Mercedes Vito Sport X or VW Transporter Sportline???

[Miracle]

Hi All.

I need some help, I am in the market for a new van and I can't decide between the Mercedes Sport X or a VW Transporter Sportline, does anyone on here own one of these vans? If so what are they like?

Mercedes Sport X link - http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/content/unitedking...

VW transporter Sportline link - http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/transporter/sport...

Kind Regards
Paul.

[Parrot of Doom]

The VWs are great vans, I haven't driven the new ones but they've always been excellent.

The Vitos don't exactly have a good reputation although Mercedes may have fixed that.

[Miracle]

I have had a Mercedes vito 112cdi for the last 5 years and its been trouble free all the way with 130,000 miles on the clock, but unsure about the new ones.

[peaktorque]

Miracle said:

Hi All.

I need some help, I am in the market for a new van and I can't decide between the Mercedes Sport X or a VW Transporter Sportline, does anyone on here own one of these vans? If so what are they like?

Mercedes Sport X link - http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/content/unitedking...

VW transporter Sportline link - http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/transporter/sport...

Kind Regards
Paul.

I don't have the Sport X but i have a SWB Vito with exactly the same engine (V6 204 bhp). It is a bit 'stealthy' because it looks like a basic Vito apart from having slightly wider tyres on the steel wheels .

Brilliant van! It is quiet and smooth, a vast improvement over the 4 cylinder 115 CDI I had before. The engine is a gem (lifted from the S class I believe). Performance wise, lets just say it shifts! 0-60 mph in about 8.2 secs which is better than a Transporter 174. Although I must say that of the line because they are (all!) auto there is a bit of a delay, whilst you wait for the gearbox and turbo to wake up, hence the 0-20 mph time can be a bit frustrating, but once it awakens bloody hell! Traffic lights are good fun . Stupid power for a van!

The Vito is quicker on paper than the Transporter and 204 bhp V6 vs 174 bhp S5 although both can be remapped. Also don't forget that the Vito is rear wheel drive where as the VW is front, so that in my mind makes the Vito a winner. Can't comment on running costs of the VW, but the Vito only needs servicing every 17,000 miles or so, but it does drink like Oliver Reed if you drive it properly I currently get about 350-400 (410 the best so far) miles on £80 worth of diesel, but my right foot is made of lead ! Also very reliable, my previous 54 reg 4 pot Vito did 98,000 miles in three years and never once broke (well apart from front ARB bushes, which were changed under warrenty)

On the whole more power/torque than you really need, but they are only available with an automatic gearbox (you can get a Transporter with manual), but it is tip-tronic and is actually quite good and well suited to the engine. The Vito is also a lot lower than the VW and is more car-park friendly.

This is only my experience, but would highly recommend the Merc.

[Miracle]

peaktorque said:

Miracle said:

Hi All.

I need some help, I am in the market for a new van and I can't decide between the Mercedes Sport X or a VW Transporter Sportline, does anyone on here own one of these vans? If so what are they like?

Mercedes Sport X link - http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/content/unitedking...

VW transporter Sportline link - http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/transporter/sport...

Kind Regards
Paul.

I don't have the Sport X but i have a SWB Vito with exactly the same engine (V6 204 bhp). It is a bit 'stealthy' because it looks like a basic Vito apart from having slightly wider tyres on the steel wheels .

Brilliant van! It is quiet and smooth, a vast improvement over the 4 cylinder 115 CDI I had before. The engine is a gem (lifted from the S class I believe). Performance wise, lets just say it shifts! 0-60 mph in about 8.2 secs which is better than a Transporter 174. Although I must say that of the line because they are (all!) auto there is a bit of a delay, whilst you wait for the gearbox and turbo to wake up, hence the 0-20 mph time can be a bit frustrating, but once it awakens bloody hell! Traffic lights are good fun . Stupid power for a van!

The Vito is quicker on paper than the Transporter and 204 bhp V6 vs 174 bhp S5 although both can be remapped. Also don't forget that the Vito is rear wheel drive where as the VW is front, so that in my mind makes the Vito a winner. Can't comment on running costs of the VW, but the Vito only needs servicing every 17,000 miles or so, but it does drink like Oliver Reed if you drive it properly I currently get about 350-400 (410 the best so far) miles on £80 worth of diesel, but my right foot is made of lead ! Also very reliable, my previous 54 reg 4 pot Vito did 98,000 miles in three years and never once broke (well apart from front ARB bushes, which were changed under warrenty)

On the whole more power/torque than you really need, but they are only available with an automatic gearbox (you can get a Transporter with manual), but it is tip-tronic and is actually quite good and well suited to the engine. The Vito is also a lot lower than the VW and is more car-park friendly.

This is only my experience, but would highly recommend the Merc.

Hi James,

Thanks for that, I am more for the Vito as well, as it has two side doors and the vw has only a single sliding door. I thought the VW was on the bit on the high side too compared to the vito, and I need to get in car parks!

Looks like its got to be the Vito, but I got to wait 10-12 weeks for delivery!

[peaktorque]

Miracle said:

peaktorque said:

Miracle said:

Hi All.

I need some help, I am in the market for a new van and I can't decide between the Mercedes Sport X or a VW Transporter Sportline, does anyone on here own one of these vans? If so what are they like?

Mercedes Sport X link - http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/content/unitedking...

VW transporter Sportline link - http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/transporter/sport...

Kind Regards
Paul.

I don't have the Sport X but i have a SWB Vito with exactly the same engine (V6 204 bhp). It is a bit 'stealthy' because it looks like a basic Vito apart from having slightly wider tyres on the steel wheels .

Brilliant van! It is quiet and smooth, a vast improvement over the 4 cylinder 115 CDI I had before. The engine is a gem (lifted from the S class I believe). Performance wise, lets just say it shifts! 0-60 mph in about 8.2 secs which is better than a Transporter 174. Although I must say that of the line because they are (all!) auto there is a bit of a delay, whilst you wait for the gearbox and turbo to wake up, hence the 0-20 mph time can be a bit frustrating, but once it awakens bloody hell! Traffic lights are good fun . Stupid power for a van!

The Vito is quicker on paper than the Transporter and 204 bhp V6 vs 174 bhp S5 although both can be remapped. Also don't forget that the Vito is rear wheel drive where as the VW is front, so that in my mind makes the Vito a winner. Can't comment on running costs of the VW, but the Vito only needs servicing every 17,000 miles or so, but it does drink like Oliver Reed if you drive it properly I currently get about 350-400 (410 the best so far) miles on £80 worth of diesel, but my right foot is made of lead ! Also very reliable, my previous 54 reg 4 pot Vito did 98,000 miles in three years and never once broke (well apart from front ARB bushes, which were changed under warrenty)

On the whole more power/torque than you really need, but they are only available with an automatic gearbox (you can get a Transporter with manual), but it is tip-tronic and is actually quite good and well suited to the engine. The Vito is also a lot lower than the VW and is more car-park friendly.

This is only my experience, but would highly recommend the Merc.

Hi James,

Thanks for that, I am more for the Vito as well, as it has two side doors and the vw has only a single sliding door. I thought the VW was on the bit on the high side too compared to the vito, and I need to get in car parks!

Looks like its got to be the Vito, but I got to wait 10-12 weeks for delivery!

It'll be worth the wait !

Also I would spec. it with two (proper) front seats as opposed to the twin passenger seat, which is ste as it is fixed upright and you need to be missing your right leg to sit in the middle anyway! I had the bench seat in my last Vito and everybody who sat in it complained about it being too upright and un-comfortable, so this time I specced two comfort seats (different head-rest, more adjustment and armrests) which are a massive improvement and you can also get three metre lengths on the floor beween the seats on a short wheel base model.

You won't regret it!

James

[Miracle]

Im going for the long wheel base version in black. The sport X has 2 comfort seats with arm rests, etc, as standard, plus a load of other goodies!

[69elan+2]

Another Vote for the VW

I had a run-in with one in my Navara D40 (no slouch in Pick-up terms). Was great fun.

[Beefmeister]

We need pics of the Vito when you get it - it must look awesome in black!!

Just get a big red stripe up the side and you're away....

Incidentally, Vito's are the fastest things on the planet anyway, so that one with 204bhp must be a bloody rocket ship!

[sniff petrol]

Beefmeister said:

Incidentally, Vito's are the fastest things on the planet anyway, so that one with 204bhp must be a bloody rocket ship!

It's normally Sprinters that terrorise the outside lanes but yeah, have you considered asking Ecurie to add one to their fleet?

[Beefmeister]

sniff petrol said:

Beefmeister said:

Incidentally, Vito's are the fastest things on the planet anyway, so that one with 204bhp must be a bloody rocket ship!

It's normally Sprinters that terrorise the outside lanes but yeah, have you considered asking Ecurie to add one to their fleet?

lol - i can suggest it!! Some say they already have a big black van on the fleet anyway - the Range Rover Sport!!

[Nicholas Blair]

easy - VW

[Miracle]

Beefmeister said:

We need pics of the Vito when you get it - it must look awesome in black!!

Just get a big red stripe up the side and you're away....

Incidentally, Vito's are the fastest things on the planet anyway, so that one with 204bhp must be a bloody rocket ship!

Don't worry, I will be cleaning it for at least 5 days when I get it! Noooo red stripes tho!

Add a Brabus chip and its 240-250 bhp or something, crazy!!!

I like this bit in the spec - Maximum torque 440Nm at 1600 - 2400rpm

Edited by Miracle on Sunday 13th April 17:22

[Vee-Dubya]

I've been driving the transporter since the Vito was introduced. The Vito was constantly unreliable and bits dropped off of it. I've bought and sold five very reliable Transporters to date and cannot fault the T5. In fact I recently used a '57 plate VW Passat 2.0 Tdi for three weeks and was pleased to get back to the solid build quality and higher speed stability of my T5 130ps.
I believe the Merc has not improved the overall package having test driven the Vito recently.
It lacked any of the quality feel of the T5 and looks more like one of the new Peugeot vans externally (that's not a compliment). Besides which I've yet to find any Van which puts up much of a scrap on either the Motorway or B-roads with my 130ps.
For this reason I have just ordered my new VW.
I've ordered the Sportline Kombi in Black. Standard equipment includes two rows of Leather seats, Leather panels to the rear, single passenger seat, 18" wheels, 6 gears, a/c, electric windows, killer sound system and the best looking body kit ever to dress up a van.
Now go and watch Fifth gear and ask why Mercedes had to be so heavy handed with the traction control, and I believe you have yourself a no brainer.
Still have to wait until the end of September for it though!!!!!!!!!

[chris_w666]

Vito, Have had 3 of these in traveliner spec from work all 111cdi's and all great mile eaters, nothing has ever gone wrong with them and cost money to repair. The longest any of them had been off the road was 2 days in a year and one of those days was a service.

I have driven a few VW's caravelle and transporter and IMO they don't come close to the vito and in 204ps sport x spec what a great van it would be.

[greggy50]

Go for the VW it has already beaten the Merc in a track test on fifth gear as it cannot handle the power and the traction control keeps cutting in the VW on the other handles superbly for a van has just the right amount of power and in my opinion looks far better especialy in black.

[papercup]

I looked into both with great detail when i was close to buying one or the other. The Vito is less exciting to drive and feels slower, probably due to the auto box. But it did feel really nice and was nice inside, very quiet, like a car. One of my conditions was that i could have a conversation on my bluetooth loudspeaker thingy for my mobile while doing 80mph - wasn't a problem. It also doesn't handle as well; see fifth gear test, which was stupid and put two load-luggers round a track, as that is a true representation of why people buy vans, isn't it?

You can only have the Merc in an Auto, you can only have the VW in a manual.

However, even had i preferred it, I couldn't bring myself to buy the VW due to VW treating all van drivers as second-class citizens, lower down the social order than normal people.

You can only have an AC button on the dash of the VW, not full climate control. This is rubbish, and leads, on a long journey, to alternately switching it on and off as you get too hot and then too cold. I've owned a T4 with this same system and it was very annoying. So i want CC. I can spec it in the Merc, but not in the VW. I could have it in a VW if i bought a Caravelle (the one with windows) but not in the panel vans, even the special editions, because i am lowly van-driving scum. VW can suck my cock about this, it really annoyed me.

You couldn't have an auto.

You couldn't have a rear window.

There were a few other things as well....

Mercedes give you every single option, you can have EVERYTHING. It was a big plus.

[peaktorque]

Still loving my V6 Vito.

I have done 17,500 miles in it now (since Jan.) including a trip to Le mans as a 'support' vehicle.

Still got another 2,000 miles until the first service (according to on-board computer), I has run like a dream

and not a single thing has broken on it! (more than what can be said of my previous Vitos).

And as it is clocking up more miles it seems to be loosening up, making it even quicker! (eaten with ease all other vans that have 'tried it on'!)

Would still highly recommend

[Miracle]

New van has arrived....



I am very pleased with it so far, although its only doing between 23-30mpg and over £90 to fill it up. It handles very well indeed, auto tip box is excellent and is pretty quick with 205bhp and 440Nm torque.

All to do now is to fit the back out!!

Kind Regards
Paul.

[chris_w666]

Miracle said:

New van has arrived....



I am very pleased with it so far, although its only doing between 23-30mpg and over £90 to fill it up. It handles very well indeed, auto tip box is excellent and is pretty quick with 205bhp and 440Nm torque.

All to do now is to fit the back out!!

Kind Regards
Paul.

Nice van a top choice sir. Why do I get so excited about vans.