In reply to Post #9
I have a 19 plate combo with only 35k on the clock, had a few issues including the dreaded adblue problems, last year the water pump was leaking so had it done plus cam belt changed and its deffo not a wet belt, the mechanic said only the petrol versions have the wet belt.
I have a 19 plate combo with only 35k on the clock, had a few issues including the dreaded adblue problems, last year the water pump was leaking so had it done plus cam belt changed and its deffo not a wet belt, the mechanic said only the petrol versions have the wet belt.
In reply to Post #2
I wouldn't touch a VW Caddy with a barge pole, I've never spoken to an owner and heard positive feedback regarding reliability.
Pug/Cit Berlingo/Partners get good feedback, the Partner has been available in an XL size for quite some time and also Renault Kangoo Maxi's get good feedback.
Don't whatever you do think/expect that Vw/ German brands = Reliability as the opposite is usually the norm in my experience.
I wouldn't touch a VW Caddy with a barge pole, I've never spoken to an owner and heard positive feedback regarding reliability.
Pug/Cit Berlingo/Partners get good feedback, the Partner has been available in an XL size for quite some time and also Renault Kangoo Maxi's get good feedback.
Don't whatever you do think/expect that Vw/ German brands = Reliability as the opposite is usually the norm in my experience.
In reply to Post #47
The newer Partner/Berlingo/Vauxhall are all basically the same. I have a 19 plate Rifter, I'd be very wary of the petrol and certain of the diesels due to wet belt and cam chains. There are some contributory schemes available but only with full dealer service history. The 7mm chain version requires quite a bit of work to convert to the 8mm version (see kits on Ebay).
The adblue systems are a pita and I don't trust it, our latest injector has gone faulty after 14000 miles, yes it's under warranty but they still want £150 just to confirm it with a diag.
A youtube mechanic I've been watching said avoid the Vauxhall vans and buy the Pug/Cit equivalent.
The newer Partner/Berlingo/Vauxhall are all basically the same. I have a 19 plate Rifter, I'd be very wary of the petrol and certain of the diesels due to wet belt and cam chains. There are some contributory schemes available but only with full dealer service history. The 7mm chain version requires quite a bit of work to convert to the 8mm version (see kits on Ebay).
The adblue systems are a pita and I don't trust it, our latest injector has gone faulty after 14000 miles, yes it's under warranty but they still want £150 just to confirm it with a diag.
A youtube mechanic I've been watching said avoid the Vauxhall vans and buy the Pug/Cit equivalent.
In reply to Post #47
3 years I owed one. Cost me one set of tyres and brake pads. Literally never went wrong.
Was a 2010 1.9 model and I'd have another tomorrow
3 years I owed one. Cost me one set of tyres and brake pads. Literally never went wrong.
Was a 2010 1.9 model and I'd have another tomorrow
In reply to Post #1
So reading through this thread I'm even more confused - what is the best / most reliable fishing van for £6k?
So reading through this thread I'm even more confused - what is the best / most reliable fishing van for £6k?
In reply to Post #50
A bike
A bike
In reply to Post #51
That's right belch. From advice given I need to avoid wet belts apparently, be aware of vat expensive tax and insurance. Main decision is whether I buy a van big enough to fix a bedchair inside or just a smaller version for approx 6 grand.
That's right belch. From advice given I need to avoid wet belts apparently, be aware of vat expensive tax and insurance. Main decision is whether I buy a van big enough to fix a bedchair inside or just a smaller version for approx 6 grand.
In reply to Post #32
My Tax is £12 something per month direct debit on a LWB VW Transporter T32.
Possibly new vans are getting stung?
My Tax is £12 something per month direct debit on a LWB VW Transporter T32.
Possibly new vans are getting stung?
The wet belt issue is definitely a thing. My wife has a 5yr old Vauxhall crossland. Bought from a main dealer. Serviced every year. Recommend belt change is 60k. Hers had 57k. On that engine you can see the belt through the oil filler cap. I'd started to see cracks in the belt. We spoke to Vauxhall who were very dismissive, they said it's not due for another 3k miles. I wasn't happy about leaving it so I got it done by a local mechanic. When we got the car back he said we only just caught it in time. The oil filter, pick up was blocked with belt debris. Doubtful it would have lasted to the 60k mileage. Then it's bye bye car. So be very wary of buying any vehicle that's got a wet belt second hand, because you simply don't know if it's ever had the incorrect oil put in, or they skipped an oil filter change one year, and that's all it can take to degrade the belt to cause a premature failure. Ford have just changed the recommended service interval for the belts on transit customs. Vauxhall wanted about £2k to do the change on our crossland. A lot of garages won't do them due to the amount of time it ties up a ramp. But if you need a belt done there's a specialist in Huntingdon called The Car Edition that does lots of them. We spoke to them about doing ours and they were very helpful.
In reply to Post #54
As you say you can see the wet belt on some models through the oil cap. There is a special tool ( a few quid) like a letter h that you can buy, if it fits over the belt and there are no cracks all is good.
If you want to know more about wet belt issues just Google the Ford Ecoboost engine, also known as the ecoboom!!!!!!
Even PSA keep changing there minds about the type of engine oil that should be used especially re the timing chain, some now recommend a 5:30 v 0:20 due to shear strength or something similar and half the oil service intervals. Peugeot tell me they check the wet belt every service 20k, I've heard others say check every 6-8k.
To the op, van size is very much a personal thing. You will probably get away with a LWB Partner/Berlingo but they're typically designed around fitting a europallet, so roughly 1m3 in the none LWB, obviously longer in the LWB. I'd want more room than that.
Road duty on our 1.5 blue hdi (130) is £15.85 pcm iirc.
If I were in the market I'd be looking at the Peugeot Expert, imo they caught up on looks with the transporter and there some nice bigger engine options like the 2ltr in a world where big engines are going by the by.
As you say you can see the wet belt on some models through the oil cap. There is a special tool ( a few quid) like a letter h that you can buy, if it fits over the belt and there are no cracks all is good.
If you want to know more about wet belt issues just Google the Ford Ecoboost engine, also known as the ecoboom!!!!!!
Even PSA keep changing there minds about the type of engine oil that should be used especially re the timing chain, some now recommend a 5:30 v 0:20 due to shear strength or something similar and half the oil service intervals. Peugeot tell me they check the wet belt every service 20k, I've heard others say check every 6-8k.
To the op, van size is very much a personal thing. You will probably get away with a LWB Partner/Berlingo but they're typically designed around fitting a europallet, so roughly 1m3 in the none LWB, obviously longer in the LWB. I'd want more room than that.
Road duty on our 1.5 blue hdi (130) is £15.85 pcm iirc.
If I were in the market I'd be looking at the Peugeot Expert, imo they caught up on looks with the transporter and there some nice bigger engine options like the 2ltr in a world where big engines are going by the by.
In reply to Post #55
Cheers vossy a very useful post there, information I will definitely take notice of,and the previous post as well.
Cheers vossy a very useful post there, information I will definitely take notice of,and the previous post as well.
In reply to Post #54
Many will be uninformed about the wet belt issues.
Is it the type of oil, is it lack of service, etc...
ANY oil will cause the wet belt rubber to degrade and fragment. The particles then circulate in the engine in the oil. They will partially block the oil strainer at the bottom of the sump and prevent proper oil circulation. This then creates many problems around the engine.
The ford ecoboost problems are legendary if you search social media.
Ford USA did a recall on all wet belts, but wouldn't compensate for the many drivers who had ongoing issues, costs and even had to scrap nearly new cars.
Ford UK don't admit there is even an issue...
DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING WITH A WET BELT
Many will be uninformed about the wet belt issues.
Is it the type of oil, is it lack of service, etc...
ANY oil will cause the wet belt rubber to degrade and fragment. The particles then circulate in the engine in the oil. They will partially block the oil strainer at the bottom of the sump and prevent proper oil circulation. This then creates many problems around the engine.
The ford ecoboost problems are legendary if you search social media.
Ford USA did a recall on all wet belts, but wouldn't compensate for the many drivers who had ongoing issues, costs and even had to scrap nearly new cars.
Ford UK don't admit there is even an issue...
DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING WITH A WET BELT
In reply to Post #57
Can you list manufacturers / specific vehicles with this problem?
Can you list manufacturers / specific vehicles with this problem?
In reply to Post #57
Ford didn't do a recall on all wet belts in the USA, thats simply not true, it was on 2 specific cars. They also did offer to repair the vehicle.
I have a Ford Ranger, the most popular pick up in the UK, everyone says you've got to replace the oil pump as it's a design fault. Thing is when you're selling that many vehicles parts are going to go wrong. One of the biggest reasons for it failing is not getting it serviced where they know what they're doing they don't refill on service straight away and it doesn't self prime leading to wear and tear on the oil pump.
I had a Ford Mustang with the Ecoboost engine, never had any problems plus after 2018 the ecoboot has a timing chain rather than a wet belt.
Ford didn't do a recall on all wet belts in the USA, thats simply not true, it was on 2 specific cars. They also did offer to repair the vehicle.
I have a Ford Ranger, the most popular pick up in the UK, everyone says you've got to replace the oil pump as it's a design fault. Thing is when you're selling that many vehicles parts are going to go wrong. One of the biggest reasons for it failing is not getting it serviced where they know what they're doing they don't refill on service straight away and it doesn't self prime leading to wear and tear on the oil pump.
I had a Ford Mustang with the Ecoboost engine, never had any problems plus after 2018 the ecoboot has a timing chain rather than a wet belt.
Don't go anywhere near a wet belt if you've got Delkims 