I like its utilitarian nature. Is it cheap to fix and what are the 2.0HDI’s biggest bill’s? I’d also consider a 1.4 or 1.5 – whichever engine is the most reliable (this is key to me).

I’m not looking to buy a huge-miler (but I am looking at the old shape).

If we needed a 2nd car for me to commute in I’d be tempted just by the fact its basically a van that can carry people if required. And they#re dirt cheap.

A neighbour has one. It’s not quite long enough to put a bike in straight, not quite big enough to put a new fridge in, or anything else that you might want to put in the back of a small van really. And unless you’re very tiny, you won’t be able to sleep in the back of it, ruling it out for camping trips etc.

So, it literally falls short in far too many areas for it to be genuinely useful. And it sounds like a taxi.

It’s not nearly as bad as a Fiat Multipla though, so it has at least one thing going for it.

A neighbour has one. It’s not quite long enough to put a bike in straight, not quite big enough to put a new fridge in, or anything else that you might want to put in the back of a small van really. And unless you’re very tiny, you won’t be able to sleep in the back of it, ruling it out for camping trips etc.

This is what makes the new ones loads better. They’re a little bigger and so all the “not quites” become “just big enough”.

My mechanic recommended one when I asked him what small van to buy. Nuff said as far as i’m concerned.

This is what makes the new ones loads better. They’re a little bigger and so all the “not quites” become “just big enough”.

That and rthe fact that the news ones have decent suspension that doesn’t wallow into every corner.

Test drove one of the old ones just before buying my Doblo and it was hideous to drive. It’s the only car I’ve ever driven that rolled so much that I felt travel sick.

Look at getting a cheap Doblo – the 1.3 diesels are great fun to drive, but avoid the 1.9 multijets – that’s what I had and ended up having to get rid of it because the engine had problems that no-one, including Fiat and the local diesel engine specialist could fix.

Shame because I loved that car and it was the most useful one I’d ever had. Carried up to 6 bikes in the back without removing the wheels.

This is what makes the new ones loads better. They’re a little bigger and so all the “not quites” become “just big enough”.

It is a new one. It’s still not quite big enough.

If you want a bike transporter with camping potential, get a van. Otherwise you’re probably better off with a big estate really.

The Doblo just looks ‘wrong’ though. Hard to explain.

A neighbour has one. It’s not quite long enough to put a bike in straight,

True, but it goes in at a nice jaunty angle.

not quite big enough to put a new fridge in, or anything else that you might want to put in the back of a small van really.

I got a standard upright fridge in the back of mine fine. Depends on the fridge I guess.

And unless you’re very tiny, you won’t be able to sleep in the back of it, ruling it out for camping trips etc.

Well, I guess I’m fairly tiny at 5’7″ but with the front seat rammed forward it’s fine for that. I have heard about many folks sleeping in theirs over 6 foot…

So, it literally falls short in far too many areas for it to be genuinely useful. And it sounds like a taxi.

For what it is, it is a fantastically useful car/van. Get the car version, it’s more versatile. I tinted the rear windows on mine and removed the double back seat.

It’s not nearly as bad as a Fiat Multipla though, so it has at least one thing going for it.

Agree. The Blingo is a supermodel in comparison…

I’ve had fridges in mine (old model) and it will carry a double wardrobe. Or two solos and a tandem with only one wheel of the six removed.

You didn’t take two minutes to remove the back seats? As it takes two motorcycles there’s not much you can’t get in it. And at five foot nine I’ve slept in it often, laid straight out.

I saw a good looking 1.9 normally aspirated the other day (O6 reg possibly) which is the motor to go for if you want real reliability.

Oh yes, get the one with the tailgate, not the double doors (very rare anyway) as it provides a good sheltered area in the rain (though has to be tied at a slight downward angle to prevent water draining in to the rear floor) – a rather obvious design flaw.

Love mine – driven it to Barcelona and back full of bikes and camping gear. Sailed through it’s last MOT and has generally been very cheap to run. Mine is one of the older ones so it handles like a van, but it doesn’t bother me too much – stops me driving like a ****. It’s got a decent amount of power though, even fully loaded (2.0 HDI).

A neighbour has one. It’s not quite long enough to put a bike in straight, not quite big enough to put a new fridge in, or anything else that you might want to put in the back of a small van really. And unless you’re very tiny, you won’t be able to sleep in the back of it, ruling it out for camping trips etc.

So, it literally falls short in far too many areas for it to be genuinely useful. And it sounds like a taxi.

I can get my bike in easily with one seat down – I can get two bikes in whole easily with all the seats down. If you take the bikes apart you can get loads in. And it’s great for transporting music gear around for my work and my band’s gigs etc. And me and the missus have slept in the back quite comfortably (though neither of us are very tall).

So basically you’re wrong on pretty much every point.

My mechanic recommended one when I asked him what small van to buy. Nuff said as far as i’m concerned.

Mine too.

my 29ers go straight into an 06 partner (same van)

im 6 foot 3 and can sleep in my partner – and infact lived in it over the summer when my commute was 120 mile round trip daily …. drive up to aberdeen on a monday and go ride my bike at night and sleep in the van , go to work and shower – repeat all week and then drive home on friday night.

as for a fridge , you can you just tie the rear doors shut 😉

and as for wallowing – the one you test drove must need new shocks or something – either that or you were driving a sports car before , mines firmer than a firm thing, handles well for a van – certainly no worse than the VW caddy or the combos i was test driving at the same time.

if you want reliable you want no turbo. Dw8 = slow as anything but go for ever. if you want to overtake and keep up with traffic get the 1.6 HDI and just look after it.

my only regret is that i have the van and not the car version i really wanted – but i did get an absolute blinder of a steal on my motor – enough i can live with the fact its a van.

Had a new one as a holiday hire car for a week. Loved it. Top of my list when it comes time to replace the wife’s zafira.

I love the look of the newer XTRs.
The wife would leave me if I got one, though 🙁

DrP

Is there a long wheelbase version then? Because the one my neighbour has, theres no way anything like a double wardrobe will fit in it!

im 6 foot 3 and can sleep in my partner

I need to see pictures of this. 😀 You must sleep diagonally, surely?

It is a new one. It’s still not quite big enough.

Well in that case you can:

Put 3 bikes in the back wheels on, with just 2 seats out (so still 3 people). They fit longways down the side with the bars turned. Even DH forks with dual crowns will fit.

Push the front seats right forward and get a standard inflatable matress in longways.

Loads better than a big estate – what estate can I just wheel 3 bikes into it and have 3 people in?

We’ve got a Doblo, 1.9 multijet 120hp, without going into loads of detail, it’s huuuuuge inside and ok to drive and been super reliable for the last six years.. Done Bike, canoe camping trips with all the kit and four dogs, drove all over Europe and carried more crap to the tip than a bin wagon, never missed a beat.
Only fault we’ve had was the rear door c/l motor, which was cheap to fix..

interesting my mechanic said the 1.3 diesels in the combo and the fiat were terrible engines and liked to lunch their ECUS/fuel pumps for fun – but that the 1.7s were decent.

he reckoned the 1.5DCI kangoo or the 1.6 peugeot/berlingo were the ones to the get – he also said my 1.9 was a good engine but id best not be in a hurry !

he explicetly said to avoid the 1.9 DTI/DCI kangoos for somereason. His own part runner vans are both 1.5dci kangoos with 200k+ on them.

Anyone seen a good Berlingo / Partner / Doblo for under a grand ? I’m in Lincolnshire and don’t fancy travelling too far unless its worth it though. Diesel preferred but would look at 1.4 or 1.6 petrol.
Cheers

AFAIK the one to go for is a pre DPF (2007/8 I think) Berlingo Desire 1.6 HDI. Panoramic roof is good but apparently wakes you up early if you’re sleeping in it and you need to check that something has been replaced after so many miles,cam belt or something.

Cam belt at about 70, 000 mines an 03 1.9d , fit loads in, bike no prob with 1 wheel out and 1 seat folded. Interior electrics fail, lights, central locking e windows, but has never failed to start in 7 yrs i’ve had it. It’s slowbut cruises nicely

get one hora, then get bored of it and sell it to me at a substantially discounted stw forum rate!

I’ve got a 06 1.6hdi desire(cracking little engine, but don’t plan on high motorway speeds!), great car for all of the above. It’s my run about and work car/bike car, we use the wife’s Picasso for long trips with kids, more comfortable for me as a driver with long legs.

My mate had an old shape 1.4, not the quickest, not super comfy etc. but he did fit a honda cbr600 inside. Not sure whether wemanaged to close the doors or had to tie them but the bike went in no problem. My cousin had a passanger version with the 1.4. I did not like the seats, same as on our works kangoo, flat and with no support. The 1.4 engine just kept on going, my kangoo suffered from poor electrics but the engine would not die. My OH’s dad has a new shape Kangoo now with the 1.5 dci 105bhp and a 6 speed gearbox. I’m really impressed how much nicer and bigger the new car is compared to his old kangoo. It’s heavier and slower then his old shape 1.5dci but it is much better to drive. No big problems in the 2 years he had his. The old one was also good but the sliding door was letting water in. The 1.5 keeps up with the traffic and builds up speed easily. As for the peugeot 1.6hdi, most taxis in the company we use are 307/308 estates and 1.6 hdi. Drivers says the engine is good to about 200k miles without big problems some will manage more, some less. One 406 2.0hdi had 400k miles and I saw another one with 500k miles. So it seems the 2.0 engine lasts longer.

Doesnt the turbo go pop if the oil isnt changed correctly on the 1.6. Or is the pre 06/07 a different 1.6?

Every car has niggles

You just need to look after it.

Lots of issues also stem from not letting engine idle for a short period after a drive

Aye but buying used means horse…stable…bolted

Mine is going to it’s new home today. It’s been brilliant, and I know I’m going to miss it. Buy a good one though, I have to laugh at the post above asking where to buy a good one for less than a grand !

The 2.0 hdi 8v motor is a great engine economical, enough poke to shift things around and easy and cheap to service. The newer 16v is more powerfull and refined but gains dpf and and other modern emission controls that can go wrong. That said used and maintained properly it will keep on going like the 8v unit.

These things are replacing the Volvo XC set at the sailing club.
Utility Vehicles they certainly are.

What’s so funny about it Raindog ? I’m in the motor trade and know what I’m buying. Berlingo’s etc have been around since 96/7 and you can pick a good one up for that price . My current bike motor is a 405 d turbo estate purchased 5 years ago for £500 and still running a treat. I’d rather spend less on the second motor and not worry about throwing the bike and mucky kit in. Not everyone can afford a newer one!

Has a 1st gen (02 plate iirc) 1.9 n/a diesel for a few years.
With the rear seats folded forward we got 2 mtbs and the tandem in alongside 2 weeks worth of camping kit with both wheels off the tandem and the fronts off the solos.
Wasn’t the fastest thing in the world and the seat squabs had both fallen apart within 60k miles but it was reliable otherwise.
I slept in it one night. At 6’2″ I couldn’t quite get comfy but it was ok for the one night.

We have five Berlingo’s in the family at the moment and they are great cars, the only one that has been any bother is my works van (1.4petrol) the ecu wiring needed repairing.
I remove the double rear seat from my Multispace so it’s got three seats, it can fit three bikes and three people inside, I Also use it to transport my Trials bike.

Great motors, got mine (05 2.0l diesel multispace) to replace a wrote of Mondeo, wife decided that’s what I needed, and I was less that keen tbh. Turned out to be a cracking decision.
Not much you can’t get in em, think you can get a euro pallet between the wheel arches!. Great for biking, camping, tailgates great for getting changed under when it’s raining.
Mines now done 115k miles. It’s had regular oil changes(once a year as I only do 4-5k) cambelt including tensioner changed when I bought it. Alternator packed up at about 110k and was a simple cheap repair. Mines the Multispace with loads of glass in the roof and lots of storage.
Not been on any really long journeys, but I find it very comfortable to drive(I’m 6’2″) economical on fuel and the kids love it, cos its got a good view forward and out of the side windows.
Downsides? You’ll be ridiculed by your mates for owning one, but that wears of in time once they’ve been in it and found out how practical it is.
Mines on 15″ alloys and has loads of ground clearance which is great for getting a bit off road sometimes. Overall a great motor. Buy one!

i’ve got the 1.9 turbo unijet doblo van. granted it does look proper daft but who cares, slightly bigger load space that the berlingo in all directions. and so far in 2 years of ownership it’s been super reliable.

As the bulkhead is removed I have the seat pushed forward on it’s rails so that I can sleep in the back when necessary at races etc(i’m 5ft 10″)

My mega goes in straight without the need to remove wheels etc and I can get changed in the back no drama without having to show my arse in trail centre car parks.

From my boy racer days I would never, ever, ever have another Pug/Citroen, but that’s just me.

ive got 2001 Partner Combi ( one with seats ) DW8 engine . had it from new and done 165000 miles ... best car ive ever owned .. i`d have another new one any day without question

I have a 2.O HDI Partner (same) done 100K from new – I would buy another.
Last weekend it had a filthy bike and a massive tree trunk tucked away nicely.

So concensus on the engine? Get the 2.0hdi?

Yup 2.0 hdi is the motor to get avoid the 1.6 1.4 hdi motors.