[lee_dewing]

hi,
anyone got a vauxhall combo crew van?

looks clever extra 3 seats in back lay flat when not needed, wondered if you could load 25 ltr barrels on top of seats when flat out.

they do 1.3 diesel and 1.7 diesel, surely the 1.3 would be sluggish?

also 1.4 petrol.

anyone know much about these vans looks quite good.

there are times when the 2 seats in the escort aren't enough for family, mrs has car also but would be great to have couple of spare seats in van when needed.

heard a rumour the scrapage scheme is changing, government thrown more in pot and also excepting cars/vans younger van 10yrs.
    any truth in this thanks lee.

[gr cleaning solutions]

that's what im after seem hard to find a clean one also seem a bit pricey but  if you are getting one get the 1.7 diesel my old mans in the trade and told me there the best ones to get

[bravo20]

I have a 1.7 crew cab combo, excellent van, plenty of power. The seats do lay flat and also split 60/40 so you can have space and still carry a couple of passengers. My only problem is that I can't carry both oven cleaning and window cleaning stuff at same time so have to change over depending what work I'm doing. Can carry a WFP trolley and a couple of hundred litres of water with the seats up so with them down could probably carry at least 400 ltrs. Payload on 1.7 is 666Kg.

[lee_dewing]

thanks gr, good luck getting one i take it your after 2nd hand?

thanks bravo sounds like your very happy with yours: just to add do you think you could put weight on the extra seats when folded flat i.e 25 ltr barrels or do you think this would knacker the seats?

I think they do the van in a 803kg payload to, as gr said these vans aren't cheap but i'd imagine them to be reliable, there are some quotes in the brouchure from what van saying favourable things, also the post office use them.

although their getting a rest at the moment

would like to see a crew van in the flesh!

thanks lee.

[Dean Taberner]

ive got a 1.7 diesel one. its superb, got a tank in the bk with my freedom trolley connected to it.

[STEVE-UK]

ive just picked up a combo 1.3cdti 2000gvw model for £2100 on a 54 plate

i went for the 1.3 as the it takes 785 kilos,good on fuel and no cam belt, but have just found out its a fiat engine and they suffer cold start problems, the 1.3 goes ok when running but sluggish when pulling away(off turbo)

i would advise the 1.7

[lee_dewing]

that's great.

everything fits in then even with extra seats up?

what size tank you got in there?

any chance of a picture in future on here.

I'm quite excited by this van (am i sad )

just haven't found anything that ticked all the boxes don't want a great big van as i'm one man band and that was really the only way to go to get extra seat/s.

oh yep how do you find fuel economy, did you buy new 2nd hand or are you leaseing?

thanks for your input lee.

[lee_dewing]

thanks dean

thanks steve.

[HIGH LEVEL WINDOW CLEANERS (scrimmy)]

i have a 1.3 crew van on a 56 plate, its excellent for getting up to 10 25l containers in and the internal roof can take the poles no problem at all if you build a shelf for them....and the handy thing is you can carry 2 people in the back....i didnt know about them having no cam belt though, thats a bonus.

[HIGH LEVEL WINDOW CLEANERS (scrimmy)]

as regards fuel, i reckon there aint much difference with the 1.3 and the 1.7 as the smaller engine needs to work harder....i am going to replace my 1.3 in a couple of years for the 1.7 purely because there is no discount on the road tax for the 1.3 as its a commercial vehicle, so i would suggest you go for the 1.7 from the get go.

[lee_dewing]

scrimman, 10 barrels in is that with extra seats up or down?

If you didn't mind me asking how much did u pay?

oh yeh do you find 1.3 sluggish?

[HIGH LEVEL WINDOW CLEANERS (scrimmy)]

thats with the seats down,  i can get two fold down trolleys in with 2 backpacks and a pump box on a fold down trolley and the barrels and the poles etc....if i have the seats up i can get 1 trolley and 5 barrels in........the van was 4k to buy and i wouldnt say dont buy one as they seem to be reliable enough but i miss the power of the bigger engine.

[lee_dewing]

thanks scrimman,

sounds like you pack it all in nicely in there.

Just wondered can exra seats take weight on tem when there flat?

you must be keen on combo as it sounds like your getting another.

thanks for your replies.
lee

[HIGH LEVEL WINDOW CLEANERS (scrimmy)]

can take the weight no problem at all......they are factory designed to take the weight.....yes i would buy another one but with the bigger engine

[Scrimble]

the 1.7 is 100bhp and 170lb ft torque
the 1.3 is 70 odd bhp and 125 lb ft torque,

[lee_dewing]

thanks guys.

had enough of escort van going wrong,

i suppose that is a bit unfair it's been reliable til june this yr then fuel pump went, then wheel bearing damaging hub to.

now had new clutch fitted, eve before going to mates garage front exhaust box come away

all these events happened just after i'd had full service new tyres put on.

Oh yeh and i was telling everyone what a great van it was

at least i know what my next van will be as i couldn't make my mind up was thinking of citoren berlingo new one leaseing, would prefer to buy but heard a few bad stories on here about all things french italian, but i suppose it's how you treat em too.

thanks all
lee

[Central Window Cleaners]

I have a VW caddy with the same seat conversion best van we have ever bought. currently looking for a 210ltr tank that will fit between the wheel arches.

[lee_dewing]

hi mate,

was this seat modification something you had to pay for as an extra spec or is there a crew version of caddy?

thanks lee