White Vans

[Homestar]

Thought I'd ask the brains trust here although I'm sure I'll get as many different answers as people who respond but here goes. I have been asked by a friend to assist them in buying a white van - needs to be a long wheelbase, hi top so he can stand up in it to load and unload. Age not so much of an issue but it needs to be as lower KM as possible. Budget is around $25K but can stretch that for the right vehicle.

My thoughts (As I've had them as work vehicles) was a Transit Van but open to other ideas from those with experience with them.

I have had 2 other people warn me off Ivecos though - both have had multiple big dollar issue with fairly low KM examples that had been fairly well maintained - could be bad luck that the only 2 people I've spoken to about their vehicles both had bad stories to tell but it does put them down the list a bit.

There could be an option to buy a new LDV - they are around $37K drive away so cheap for a new vehicle - but on the flip side - they are cheap... Anyone got any experience with those at all? Internet has a mix of good and bad - they would be looking at the manual version - the auto seems to have a bad rap, but engine seems to be ok from what I can work out. This would be low down on the list though as it's a bit out of his price range but if the benefits of a new vehicle, warranty, etc has benefits that outweigh the extra dollars, then it could be looked at.

So, all thoughts good and bad appreciated - I'm doing my own research on top of this but with a knowledge base this big, there's bound to be some members here driving or owning a white van of some kind.

Thanks in advance.

[grey_ghost]

I don’t know model mumbers but I thought that the Merc vans have a good reputation? Probably pricey though.

[Homestar]

Sprinters - yes, very pricey but seem to have a solid reputation - low KM examples seem to be pricey but they could be on the list. Would like to hear from someone who has or drives one regularly. Given there are some of these with over 500,000KM on them on Car Sales, some at least seem to go for bloody ages! [biggrin]

[Chops]

A lot of the couriers I’ve had to deal with seem happy with their Transits, but also the Benz seems to be fairly well regarded too.

[gromit]

A lot of the couriers I’ve had to deal with seem happy with their Transits, but also the Benz seems to be fairly well regarded too.

Problem with the Benz will be dealing with the dealer, possibly OK if you go independant.
Dealer had free coffee, free fruit & cakes, all the techs were in suits (in fact I hadn't seen so many suits in one place since I last visited Peter Jackson's)

Father-in-law's Sprinter based motorhome, engine warning light comes on. Glowplug issues, 6 glowplugs plus fitting $1,700 plus GST.

He also had some issues Benz struggled to fix but he's not with us any longer now to ask what they were.


Colin

[scarry]

Toyota although the bigger model with high roof may not be large enough,or too large.

As I have said before,had many that do 300 000 k’s with not one repair,and they are all loaded almost on GVM,all day every day.

Know heaps of tradies with other brands and none of them have not had a repair of some kind,many have to have the front end rebuilt frequently or tyres Dont last.Some have had major engine issues.

Buts it’s the old story,service and look after it properly and it will probably be fine.

Transits,a mate had one quite a few years ago that had all sorts of electrical issues the dealer couldn’t sort it,it was eventually scrapped.

[Homestar]

Not sure if Toyota do a large enough van - I’ve had them too and yes, seem to be bullet proof.

[DiscoMick]

I know a couple of tradies with VW vans, but I can't ask them for feedback right now. Have you considered them?

[DoubleChevron]

I can't say I've heard of any issues with the Trafic van.

You have been blocked (https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2017-renault-trafic-103kw-lwb-manual/OAG-AD-17765438/?Cr=6)

long wheel base low milage for around $25k

[DazzaTD5]

I'd research the VW / Merc vans (same van, different badges) as they had quite a lot of problems with the DEF system (diesel exhaust fluid (ad-blue etc)).

And lets face it, if you want a van that will do 300K plus and its big enough, you cant go past a Toyota

[V8Ian]

I did a few interstate trips in a Merc Sprinter, two metres of headroom and over three metres of load space behind the seats. Reliable, respectable performance, 10L/100k and comfortable. Pre ad-blue.
I thought it'd make a great camper conversion.

[pop058]

The Ambos up here use the Mercs and they are all standup inside size. In a recent 3 week trip in Tassy, we hired motor-homes and they were Mercs. No shortage of power and economy was good for a 3 ton house brick.

[Homestar]

I'd research the VW / Merc vans (same van, different badges) as they had quite a lot of problems with the DEF system (diesel exhaust fluid (ad-blue etc)).

And lets face it, if you want a van that will do 300K plus and its big enough, you cant go past a Toyota

Will be pre DEF I would think for the dollars - and as mentioned, not sure if Toyota make something big enough unfortunately.

[Homestar]

I know a couple of tradies with VW vans, but I can't ask them for feedback right now. Have you considered them?

Everything’s on the table, like the Toyota, I haven’t seen anything that may be big enough though, but will look into them. 👍

[Homestar]

I can't say I've heard of any issues with the Trafic van.

You have been blocked (https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2017-renault-trafic-103kw-lwb-manual/OAG-AD-17765438/?Cr=6)

long wheel base low milage for around $25k

Do they do a mid or high top version? While I personally love the colour of the one you linked, it does need to be white in its intended application. Looks like plenty of van for the dollars too. 👍

[DoubleChevron]

Do they do a mid or high top version? While I personally love the colour of the one you linked, it does need to be white in its intended application. Looks like plenty of van for the dollars too. 👍

Yeah, my brother had one at his work for years .... a high roof short wheel base version. The thing never missed a beat.

[rick130]

I can't say I've heard of any issues with the Trafic van.

You have been blocked (https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2017-renault-trafic-103kw-lwb-manual/OAG-AD-17765438/?Cr=6)

long wheel base low milage for around $25k
Do they do a mid or high top version? While I personally love the colour of the one you linked, it does need to be white in its intended application. Looks like plenty of van for the dollars too. [emoji106]The company I used to work for bought two for the plumbers and they were very cheap to run, much cheaper/km than the BT50's and Rangers the rest of us used but I left and moved north six months after acquiring them.

[prelude]

Sprinters are pretty damn good if you ask me. Have used my mates car transporter many times. It's from 1995, has 400k+ on the odo and the only real issue is rust at this point. The vw transporter is not available in that size and though it drives more like a car than a van, it is less reliable in my experience.

The volkswagen crafter is a mercedes sprinter that is rebadged. It will have a vw engine though.

Like I said, the only real issue wtih these vans is that they rust a lot quicker then I would have thought for a "modern" vehicle. Not as bad as the vito (or valente in australia) but still pretty rust prone.

Then there is the renault master aka opel/vauxhaul movano / nissan interstar. Not particularly good since all of them, even down to the engine I believe are a renault master though nissan may have thrown their own lump in there.

So, I would put my money on the sprinter.

Cheers,
-P

[3toes]

If you are going European would say Sprinter is best bet. Just make sure the engine has enough power to do the job loaded. Some have engines that the power available seems to be designed for a florist delivery operation (or perhaps to offer a lower theoretical fuel cost for adds).

My recommendation would be to stay away from the IVECO these are cheap vans. That does work for some who can accept the compromise this requires. The engines are expensive to repair due to the design.

[DoubleChevron]

Oh gee's ... pick the genious. It was renault kangoos and masters my brothers old workplace (rental company) was running. They are now ancient. He was so impressed with them he purchased them outright and they are still in daily use. The things must be 10years old now!

I'm guessing all of the modern vehicles like this are very similar in sizes, specs and price and long term reliability. Probably best to just buy whatever is best value for money :)

seeya,
Shane L.

[Bradtot]

Hey I am on my second Renualt Kangoo Van and we also have a second hand Renault Master we purchased for 5 k with 220k on it. Its beat up and dented, but it just goes and goes, and goes very well with great fuel economy and power. They are cheap to run and not that costly for repairs. My kangoo needs a timing belt now at 100k cost around 600 done from an independent mech. It still has 3 years warranty left on it, would I buy another..yep..The first Kangoo did 265k and is still going.
Some people hate them..but I have had a great runs with them!
Brad

[Homestar]

Thanks for all the replies - I passed on a lot of info including some PM’ed from a member here - He’s found a Sprinter with 61,000KM on it - I’m going to take it to a local Euro Diesel Indy for him next week sometime to see if it is what it claims to be and is worth the dollars. It’s an older van that was a Promo vehicle for a company with a back on it that’s been stripped out and is quite large. If it checks out, that looks like it will suit.

[scarry]

. They are cheap to run and not that costly for repairs. My kangoo needs a timing belt now at 100k cost around 600 done from an independent mech.

Compared to the Toyota diesel 3.0l,where the timing belt is an extra 1/2 an hour on the service,plus the belt price.
And a bullet proof vehicle.

The local courier has just clicked over 600 000K in his,its just starting to use oil.Only had maintenance issues,no repairs.

[DiscoMick]

Noticed several Renault tradie vans running around here the last few days, loaded up, including the roof racks, and looking the business.
Our solar installer had a crew in a Mercedes van, a really tall and long van, so long he needed several goes to turn around in our driveway, heavily loaded with tools in cabinets, long ladders, panels and other gear, displaying some dents from a hard life. He said he was really happy with it.