countryman Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 Hi Looking at buying one of these for work but will all so be using it for day to day use as well, any one drive one ? I would like to know what they are like to live with, mpg, reliability that sort of thing, it will be around an 08 year. Thanks Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 (edited) Hi Looking at buying one of these for work but will all so be using it for day to day use as well, any one drive one ? I would like to know what they are like to live with, mpg, reliability that sort of thing, it will be around an 08 year. Thanks Chris I had an 08 vivaro sportive from new for 3 years, replaced 3 fuel pumps in the tank, two wheel bearings and the stupid connector they use for the gear linkage is prone to pop off as you are in rush hour traffic,i had 4 of those replaced(bad design ),on the plus side it shifted,was comfortable for a van.two months after i sold it the clutch went 124000 and steering unit pump went. i averaged 32 mpg. And my mate who is a chippie pointed out that a sheet of ply will fit in at an angle (opposite corners) whereas a transit could take the ply slid in on one side. Edited January 28, 2014 by welsh1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 Had one loved it to drive Hated the amount of money it cost me to keep it on the road Now drive a transit and no going back the back bone of Britain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 I had an older one (2005). Great van to drive, 35 mpg on average, better on a good run and it was pretty reliable, nothing major....right up to the point where the gearbox imploded. It's a known fault and allegedly rectified on later models, I believe around the '08 mark. I'd have another but newer one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plank06 Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 Fuel economy is above average for vans, very comfortable, but i personally don't like the driving position. Quite nippy as vans go too, the 6th gear really helps Performance and economy . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 Done 180k in 10 yrs in two traffics,if the auto was any good I would buy a third.Circa 150 pounds in repairs ecluding discs,pads,tyres etc. I would buy a new one in a flash but a used one I would be wary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countryman Posted January 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 Thanks for the replys, is the Renault Traffic the same van? Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 renault traffic and nissan primastar all the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaz Posted January 29, 2014 Report Share Posted January 29, 2014 I've had mine for over 3yrs, ex AA and is spot on on, done 150k now and I've done 60k of that with 1 major problem, the steering pump went but can't grumble at that. Mines on 06 plate and is better nick than my 2009 transit, don't wanna start a van wars either. I wouldn't hesitate in having another. Comfy, economical and reliable, done a 1200 mile since last Thursday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andypaint Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 I've got a Nissan primastar its a 2005 had from new done 80k and never had a problem with it. Just usual tyres and brakes. Does go through lower wishbones alot though. Very comfy and good on juice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeverReady Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 (edited) I've use them at work daily and put a lot of miles on them. The first one I had was around 4 years ago (and group wide we had around 350 of them)... The first one we put ~145k on the clock from new in 18-24 months with no problems at all other than the usual wear and tear of tyres and brakes. The only reason it was replaced was it had a 125k lease/buy back on them. Currently been running two of them with different engines (in SWB and LWB versions) for 18 months with around 75k on each of them at the moment. The only recurring problem we've had with one of them is the drivers side headlight keeps going pop. Averaging around 40mpg in both of them but they (my field techs) will do on average 3-400+ miles a day in them. They've all been properly maintained (and I'm not saying others haven't properly maintained theirs) and serviced every 20k and they're an alright drive but having said that we're moving over to the Mercedes Vito in the summer when we hit the mileage on these and personally the new Vito is a much nicer drive with a very similar load space. Iain Edited January 30, 2014 by NeverReady Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted January 31, 2014 Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 Don't forget to buy a fire extinguisher too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malik Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Had an 05 one. Had 2 gear boxes put in it and it only had 60k on it!! Someone else i know had gearbox problems too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIGHT SEARCHER Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 6 speed gearbox is very weak and they are over a grand a time to fix. A courier firm has had two gearboxes in less than 150.000 miles. Bills over £3000. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countryman Posted February 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 So is it just the earlier models that have gearbox problems, what year should i go from, or is this still a problem with newer ones. Thanks Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88b Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 Renault vans have had weak gearboxes for the last 20 years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 I believe they changed the 'boxes after 2006 which appears to have resolved it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorset1973 Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 We run them for our fleet vans : They get through clutches, gearboxes, collapsed seats, electronic problems etc etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 The 2007 on vans had no cambelt,better gearboxes and turbos,They are not the best built van for sure,but what does last?Vitos have rust issues,VW have problems of ther own. I would be very wary of a used van of any breed,too many are rallied by staff,thrashed of the line,snatching gears.I loved mine,i needed it but I still wouldnnt want it at 7 yrs old and 110k. find a good one and snap it up then set a bit aside for the repairs. or buy a new I load with the long warranty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countryman Posted February 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 Thanks, i think i will look for the newest one i can afford, looks like it will be around 08 to 10 Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegleg31 Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 I've just purchased a 10 plate 2.5l sportive150bhp, it's only £120 a year to tax and it's great on fuel haven't got a clue on mileage but to go from lincoln to Leeds and back cost me about £13. Wouldn't say they're the best vans but for the money they're hard to beat. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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