MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Read a few of the van related threads recently and whilst I've been toying with the idea of getting a van for business/biking duties, I don't need anything as big as a Transit/Transporter/Traffic etc, and tbh, I'd prefer something a little easier to drive/park as I live in pokey little village with narrow streets.
Does anyone use a Ford Connect for biking duties? They look like a pretty good compromise beween full-size panel vans and hatchback vans. Any tips on what to look for?
seen a report last week(can't remember where i saw it) and ford connect's were first on the list of unreliability so i'd do a bit of research on those first, otherwise they look ideal for the job.
maybe they live up to their moniker(sp)
Found
On
Rubbish
Dumps
friend of mine has one and seems to do the job, hasn't broken yet either 😉
my large yeti only just fits in, with wheel turned at 90deg. but just high enough to keep the seat up. I use bungies to keep all upright, easy fit two bikes in, with space for boxes etc in between. Get the sliding door one btw. oh, 60,000miles in, changed front disks, rear axel (under warrenty) and a couple of sets of front tyres.
Dave
Dave, is that the LWB or SWB version?
Had mine for just coming up to a year now and its been great. Fitted rubber matting as floor, and then bungee the bikes to side walls. Fits my size large superlight in lengthways. Also ply lined with insulation behind and an extractor fan in roof allows me to sleep in the back when I go climbing.
Drives like a people carrier, and fits in multi-stories :o)
hired one (swb, standard roofline)in the summer drove southampton to ford william in a day then al round scotland a back in the following week - never skipped a beat - bar a flat tyre.
had to drop front wheels off due to height of bars. good little van though. Handled the twisty scottish roads pretty well - not much grunt though (ok empty) - no way would i be revving my own van like i did the hire van!! 8)
I've had a couple of LWB connects, pretty good on the whole.
Seats can be a bit uncomfortable, and there is a dodgy blind-spot due to the windscreen/door pillar being quite wide at the bottom.
Would get another one though.
50mph limit in the Connect for A roads, Berlingo is 60mph. Is that a factor for you?
Why 50mph?
IIRC the cut off for speed limits on this class of vehicle is to do with the Max Gross Vehicle Weight, and the limit is 2000kg. A Connect is 2025kg, and a Berlingo 1950kg.
Have one through work. Done 93000 and only thing mines needed is a power steering pump and an ABS sensor. Fits a couple of bikes and all kit in easily. Drive ok but can be a bit thirsty.
Well built and good in the snow. Didn't get stuck once!!
IMO I think there a waste of time for the same cash
you can get a Vauxaul Vivaro or the renault or Nissan star
all the same van but re badge.
Had mine two years very reliable
Driving position poor and mirrors/visibility rubbish in the hire ones i have had. For a small van, Berlingo/Kangoo or Caddy much better.
Shibboleth, SWB. I do wind my revs down to 100mm before putting in otherwise bars are a little high. oh, and the passenger seat is not very nice to sit in for long. understears on bends if you boot it too early, but otherwise not bad handling for a van. the speed limit thing - I understood that was because your in a purpose built van, whereas the berlingo etc is a car derived van.