Mercedes V Class?
Discussion
HI all,
just wondered if anyone had any first hand experience with the V Class?
at the moment I have a 2006 VW caravelle, it's just gone over 110,000 miles, it's ok but man, all the extras are forever needing work, electric doors - pain in the ass for one! £700 a year tax - pain in the ass!
I'm thinking it's time to move on.
I like the look of the V class, I'm really wanting something quieter and smoother than the VW but I also don't want to buy a money pit.
£30,000 budget, is the V class a good choice?
just wondered if anyone had any first hand experience with the V Class?
at the moment I have a 2006 VW caravelle, it's just gone over 110,000 miles, it's ok but man, all the extras are forever needing work, electric doors - pain in the ass for one! £700 a year tax - pain in the ass!
I'm thinking it's time to move on.
I like the look of the V class, I'm really wanting something quieter and smoother than the VW but I also don't want to buy a money pit.
£30,000 budget, is the V class a good choice?
ED209 said:
I think 30k will only buy a very leggy or old v class.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405099532421?sort=relevance&advertising-location=at_cars&make=Mercedes-Benz&model=V%20Class&page=1&postcode=NR33%208LL&fromsraok sure, we're a few thousand above £30k but this was the expectation
If you are in the UK you are lucky and can check out some JDM alternative which will be way bettef than the V Class or VW T. These euro vans are built primarily as cargo vans and the passanger versions basically have some carpets and seats thrown in.
I test drove the V Class extensively and it is not even close to being worth the money they ask for it.
Overpriced and unrefined and no comparison to the uS or japanese minivans that are actually designed for people.
I test drove the V Class extensively and it is not even close to being worth the money they ask for it.
Overpriced and unrefined and no comparison to the uS or japanese minivans that are actually designed for people.
flatso said:
If you are in the UK you are lucky and can check out some JDM alternative which will be way bettef than the V Class or VW T. These euro vans are built primarily as cargo vans and the passanger versions basically have some carpets and seats thrown in.
I test drove the V Class extensively and it is not even close to being worth the money they ask for it.
Overpriced and unrefined and no comparison to the uS or japanese minivans that are actually designed for people.
Like the Nissan Elgrand etc? I do t think they are anywhere near as big. I test drove the V Class extensively and it is not even close to being worth the money they ask for it.
Overpriced and unrefined and no comparison to the uS or japanese minivans that are actually designed for people.
I have a v class (Marco Polo with pop top roof) - and I think it’s the best ‘posh van’ on the market. However, because so many are used as posh taxis, their used values went off the scale a couple of years ago. New prices are just as crazy, starting at £85k I think?!
I was lucky to buy during Covid - there’s no way I’d pay asking prices on them now; honestly no idea what I’d replace it with now if I had to.
I was lucky to buy during Covid - there’s no way I’d pay asking prices on them now; honestly no idea what I’d replace it with now if I had to.
Not very much posh about them except the badge and price. Its a glorified delivery van. If you do npt want the JDM stuff save yourself some money and look at the Peugeot Traveller (or Citroen, Toyota, Vauxhall, Fiat clones) .
The Viano predecessor at least had a 6 usp, the V is just a 2.0 4 popper (Renault inspired?) with a plastic interior like everything else.
The Viano predecessor at least had a 6 usp, the V is just a 2.0 4 popper (Renault inspired?) with a plastic interior like everything else.
Yeah I mean in all reality I want comfort
I want a quiet car like drive where it’s possible
I like the vw but she’s a noisy beast I’m not worried too much about the fuel, it’s a van so I’m accepting of that aspect
I don’t really care about the badge it’s purely the thought of comfort which I hoped I’d get from a merc
I’m not sure on the Jdm they ALWAYS get suggested so must be a good choice I’ve just never really looked at one with any seriousness for whatever reason.
Will look at your suggestions though
I want a quiet car like drive where it’s possible
I like the vw but she’s a noisy beast I’m not worried too much about the fuel, it’s a van so I’m accepting of that aspect
I don’t really care about the badge it’s purely the thought of comfort which I hoped I’d get from a merc
I’m not sure on the Jdm they ALWAYS get suggested so must be a good choice I’ve just never really looked at one with any seriousness for whatever reason.
Will look at your suggestions though
Hudson1984 said:
Yeah I mean in all reality I want comfort
I want a quiet car like drive where it’s possible
I like the vw but she’s a noisy beast I’m not worried too much about the fuel, it’s a van so I’m accepting of that aspect
I don’t really care about the badge it’s purely the thought of comfort which I hoped I’d get from a merc
I’m not sure on the Jdm they ALWAYS get suggested so must be a good choice I’ve just never really looked at one with any seriousness for whatever reason.
Will look at your suggestions though
I can’t comment on the jdm stuff as I’ve never driven one, but the v class _is_ a real step up from the transporter vans. Yes it’s ultimately a van, but it’s trimmed like a car inside - the dash is similar to a c class, fully carpeted, decent seats etc. The Vito Traveliner is similar, but much more functional inside. At what I paid for it 4 years ago it was justifiable; these days, not so much.I want a quiet car like drive where it’s possible
I like the vw but she’s a noisy beast I’m not worried too much about the fuel, it’s a van so I’m accepting of that aspect
I don’t really care about the badge it’s purely the thought of comfort which I hoped I’d get from a merc
I’m not sure on the Jdm they ALWAYS get suggested so must be a good choice I’ve just never really looked at one with any seriousness for whatever reason.
Will look at your suggestions though
Yeah prices have gone nuts certainly
I may buy through my business which should make things a bit more affordable (once VAT and tax are considered)
I want comfort and space. We really love having a van it ticks a lot of boxes for us. Just lacking refinement.
The multi van is another option albeit far more expensive at the moment…but again might be some business deals out there
I may buy through my business which should make things a bit more affordable (once VAT and tax are considered)
I want comfort and space. We really love having a van it ticks a lot of boxes for us. Just lacking refinement.
The multi van is another option albeit far more expensive at the moment…but again might be some business deals out there
We had a VW T5.1 which was prefect, never went wrong, sold it 5years for pretty much the same prices I paid for it.
Bought a T6 Caravelle. Just made of cheese, lots of issues, luckily had a VW warranty so spent a lot of time in the garage and given ones of their rental vans which where always stinking as long delay on parts.
Looked at Merc V-Class. Loads of toys as standard, full view parking cameras was ace, as was the proper sound system, electric everything. The short wheel based was easiest to buy for 30k, usual in good condition. But get a L or XL version and almost all where ex airport run vehicles with dodgy mileage and lots of issues at crazy prices and still sold.
However the V-Class felt really cramped inside compared to the VW Caravelle. So we went the whole hog and bought a Sprinter and love it.
Bought a T6 Caravelle. Just made of cheese, lots of issues, luckily had a VW warranty so spent a lot of time in the garage and given ones of their rental vans which where always stinking as long delay on parts.
Looked at Merc V-Class. Loads of toys as standard, full view parking cameras was ace, as was the proper sound system, electric everything. The short wheel based was easiest to buy for 30k, usual in good condition. But get a L or XL version and almost all where ex airport run vehicles with dodgy mileage and lots of issues at crazy prices and still sold.
However the V-Class felt really cramped inside compared to the VW Caravelle. So we went the whole hog and bought a Sprinter and love it.
SwissJonese said:
We had a VW T5.1 which was prefect, never went wrong, sold it 5years for pretty much the same prices I paid for it.
Bought a T6 Caravelle. Just made of cheese, lots of issues, luckily had a VW warranty so spent a lot of time in the garage and given ones of their rental vans which where always stinking as long delay on parts.
Looked at Merc V-Class. Loads of toys as standard, full view parking cameras was ace, as was the proper sound system, electric everything. The short wheel based was easiest to buy for 30k, usual in good condition. But get a L or XL version and almost all where ex airport run vehicles with dodgy mileage and lots of issues at crazy prices and still sold.
However the V-Class felt really cramped inside compared to the VW Caravelle. So we went the whole hog and bought a Sprinter and love it.
yeah I am thinking perhaps something bigger is the answer. Bought a T6 Caravelle. Just made of cheese, lots of issues, luckily had a VW warranty so spent a lot of time in the garage and given ones of their rental vans which where always stinking as long delay on parts.
Looked at Merc V-Class. Loads of toys as standard, full view parking cameras was ace, as was the proper sound system, electric everything. The short wheel based was easiest to buy for 30k, usual in good condition. But get a L or XL version and almost all where ex airport run vehicles with dodgy mileage and lots of issues at crazy prices and still sold.
However the V-Class felt really cramped inside compared to the VW Caravelle. So we went the whole hog and bought a Sprinter and love it.
At the moment we have the caravelle, and a Nissan Juke (leased)
we hate the juke... with a PASSION!!!!
happily there's 10 months left on the lease and i'll likely change to a XC60 or XC90 depending on the savings at the time.
At the moment we do most of our family driving in the van, the juke is for school runs and shopping or - which is becomming more frequent - my drives to the office or site visits, which is where the issue comes in really.
The van is the only one that can take the whole familiy (with the dog cage etc) so I leave that home and travel in the Juke. Whereas if I had a second vehicle more up to the task i'd likely drive the van for work and leave the other at home to continue with home duties.
So I "could" replace the van with the volvo now, and accept the lack of space that we're used to, and when the juke lease ends we get a van again at that point
or
replace the van, then replace the duke when the lease expires.
it's tricky as we like the van because the car is crap. So if we replace the car we'd likely use the van less. But being able to get in the back, change nappies, or pull over for lunch, or chuck everything in the back and go camping is just great.
Maybe I need three...... Car for work, Family Car, Camping van...
I have one - a V220D XLWB - it's an 18 plate and we bought it early in 21 before the prices went crazy.
I looked at the V Class, Transit and Transporter as options and from my limited experience the V-Class gives the closest approximation to a car experience of them all.
It's clearly a van, but the interior is a step up from the others, and certainly makes for really comfy transport.
The one you linked to earlier is the shortest wheelbase of the three versions and I would suspect that makes it a little on the small side for interior space. The XLWB is long, but otherwise not that crazy in terms of size.
You can take a row of seats out, but be warned that they're a pig to refit - the split when you take them out is 2 seats/1 seat and the 2 seats together are very heavy. I only did it once and will avoid doing again if at all possible.
We've had ours 3 years now and it's been great - I did move to an independent for servicing as I found the franchise dealership wanted to do work that wasn't needed. It does get through front tyres quickly (I suspect this is to do with the full lock being pretty extreme to keep the turning circle down - I've had the alignment checked), and I've found that the diamond cut alloys don't hold air well at all.
220D isn't quick by any stretch, but it's OK - I would suggest you try and get either the XLWB or LWB rather than the one linked to earlier on.
I looked at the V Class, Transit and Transporter as options and from my limited experience the V-Class gives the closest approximation to a car experience of them all.
It's clearly a van, but the interior is a step up from the others, and certainly makes for really comfy transport.
The one you linked to earlier is the shortest wheelbase of the three versions and I would suspect that makes it a little on the small side for interior space. The XLWB is long, but otherwise not that crazy in terms of size.
You can take a row of seats out, but be warned that they're a pig to refit - the split when you take them out is 2 seats/1 seat and the 2 seats together are very heavy. I only did it once and will avoid doing again if at all possible.
We've had ours 3 years now and it's been great - I did move to an independent for servicing as I found the franchise dealership wanted to do work that wasn't needed. It does get through front tyres quickly (I suspect this is to do with the full lock being pretty extreme to keep the turning circle down - I've had the alignment checked), and I've found that the diamond cut alloys don't hold air well at all.
220D isn't quick by any stretch, but it's OK - I would suggest you try and get either the XLWB or LWB rather than the one linked to earlier on.
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