[Steven Biggs]

It's time to weigh in my reliable 13 year old scudo . I don't really want to as it has started every morning the last 7 years and still flies . All for £2000. But I need something bigger and I suppose newer . So I could do with some advice as I am crap at engines . Tomorrow im off to look at a Renault traffic 2.0 tddcill29sport lwb. It's 2011 and done 79000 miles . Also a Vauxhall vivaro 2.0 CDti sportive 2900lwb. 2012 and done 75000 miles . The prices are nearly the same and the age doesn't bother me . Just wondered what I should ask regarding the cam belts and anything else that would need doing or faults on em . Any advice would be great . Cheers

[dazmond]

a vivaro or traffic with 75000 miles on the clock are bound to cause you problems.you never know though you might be lucky.i wouldnt buy one though second hand.only a brand new one.

[SB Cleaning]

I have a 65 plate vivaro and cant fault it.

[Slash]

I had a Vivaro from new and had it for 3 years with no problems,I've heard a lot of complaints about the eletrics in Traffics but they are the same van basically.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

Just go with the one that has a better service history or feels and sounds better.

It's all about how it's been driven and looked after rather than the make. 

[Steven Biggs]

So should I kick the tyres  then  .  Cos that's my  lot when looking at vans . Do. The belts need changing at this mileage . Tried doing some online research but not much help . So I would rather get some advice from folk in the know . Can't even find the payload . I assume they are both over a 1000 cos that's the minimum I need .

[AuRavelling79]

If you've had a good Scudo (which is PSA Citroen/Peugeot/Fiat) then why not do the same again? Higher payload and 2.0L plus engine.

I always hear good reports about Pug/Fiat - but stick with the 2.0 engine (or larger).

[martinw]

2900 vivaro lwb payload is 1211-1243kg. Wheel bearings go on them. Gearboxes are ok now. Only you will get in trouble if solenoid goes inside gearbox goes out of blue. You won't be able to put in a gear.  Seen this three times on newer models. They have timing chains. Injectors seize up due to design.  If I were you I would insist on seeing one without any ply lining as it usually hides something if it has been replaced by brand new one.
Check for oil leaks from turbo. 2011  I have has served for last 4 years quite well.

[Steven Biggs]

Just not seen any lwb local ones . Plus forgot to put the others are crew cab 6 seaters . Which I need for at least 3 years . Just been to look at a vw   T5 long wheel base . 2011 . 120000 miles just had the belt changed and fsh. 6 seats and the space in the back is massive .immaculate bodywork. Even with 6 seats there is still more room in the back than my scudo . The guy reckons it will still be going when the vivaro and traffic are in the scrappers . But he would . 

[Steven Biggs]

Cheers Martin for that in depth reply . That's put me off .a bit

[Frankybadboy]

a vivaro or traffic with 75000 miles on the clock are bound to cause you problems.you never know though you might be lucky.i wouldnt buy one though second hand.only a brand new one.

do your research daz and your find that pre 56 plates where the problems

[dazmond]

a vivaro or traffic with 75000 miles on the clock are bound to cause you problems.you never know though you might be lucky.i wouldnt buy one though second hand.only a brand new one.

do your research daz and your find that pre 56 plates where the problems

i have.ask most mechanics theyll tell you there crap vans esp if your buying second hand with 75000+ on the clock.i know 2 mechanics and they told me to steer clear of them so i have.they obviously know a lot more about the vans than me.

[P @ F]

To be honest , i would not buy either , even if brand new , i just dont rate them , more so after the last fiasco with the poorly designed injector issue , not to mention the poor gearboxes , they say its sorted now , sadly the damage is done , and i feel its only a matter of time or miles until  the next issue comes to light 

[Steven Biggs]

Thanks for the input . Put off em both now , although I'm sure you get good ones . Just like my scudo . The vw t32 is looking more attractive after doing a bit of research . Still can't believe how much room you get inside em . Just one issue which I'm sure I will get round . Gunna have to learn to pull the hose out of the back door after years of using the side door .

[rich fraser]

Thanks for the input . Put off em both now , although I'm sure you get good ones . Just like my scudo . The vw t32 is looking more attractive after doing a bit of research . Still can't believe how much room you get inside em . Just one issue which I'm sure I will get round . Gunna have to learn to pull the hose out of the back door after years of using the side door .

I’ve had a T5 and now got a T6. T32 150bhp. It’s a joy to drive every day. I’ve had rollers fitted through the van floor and then another set below rear bumper. The reels are stacked to and bolted through the floor to save space. I mainly did this so I didn’t scratch the rear bumper with hose but I can also close and lock the doors when at the back of houses.

[Steven Biggs]

Yeh thinking something like that might work .. It will still take some getting used to .

[Simon Trapani]

To be honest , i would not buy either , even if brand new , i just dont rate them , more so after the last fiasco with the poorly designed injector issue , not to mention the poor gearboxes , they say its sorted now , sadly the damage is done , and i feel its only a matter of time or miles until  the next issue comes to light 

I've had an 04 plate Vivaro for 9 years. Still looks great. Yes it's had a few problems over the years as expected with any vehicle. Notably one injector fail, new turbo, steering rack & the clutch has always juddered since I had it. Have not long bought a 16 plate Vivaro which is still under warranty. No problems so far touch wood. I didn't realise how much things had moved on though until I got the new one.

[philip.parkin@talk21.com]

I went to my local Citroen dealer and was offered a brand new dispatch 1.6 HDi 6 speed gearbox 115bhp variant for £271 with a £5k deposit over 48 months. dont know if thats good because i usually buy second hand but seemed reasonable to me. there was no balloon payment either if you wanted to keep it after the 48 months.

[KS Cleaning]

I went to my local Citroen dealer and was offered a brand new dispatch 1.6 HDi 6 speed gearbox 115bhp variant for £271 with a £5k deposit over 48 months. dont know if thats good because i usually buy second hand but seemed reasonable to me. there was no balloon payment either if you wanted to keep it after the 48 months.

No that's not a good deal at all, that would mean you were paying 18k for the van including the finance, I'm sure you can pick up the 1.6 versions quite cheap although you are probably better paying the extra for the 2.0 version

[Walter Mitty]

It's time to weigh in my reliable 13 year old scudo . I don't really want to as it has started every morning the last 7 years and still flies . All for £2000. But I need something bigger and I suppose newer . So I could do with some advice as I am crap at engines . Tomorrow im off to look at a Renault traffic 2.0 tddcill29sport lwb. It's 2011 and done 79000 miles . Also a Vauxhall vivaro 2.0 CDti sportive 2900lwb. 2012 and done 75000 miles . The prices are nearly the same and the age doesn't bother me . Just wondered what I should ask regarding the cam belts and anything else that would need doing or faults on em . Any advice would be great . Cheers

Personally, I would only buy one of those if it were brand new, with a view to chopping it in after 5 years/60,000 miles.  I had a Trafic and the last 25,000 miles of its life were pretty stressful.  I sold it to an auction company at the end (with full disclosure from me) when it was 13 years old and had about 130,000 miles on it.  I had to open my wallet a lot more than I would have wished to get it there. In its last four years, I think it had 5 rides on the back of a recovery vehicle.  The driver even said "Hi, you again?" at one point.
They are lovely and comfortable to drive, but I would rather have something that sounds and feels like a diesel so long as it's reliable.