Which medium size van would you buy and why?

So prices have continued to drop to the point where it seems possible to pick up a decent Euro 6 van for £10k or less.

My current thoughts are:

Renault Trafic / previous Vivaro – it’s a contender and I was largely happy with my old Vivaro, but perhaps not so refined as some rivals?

Expert / Dispatch / Proace / New Vivaro – Supposedly economical and “car-like”, size would probably suit me, friend has one and likes it.

Transit Custom – Heated windscreen, supposed to drive nice, but wet belt scares me and maybe don’t get so much for your money.

VW – Not in the running, too pricey.

This is for leisure use only, firm requirements are Euro 6 and aircon.

I’ve only driven the older Trafic and the Turneo(Transit). The latter definitely feels more car-like, but I found it very soft when cornering – especially with a full load of passengers. The roll was very off-putting. Maybe the Transit version is firmer though?

I’d recommend a test drive at least.

I just bought a transporter, the incoming T7 has meant some great deals on new or low mileage T6/T6.1s

You need to have a drive of them really as suggested above.  I had a quick go in a recent Expert and hated the driving position (felt cramped to me at only 6′) and hated the 6 speed gearbox, felt so clunky and vague.  Not sure I could live with it.

For a camper, Trafic/Vivaro (also sold by Nissan) as the boxy shape gives more space. Else I’d probably get one of the EMP2 vans.

fwiw, I think the Transit wet belt issue shouldn’t rule one out, either get one done recently or budget a grand to do it, change oil on time and change belt on the revised schedule.

I love my expert, drives more like a car than most vans I’ve driven, and has a far far better gear box than the nv200 it replaced.

But – go for the 2.0 not the 1.6 and watch for the adblue faults. If you want to have more than  one passenger get a 2nd row of seats as the three up front is very cramped.

I’m looking at the Pug Traveller variant – van with seats in 8 speed auto. Not exactly cheap though.

Transit Custom – Heated windscreen,

Whether this is a plus or not depends on whether you’ve actually driven any of the fords with heated windscreens. I can’t not see the heating matrix – to me it’s like a windscreen thats never clean – especially at this time of year with low sun. Waiting for a windcrteen to clear is an infinitesimal portion of the time I spend behind a windscreen so I wouldn’t put up with the annoyance  –  and if a van was the best choice for every other reason then the first thing I’d do is replace the windscreen for a regular one

I had a quick go in a recent Expert and hated the driving position (felt cramped to me at only 6′)

The current shape expert is really cramped in the cabin and has a low top to the windscreen – I’m a bit taller and if I put the sunvisor down I can’t actually see the road – being at the front at the traffic lights you often can’t see the lights too :-)

I’m doing 25,000 a year in a 2016 non-wetbelt Custom. It’s a lovely place to be, like really nice. At tracks i also sleep in it.

Mine has air-con, cruise, DAB, heated seats, all of which i’d like in my next van.

We demo’d multiple vans of different types, chose the Custom. My mate runs Anchor Vans in Reading and recently met us in the Alps, he’s obviously got a choice of any van he liked to bring to the Alps, he took a Custom.

My next one will be a Custom, wet belt but will have full manufacturers warranty (in 2 years time).

whether you’ve actually driven any of the fords with heated windscreens.

Yes, constantly miss it from my old Mondeo.

For a camper, Trafic/Vivaro

Planning a bit of stealth camping, but not with much in the way of fixtures. How did you mean the boxy shape helps?

I have a 21 plate fully loaded tourneo. It’s a very nice place to be but was not cheap at all. Things I like:

– Adaptive cruise control

– Auto

– Heated windscreen (so good – the recent cold snap gave me a direct comparison with our EV – rubbish!)

– Very comfy for long journeys

– So much space for kids

I also looked at most of the other options, seriously considered a Peugeot traveller. Felt more like a car, tho less well built. Ruled it out as the 22 plate we looked at had some rust by the sliding door (dealer mentioned they all do that!) and despite being the same length the boot was considerably smaller as the nose was longer.

I do fret a bit about the wetbelt, but it’s one of the most popular vehicles (full stop) in the UK, so you’re going to hear more horror stories. My plan is just to change it at 60k and ignore the ridiculous long oil change periods (once every 25k!).

I know it’s not medium sized but I’ve recently had a brand new 1 litre petrol Transit Courier as a rental van.

Driven it for a couple of weeks covering about 1200 miles including return trips from Edinburgh to Tongue and Edinburgh to Jura.

What a vehicle, really nice to drive and for such a small engine very capable.

Maybe helped that it had all the bells and whistles, which included the annoying lane assist, collision warning and driver fatigue alarms.

8/10 would rent again.

Felt more like a car, tho less well built.

This is another of my concerns about the Pug/Citreon vans – I perceive them as light and flimsy and I plan to keep the vehicle for 10 years or more.

I do fret a bit about the wetbelt, but it’s one of the most popular vehicles (full stop) in the UK, so you’re going to hear more horror stories.

This is what me and a pal were saying the other day, and the Stellantis vans have wet belts too anyway IIRC.

I just bought a transporter, the incoming T7 has meant some great deals on new or low mileage T6/T6.1s

I’m sceptical. What exactly constitutes a ‘great deal’ in T6 land?

I only ever browse them when I want a laugh.

Whether this is a plus or not depends on whether you’ve actually driven any of the fords with heated windscreens.

Yes, which mean I wouldn’t be without it now. I had it on my focus and then went to a Golf and had to buy another car with it next (my Yeti has it). It’s a fabulous invention, and if you think you only have to wait seconds for it to clear with normal heater, you are very sadly mistaken. Though if you can’t ignore the wires, I understand it won’t be for you (hey I can ignore mark on my glasses, 5mm from my eyes, so some slight wires on the windcreen are nothing..)

Ford wet belts are now on 6 years or 60k. We have just had our Tourneo Custom done on age. When they checked the old belt there were no signs of wear. Its on a service plan with Ford so has had all its oil changes with them and never needed a top up. I’m told that the ones that were failing were due to using wrong oil.

If your buying second hand its worthwhile factoring in the price of it doing if its not been done as its about double the price of the old 2.2 Ford belt change

I’d buy one of these https://www.autotrader.co.uk/van-details/202408052538756

Been through this a bunch myself recently, (different budget and the passenger versions, but still…), drove a bunch of stuff including the EMP2 platform vans. They drive fairly nicely, and would be the easiest transition for someone used to driving round in a hatchback, but they did not give me any confidence in their longevity.

I ended up buying a much older Merceds for the same money and I am very happy with that decision. As a previous multiple Merc owner I’ve far more confidence in it long term. It would be that, or a Transit.

Given you plan to keep for 10 years, I think this is even more relevant – the difference between an 8 year old, or 6 year old vehicle, or 120k vs 100k, doesnt really matter when you extrapolate it out to 18  years vs 16 years, or 220k vs 200k.

The Vito is a bit of a mystery to me, all I know is they are RWD (?) and used to have a reputation for rust.

A quick Google suggests the 2015-2024 model was available with FWD and the 1.6 Renualt Trafic engine though.

I’ll dig a bit more, ta.

“W447 vito” is what you need to be googling. The ‘rust’ thing is the much older, prefacelift in particular W639’s.

Front Wheel Drive with the 1.6 Renault Engine. Not good.

Rear drive with the Mercedes engine, 2.1 then newer 2.0 dependent on year various outputs. Also available with the 7g tronic gearbox which comes with direct select column shifter. Wont be cheap becuase they are actually good, unlike VWs which are not cheap because they are trendy.

I work with someone who has PTSD from owning a Vito. He’s always had VW and he’s a handy DIY mechanic but the Vito utterly defeated him and the local Merc specialist with constant electrical gremlins. Constant issues with ABS, autobox, traction control. He replaced dozens of wires, sensors, relays etc. If it didn’t want to drive that day it just wouldn’t. He persevered for about 18 months and it never, ever ran right. I got sick of bloody hearing about the thing.

He was so traumatised he went back to a T4.

I had my Vito for 3 weeks due to electrical gremlins, i sent it back to the dealer to be fully fixed… they refunded me.

All of of which could quite easily be stories about every single one of the vehicles mentioned above!

All of of which could quite easily be stories about every single one of the vehicles mentioned above!

Of course they could, but they’re not… they’re both about Vitos.

How did you mean the boxy shape helps?

I guess he is referring to the fact that the Viivaro types have pretty vertical sides, whereas Transporters have a lot of tumblehome, which makes the cabins/ load area smaller than the footprint would suggest

Ford wetbelts – as already mentioned, yes there’s been failures but blown out of all proportion on the ‘net. We too had ours (67-plate Transit Custom) changed on age at 6.5 years as only covered 31k miles in that time. Annual oil changes despite the low miles, and a mix of long distances and local use. Old belt was perfect.

I find the Transit Custom nice to drive. No matter what anyone says, no van ‘drives like a car’ but this is certainly closer than the Vivaro and older T5 I’ve driven. Can’t say I notice it overly soft (DCIV version) but it’s a van so I’m not cornering unsing my door mirrors as stabilisers anyway. Heated windscreen – I don’t notice the teeny elements in the glass at all. Boxy shape – cargo area certainly wider/more usable shape than my old T5.

Abd the A/C is superbly powerful. Ours is the double-cab so two rows of seats with bulkhead behind. Kept the cabin temp positively chilly despite outside temps in mid/high-30s on holiday this summer, and that’s with no gas recharges from new.

No van is perfect so take your pick. I’d buy a Transit Custom again.

Yes, that – if you’re putting in beds, furniture, etc the extra space is useful. I’ve been looking at things like the flatout camper beds that fold up to the side, they end up noticeable leaning inwards on Transporter and Custom.

(and I’ve learned a new word today)

I’ve had my my 64 plate Viano for 3 years now and apart from needing the DPF clearing out and a suspension arm (or something) replacing its been great. {insert fingers crossed emoji}. I bought it on 87k and it’s now at 116k I think. Freakin awesome driving down to the alps or pyrenees in it. Love it.

If I was buying now I’d love one fo the newer Merc V class’s, but would probably end up with a Torneo custom. Obvs these are not ‘vans’ though as they have nice back seats and windows.

Another ex-Transit driver here, the windscreens are great (as are all heated screens).

They’re not just for defrosting the ice, although they do that very well in the sorts of mornings when you don’t want to be stood outside scraping them.  They also stay clear inside when you’re sat there soaking wet after a cold wet ride with the heaters on. It’s surprising how ‘misty’ the windscreen can get even driving normally on a cold day without you really noticing, then you put it on and it’s like the worlds back in 4k.

You can see it, particularly in very bright weather when your iris is a pinhole, but in normal weather (or wear sunglasses) it disappears as it’s so far out of your depth of field.

I would caveat that Autoglass replacements are nowhere near as good as the originals.  I’m sure they’re more visible and prone to dead wires.

Transit Customs, our company usually have 3 or 4 on the go since 2013, when the Vivaros we had went tits up with alarming regularity.

Ours get to 120-140 k miles in around 3 years, then chopped in.
Pretty much all the faults have been bodywork related. Doors moving etc.
One recently had to go in for a warranty gearbox repair at about 60k miles.

Security has always been crap.

The windscreen is very prone to stone chips. There is a big difference between the OE heated screen and some of the Chinese crap that have been fitted on occasion.

We’ve never had a wet belt issue. I’ve had two Customs and 3 Connects with wet belts.

Oh and the early Customs were horrendous without AC, they seem to get extra hot. Not driven  later one without AC.

Transit custom 70 plate limited here. Added glidemotion rib seats and lithium leisure battery under the driver’s seat. Working on the kitchen next. Drives nice and now as quiet as my 2010 Smax. like any car or van has typical failure points that mechanical sympathy from previous owners helps prevent. Condition is everything, mines nice but wish I’d spent more time looking for a perfect one.

Ford wet belts are now on 6 years or 60k

Source? They’d only just changed it to 6 yrs\100k

recently met us in the Alps, he’s obviously got a choice of any van he liked to bring to the Alps, he took a Custom.

Find it amusing how driving to the alps from the UK is seen as a big thing. Driving from Brighton to northern Scotland is about the same as Calais to Morzine.

Ducato, L2/3/4 H1 would give you the most space if wanting to convert to s day van.

Regardless of what van you get that hasn’t got a bulkhead, fit a thermal curtain in behind the cab and the A/C will work much better.

Find it amusing how driving to the alps from the UK is seen as a big thing. Driving from Brighton to northern Scotland is about the same as Calais to Morzine

Driving into the European mainland creates an extra bit of stress for most folks I know, wrong side of the road etc. It’s not the distance, it’s being abroad.

When I used to visit the Nurburgring in an old 944, there was a nervous, I shouldn’t be here feeling when on the LeShuttle.
That said, the last few Alps trips I’ve done have included a longer holiday and around 2000 miles in a 2004 Vauxhall Astra which is probably as old now as the 944 was then.

Transit Custom – Heated windscreen,
Whether this is a plus or not depends on whether you’ve actually driven any of the fords with heated windscreens. I can’t not see the heating matrix – to me it’s like a windscreen thats never clean – especially at this time of year with low sun. Waiting for a windscreen to clear is an infinitesimal portion of the time I spend behind a windscreen so I wouldn’t put up with the annoyance

I had a ‘W’-reg Ford Puma 1.7 Zetec, with a heated screen, and when I was looking for a replacement for my Octavia, having access to a great many different cars which I was often driving for a couple of hundred miles at a time, there were a number I had on a tentative list of replacements, but the only car that ticked every box was the Ford EcoSport, the one feature that was a must was a heated screen, followed by a higher seating position, analogue instruments, a semiautomatic transmission, a manual handbrake, and a petrol engine, because I didn’t want to piss around with AddBlue. I never notice the heating elements in the screen, except for when there’s a low sun directly ahead, but I got used to that 24 years ago!

Bought my 19-plate at 3300 miles and it was given a service when I got it, (ex-Motability car), it’s now on around 34k miles, and it’s due a major service in November. I’m now doing roughly half the miles I was doing when I bought it, so it could be another six years before it gets to 60k miles, but unlike the Octavia, I’m making sure I get all services done on time, and the dealer makes sure the oil in particular is checked and belt is as well.

I will say I think the little 1.0 Turbo EcoBoost engine is a marvel, it goes like a rocket with what seems like almost no effort at all, it’s supposed to be 125bhp, it feels like there’s another 10-15bhp on top of that. I do know the same engine had a 140bhp map in bigger cars like the Focus, I might see about a remap once it’s been serviced.