Thanks for the thread! I've been wanting a small van for very similar things to your son (did he get anywhere with accomodation?). But horrified by the cost/milage/condition/spec formula. The car evivalent MPV might be terminally uncool but fortunately I'm 52 and already uncool in pretty much every way already so finishing the job off by driving a Turenao can't make me any more biege than I already must appear. Your son however - I hope he's devilishly good looking and got an awesome sense of humour or Passion wagon it will not be.
The rear brakes are difficult to bleed due to the design of the resourvoir and the brake proportional valve hidden above the rear axle has a steel spring that rusts and reduces rear brake bias. Not many MOT testers pick up on it apparently and might explain yours?
Sounds plausible, if the rear brakes produced even effort between them then I guess that would be an MOT pass. And it was very rusty on the axle. The pedal was nice and firm, it just didn't do much.
If it hadn't been for the axle, and a leak that flooded the drivers footwell, and a few other issues before the clutch went I'd probably have spent some time fixing it up as I loved it's practicality.
as I loved it’s practicality
Berlingo practicality? Tip runs to got the runs and everything in-between! (gurning poo face for demonstration purposes)
https://ibb.co/FzByKKn
https://ibb.co/MgGNscd
https://ibb.co/xGQznNj
https://ibb.co/PWxPYvG
@convert - he has a lodging out in Boat of Garten for now. Off to help move him in this weekend around van shopping! He still needs to be in the throbbing heart of the beast that is Aviemore - not lodging in the woods with a widow with too big a house!
First van, Berlingo, was generally OK, but (his words not mine) 'all around the rear axle and mounting bits was crumbly rusty, some bits 'puffed up' with rust'. So a no for that one.
Second one, Doblo, tomorrow.
One of his old club buddies had warned him off the 88bhp Partner Tepee due to lack of powah.
I wouldn't bank on any of them having much POWAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH.
If you want to feel glad for the limited amount they do have, try the old Berlingo 1.9 diesel (non turbo). 0-60 is 30s.
(gurning poo face for demonstration purposes)
Mine had the full length fabric sunroof, you could have had a poo with a view and avoided the cricked neck.
88bhp Partner Tepee due to lack of powah.
They are easy to 'chip' - mine is stage1 130hp, declared on insurance but TBH the 90hp as standard is fine.
Re. Berlingo rust - the axles (on early M49/59 models) were only ever powder coated from the factory so rust quite readily. The axle trailing arm bearings wear which results in the rear wheels having a lot of camber / leaning inwards at the top. If the inside of the rear tyres is wearing away and/or there's a clunk when you bounce the rear of the van then it needs a new axle (£300 plus fitting) so it can be a useful bargaining tool if the rest of the car/van is fine.
Later Berlingo's have a different design of suspension.
The bodyshells are galvanized so last pretty well.
Mine had the full length fabric sunroof, you could have had a poo with a view and avoided the cricked neck.
With the cricked neck and the usual toilet ankle joint pins and needles the Berlingo isn't the most comfortable of toilets but it avoids the van lifer Asda bag lay-by poo's
I ran a 2012 Doblo for 8 years. Mini camper conversion in the back. Did multiple trips to the Alps and back. It was only the 1.3 diesel but it happily sat at 85mph on the french autoroutes. Reliability wise it was brilliant. Zero issues with the engine. Lower wishbones were a known weakness and I went through a couple over the years but other than that I had zero issues. In fact I'm actually toying with buying another right now
We've narrowed it down to likely a Doblo / Combo, LWB. Maybe an XL.
What's the take on ex postie wagons?
In my head they are a) stop start in our and given a hard life and b) maintained by a company proven to be pretty inept..
In my head they are a) stop start in our and given a hard life and b) maintained by a company proven to be pretty inept..
I'd wager yes and yes. But also - they seem to keep stuff for a long time, not like typical fleet buyers that just offload stuff becuase the warrentee has run out. So I'd suspect they only sell stuff thats no longer up to snuff.
Beyond engines/ transmissions theres a lot of body wear and tear - the doors will have been opened and closed every few yards, seat belts on and off, handbrake applied and released more often and so on - all those things will give niggles beyond general mechanical reliability.
That confirms my thoughts as well.
A shame, Royal Mail are a plentiful source of vans...
Choice between Geoffrey and Ethel's cossited MPV with tartan rug, floral covered tissue box and mint flavoured sterident in the glovebox. The most action it's seen is the 56mph race home after Ethel promising Geoff a 'gummy' on his 70th birthday. Full service history at Citroen main dealer to go with the British gas boiler assurance package.
Counter to that is Pat (who has really let himself go after the axing of their documentary) and Jess that have spent 3 years scratching his nuts and farting Monster and Ginster scented farts into the sagged out poo molecule soaked drivers seat. Servicing consists of the cheapest Flying Happy Tiger branded filters and oil regurgitated from a Saudi hookah spitoon.
The seatbelt is the best thing on the van as it was clicked in on the first day it went into service and has remained buckled ever since. Unlike the handbrake that's used to 'park' the van from 30mph. 1st and 2nd gears disappeared over The Horizon year 's ago. 3rd gear is as worn out as a jailed subpost master.
On the plus side - any ladies that sit on Jess's flea ridden seat then spend some time relaxing in the caravan of dreams are probably a keeper..........or helping fund their university education. Allegedly.
I could go on but you get the jist.
^ STW should ask you to write a column....?
On the plus side – any ladies that sit on Jess’s flea ridden seat then spend some time relaxing in the caravan of dreams are probably a keeper……….or helping fund their university education. Allegedly.
He turned down an afternoon with his unfit father puffing round Sluggan for an hour of leaping into a Cairngorm river with a 'friend'. Turns out the friend is rather lithe, blonde and has a lovely smile...
STW should ask you to write a column
You'd need some sort of nom de plume.
GalvanisedPeugeotEscapade has a ring to it.
#Mattsladslovelife
I’ve started getting adverts for fixodent on my socials
Dammit. That means I'm going to get adverts for commodes on mine.
64 reg Vauxhall Combo 1.3cdti in LWB with 100k on clock bought. Collect from dealer later this week.
Thanks all.
Next question: has anyone cut wheel slots in a bulkhead to mount bikes before?
It's long enough to take his bike wheels on, so we're thinking this might be cheap and simple....
The wagon is here and it's a great wee thing. It's straight from Siemens, full service history.
Even with a roof rack on its just done 55mpg on the way home from Fife.
They replaced the main lock barrel as it was shoogly to get it started and then tried to adjust the gear linkage as first and second were a tad clunky - and ended up putting a new clutch in. It was already wearing two new tyres and a service a thousand miles ago.
Needs a really good clean, a second key, and doors greasing, but all good otherwise.
Another update - the thing only went and blew a bit of the turbo last week in Aviemore.
The dealer have been good - took it straight back in, fired it off to local garage as they were busy themselves, and picked it up with new turbo and pipework all around. Very apologetic and good about it - and clearly frustrated as these things happen, but they cannot have any profit left after new clutch, new turbo and new lock barrel...
Fingers crossed that is it for now!
Edit: should have said: Woodlands Van Centre, Kirkaldy - https://www.woodlandsvancentre.com/
OK not small. But the other day i did see a landrover with a twin axle rear wheel set up. Never seen that kind, but pretty sure it was a landrover at the front end. I'm thinking it must be some sort of conversion
Looked good.
There are 1 or 2 of those around...
Foley SV do them nowadays, Carmichael used to do crash tender Range Rovers in 6x4 configuration
http://www.foleysv.com/6x6.html
Jebus, £295k for a 9 year old one! I reckon you and Mcmoonter could make one for a tenth of the price. 😀
