Fiat Doblo – anyone got one for bikes/family etc?

With the impending arrival of child 3 and growing bike collection i need a car with 3 seats but load capacity for carting bikes for work when no kids in the car. The doblo looks like a bigger version of my old berlingo so should fit the bill. Add on a roof box and a rear rack for bikes for holidays – winner. Ideally i’d love a van with a crew cab but the cost and inconvenience on a day to day drive is outweighing the pros, doblo seems happy “modular” medium.

Anyone love or hate? whats engine is best etc?

I’ve got the cargo version. Had it for the past 5 years. It’s been great. Zero problems which is probably the kiss of death. A 2012 plate with the 1.3 turbo diesel engine. Average 45-50mpg according to the trip computer. I’ve done multiple trips to the alps in it and it’ll sit at 80mph on a French autoroute with no problems. Not sure what spec mine is but it’s got extras like bluetooth, aircon, steering wheel controls etc which the base models dont. I added cruise control specifically because of my runs down to the alps and the long times on empty motorways and that was a great addition.

I’ll say what I always say when this comes up, the car no one wants and everyone needs. Mines coming up to 16 years old and I’ve had it 13 years and I love it, would keep it running forever if I could. Mines the 1.9JTD and It’s been great, no major issues at all just replacing bits as they wear out. Only thing I’ve noticed as something to be aware of is you can knock the tracking out relatively easily. Of course that might just be that roads have got worse and worse in the time I’ve owned it.

I originally got it when twins came along and suddenly we needed a car that could take 3 car seats. All 3 seats are proper seats so no arguing about who gets stuck in the middle. In fact it’s the best seat as you get the best view forward. Loads of room in the boot, we went camping in it with no additional roof box just good packing.

We had a 13 plate 1.4 petrol version. Incredibly practical vehicle and not bad to drive.
We only sold it because we wanted to go electric for the second car and change in circumstances meant Mrs OTS no longer needed to put her bike in the back. I’d have another in a heart beat.

We’ve had one for 6 years now as we decided to upsize from the Punto and we’ve done 100,000 miles in it. It’s been crashed into twice and written off but we bought it back and kept it on the road. As has been mentioned above, it’s not a looker but it’s just so practical. It’s like a tardis and very practical for use with kids.

Ours is the 1.3 multijet. It’s not fast by any stretch but it’s not too depressingly slow to drive. We usually get around 50mpg but since lockdown and the 50mph speed limit on the M27 it’s actually up to 60mpg now. (due to the lack of aerodynamic thought in the design, you really do get punished for pushing that brick through the air any faster than is sensible!)

Hard to know where to go from Doblo ownership. Anything smaller of sleeker and you’d be annoyed at the reduction in practicality. Anything larger and it would seem overkill for normal use.

We had one (54 reg 1.9 JTD) a few years ago. It cost us £795 and it was ace. We sold it for £750 a couple of years after we bought it (to buy a van- big mistake, should’ve stuck with the Doblo!) I’d definitely have another.

Thanks so far!

From a different perspective, as a postie. We have a few and it’s the van no one wants to drive. Pros, loads of cargo space and cabin space, seem reliable enough apart from constantly having to regenerate the DPF. I hate the seating position, probably because of my bad back to be fair. Main reason no one wants to use it is lack of maneuverability, might not be an issue for familly usage but for us, we get sick of having to do five point turns where other vans will do it in three and having to put a shunt in when turning into tight gateways. A right pain in the arse when on rural runs…and town runs too I dare say.

seem reliable enough apart from constantly having to regenerate the DPF

I imagine that’s down to the nature of use for a postie. Stop start journeys, never getting to full temps. Mine is mainly long, 50mph+ runs and the DPF has been fine. I’ve got the diagnostic software and plug the laptop in every now and again to check everything including the DPF and it’s never clogged for me

I have regular access to a Doblo Maxi van, 1.6 Multijet diesel.

As (very) cheap vehicles doe I think its a pretty impressive car. Its obviously not that refined, its not that manoeuvrable either as mentioned above, reversing sensors a must, its handling is adequate, its a van after all, ours has been very reliable over 5 years.

The brakes are super strong up front, the pulls very well for a modest 105bhp, its seasonal on the MPG.

I noticed a marked improvement in handling & ride when I put good quality tyres on it over the cheap rubbish it came with that made it feel wooden & break traction very easily!

Go test drive id say, as its very much a van over a car!

I loved my 1.3 until it blew up at 105,000.
Turbo went, which killed it.
Injectors needed replacing at 80,000, quite common I believe.

The interior plastics are a bit fragile and the seats had started to wear through, but it had been used for care work.

Surprisingly fun to drive, but as above good tyres are a must, the rear is a bit bouncy unloaded and slid a couple of times with ditchfinders on.
With Crossclimates it was unstoppable.

Never failed an MOT, still on original clutch and slightly bodged exhaust.
Gearchange is cable operated – not the best and gets worse, but you get used to it.

My neice used her 1.9 as a farm hack and it lasted for 200,000, so I might just have been unlucky.

The most practical vehicle ever. You will get addicted to the space.

reversing sensors a must,

Hasn’t it got mirrors and is very very small ?

Huuuge mirrors.

dont get reverse sensors on a maxi and see how you get on i guess

What about it makes reversing sensors a must.

I mean it’s almost impossible to buy a car without them these days but I guess that’s made folk lazy.

Still getting used to the mirrors and reversing my doblo maxi hard to judge the distance reverseing upto things, always endup further away than expected
Loads of space although rear seats flip up and push up behind front seats so less space than true van
Suffers from road noise have added extra insulation on mine
1.6 has 6 gears pulls well although I’ve never loaded it up.
Dated on the audio has Bluetooth basic voice commands on stereo easier to press the buttons, I’m thinking about an android stereo

Handling OK but on expensive rubber from previous owner and my previous vehicle was a vivaro

Ugly as sin no one will want to steal it
Prevous model Vauxhall combo comes out the same factory

Nicer to drive than my old 07 plate vivaro

Yeah sounds like the maxi is one to avoid.

Look for the mpv. Nicer interior /more insulation/ sound deadening .

It’ll probably have the lauded reversing sensors as well as mirrors and windows.

Don’t have a doblo . Have had a succession of partners and Berlingos both van and MPV.

Mpv trump’s the van all day long for an all round car.

The space is good , the sliding side door is great in carparks.

The tailgate is great to hide under when it’s wet and loading bikes or shopping (just don’t reverse park towards other cars )

The upright seating position and headroom of the style of vehicle is great for taller people and posture.