Berlingo / Caddy Maxi / Rifter / Partner Teepee

Hey all

Found myself stuck down a bit of a rabbit hole the past couple of days and once again thought I’d defer to the collective wisdom of STW.

I’ve had an Audi A4 Black Edition for the last three years mainly selected on the basis of lots of motorway miles with my existing job.

Since COVID hit my car has sat on the drive for the last 12 months, and with a change of job coming shortly where I’ll mostly commute by bike I’m looking for something a bit more utilitarian without going the whole hog on a van like a T5 or T6.

There’s just two of us, no kids, and very rarely carry more than a couple of rear passengers.

Main use of my car going forward will be packing it to the gills on tip runs, bikes slung in the back and occasionally dossing in the back of it on bike and surf trips.

Coming from a VAG background (Audi, VW, Skoda), the Caddy Maxi seems like the most obvious choice however from what I’ve read the Berlingo seems to get high praise, haven’t read too much first hand experience about the others.

Most likely looking somewhere in the £12-£15K range.

Berlingo/Partner/Rifter are all the same thing. Doubt you’ll find a new shape Berlingo in XTR trim in your budget and that the one you’d want as it has all the bells and whistles.

I have the previous shape one (10 reg) with the 1.6HDi engine. Does us fine and has done for 7yrs/60k miles plus multiple trips round Europe. Just keep on top of service intervals and make sure the oil is changed every 6k miles and you’re good.

Gone from an Octavia estate to a Rifter.
The Rifter is so much better for doing all the stuff you describe.
We recently moved house and it was brilliant how much extra stuff we could get in it.
Highly recomended.

Yeah the new Berlingo looks pretty smart – in an ideal world that would be the one I’d go for, but don’t want to throw too much more money into a car at the moment. Ideally looking for it to be a relatively cost neutral change.

Some of the MK2 Berlingo’s seem to be coming back at pretty good prices.

Roomster. Vag without cadi tax

Nice one – I had an Octavia Estate before moving over to the Audi – in many ways it was such a better car!

I’ve got a Berlingo XTR 13 plate, it does everything you want in your post and pretty much what I use it for. Cheap to run, easy to drive, tons of room in the back and very practical, although not the prettiest car I’ve owned.

Have a ‘15 plate Berlingo and love it. It’s a really handy vehicle, the removeable seats make it a car, a van or something in between.
2 bikes roll in complete and upright (inc an XL 29er fs) along with 2 dogs, 2 adults and a weeks worth of camping kit. Still space to spare.

Having a berlingo means buying furniture and White goods hassle free!

Have a new shape Berlingo and very happy with it. Doesn’t feel much bigger than my ld Yeti to drive but has so much more space inside.
The flat folding rear and passenger seats are nicely thought out.

Went for the 1.2 petrol which is plenty strong enough. Wasnt interested in diesel due to lots of very short journeys. The petrol has much more torque than the current equivalent from VAG too.

Another bonus is you get an actual warranty with Citroen.

Rifter XL 1.2 Petrol in wash it down and then clamp it up configuration.

Vauxhall combo life is also a Berlingo as well now.

Had a b9 Berlingo for 3 years. Best car ever. Regret selling it

Wally.
What are your fork mounts bolted to please?

This 48″ number which I have found to be ace because it fits to the mm and it’s flat, so you can sit on it and step on it without any anal intrusion, trip issues, or a combo of both.

In a recommend what you have way…

I looked at all the “van” options including the very likable Ford Tourneo Grand Connect. My conclusion was spend £7-8k and get an S-Max. I bought mine pre lockdown last year to replace a VAG estate (Passat). It is nicer in just about every way that matters than the Passat (it’s 30hp down on the Passat but I honestly don’t miss it day to day even fully loaded with a family, (stupid amounts of) camping kit and a trailer behind) and it is cavernous. The load capacity is considerably better than the Berlingo but unlikely to match the Caddy Maxi. It also probably doesn’t have the head clearance for wheeling bikes in that the van based stuff does.

My (pre-Covid) annual mileage was about 20,000 a year and I had the plan to run this as my main car until it became too spendy on repair bills to keep it going and partly as an experiment to see how we got on with it before possibly buying a newer one. Clearly the significant drop in mileage is helpful but it’s 9years and 90,000miles old and it is wearing its miles as well as the Passat it replaced. The interior is a bit “cheaper” but I don’t look at that while I’m driving – because you know there’s a whole heap of other things to be focussed on. Kids love it and Mrs GD who was at best ambivalent about the Passat much prefers the SMax to drive.

Curveball option: lots of great boxy Japanese import van/MPV things.

Our Stepwagon is great, decent (ULEZ compliant) petrol engine rather than a small noisy diesel, lots of internal height for bikes, 8 seats if needed, niceties like twin electric sliding doors.

Else that money will get you in a new shape Berlingo and they’re really good too. Get the 1.2 puretech petrol though.

Test drove a new puretech.

Bought a used hdi for half the money

Holding out for https://int-media.peugeot.com/en/node/90082436

Finally they sorted out the partner concept into a usable electric car (they have been made since 2017 but with an 80 mile range…..)

Had berlingos /partners for 10 years- 3 of them total. No issues in a combined 250000 miles . Current ones 6 years old -owned for 3 has 41k on clock. Its had nothing but servicing. I put a new axle on one at 14 years /150k and I did the clutch on the other at 120k after towing my mates transit home in a pinch and burning mine out. Been tough cars for us.

the new long van formats look nicer than the first gen longs. they always reminded me of pregnant cats. too much belly.

I went for the shorter length and can fit bikes in easily with front wheels off.

They fit in with the front wheel on but they are small frames so don’t know about larger sizes.

Recenlty had to move a double matress which was easy to fit in too.

I’ve a Berlingo MPV (not the new shape one) and have been happy with it. Only major bits of work have been new injectors and DPF. Ours is getting towards 150k now so starting to think about a replacement (although will probably run this one into the ground, so hopefully another few years). As others have said it’s not refined at all, and only being 5 speed is a pain on motorways.

From what I’ve seen, the new shape Berlingo doesn’t have removable rear seats which cuts down on load height, which I’m not keen on. I like the look of the Ford Tourneo Grand Connect, and suspect it will be more refined and nicer to drive, but not sure if the rear seats can be fully removed.

From the comments above I might have a look at the S-Max.

I’ve just got an M59 Berlingo, do it!

Not convinced by the idea that an S-Max is comparable volume wise. Although my previous C-Max was nicer to drive, the Berlingo is ludicrously comfortable on long journeys and the suspension eats potholes with complete impunity. I do 4 hours to Manchester then get straight on with work with no niggles.

I have the previous shape one (10 reg) with the 1.6HDi engine. Does us fine and has done for 7yrs/60k miles plus multiple trips round Europe. Just keep on top of service intervals and make sure the oil is changed every 6k miles and you’re good.

I thought the issues were traced back to mechanics ignoring the instruction to re-torque the injectors every 2 years. Meaning they leaked, carbon built up in the rocker and made it’s way to the oil pickup eventually.

Regular DIY changes rather than tsking it to a garage would actually make it worse unless you torqued the injectors to solve the problem.

They also solved it eventually, can’t remember if it was ’10 or ’12 where they updated the injectors/seals.

Thanks all for the positive feedback, certainly managed to whittle down the options.

Its most likely either a newer Berlingo or a Rifter.

I showed the missus the older Berlingo and she rolled her eyes, might just hold on for a few more months until I’ve changed jobs and let the prices drift downwards a bit.

We could afford one now, I’m just being tight!

In terms of sleeping in the Berlingo or Rifter are the standard lengths ok for dossing in the back of for a couple of nights – I’m 6ft, the missus nearer 5ft so she shouldn’t have too many concerns!

Caddy Maxi Life owner here. The big advantage of the Caddy is the low, flat, floor. The slight disadvantage is this comes from having a solid rear axle which means the rear suspension is probably a bit more agricultural than on the Rifter/etc though our 18 plate is a big improvement over the one it replaced (which was first generation)

With regards to the S Max as a Berlingo alternative; we got rid of a Galaxy for the Berlingo.
The Galaxy was bigger but lower so to get bikes in upright required front wheels off and posts removed/dropped. Managed to scuff the headlining a few times doing it too.
The Berlingo on the other hand is shorter but taller so with one or two rear seats removed you can easily wheel the bike in and the front wheel will drop into the passenger footwell at an angle.
If I put one of the internal roof rails in the rear position it makes it slightly harder to thread handlebars past but I can then bungee the bikes to it. Normally just use a bungee from load lashing eye in boot to the rear seatbelt upper mounting point though.
The Berlingo is also more plastic inside which whilst not as ‘plush’ as the Ford was means it’s easier to wipe clean.
The S Max would be a much nicer ‘car’ but the Berlingo is a far better load lugged/van.

From what I’ve seen, the new shape Berlingo doesn’t have removable rear seats which cuts down on load height

They fold flat, and when folded are level with the boot floor. When up, there is a good amount of storage under them which they lower into when folded down. A simple yet clever design. They can be removed, but only by removing the bolts into the floor.

When folded flat, there is more height than in my Yeti with its seats removed.

In terms of sleeping in the Berlingo or Rifter are the standard lengths ok for dossing in the back of for a couple of nights – I’m 6ft, the missus nearer 5ft so she shouldn’t have too many concerns!

Have a look at the Amdro boot jump.

Standard length needs the front seats tipped forward for a proper length bed so just sleeping on the floor wouldn’t be long enough. XL might be ok.

I can sleep in my Berlingo on the floor without sliding the seats all the way forward but I’m only 5’6. I did build a boot jump style platform for about £40 and that would give you enough space at 6ft to stretch out with the seats tilted forward.

We have a 19 plate Berlingo, LWB with grip control. It’s ace. Split 3-way middle seats – can have two bikes in with front wheels off and still 2 middle seats. Slept in it couple of times.

hey guys, sorry to jump in on this one, but with all the mentioned ‘mid size’ vans above, is it generally possible to get bikes in without front wheel off? Or do most need the front wheel to come off?

I am starting to look for a van as small as i can get, but without having to take my bike apart to fit it in.

Can you get LWB 5-seaters?
When you remove or fold seats, is the floor completely flat?

@v7fmp

Standard Berlingo van can take a 650b and 26 wheel bike, wheels on, easy, and that’s with a couple of bits and bobs for work screwed to the ply and in the way. They aren’t particularly long bikes though.

Two 29ers, or two big bikes with 1200mm+ wheelbases, I reckon you might struggle.

EDIT – I’ve taken the bulkhead out of my van. I’m not sure the bikes would go in so well with it there.

you can def get 5 seater lwb grand tourneo connects (which are similar to the others here) – but given the rear row just bolt in, its probably worth getting the 7 seater option to ease reselling later on.

I find the ridc website excellent for understanding boot space\sizes. fwiw the load length of a xl berlingo is 1930 with all the seats down and a grand tourneo is 2175, so a good bit longer but I don’t know if its needed for most bikes. the height and width is pretty much a wash. Galaxy length is in the middle (2040) but significantly less ehight (900 vs 1150) – which is the difference between wheels on or not.

if you paste this table back into excel, it might be useful 🙂

car 2 seat length 5 seat length height width 2 seat liters 5 seat liters
signum 1900 960 750 900 1283 648
optima 1885 1090 650 1001 1226 709
old i30 1760 910 768 1058 1430 739
ceed 1855 1085 694 1025 1320 772
insignia 1880 1076 696 1055 1380 790
i40 1967 1132 718 998 1409 811
leon 1780 1040 772 1039 1428 834
carens 1812 1048 788 1026 1465 847
new insignia 1985 1174 707 1030 1445 855
mondeo 1931 1112 708 1105 1511 870
logan 1865 1105 800 1000 1492 884
Vectra 2001 1110 760 1056 1606 891
v70 1885 1095 726 1135 1553 902
octavia (2017) 1911 1089 826 1004 1585 903
mazda 6 1968 1091 747 1113 1636 907
v90 1935 1142 704 1135 1546 913
superb 2061 1110 822 1033 1750 943
touran 1660 1020 894 1036 1537 945
passat 1970 1155 800 1025 1615 947
wills mondeo 1979 1101 772 1127 1722 958
2011 e class 2010 1165 765 1100 1691 980
zafira 1800 1166 824 1059 1571 1017
grand c4 picasso 1864 1099 836 1159 1806 1065
smax 1975 1209 794 1130 1772 1085
tourneo 1450 910 1001 1195 1734 1089
old berlingo 1356 931 1006 1197 1633 1121
disco 1906 1110 950 1117 2023 1178
new m berlingo 1755 990 1000 1198 2102 1186
galaxy 2040 1236 900 1142 2097 1270
sharan 2005 1240 976 1090 2133 1319
t6 2565 1075 1264 1215 3939 1651
xl berlingo 1930 1265 1117 1196 2578 1690
grand tourneo 2175 1271 1140 1195 2963 1731
mazda 5 1760 1000 863 1038 1577 896
qashquai 1721 955 756 1081 1406 780

My Berlingo MPV medium length will take a 29er and 27.5 (both small) with the wheels on if I turn the bars a bit. I only take the front wheel off as its easier to secure them with a fork mount on a length of plywood.

If you’re very tall and need the front seats a long way back then a bike with wheel on might be a bit tight.

The other Maxi Life owner here. 2 people, no kids. Car is Comfortline spec so is lined and comes with a towbar for a Thule rack or similar.
Camped in it for three weeks – Poland – Lithuania- Germany. Holding up well to bikes inside. Bit more basic than a Toran/Sharan but fine.
Floor is flat to the rear footwell. Clip in / out rear seats which are single and double so options on passengers + bikes. Plenty of room for full bikes with height to spare.

The rear axle is at the blunt end of suspension technology but its actually fine and better when loaded. Its not a problem in real life.

Think about:
Diesels have a DPF system which doesn’t like short runs so much.
The 2.0 engine was the emissions disaster in the states and may have had a software update which was ok but not always beneficial. Find one without this perhaps. Its UK not USA.
EGR on the 2.0 is buried at the back of the engine and could be £6 – 800 to change and its complicated for a £350 part.

IMG_20200726_082956 by Ihr zwei[/url], on Flickr