Need to replace my daily with a van now really, after selling my Clio Cup I will have around 2.5 - 3k to spend hopefully, so looking at connects, as only after a small van. Anyone got experiance of them? Anything to look for, or avoid?

 

cant go wrong in my opinion, can pick up some right bargains, we use them as our work fleet vehicles

just make sure its well serviced, and should do you well. the only issues we've had is clutch & fuel pump issues but in our experience the fuel pump issue is exagerated.

think the are meant to be serviced every 15k IIRC

 

very very good vans

 

i thrash the tits off my van every day, do 1000 miles a week and as yet has never let me down, now have 110,000 on the clock.

 

There a cracking van matey we have a few in our fleet and there a crackin van compared to ghe vauxhall combos.

 

mine had a heavy ladder rack with heavy ladders and would puick up its inside wheels on roundabouts lol

watch the sills, they bend very very easy, cut a corner over a grass mount and they are bent, i did a few on my vans, most of em i banged straight with a bit of wood and a lumpo hammer from the inside

ive never seen one rot, panels and cheap and easy, i beleve focus tdi engines are the same and as old ones focuses are now a few hundred im lookin for one with a duff lump to donor a focus into to repair, never any local but plenty in the middle and south

 

im also gonna get one of these a tddi as a ugrade from my escort van
you can pick them up cheap now you should get a good one on that budget

 

Dave- i have one at the moment that im using to run around in while the boys are using the bigger van... its done 185k and dont miss a beat. its a 75 hp, and does me TBH....

gona get rid soon, as i will have my escort finished to use. ( 130bhp derv!)

 

A steady drive lol and engine's aren't refined like the newer turbo diesel engines.....but i've had mine 2 years now and it's been mint, doesn't get treated particularly well, couple of oil changes and that's it and it's never let me down at all!!

 

Great alround small van just crap on diesel i find.

 

really? mines is fantastic on derv. better than the wifes Ranger

 

boeing make more efficient vehicles that rangers tho

 

ive got a 2006 ex british gas and i love it mate

 

yeah.. tell me about it.. she does more in that than i do running two vans.. or my FRS

 

I love mine, just make sure you get the 90ps one over the 75 if possible.

 

We had one as one of our delivery mules, had 210k on it when it went off to auction. The two Combos we had both dies before they hit 150k, and all three have been replaced by Bippers now
Connect was easily the best of the lot

 

There normally pretty good, mine sees around 40mpg

 

found that they really are shite on juice if you give it death, but they don't go wrong other than driveshafts and i found they absolutely EAT tyres

make sure you've got the later canvas boost hoses too as the earlier rubber ones split and, at around Ł37 each, they ain't cheap

keep the oil changed, every 15k, and they simply don't go wrong

 

they are spot on. have given mine shit loads of stick for the past 3 years every day and it has only broken down once... and even that was simple fix. Just needed a new fly by sensor. (wouldn't of happened with a throttle cable but hey). certainly can recommend one

 

i wish i was keeping mine now! but needs must i cant run 4 vans! but hey i wanted one ad owned one! good lil van!

 

All sounds good, cheers chaps! I just need to sell the Clio now

 

bad economy,300-350 miles max to a tank round town 1.8td

fiat doblo 1.9td and a hell of alot faster 500-550miles to a tank round town

 

Exactly how mine is, im sometime lucky to get 300miles.

 

Agree with that Dojj.

Ive workes at the royal mail nearly 3 years now and have only ever changed 1 of these engines due to the piston been cracked.They are a solid van.

 

If you can get the 110 version it's better of fuel than the 90 or the 75 and it's much much faster

 

we have 2 new connect 'limited' in our yard, looks real nice, coloured bumpers, alloy wheels etc etc

 

I bought my connect a year ago at the end of this month, 55 plate, elec windows, cd player, front fogs, low miles, mint one owner (not a company) I love it, great little vans


Luciano

 

my advice is dont buy a early tdci they are nothing but bother. i ploughed 2.5k into mine in the space of 6 mnths.

if you want tdci please try and buy from 55/06 onwards.
or buy the little slower but miles stronger tddi engine, thats what i now own.

 

Had mine 3 years now and hasn,t missed a beat.Weak points are front drop links but apart from that they are bullet proof.They look nice modded as well.
Mine:

 

that looks lovely, focus st wheels? fancy a Clio Cup

 

All Good - No problems in 9000 miles in a year .

42 MPG .

 

Had mine almost two years and I'd say they are average... no cabin storage in spite of it's large size, tiny glove box, half size passenger seat (I think some came with full size though?) very poor on fuel and power but it is essentially the same engine as the old Escort vans so was expected.... but as with the Escorts if you keep them serviced they will last forever.

 

I don't know if they suffer the same problems as 130K Diesel Mondeo's where the High pressure pump breaks up (Bosch) and contaminates the fuel lines and distroys the Injectors !
This is Bad news as repairs are often Ł1000 to include new fuel Tank .

I'll sell mine b4 100K Miles .

 

Holy shit this thread was 3 years old
Ha ha ha ha ha