best of the smaller vans?

[A500leroy]

May need a small van for work soon but reliability is the most important thing, so the runners are;
Berlingo/Partner,
Kangoo/citian,
transit-courier,
combo/doblo,
caddy,
bipper/nemo/fionio

Which would be the most reliable for light courier work.

[Trevor555]

Following with interest as I think I need a small van in my life.

The Bipper is very small.

I drove a Partner recently and it was a lovely thing to drive.

Fiats have always been bad for subframes, and suspension components rusting. Are they still bad??

I'd need to know Fiat have sorted this before buying another. Won't matter if you're not planning on keeping it for long I guess.

[Saleen836]

What about an Astravan?

[A500leroy]

Saleen836 said:

What about an Astravan?

Bit too old now.

[Matt_E_Mulsion]

I can't imagine reliability wise there is much to choose between them. It all depends on how it has/will be looked after.

Are you buying new or used, because I would think that the same money will buy different age/condition vans.

[Robotron-2084]

We brought a brand new Fiat Doblo, it didn't even last 5 years or beyond about 60,000 miles. Avoid at all costs.

Ford Transit Connects are pretty sturdy, we run 4 or 5 oldish ones and they seem pretty much bullet proof.

[fredhead]

Berlingo all day long I've had a few, no problems with them frugal on diesel and comfortable.

[Robotron-2084]

Probably the thing to avoid is anything with a bloody dpf if you only do short trips.

[TCX]

A500leroy said:

Saleen836 said:

What about an Astravan?

Bit too old now.

Seriously?on second 1.7 cdti,this one's 55plate bought 3 years ago on 55 k miles,currently 126 k used for work all over country,cheap reliable will do me till diesel not allowed

[Geffg]

My choice would be the caddy. Had a couple with work and loved them. So much nicer to drive than a connect etc. Not as well specced as others but worth it in my opinion.

[Saleen836]

TCX said:

A500leroy said:

Saleen836 said:

What about an Astravan?

Bit too old now.

Seriously?on second 1.7 cdti,this one's 55plate bought 3 years ago on 55 k miles,currently 126 k used for work all over country,cheap reliable will do me till diesel not allowed

My previous '04 plate Astravan was faultless,I got it with 36k on the clock and it was on 199951 when it sadly met it;s demise (story of it on here)

Now have a '12 plate 1.7cdti very comfortable to drive, no speed restrictions and with mixed driving I get 50-55mpg

[JJ55]

You get more spec for your money with a berlingo. Drives well & bigger load space. Ran one for a few years, only sold because I needed something bigger.

[enginebuilder]

Partner here, had it 7 years, no problems, keep the oil changed frequently with the correct stuff, they go on forever, good on fuel, comfortable, the bad ones are the abused ones.

[Matt_E_Mulsion]

Robotron-2084 said:

We brought a brand new Fiat Doblo, it didn't even last 5 years or beyond about 60,000 miles. Avoid at all costs.

As much as I dislike Fiats (and I realise that it is the same as the current-ish Vauxhall Combo) I am intrigued as to how it only made it to 60,000 miles.

Surely that's got to be down to it either being thrashed to within an inch of its life or poor maintenance or something along these lines. I genuinely can't believe that a vehicle such as this would fail so prematurely if it was used in a normal manner.

[Johnnytheboy]

We have three 2013 Bippers, three 2013-4 Partners and a 2015 140hp Caddy at work (the latter being mine )

The Bippers have been reliable apart from each eating at least one front top mount. They are a delight to drive, like an automotive Jack Russell.

The Partners ... I don't like the drive, they feel heavy, especially at low speed and they have an infuriating central locking system (the rear doors auto lock all the time). They have been reliable though apart from IIRC some front suspension component again.

The Caddy is car-like to drive and quick for a van (0-60 in 10 secs), but they are expensive and hold their value.

[A500leroy]

pug it is then, ill see what 5k gets.