I'm going to buy a van quite new about 58/59 plate and want to know your experiences of reliability.
I'm leaning towards a Transit T280, are there any others i should look into?
I've been really happy with my Citroen Dispatch.
Although it is ever so slightly smaller than a Transit and Vivaro, it is a lot bigger than a Connect, berlingo and NV200 etc.
I drive a Transit everyday in work and I've found the Dispatch to be more car like.
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What payload do you need ? T280 Transit is a smaller one than say a 350
You'll have more transits to choose from. Better than fords used to be but their complexity is a bit of a concern. Sprinters would be your favourite, though you'd maybe want to look at the last of the old shape rather than early examples of the new shape ones. Compared to transits they are solid and simple.
The trouble with sprinters though is people hang onto them, the classifieds are full of just-out-of-warrentee transits, but not so many sprinters, its seems owners keep them longer, so as a used buyer you need to be patient and shop around quite a bit.
What are you using it for? Be wary that the vivaro / traffic is smaller than a transit. Not so you'd notice to look at, but a lot of materials are sized to fit in a transit and won't fit in a vivaro as a result.
Vivaros also have dreadful access to the engine, adds a lot of extra mechanic hours / costs to what should be routine repairs
Got a Vito on a 58 plate, coming up to 100k and it's absolutely bullet proof. It has never, ever let me down or cost me a penny other than servicing, tyres and wiper blades.
If you're going to keep it for a few years, avoid the Mercedes. They rust like Lancias
I went Med High on the transit as it meant I could stand up in the back, doesn't sound like much but moving stuff round bent over kills my back.
For 3 yo Transits you can get the spec/style you want. There are yards full
I already have a Renault trafic and reliability is an issue, a T350 is overkill really. Indeed I want a taller roof so I can stand. Sprinters are expensive for a low miler. Fancy looking at a boxer but not many around. Guess I'll end up with a Transit....