Which van would be best?

[walkingsoul]

Hi we have a low milage less that 30k fiat motorhome that is over ten years old that is slow.
Would a newer panal van with more miles on the clock be more reliable or a better oprion for full timing?
We dont want to set off into the sun and have our older van breaking down.
thanks.

 

[afl777]

Panel van has no side windows, so in bad weather you are in the back of a dark cave. Doesn't worry me cos I sleep a lot, but could be boring not being able to see out.

Most panel vans from companies have had different drivers and may have been thrashed, or have covered up bumps.

30k is nothing, especially if it's a diesel, it's only just run in.

Slow isn't a bad thing, too much racing around these days. Better to cruise and relax.

If it were me id stay with the Fiat

Ange

 

[David & Ann]

Panel van has no side windows, so in bad weather you are in the back of a dark cave. Doesn't worry me cos I sleep a lot, but could be boring not being able to see out.

Most panel vans from companies have had different drivers and may have been thrashed, or have covered up bumps.

30k is nothing, especially if it's a diesel, it's only just run in.

Slow isn't a bad thing, too much racing around these days. Better to cruise and relax.

If it were me id stay with the Fiat

Ange

I agree with Ange. Stick with what you have. Why dip into your pocket when you already have what you got. If regularly serviced (do it yourself) you should get 300,000Kms out of it. If you want it to pull a little more up a hill, have it chipped for £400 approximately. Unplug it and put it in your next van. Why rush, take it easy and enjoy the scenery to where ever you are going. Have fun.☺☺☺

 

[ricc]

whats wrong with slow... gives you time to look at the scenery.

the newer the vehicle the more tempremental lectrickery there is on it,..... with an older truck any breakdowns are going to be simply sorted by any backstreet mechanic wherever you are.... new electronicified ones need plugging into computer diagnostics to trace even the simplest of lectrical faults...which then seem to need main dealer parts.

in the long term a well maintained older simpler vehicle will likely prove to be more reliable our young uns transit has been in the garage for a week trying to sort out why the lectronic dashboard keeps going off. i aint heard the full story but it sounds like theyre reduced to fitting new bits and see what happens..sounds like its going to be expensive

 

[herbenny]

I asked a similar question some time back .....we were going to get a much newer van and decided at the last hour to pull out of the deal. We now have a very much older van with a high mileage but mechanically been well looked after. I dont have no regrets what so ever, yeah its not the smoothest of drives and its a little battered and bruised but she does have some welly in her and I feel confident all the time we look after her she will look after us. I also found an excellent mecahnic locally who seems confident should we have any problems. Think long and hard about what you want to do and weigh up the pros and cons. So glad I asked for advice on here because everyone was so honest and helpful when it was time to make my final decision and I know we definalty made the right one. For us fiancially it would of drained us completely had we got a newer one, but at least now I dont have any outlay apart from a cheap as chips insurance and fuel wise she is fairly cheap ish to run.

 

[Llanito]

LLanito

I agree with Ange. Stick with what you have. Why dip into your pocket when you already have what you got. If regularly serviced (do it yourself) you should get 300,000Kms out of it. If you want it to pull a little more up a hill, have it chipped for £400 approximately. Unplug it and put it in your next van. Why rush, take it easy and enjoy the scenery to where ever you are going. Have fun.☺☺☺

You can get plug in tuning from Germany for £89

 

[oldish hippy]

better the devil you know than the one you don't and you still get there and you know all the idosyncrasys of your fiat

 

[Firefox]

I would stick with what you have.

30K is nothing for a commercial vehicle. If it is well maintained.

The very newest generations of vans are very reliable with electronic everything but they are more difficult to fix when they break down. No guarantees your van wont break down but the same goes for a later model with higher miles. My 2006 all electronic Movano decided to blow it's high pressure common rail pump after 91,000 miles just recently. It's been well serviced since new with regular oil changes and everything done but that happened just out of the blue and took me a week to get fixed.

 

[walkingsoul]

Many thanks.
Food for thought I guess.
If diesel vans are good for so many miles why do firms sell them off at 70 to 100000 miles?
Thanks.

 

[afl777]

Many thanks.
Food for thought I guess.
If diesel vans are good for so many miles why do firms sell them off at 70 to 100000 miles?
Thanks.

Its to do with tax relief. They get quite a good rate on a new van or truck.

Ange

 

[scenictraveller]

stick with what u have,a panel vans nice when its empty but once you start to fill it will all the
gubins youll need for comfort and touring it then becomes a slugger.

everyones in a rush these days,unless ur in the west of scotland were things are on a go slow.

time flys but aeroplanes crash as they say...

 

[windyjools]

So glad I asked for advice on here because everyone was so I know we definalty made the right one. For us fiancially it would of drained us completely had we got a newer one, but at least now I dont have any outlay apart from a cheap as chips insurance and fuel wise she is fairly cheap ish to run.

So what van did you end up with.....I am in the same quandry.......a nice to drive and economical Fiat Ducato (but horrendous to fix if it goes wrong) ......or something more economical to buy, but not so nice to drive? Maybe an older VW LT/Merc Sprinter 10 years oldish?
What finally swayed you to the older van? I have so far always bought a van on the basis that I am buying it to drive and not buying it on the off-chance it will break down, and so far, it has worked out OK.