Merc Vito campervan compared to VW T5
Discussion
Had two T5's but prices are just ridiculous now and still about what they were 5 years ago for similar age!
Been checking out a few Mercs on ebay etc and like the interiors, most come with a/c. Not quite sure on the engine denominations though - all very confusing.
So anyone into the Mercs? How'd you find them and why the Merc?
I know the T5 scene is better for the odd shows etc. But for £17k I think I can do better in a merc.
Been checking out a few Mercs on ebay etc and like the interiors, most come with a/c. Not quite sure on the engine denominations though - all very confusing.
So anyone into the Mercs? How'd you find them and why the Merc?
I know the T5 scene is better for the odd shows etc. But for £17k I think I can do better in a merc.
Prices are keen arent they. Having just returned from 2 months in NZ, we have sold our caravan and wish to buy a campervan and not too sure which. The toyota Hiace we had we left the bed made up all the time in the rear but we really missed not having a small loo area/cupboard.
You seem quite a knowledgeable guy and hope you dont mind asking
What small campervans have a small loo/shower cupboard and still have a rear sitting area that we can leave made up for a bed.
You seem quite a knowledgeable guy and hope you dont mind asking
What small campervans have a small loo/shower cupboard and still have a rear sitting area that we can leave made up for a bed.
mikal83 said:
Prices are keen arent they. Having just returned from 2 months in NZ, we have sold our caravan and wish to buy a campervan and not too sure which. The toyota Hiace we had we left the bed made up all the time in the rear but we really missed not having a small loo area/cupboard.
You seem quite a knowledgeable guy and hope you dont mind asking
What small campervans have a small loo/shower cupboard and still have a rear sitting area that we can leave made up for a bed.
Hmm no idea only had VWs before. Ducato have that kind of feature...You seem quite a knowledgeable guy and hope you dont mind asking
What small campervans have a small loo/shower cupboard and still have a rear sitting area that we can leave made up for a bed.
I had a look at the Vito conversions of the Westfalia Kepler One and their own Marco Polo when researching my T5 conversion. They seem like good vans, arguably more car-like in the cabin, but we discounted them due to lack of LWB options and no 4x4. As we were converting ourselves the amount of aftermarket items available off the shelf for the VW helped swing the vote too.
My experience with Vito is very poor.
Great engine but everything else may as well have been made of cheese, and then the rust.
Window actuators stop working - the glass drops to the bottom of the door
Open the bonnet - lever doesn't manage to pull the cable
Heater blower only works on 4
Wired for a tow bar - electrics can't handle it
Ignition unit seldom recognises the key
All made on a Friday afternoon in Spain
Great engine but everything else may as well have been made of cheese, and then the rust.
Window actuators stop working - the glass drops to the bottom of the door
Open the bonnet - lever doesn't manage to pull the cable
Heater blower only works on 4
Wired for a tow bar - electrics can't handle it
Ignition unit seldom recognises the key
All made on a Friday afternoon in Spain
task said:
I had a look at the Vito conversions of the Westfalia Kepler One and their own Marco Polo when researching my T5 conversion. They seem like good vans, arguably more car-like in the cabin, but we discounted them due to lack of LWB options and no 4x4. As we were converting ourselves the amount of aftermarket items available off the shelf for the VW helped swing the vote too.
Always found the cabin on the Vito very cramped and certainly wouldn't spend my own money on one.The only good thing about them is the Mercedes badge on the front. Stereo was woeful in my last works one.
Doug Demuro is equally unimpressed.
Rumblestripe said:
I think the best alternative to the T5 is probably the Vauxhall Vivaro / Renault Traffic / Nissan Primastar sisters? A LWB might have room to leave the bed permanently installed?
One of my friends just bought a low mileage 65 plate vivaro for 8k to convert - and equivalent t5 was double the price. It will likely depreciate more but seems like a lot of van for the money. I mentioned it to a friend who works on t4/t5 (so a bit biased) and he was pretty damning of the vivaro, thought quality didn't compare.Seems hard to argue for such a price difference but I do love my t5
ozzuk said:
One of my friends just bought a low mileage 65 plate vivaro for 8k to convert - and equivalent t5 was double the price. It will likely depreciate more but seems like a lot of van for the money. I mentioned it to a friend who works on t4/t5 (so a bit biased) and he was pretty damning of the vivaro, thought quality didn't compare.
Seems hard to argue for such a price difference but I do love my t5
Vivaro work van had far fewer problems than my Vito ever did.Seems hard to argue for such a price difference but I do love my t5
T-195 said:
ozzuk said:
One of my friends just bought a low mileage 65 plate vivaro for 8k to convert - and equivalent t5 was double the price. It will likely depreciate more but seems like a lot of van for the money. I mentioned it to a friend who works on t4/t5 (so a bit biased) and he was pretty damning of the vivaro, thought quality didn't compare.
Seems hard to argue for such a price difference but I do love my t5
Vivaro work van had far fewer problems than my Vito ever did.Seems hard to argue for such a price difference but I do love my t5
I note that the RAC and AA use (or perhaps used to use) Traffics and Primastars. I think the perceived lack of quality is mostly a trim thing. The seats do seem to wear on the bolsters with workies bums sliding across them multiple times a day and the plastics for the dash is most kindly described as functional rather that having any aesthetic value. But they represent a huge saving against comparable VWs. I'm not sure that they should be compared to the VWs what with the "scene" thing and the residual values that engenders but I would say that they are a better alternative than the Vito.
Local village garage where I used to live once said to me NEVER buy a Vivaro/Traffic.
His experience was based around the engine mainly and said things like the diesel injectors are almost impossible to get at.
His words not mine, maybe an older version. Was about 3 year ago when I was looking at transits etc (rust buckets).
His experience was based around the engine mainly and said things like the diesel injectors are almost impossible to get at.
His words not mine, maybe an older version. Was about 3 year ago when I was looking at transits etc (rust buckets).
Vivaros injectors are a pain, there is a guy that covers the UK removing them in car parks, they corrode in place and need drilling out.
Having said that i'd probably take anything over a VW, Transits drive better and are more reliable as are the Vito's having said that VW's keep us in business.
The Transporters do look good though.
Having said that i'd probably take anything over a VW, Transits drive better and are more reliable as are the Vito's having said that VW's keep us in business.
The Transporters do look good though.
stevemcs said:
Transits drive better and are more reliable as are the Vito's having said that VW's keep us in business.
The Transporters do look good though.
I've got a fleet of 50ish vans, the VW's (T6's) are by far the most reliable, the Transits and Vivaro's are equally guff and I'd avoid both like the plague.The Transporters do look good though.
I've got one old Vito, it's beaten to death and rusty as hell, but mechanically it just goes on and on, it just needs an average of £500 of welding done every year at MOT time.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa8kHgmZIiQ
Doug Demuro - The Vito is the worst minivan ever made.
"The worst vehicle ever made by Mercedes"
Check out Car Survey.org for more unhappy owners.
Doug Demuro - The Vito is the worst minivan ever made.
"The worst vehicle ever made by Mercedes"
Check out Car Survey.org for more unhappy owners.
Which is odd. We've had two and not had any problems with either. Maybe we had Monday morning ones rather than Friday afternoon ones. No problem with Vito's here. Had an old W638 which did rust but the poverty spec W639 we have now is 2007 and drives well for a van. I think I read they started galvanising in approx 2004 onwards so rust shouldn't be the problem it once was unless panels are damaged. Of course front wings are plastic so at least they won't rust.....
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