[Stoots]

The swb relay/boxer L1 is 1400 payload and a better size imo

But there reliability isn’t  great and have you driven one ?  Horrible thing to drive

Yes I've just got one albeit the L2

Great payload and good spec.

I find it great to drive, smooth engine and comfy but it's a work van not a ferrari. What makes you say it's horrible to drive ?

As for reliability there's not a vehicle out there that someone will tell you is unreliable be it a dispatch, transit custom or a caddy etc.

Compared to many other vans driving  it is like taking a step back 10-15 years in time like driving a tractor , by modern standards , it’s very noisy, not that responsive , and heavy  controls , I guess it depends what you are used to driving , I agree it’s for work not pleasure , but the gearboxes are very prone to failure as is the clutch horrendous clutch judder in 1 st and reverse on hills  , they have a couple of modifications  to the clutch and gearboxes but it’s still very poor . I have friends that have had them in panel van form and motor homes and had nothing but trouble with them and ended up selling  them ion at a huge loss .

I've driven loads of vans and can't say it's any worse or better to drive than any other. Well actually it's better to drive than any I've had but it's brand new and all my others have been older vans so difficult to directly compare. It's not noisy at all then engine is very smooth and quiet and pulls well. Nothing heavy about the controls either steering is light. Can't fault the van at all tbh I really like it. It does look more dated than most modern vans I'll give you that.

A dispatch or custom may be better to drive, I don't know I've not tried the new ones but I'd put practicality over driving experience for a work van and it's much more practical size than those vans.

I can't comment on the gearbox issue there's nothing wrong with mine but Google any van and someone will have it down as unreliable so I will take that with a pinch of salt.

[Smudger]

Boxer - 9 years old - L1H1 - been great
Relay 3 Years old - L1H2 - faultless

Turning circle on these are fantastic
the only thing I don't like is the handbrake by the door.

We don't have a motorway in Norfolk so - having  van with 500 BHP, 0 to 60 in 6 seconds and cruising speed of an RAF fighter jet is pointless

As for Clutches - Transits have been the worst

Last year I brought a new Delivery 9 (Maxus) by SAIC) - nice ride - good handling - some of those modern techie things (if you like that sort of stuff) £17k

Darran

[Splash & dash]

Boxer - 9 years old - L1H1 - been great
Relay 3 Years old - L1H2 - faultless

Turning circle on these are fantastic
the only thing I don't like is the handbrake by the door.

We don't have a motorway in Norfolk so - having  van with 500 BHP, 0 to 60 in 6 seconds and cruising speed of an RAF fighter jet is pointless

As for Clutches - Transits have been the worst

Last year I brought a new Delivery 9 (Maxus) by SAIC) - nice ride - good handling - some of those modern techie things (if you like that sort of stuff) £17k

Darran

The delivery 9 is a nice van  several friends of mine have them , with regards to the Citroen and boxer to be fair I doubt you drive them ? It must surely be staff ?  Each to their own and I agree it’s a work van so not as worried about creature comforts, again performance isn’t important but you do need something with a bit of torque especially ware we are with constant hills , we also do work 300 miles from home so want something that will travel those kind of distances without struggling, French bases vehicles have always been renowned for electrical issues I have had enough Renault s over the years and had problems, Citroen , Peugeot, fiat all are renowned for clutch and gearbox issues and they still haven’t fixed the main problem.

[Smudger]

It’s Norfolk - it’s flat 🤣🤣😆

I don’t drive any van now - but yes I drove both for a while and found them better than other vans I’ve had - transit is nice and feels solid - I used a sprinter a few years back and didn’t like that at all

Darran

[dd]

I still have my dispatch which I bought new in 2006. Replaced clutch at 113k, no major problems so far. I suspect the newer version is less reliable.

My mechanic says french vans and fiat are more prone to electrical problems - but then he doesn't like any new van, he particularly dislikes dpf's.

[Shrek]

I still have my dispatch which I bought new in 1996. Replaced clutch at 113k, no major problems so far. I suspect the newer version is less reliable.

My mechanic says french vans and fiat are more prone to electrical problems - but then he doesn't like any new van, he particularly dislikes dpf's.

My custom has done 6900 miles , keeps coming up with exhaust filter needs cleaning and now developed an oil leak 😭

[dd]

I still have my dispatch which I bought new in 1996. Replaced clutch at 113k, no major problems so far. I suspect the newer version is less reliable.

My mechanic says french vans and fiat are more prone to electrical problems - but then he doesn't like any new van, he particularly dislikes dpf's.

My custom has done 6900 miles , keeps coming up with exhaust filter needs cleaning and now developed an oil leak 😭

My van is over 16 years old and has never had an oil leak. My personal view is new vans are too complex. I suppose in theory an electric van should be more reliable.

[KS Cleaning]

I still have my dispatch which I bought new in 1996. Replaced clutch at 113k, no major problems so far. I suspect the newer version is less reliable.

My mechanic says french vans and fiat are more prone to electrical problems - but then he doesn't like any new van, he particularly dislikes dpf's.

My custom has done 6900 miles , keeps coming up with exhaust filter needs cleaning and now developed an oil leak 😭

Take it on an open road and drive for a few miles in higher revs, this clears the exhaust filter.

[Bungle]

I still have my dispatch which I bought new in 1996. Replaced clutch at 113k, no major problems so far. I suspect the newer version is less reliable.

My mechanic says french vans and fiat are more prone to electrical problems - but then he doesn't like any new van,  he particularly dislikes dpf's.

My custom has done 6900 miles , keeps coming up with exhaust filter needs cleaning and now developed an oil leak 😭

Take it on an open road and drive for a few miles in higher revs, this clears the exhaust filter.

And leaves a trail of oil 

[Shrek]

I still have my dispatch which I bought new in 1996. Replaced clutch at 113k, no major problems so far. I suspect the newer version is less reliable.

My mechanic says french vans and fiat are more prone to electrical problems - but then he doesn't like any new van, he particularly dislikes dpf's.

My custom has done 6900 miles , keeps coming up with exhaust filter needs cleaning and now developed an oil leak 😭

Take it on an open road and drive for a few miles in higher revs, this clears the exhaust filter.

Thanks ks , I did actually do this a few months ago , I even took it to Scotland so a good few hours run 😂. About a month later it’s saying exhaust filter needs cleaning again keep driving. But it’s a bit difficult when it comes on mid morning and gotta keep stopping and starting all day. Booked it in the garage Wednesday for a diagnosis, see where this bloody oil is coming from

[KS Cleaning]

I still have my dispatch which I bought new in 1996. Replaced clutch at 113k, no major problems so far. I suspect the newer version is less reliable.

My mechanic says french vans and fiat are more prone to electrical problems - but then he doesn't like any new van, he particularly dislikes dpf's.

My custom has done 6900 miles , keeps coming up with exhaust filter needs cleaning and now developed an oil leak 😭

Take it on an open road and drive for a few miles in higher revs, this clears the exhaust filter.

Thanks ks , I did actually do this a few months ago , I even took it to Scotland so a good few hours run 😂. About a month later it’s saying exhaust filter needs cleaning again keep driving. But it’s a bit difficult when it comes on mid morning and gotta keep stopping and starting all day. Booked it in the garage Wednesday for a diagnosis, see where this bloody oil is coming from

I have to do it about every 6 weeks or so, as you say it’s the stop/starting  and short journeys that cause it.

[Splash & dash]

I still have my dispatch which I bought new in 1996. Replaced clutch at 113k, no major problems so far. I suspect the newer version is less reliable.

My mechanic says french vans and fiat are more prone to electrical problems - but then he doesn't like any new van, he particularly dislikes dpf's.

My custom has done 6900 miles , keeps coming up with exhaust filter needs cleaning and now developed an oil leak 😭

Take it on an open road and drive for a few miles in higher revs, this clears the exhaust filter.

Thanks ks , I did actually do this a few months ago , I even took it to Scotland so a good few hours run 😂. About a month later it’s saying exhaust filter needs cleaning again keep driving. But it’s a bit difficult when it comes on mid morning and gotta keep stopping and starting all day. Booked it in the garage Wednesday for a diagnosis, see where this bloody oil is coming from

I have to do it about every 6 weeks or so, as you say it’s the stop/starting  and short journeys that cause it.

Since changing over to euro  6 engined  vehicles we don’t get this problem any more .

[Shrek]

I still have my dispatch which I bought new in 1996. Replaced clutch at 113k, no major problems so far. I suspect the newer version is less reliable.

My mechanic says french vans and fiat are more prone to electrical problems - but then he doesn't like any new van, he particularly dislikes dpf's.

My custom has done 6900 miles , keeps coming up with exhaust filter needs cleaning and now developed an oil leak 😭

Apparently it’s got a 3 year manufactures warranty that I didn’t realise it had, iv had it 2 years this Xmas . Booked in with Ford to fix it 😅