Way OT: Vans - opinions please..

Austin Shackles wrote:
> On or around Fri, 30 Jun 2006 20:57:05 +0100, Matthew Maddock
> <[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
>
>> Anyone had any experience with a Merc Vito? I've read some
>> dreadful reviews on 'tinternet and a only few good ones.
>> Mostly the bad ones are based around how unreliable they are.
>> Surely they can't be that bad?!
>>
>> Have seen a nice 2000 110CDi (ok, yes - way above my original
>> budget, but I did say I would go more if I found the right
>> one!)
>
> thought they were mostly smaller than you were looking for? The
> sprinter is the van-of-choice, it seems, for them as can afford it.

The older model suffer major engine trauma around 80k my wifes business had on & it went too.

Nige

> thought they were mostly smaller than you were looking for? The sprinter is
> the van-of-choice, it seems, for them as can afford it.

Well, I'm trying to work that one out! I could probably cope with a
Vito sized van as it is quite wide, tho a LWB Transit would be more
useful sometimes, but when I had one I only used to half fill it a lot
of the time. A Vito with 2/3 removable seats in the back means I could
abandon one of our cars, so one less vehicle to cost me money! Hence
why I could afford more to buy it!

Most Sprinters seem to be over 3T, which means non-standard MOT
and greater difficulty with insurance/breakdown cover etc. etc.

Matt

On 2006-07-01, Matthew Maddock <[email protected]> wrote:

> Most Sprinters seem to be over 3T, which means non-standard MOT
> and greater difficulty with insurance/breakdown cover etc. etc.

What actually are the difficulties? I have a vehicle who's name I must
not mention that went in as a 4-tonner with a class 7 MOT, didn't seem
any harder than a normal MOT. The testers were a damned sight more
sensible than normal too. Insurance was with a specialist so may not
be what you'd go for with a van.

--
Blast off and strike the evil Bydo empire!

Ian Rawlings wrote:
> On 2006-07-01, Matthew Maddock <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Most Sprinters seem to be over 3T, which means non-standard MOT
>> and greater difficulty with insurance/breakdown cover etc. etc.
>
> What actually are the difficulties? I have a vehicle who's name I must
> not mention that went in as a 4-tonner with a class 7 MOT, didn't seem
> any harder than a normal MOT. The testers were a damned sight more
> sensible than normal too. Insurance was with a specialist so may not
> be what you'd go for with a van.

Difficulties are that I will be living in France, so I don't want to
mess about when I come back to get the thing MOT'd finding a station
that can get it MOT'd at - I want to take it to my usual garage I know
and trust.

Also, seemingly I cannot get anything over 3T onto a private vehicle
policy so my broker tells me (My dad, so I believe him!) and the
European wide breakdown cover I get with my private vehicle insurance
(invaluable in my opinion) I cannot get on a commercial policy. If I
go for the Vito I can also pass it off as an MPV with the ferry company,
which makes trips back to the UK a lot cheaper too!

Why don't I buy a French reg LHD van you may ask - well, take a look
at the prices and you will see exactly why!!

Matt

On or around Sat, 1 Jul 2006 12:49:24 +0100, Ian Rawlings
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>On 2006-07-01, Matthew Maddock <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Most Sprinters seem to be over 3T, which means non-standard MOT
>> and greater difficulty with insurance/breakdown cover etc. etc.
>
>What actually are the difficulties? I have a vehicle who's name I must
>not mention that went in as a 4-tonner with a class 7 MOT, didn't seem
>any harder than a normal MOT. The testers were a damned sight more
>sensible than normal too. Insurance was with a specialist so may not
>be what you'd go for with a van.

recent experience of "The Ministry" getting a PSV is that it worked fine. I
think you'll find that the cut-off for vans is 3.5T gross, though.

--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
"I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine... War is hell"
Gen. Sherman (1820-1891) Attr. words in Address at Michigan Military
Academy, 19 June 1879.