Buying a used van

[Globalti]

My employer used to have a Toyota Previa (almost a van) for business entertaining. It was a great car to drive, really fast and comfortable and perfect for the job.

 

[DRM]

Didn't go for it as it had been very well used and missed a service, the salesman was a bit vague too, wasn't that impressed with the drive either really so am going to test a Toyota Proace, they're a bit smaller but are about the most economical medium van you can get and come with a 5 year warranty and there seem to be some good deals on new ones.

Whatever you do DO NOT get a ProAce or the Peugeot/Citroen/Fiat equivalents unless you like paying for repairs, clutches go, sliding doors fall off, drive shafts fail, brakes fail, one even had complete engine failure at less than 2,500 miles, they are dreadful rubbish, there are deals to be had because they can’t give them away, the mechanics at the local dealership hate them with good reason, mines due a service and needs a knocking noise sorting (sounds like something has broken) just stay away is my advice

 

[Piemaster]

Whatever you do DO NOT get a ProAce or the Peugeot/Citroen/Fiat equivalents unless you like paying for repairs, clutches go, sliding doors fall off, drive shafts fail, brakes fail, one even had complete engine failure at less than 2,500 miles, they are dreadful rubbish, there are deals to be had because they can’t give them away, the mechanics at the local dealership hate them with good reason, mines due a service and needs a knocking noise sorting (sounds like something has broken) just stay away is my advice

They've not asked me yet

 

[DRM]

They've not asked me yet

Consider yourself having had a lucky escape, the original Hiace however is absolutely bullet proof, if not a bit thirsty.

 

[Dave Davenport]

Whatever you do DO NOT get a ProAce or the Peugeot/Citroen/Fiat equivalents unless you like paying for repairs, clutches go, sliding doors fall off, drive shafts fail, brakes fail, one even had complete engine failure at less than 2,500 miles, they are dreadful rubbish, there are deals to be had because they can’t give them away, the mechanics at the local dealership hate them with good reason, mines due a service and needs a knocking noise sorting (sounds like something has broken) just stay away is my advice

How old is your's?
I've had a drive and it's pretty much spot on for what I need, looking on line I can't see any reports of inherent faults and the independent reviews are all pretty positive.

 

[DRM]

It’s a 2015, it’s done 40 k miles, our company has a huge fleet of them, when the clutch went on mine a few months back there were 6 in the garage for repairs around the Yorkshire area alone, they have been so problematic that complaints were made directly to Toyota, but I don’t know what the outcome of that was, it took 4 goes to sort the brakes out, they had to be bled at least once a month, one person had the same brake fault that resulted in complete failure and a collision, the clutch fault has happened to several others, drive shafts have failed and the sliding doors have fallen out on both sides, starter motors have gone, and I also had uneven tyre wear on the rear, the tyre resembled a 50 pence coin, then there are random engine management warning lights and abs faults.
Everyone at work hates them, I had a Hi top Transit on hire this week to move some stuff and the Transit highlighted just how awful the ProAce is, try a search for Citroen Dispatch/Peugeot Expert faults for an idea of what they are like.

 

[Dave Davenport]

The models changed completely in July 2016 and bare no resemblance to the van you're talking about.
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/citroen/dispatch

 

[Dave Davenport]

So after extensive research and much deliberation, I've bought a new Citroen Dispatch 2.0 litre Enterprise Plus medium wheelbase in dark metallic grey colour. Picking it up in two weeks from a main dealer about 20 miles from me. Paying £17k (excluding vat, I'm registered) which is £8.5k off the list price, by far the most money I've ever spent on anything apart from the house!
It comes with a three year/100k warranty, the Toyota version (off the same assembly line) has 5years/100k but the cheapest I could find one to the spec we wanted was £20k. Planning on insulating/lining it and putting a raised bed platform over the wheel arches with storage underneath.
My youngest son is having our old Honda Civic which just seems to keep going on and on despite the total lack of care, so that won't be wasted.

 

[Levo-Lon]

So after extensive research and much deliberation, I've bought a new Citroen Dispatch 2.0 litre Enterprise Plus medium wheelbase in dark metallic grey colour. Picking it up in two weeks from a main dealer about 20 miles from me. Paying £17k (excluding vat, I'm registered) which is £8.5k off the list price, by far the most money I've ever spent on anything apart from the house!
It comes with a three year/100k warranty, the Toyota version (off the same assembly line) has 5years/100k but the cheapest I could find one to the spec we wanted was £20k. Planning on insulating/lining it and putting a raised bed platform over the wheel arches with storage underneath.
My youngest son is having our old Honda Civic which just seems to keep going on and on despite the total lack of care, so that won't be wasted.

Enjoy, nice getting a new van

 

[DRM]

The models changed completely in July 2016 and bare no resemblance to the van you're talking about.
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/citroen/dispatch

Yes they seem better appointed, I can't wait while the lease is up on the current heap as will be replaced with one of these in Toyota guise, they have only just started filtering through onto the fleet so I can't comment on how they perform, however enjoy the new van, it'll keep you out of mischief sorting out the interior mods.

 

[Cavalol]

Anyone remember the old Merc 308D vans? It took three hands and a letter from God to change gear, plus they were slower than a weekend stuck in a lift with Nigel Mansell.

 

[Levo-Lon]

Anyone remember the old Merc 308D vans? It took three hands and a letter from God to change gear, plus they were slower than a weekend stuck in a lift with Nigel Mansell.

Commer space van..ill let you absorb that thought ,image ..

 

[Cavalol]

Commer space van..ill let you absorb that thought ,image ..

Happily enough I’m too young to have tried one of them, but would love to own one now.

My commercial vehicle driving career started with a Mini pick-up (absolutely dreadful things) a Sherpa 1700 ‘O’ series petrol (quite liked that) a Freight Rover pick-up with a 2.5 Peugeot Diesel engine (went like hell) then various Transit Di vans (brilliant things) to Iv*cos, which I still probably need counselling for.

 

[Levo-Lon]

Happily enough I’m too young to have tried one of them, but would love to own one now.

My commercial vehicle driving career started with a Mini pick-up (absolutely dreadful things) a Sherpa 1700 ‘O’ series petrol (quite liked that) a Freight Rover pick-up with a 2.5 Peugeot Diesel engine (went like hell) then various Transit Di vans (brilliant things) to Iv*cos, which I still probably need counselling for.

I used to work on Sherpa vans A lot in my early career.

My first truck was a mini pickup lol then a new bedford pickup column change.
Vauxhall Brava ,brilliant Nissan D21 the best truck by far.

Midi van then pug boxer ducato and the Doblo.
Been really lucky so far but i only do low mileage. Bar the D21 which had 130 k miles with no faults.