As some of you are aware, I'm starting up my own business. For this I need to buy a relatively new van (looking the part gets you more work and all that).
I've come up with two alternatives and would like your thoughts on which , in your opinion is the better van to go for. They're both a similar price so that shouldn't be taken into consideration.
The choises are :-
[b]Ford Transit-Connect[/b]
[b]Peugeot Expert[/b]
If any of you have heard any horror stories about either, could you please let me know. You help would be very much apreciated.

Peugeot expert is very reliable, I think the load space is bigger too, but the Ford Connect looks better and I guess the parts will be cheaper for servicing.

Good luck with your new venture DUNCAN ..

personally i would go for an older toyota hiace

very reliable
nice looking
drive like cars
best power steering i ever used
comfortable
and you can join the TOC


my experience with fords is that they have cheap parts because you use so many of them

yep bazza is right the toyota is a lovely van ,out of the two you mention i would go for the transit connect just because it looks better ,the Peugeot has got the better engine though if you go for the HDi it go,s like stink as well

i use to have the exsoert,brand new,it was gutless,you must go for the turbo if you get onr,nice van though,

Well, it depends on what the business IS! How much space do you need? Doing only local tootling, or longer journeys? Giz a klue?
I can recommend my own Nissan S-Cargo! (no, I'm NOT selling it! ), if you need a small van. It's worth it's weight in astonished looks alone! And people see your name in big letters on the side while they're standing there laughing!
But it wouldn't do for fast M-way stuff. SLOW M-way stuff yes, but not in windty times, it's 6 feet tall, but only @ 10 feet long! NOT streamlined! Just friendly (like the owner!)

[quote name='dobedo' date='Jul 11 2004, 08:16 PM']personally i would go for an older toyota hiace

very reliable
nice looking
drive like cars
best power steering i ever used
comfortable
and you can join the TOC


my experience with fords is that they have cheap parts because you use so many of them

[/quote]
Totally agree with dobedo here.
made by the same co.(sort of) as a lexus

Good luck with your venture


john

Mitsubishi Canter

im currently looking at the Opel Vivaro

Transits have air con,lovely to drive and are much more reliable these days.

Vans have moved on somewhat

[quote name='Scorpion' date='Jul 11 2004, 10:05 PM']Transits have air con,lovely to drive and are much more reliable these days.

Vans have moved on somewhat[/quote]
my van has air con
and electric sunroof
and cd player
and auto gearbox

and its 14 years old
and its japanese
although a nissan

[quote name='dobedo' date='Jul 11 2004, 10:14 PM'][quote name='Scorpion' date='Jul 11 2004, 10:05 PM'] Transits have air con,lovely to drive and are much more reliable these days.

Vans have moved on somewhat[/quote]
my van has air con
and electric sunroof
and cd player
and auto gearbox

and its 14 years old
and its japanese
although a nissan

[/quote]
Thought you had a tv too bazza?

have you thought about the renault traffic ,now thats a nice looking van .i have the renault master and have done 15,000 miles with out a problem

[quote name='RazRankin' date='Jul 11 2004, 10:33 PM'][quote name='dobedo' date='Jul 11 2004, 10:14 PM'] [quote name='Scorpion' date='Jul 11 2004, 10:05 PM'] Transits have air con,lovely to drive and are much more reliable these days.

Vans have moved on somewhat[/quote]
my van has air con
and electric sunroof
and cd player
and auto gearbox

and its 14 years old
and its japanese
although a nissan

[/quote]
Thought you had a tv too bazza? [/quote]
took it out as it attracted to much attention

[quote name='dobedo' date='Jul 11 2004, 09:14 PM'][quote name='Scorpion' date='Jul 11 2004, 10:05 PM'] Transits have air con,lovely to drive and are much more reliable these days.

Vans have moved on somewhat[/quote]
my van has air con
and electric sunroof
and cd player
and auto gearbox

and its 14 years old
and its japanese
although a nissan

[/quote]
[SIZE=7]THere you are, folks!! TWO of us with Nissan S-Cargos. Who said Lexus drivers were conservative?

How about the new Renault Traffic - we have them a work and they are like driving a car

Thanks for your replies everyone, very interesting, keep em coming !
(I don't want anything as big as a SWB Transit though)

[quote name='DUNCAN' date='Jul 11 2004, 07:52 PM']As some of you are aware, I'm starting up my own business. For this I need to buy a relatively new van (looking the part gets you more work and all that).
I've come up with two alternatives and would like your thoughts on which , in your opinion is the better van to go for. They're both a similar price so that shouldn't be taken into consideration.
The choises are :-
[b]Ford Transit-Connect[/b]
[b]Peugeot Expert[/b]
If any of you have heard any horror stories about either, could you please let me know. You help would be very much apreciated. [/quote]
the transit has problems with the pump, ford know about this but it takes a little
longer to sort under warranty, that is if you buy new or nearly new. Make sure the pump is covered..

[quote]the transit has problems with the pump, ford know about this but it takes a little
longer to sort under warranty, that is if you buy new or nearly new. Make sure the pump is covered..[/quote]

Thanks for that mate, do you know that from personal experiance ? Is it a common fault on all the connect range ?
I'm looking into buying 6 months to a year old, that way I wont loose too much money as I would if I bought new.

[quote name='DUNCAN' date='Jul 12 2004, 07:33 PM'][quote] the transit has problems with the pump, ford know about this but it takes a little
longer to sort under warranty, that is if you buy new or nearly new. Make sure the pump is covered..[/quote]

Thanks for that mate, do you know that from personal experiance ? Is it a common fault on all the connect range ?
I'm looking into buying 6 months to a year old, that way I wont loose too much money as I would if I bought new. [/quote]
A mate of mine runs a hire firm, he told me about the problems he has with the transit, don't buy a iveco they are always breaking down but the one wich he says is most reliable is peuogot/citreon.

sorry it took so long as one had to speak to him before i replied.
I don.t think you can get more reliable than a hire firm. They replace there vans every 18mths as they get a good deal with the manufactures.

hope it helps

Is this to big then Duncan ?

[url="http://www.renault.co.uk/RenaultSITe/puma/GB/PROD_GB/MEL_PROD/en/Trafic_X83/p1.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1185071657.1089743772@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdadclmjmimhhcfngcfkmdfkjdfmi.0"]Renault Traffic[/url]

the traffic is also known as the Opel Vivaro

well nice to drive, as i said, im looking at getting one, for a support vehicle for the race car.unless toyota want to give me one

I've driven them at work, like drive a car handle quite well for a van and are quite quick

We have two fiat scudo at work (same body as the PUG) they are crap BIG TIME
I blew the engine up one last 3 weeks ago ........ was driving at 15 mph on the airport....it has 50,000 miles on it and has been serviced by fiat every 10,000....
took 3 weeks too fix it under warranty.

the other one we have is a new SX JTD goes like stink seriously quick....but the brakes are shocking nearly rear ended plenty of cars in it..... Moral of the story dont buy a fiat!!!

Nick

[quote name='Chris Shipley' date='Jul 13 2004, 06:43 PM']Is this to big then Duncan ?

[url="http://www.renault.co.uk/RenaultSITe/puma/GB/PROD_GB/MEL_PROD/en/Trafic_X83/p1.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1185071657.1089743772@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdadclmjmimhhcfngcfkmdfkjdfmi.0"]Renault Traffic[/url][/quote]
Thanks Chris, but it's too big for what I need.


Whiteman, from what you're saying, the peugeot sounds pretty reliable but only if I get the HDi version(or so I'm told)

Then again, nwc100 is saying they're crap........ I'm confused now !

Duncan i have two mates who both have done nearly 100k hassle free miles in peugeot HDi ,s with no major problems .they are a realy nice van and as i said earlier they are very quick for a van ,if its reliabilty you are after i would go for the peugeot HDi but the connect wins it for looks .

Was reallty saying the fiat version is crap..... I dont know if peugeot etc use there own engines etc but for certain the body is the same.

The old one a 52 reg that i wrecked had a new power steering pump at 23,000 miles as well i just dont think Fiat are all that great at making vans......

Does anyone know if the peugeots and citroens use diffrent engines or are they all just rebadged by the manufacturers??

As i say though our new JTD is rapid good for 110 on a private roadours also lugs around a fridge unit and a all the relevant insulation and fibreglass too.

Nick