Three models - Small van

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Fri 3 Jan 2025 23:45
Three models - Small van - Driv2u2

Hi , trying to choose between three models , belingo, citan, partner , all between 50 to 75000 miles , full service history ,and all between 2015 to 2018 . Thinking about cam changes , easy to work on , will be no heavy loads light work only and about 150 miles a week . Thanks

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Sat 4 Jan 2025 00:14
Three models - Small van - elekie&a/c doctor
Not much to choose between them . The citan is a re badged Renault. At that mileage they’ll all be due a cambelt change . Non of them are easy to work on.
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Sat 4 Jan 2025 00:32
Three models - Small van - SLO76
None of the above. Companies typically only get rid of vans when they’re no longer economically viable or they’re simply knackered. They don’t trade them in just because they fancy something else. The exceptions to this are ex lease vehicles which are offloaded at a set age, usually 3/4yrs old. These can be ok depending on who had them, Ex NHS fleet vans are good news, ditto BT stock. But I wouldn’t recommend buying a cheap older DPF equipped van to anyone, it’ll be off the road more than it’ll be on it You’d be better with a petrol estate car or SUV unless your business needs absolutely require a van then I’d tell you to borrow and buy something newer that’s fresh off lease and comes with a good warranty - check the terms, see what’s actually covered and watch for useless low claims limits, some are £1,000 or less.
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Sat 4 Jan 2025 08:28
Three models - Small van - badbusdriver

Hi , trying to choose between three models , belingo, citan, partner

Why those particular three?

Maybe a better question would be why not the Renault Kangoo? (which is the same van as the Citan minus the Merc grill).

Why not the Nissan NV200? (which uses the same engine as the Citan and Kangoo)

Why not the Transit Connect? (which uses the same diesel engines as the Berlingo and Partner)

And why not the Fiat Doblo or Vauxhall Combo?

Also while the above are small vans, there are smaller ones. You say no heavy loads, light work only. So is it not viable to go down a size to the Citroen Nemo/Fiat Fiorino/Peugeot Bipper (same van, different badges), or Ford Transit Courier?. In the case of the Courier, while you'd ideally want to avoid the 1.0 Ecoboost petrol, the diesel engine is the same 1.5 or 1.6 used by the Berlingo, Partner and Transit Connect. In the case of the Fiorino/Nemo/Bipper, not sure if they all did. but the Fiorino got the option of a simple and reliable 1.4 petrol, arguably the most sensible choice if you aren't covering a lot of miles. Bear in mind most of these smaller vans will have a folding from passenger seat, so unless you are two up or the load requires the full width, load bay length may not be a problem.

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Sat 4 Jan 2025 11:23
Three models - Small van - Steveieb

How about a Vauxhall Astra van with the well proven Isuzu diesel engine.

My son has one of these and the fuel consumption is amazing. No modern emissions stuff. German built and pleasant to drive.

A little older than what you are looking for but find a good one and you will be impressed !

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Sat 4 Jan 2025 11:31
Three models - Small van - Xileno

Apart from the Transporter crowd (where prices are correspondingly daft), vans generally are beasts of burden and are not fashion items. Therefore owners tend to only sell them when they're getting troublesome. It is generally far more difficult to buy a decent secondhand van than a car. There will be some out there but it will take time.

I have been down this road about six years ago and gave up. The vans I saw (Transit sized of various makes) were either overpriced or junk. Sometimes both. Then the Pandemic came and prices went stupid as many were snapping up vans to do delivery jobs. I'm not sure where prices sit now as I've not been monitoring them since my needs for a van have moved on.

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Sat 4 Jan 2025 12:16
Three models - Small van - Andrew-T

There will be some out there but it will take time.. I'm not sure where prices sit now as I've not been monitoring them since my needs for a van have moved on.

That being the case, do lots of vans get nicked ? Of course, I don't suppose nicked ones get furtively exported .....

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Sat 4 Jan 2025 20:23
Three models - Small van - Engineer Andy

There will be some out there but it will take time.. I'm not sure where prices sit now as I've not been monitoring them since my needs for a van have moved on.

That being the case, do lots of vans get nicked ? Of course, I don't suppose nicked ones get furtively exported .....

I suspect more get broken into and the content nicked. Round my way in the sticks, Plod are concerned with tools and equipment (mostly from builders and plumbers' vans) being stolen via distraction and/or direct threats of violence, though mostly limited to vans without upgraded locks on rear and (where fitted) sliding side doors for the rear compartment access.

I've seen many now upgraded to have welded-on plates for heavy-duty padlocks.

Double cabs seem to have more issues unless they have a proper 'hard cover' as they 'soft top' rear cover can be ripped open with a knife, and besides, they don't offer as much storage space as a proper Transit-sized van.

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Sat 4 Jan 2025 12:23
Three models - Small van - bazza

Recommend you look a people carrier version of Berlingo and Partner. They are cheaper to tax at £190 compared to £350 odd for the van versions. With the seats out it's a posher van. I think the citan had an MPV version too but you'll pay just for the badge and as above, it's a kangoo. What about an nv200? Much cheaper. The Berlingo & Partner from 2015 on have adblue emissions fitted which is very unreliable. The 1.5 in the NV does not, certainly until much later. Possibly the same for the Merc and Renault as it's the same engine. You really don't want adblue! It's extremely unreliable across all makes particularly older vehicles. The belt on the PSA units is a straightforward job for a garage, as is the 1.5 dci. Also avoid anything with the 1.2 puretech PSA petrol engine, early ones also extremely unreliable. The choice is quite small really unfortunately!

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Sat 4 Jan 2025 13:41
Three models - Small van - Bromptonaut

Both Berlingo and Partner, identical apart from badges and possibly some trim, are well sorted pieces of kit.

We've a 2013 Berlingo Multispace, the car version on around 145k miles. Cambelt interval is c.112k (or ten years). It's not something I'd even think of DIY and I think it cost about £700 at a franchise dealer. Cheaper at a specialist and/or with pattern parts rather than kosher PSA stuff.

I'd respectfully disagree with SLO about time of the road. Ours has been off the road twice. Once for a stuck caliper/scored disc and the other for an injector at around 10 years 130k. Other than EOLYS top ups the DPF has never needed us to give it a thought.

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Sat 4 Jan 2025 14:31
Three models - Small van - SLO76
With respect Bromptonaught your car hasn’t been treated the way a typical delivery van or tradesman’s hack has been, your experience is thus very different from most people who buy an older used van. They don’t take abuse or neglect well. I’ve looked at used vans both as a trader and on behalf of others and the conclusion was always not to buy.

Edited by SLO76 on 04/01/2025 at 14:31

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Sat 4 Jan 2025 20:13
Three models - Small van - Driv2u2

Been reading on belingo that common problem on them is the 7 mm cam chain

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Sat 4 Jan 2025 20:35
Three models - Small van - elekie&a/c doctor
Yes . Same engine in Ford connect. The rear chain that connects to 2 camshafts breaks , causing catastrophic damage. If you want something cheap and cheerful and pretty reliable, I’d go for a Ford connect pre 2010 without all the emission reduction kit .
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Sat 4 Jan 2025 20:56
Three models - Small van - SLO76
Last van I personally owned was a 2007 VW Caddy 2.0 SDi, bought ex NHS fleet and without any complicated emissions control c*** to go wrong. It was a brilliant wee van that never let me down, Bit old now though, but if you did happen across a rust free example of a Toyota Hiace then they might be worthy, but both are more likely to be rot buckets by now. The two Renault Kangoo I had before the Caddy were utter r******, but their predecessor lasted our family for 14yrs without any majorly failures. It was a 1986 Renault Extra 1.4 petrol, a wee van I have many fond childhood memories of.
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Sun 5 Jan 2025 11:00
Three models - Small van - Lee Power
but if you did happen across a rust free example of a Toyota Hiace then they might be worthy, but both are more likely to be rot buckets by now.

Not great to drive & a bit thirsty for diesel but overall reliable.

The 2007 vintage one I use has 192k miles on it now & little rust.

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Sun 5 Jan 2025 09:59
Three models - Small van - Bromptonaut

Been reading on belingo that common problem on them is the 7 mm cam chain

Do all of them have that engine? There are 8valve and 16valve HDi units. The latter have multiple issues.

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Sat 4 Jan 2025 19:56
Three models - Small van - Heidfirst

left field suggestion if the load space works for you - Toyota Corolla Commercial?

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Sat 4 Jan 2025 23:15
Three models - Small van - Driv2u2

Had a Bipper van 2010 , was good at first then became a money pit , 122000 miles , mechanic said that’s about its life span . Spent nearly 1200 pounds in 4 months one thing after another , till finally head gasket .so very wary of older models as as soon as you fix one something as goes .

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Sun 5 Jan 2025 10:05
Three models - Small van - badbusdriver

Had a Bipper van 2010 , was good at first then became a money pit , 122000 miles , mechanic said that’s about its life span .

That is a bit of an oversimplification, depends on engine, usage, and how well it has been looked after.

Any van has the potential to be a money pit if it has been abused and neglected. There is a 2013 (diesel) Bipper on Autotrader at the moment which looks in really nice condition, 2 owners, it's done 228k miles!.

But also, as i mentioned before, the (Fiat) Fiorino is also available with a simple and reliable n/a 1.4 petrol. The Double also got this option, albeit in a higher state of tune (75 and 95bhp respectively). There aren't many of them available, but they are out there. You haven't given a budget, but this (202406010302587) 2019 one owner Fiorino with 9k miles is going to come in at under £10k including VAT (that is the most expensive of the 10 for sale on Autotrader). While this (202412026933259) 2018, 30k mile Doblo looks a bit of a bargain at £7.8k including VAT (curiously, it is described as a SWB but is actually the LWB version with a load bay length of 2.17M)

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Sun 5 Jan 2025 13:02
Three models - Small van - Driv2u2

Budget is tops 5500, see combo have chain only? Is that any better , you seem to get a lot more for your money , with combo vs partner ,belingo etc

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Sun 5 Jan 2025 13:36
Three models - Small van - badbusdriver

£5.5k isn't a lot in the current market, does it absolutely have to be a van?

I'm thinking something like an Astra or Focus estate with 1.6 petrol?. maybe a C-Max or Zafira/Zafira tourer (again with 1.6 petrol)?

Edited by badbusdriver on 05/01/2025 at 13:40

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Sun 5 Jan 2025 14:04
Three models - Small van - Driv2u2

Yes prefer van , share with son ,he uses for tree felling equipment.

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Wed 8 Jan 2025 17:48
Three models - Small van - Driv2u2

We have narrowed down to , 16 plate belingo 50000 miles fsh, 1 owner , v clean in/ out , 1.6hdi . Or 2019 / 20 belingo and partner new shapes both fsh, 1.5 , 99000 and 103000 miles , 103 had water pump and cam belt done ., all top spec vans

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