[Jonny 87]

Ello chaps,

I'm in two minds at the minute. Next year I'm looking to possibly change vans and at the minute I have a vw caddy. I would love a vw transporter but just can't really justify spending the money on it when I do very little mileage and could probably get away with something else not as expensive as a vw.

I would really like to be able to carry more water......legally.   and potentially going to start gutter clearing with a vac, so the extra space and payload sounds very appealing.

Doing some research the short wheel base vivaro with 115 bhp seems to look really good. Reliability seems to be good aswell, which I didn't expect to be honest.

Any vivaro users out there that could give me more confidence?

Would you recommend the vivaro?

Thank you in advance,

Jonny.

[Richard iSparkle]

i've got one.  had it from new and now 3.5 yrs in. very happy with it.  really good to drive and reliable.  i will definately get the same again

[Jonny 87]

i've got one.  had it from new and now 3.5 yrs in. very happy with it.  really good to drive and reliable.  i will definately get the same again

Thanks richard. That's what I wanted to hear.

[Clever Forum Name]

Go for the more powerful engine and ideally the 2.9T version (1250kg payload)

[PoleKing]

I'm on my 2nd Trafic. (Same van but Renault badged)
First one was bsolitely perfect upto 90k.
Agro after.
This ones 2 years old now 26k on it, not missed a beat (but you'd expect that from a brand new van)
Lovely to drive.
If I was you I'd get the transporter though.
Vw is much nicer in every way.

[robert mitchell]

Hi

I have had a 58 reg vivaro for about six months now .

They drive very very well , comfortable ,quick and nice handling .

I have a 650 grippamax in the back and being a fairly flat tank it doesn't leave much room for a vac and no room for a benny.

mine is the swb , a lab would have enough room .

Of course if your tank is smaller /more upright you will have plenty of room(i also have my filters on board taking up room).


The only issues i have had are aircon(fixed by the garage i brought from under warranty), new battery (the original one was still going but was getting sluggish , can't complain as its nearly five years old).

mine has 90000 miles on so i am expecting a few issues here and there but i got it for a good price .

overall very pleased with it.

[Jonny 87]

I'm on my 2nd Trafic. (Same van but Renault badged)
First one was bsolitely perfect upto 90k.
Agro after.
This ones 2 years old now 26k on it, not missed a beat (but you'd expect that from a brand new van)
Lovely to drive.
If I was you I'd get the transporter though.
Vw is much nicer in every way.

What kind of agro did you get Darren?

I like the vw but they really are expensive unless I go for a much older one, then that could bring its own grief.

[PoleKing]

I'm on my 2nd Trafic. (Same van but Renault badged)
First one was bsolitely perfect upto 90k.
Agro after.
This ones 2 years old now 26k on it, not missed a beat (but you'd expect that from a brand new van)
Lovely to drive.
If I was you I'd get the transporter though.
Vw is much nicer in every way.

What kind of agro did you get Darren?

I like the vw but they really are expensive unless I go for a much older one, then that could bring its own grief.

Turbo issues.
Renault were less than useless.
Local mechanic sorted me out in the end.
Long & short, he reckoned one of the ball bearings around the turbo had shattered and was sending shards of it into the fuel or something.
Don't quote me, I'm not mechanically minded at all! But turbo/ball bearing shattering was definitely the cause he said.
It was a 53 2.5.
I heard that the pre 07 ones have issues but after seem to have been sorted.
Are you paying cash for your new wagon?
What's your budget if so?

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

there great when running well but a mare when go wrong , we had them with 290k on the clock running all over Europe on same day work and they had the life beaten out of them

things to watch

water , air intakes low down on engine so watch for floods
gearboxes , let go easy if you don't change the box oil every six months
low reving vans , you will have to learn to change gear faster as they don't like getting a boot full


apart from that they just suffer with the same as any other van and make work them hard pay hard treat them well they wont cost you in the long run

[Jonny 87]

I'm on my 2nd Trafic. (Same van but Renault badged)
First one was bsolitely perfect upto 90k.
Agro after.
This ones 2 years old now 26k on it, not missed a beat (but you'd expect that from a brand new van)
Lovely to drive.
If I was you I'd get the transporter though.
Vw is much nicer in every way.

What kind of agro did you get Darren?

I like the vw but they really are expensive unless I go for a much older one, then that could bring its own grief.

Turbo issues.
Renault were less than useless.
Local mechanic sorted me out in the end.
Long & short, he reckoned one of the ball bearings around the turbo had shattered and was sending shards of it into the fuel or something.
Don't quote me, I'm not mechanically minded at all! But turbo/ball bearing shattering was definitely the cause he said.
It was a 53 2.5.
I heard that the pre 07 ones have issues but after seem to have been sorted.
Are you paying cash for your new wagon?
What's your budget if so?

When doing some research I heard of that problem actually, it can wreck the fuel pump and cost £1000's, but 08 plate on seem to be ok.

Budget depends really, not decided yet. Last van I bought was 6.5k, I wouldn't like to go any higher than 8 for a big van. Then again, if I go to a garage and they offer a good finance deal on a new van I could be tempted too.

Still gotta do my research I think.

[Jonny 87]

there great when running well but a mare when go wrong , we had them with 290k on the clock running all over Europe on same day work and they had the life beaten out of them

things to watch

water , air intakes low down on engine so watch for floods
gearboxes , let go easy if you don't change the box oil every six months
low reving vans , you will have to learn to change gear faster as they don't like getting a boot full


apart from that they just suffer with the same as any other van and make work them hard pay hard treat them well they wont cost you in the long run

Thanks Susan.

[andyM]

there great when running well but a mare when go wrong , we had them with 290k on the clock running all over Europe on same day work and they had the life beaten out of them

things to watch

water , air intakes low down on engine so watch for floods
gearboxes , let go easy if you don't change the box oil every six months
low reving vans , you will have to learn to change gear faster as they don't like getting a boot full


apart from that they just suffer with the same as any other van and make work them hard pay hard treat them well they wont cost you in the long run

Jeez change the gearbox oil every 6 months?
Never heard of doing that on any vehicle....ever.

[Diamond standard ltd]

We have two the probs we had are ball joints going, and cam shaft sensor gone. When the cam sensor goes so does the crank sensor but all in all good vans. But re sale value go for the vw because of the following they have you will not lose as much money.

[Clever Forum Name]

there great when running well but a mare when go wrong , we had them with 290k on the clock running all over Europe on same day work and they had the life beaten out of them

things to watch

water , air intakes low down on engine so watch for floods
gearboxes , let go easy if you don't change the box oil every six months
low reving vans , you will have to learn to change gear faster as they don't like getting a boot full


apart from that they just suffer with the same as any other van and make work them hard pay hard treat them well they wont cost you in the long run

Jeez change the gearbox oil every 6 months?
Never heard of doing that on any vehicle....ever.

i used to change the gearbox oil in my escort rs turbo every 3 or 4 months.....due to be going through 4 gearboxes in a year

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

there great when running well but a mare when go wrong , we had them with 290k on the clock running all over Europe on same day work and they had the life beaten out of them

things to watch

water , air intakes low down on engine so watch for floods
gearboxes , let go easy if you don't change the box oil every six months
low reving vans , you will have to learn to change gear faster as they don't like getting a boot full


apart from that they just suffer with the same as any other van and make work them hard pay hard treat them well they wont cost you in the long run

Jeez change the gearbox oil every 6 months?
Never heard of doing that on any vehicle....ever.

 in six months ours could do 60k-80k and more it was a small price to pay instead of a van comeing back from the eu on a recovery truck 11 pounds worth of oil vs 1200 pounds gearbox rebuild

[S.W. Window Cleaning]

I just took delivery of a new vivaro today. Looks great. Well pleased so far. I looked at a lot of vans but I think these are hard to beat. Low rate finance as well.
  Steve 

[Clever Forum Name]

I just took delivery of a new vivaro today. Looks great. Well pleased so far. I looked at a lot of vans but I think these are hard to beat. Low rate finance as well.
  Steve 

Spill the beans on price and payments then pwwwwease

[Jonny 87]

I just took delivery of a new vivaro today. Looks great. Well pleased so far. I looked at a lot of vans but I think these are hard to beat. Low rate finance as well.
  Steve 

Spill the beans on price and payments then pwwwwease

I inderstand if you don't want to say, but it would be interesting to know. 

[Roger Oakley]

I just took delivery of a new vivaro today. Looks great. Well pleased so far. I looked at a lot of vans but I think these are hard to beat. Low rate finance as well.
  Steve 

Same here had mine for just over a month and can't fault it.

[poleman]

I have had one on a 04 plate and had it for 5 years no problem, but when it went past 100k I had problems with fuel injectors which is £200 each and a pain to remove