S1rst

Ok im looking at buying new vans within the next couple of weeks, and was wondering what opinions the owners/drivers have on the above vans. Ive only had the Combo personally, and to be fair they've been 100% reliable.

Just wanted to way up my options before i go out and buy Combo's again. Along with reliability obviously, fuel consumption of the above vehicles is of major interest to me due to the amount of miles they'll be doing.

All opinions appreciated.

Cheers

dojj

iTrader: (3)

berlingos won't last the distance
we had a few and they were shit over 3 years, totaly and utterly dead, not as dead as the kangoo's, but along the same sort of lines

no comment on the combo as i've never driven them but we've got a fleet of connects, high tops, with fridges in
things i would change are the ridiculously small fuel tanks and the cv joints go every 50-60k (ours are reaching the 126k mark now and the whole lot have gone again
and they eat tyres, probably because they handle fairly well

but other than that not a lot goes wrong with them, one more thing is that they tend to lose the little bumper corner gaurds with even the slightly touch

and fit a safe-t-bar on the back because it's cheaper than rebuilding the corners

service is every 15k

ors have fridges on the top and boxed out rears which add a fair amount of weight to them and they do probably around the 25 mpg mark, but that's with the fridges on constantly which adds about another 40% or so to the fuel economy and we use the 90 bhp versions

bud-weis

i've used all three and prefer the combo....although it can be thirsty if thrashed everywhere, like mine ...it's a CDTi though.

it will give great economy if i drive sensibly

gingeRS

connect everyday of the week, combos are crap and berlingo's are french

nuff said



as Dojj said, get a safe-t-bar, saved my bacon alot of times.

bud-weis

the conect was shit to drive imo.

the combo is the only one that actually drives like a car and is ok to live with day to day.

dojj

iTrader: (3)

but does it drive like a car because of it's lack of load space?

S1rst

Thanks all.

To be honest load space isnt a really a concern for me as long as they can all get a pallet in, which they all can so not an issue.

Im thinking it may be better to stick with what i know. Ive heard stories of reliability issues with the connects (as you said dojj, cv's, springs, and even heard of a few gearbox issue, although not sure if its just hearsay).

Anyone ever had a problem with the lower speed limit on the connects?

To be honest ive been getting 46-48mpg consistently out of mine, and thats not really hanging about. Obviously every mpg counts as thats my main cost.

Im thinking i may stick to what i know is tried and tested for me personally.

S1rst

Probably just because its based on a car mate, whereas the connects are not, hence the lower speed limits placed on the connects.

I assme berlingo's are based on the C3?

Gatecrasher

Owned all 3 and the connect is by far the best

S1rst

In what way mate? How many mpg were you getting on a run, and how did they differ?

I wont be driving them so how they actually drive and handle is irrelevant to me.

dojj

iTrader: (3)

the gearbox thing conceres a recall about the clutch pedal dropping after a while when it gets hot
we had ours fixed under warranty but they still get a little low on occaion, pulling the pedal up with your hand solves the problem though so it's not a desperately difficult fix

COS 22

iTrader: (1)

connect for me

bought one new 2003, no real probs at all, gearbox is a bit rattly and throttle fly by wire died at 50k, under warranty though

but 75k and it still runs sweet as

JamesH

iTrader: (21)

I've got a connect, and I love it

BigChuck

i work for a company that converts new vans into taxis, i've worked on and driven all three, i would go for the connect,it was built better and drove well, if not the connect it would be the combo for me.

Madbradz

What about a Combo with lpg as its an optional extra on vauxhall vans......

My Astra van came with LPG from the factory and I'm doing about 300-350 miles to a tank all motorway.....

A tank costs about £22-25....

Also exempt from Congestion charge....

I Have done 100k with no probs, Just had a service, Cant fault it!!

Also its a basic petrol engine so very easy and cheap to repair unlike diesels - Pumps, Injection etc....

Eagle

iTrader: (2)

i just got a dispatch and actually think its quite good .. brakes are very very good, @2500rpm your doing 70 mph, got 530 miles from a tank and it wasn't in the red
pulls very well and handles well with it too .. air suspension on the rear so you can raise or lower the back 4 inches

Turboboy67

I have a Berlingo HDi on a Y reg, got 162k on the clock,

burns no oil or water, chipped to 115 bhp /260 nm of torque.

50mpg, I would deffo have another

KnoxyGtt

iv got berlingo on 156k and its still going strong, but then again i only use it for my bike and towing my corsa to track days, its just the 1.9D and its so fucking slow, wont go over 80 mph

I get just aover 110 miles to a tenner, it handles decent for a van but then again its more car then van tbh, my friend works for the Glasgow counsil as a mechanic and he works on all 3 car and test drives them all day every day

He "thinks" berlingos are shite to drive because of the seating position, he says when gose to change gear and use the clutch he can feel the metal frame of the seat hiting his leg, i however dont and never have had this problem, he says doing the clutch and timming belt is a right cunt

He seems to think connects are just shite all together, he says they drive shite and are shite to work on, but then again you wont be working on it and its a van so what do u expect from a driving view

He however says that the newer astra vans are quite decent, they pull good and drive nice but there not all that big inside

S1rst

Thanks again, some excellent info here.

Lpg would be really good for me actually. Im going to look at the figures in more detail and work out how much it would potentially save me. Two vans doing over 500 miles a day between them (hopefully), and me still going as i was, would save me a fortune, especially if you dont pay congestion charge (as i may be able to get away with pricing the job with the charge cost still in there, if the customer doesnt notice the gas cap )

Cheers all.

James

i drove a combo for the first time yesterday, as said drives just like a car unlike the connect which drives just like a rattly old van!

connect or combo? handling or comfort really!

Madbradz

I swear by it... And I'm Doing about 1500 miles a week.... And yes I still charge an extra £8 for working in the zone.....

For me a tank of petrol is £50 quid and I get not far off 400 miles to it...

50ltrs of lpg is £25 max and I get around 300-350.....

Also save £8 every day I go into the CC Zone,

Its such a saving.... From me going to lpg at the moment on 1500 miles a week Im saving around £100 a week.... fuel bill almost halved and no cc charge!

rapidcossie

I have had kangoos, connects and berlingos and my current van is an 07 plate cdti combo.

Combo is prob best overall.

Kangoo was a good wee van.

Didnt like Connect at all for some reason.

I drove a 07 plate berlingo last week and it was really quick for a van but felt a bit thin and plastic if you know what i mean.