has worn through on the door seals on the front and am not kidding. back up wise merc would seem to be better, i think the ford transits seem to have that many variants that the parts avalibilty are a issue

 

[MarkieSparkie]

Anything that doesn't have a Ford Duratorq engine/management system, unless you have deep cash filled pockets.

 

[Fin170]

I had a 206 van......i wouldn't recommend a 206 van...

My Subaru forester makes a good van....sort of, if they made a modern day Brat with the flat diesel I wouldn't be able to restrain my wallet :auto:

 

[Vandaft1980]

I have A transit 200ps 3.2l 5cylinder and it's far away from a tractor as you could get. Ford or Mercedes all the way .plus all those small vans everyones going on about surely you's can be carrying all the stuf you's need and that's why so many jobs are botched

 

[aaelectric]

Vw caddy 1.9tdi great vans with loads of space