Renault Kangaroo

[mat_the_cat]

I'm beginning to wonder whether I'm nearing the end of the road for the BX as a daily driver, and thoughts are turning to what I could replace it with.

 

I do about 400 miles a week but my work will be moving in May, which will mean a 120 mile round trip to get there. The plan for me is to work from home where possible, but I think it'll mean quite a bit more travelling. I could continue to use the BX I suppose, but immediate parts availability is getting more difficult, and I'm worried it will deteriorate faster than I can sort things. Plus when I get the Stellar on the road, it'd be nice having something as a hack that I can just jump into and pile on the miles without worry.

 

Using the Focus is a possibility, but that's high mileage too and for my requirements is not ideal as it is rather low. I've already taken out the undertray, damaged the front bumper, holed the radiator and damaged the AC condenser on our track. Plus the two occasions I've had to dig myself out of the snow have been because I've beached myself. With adjustable suspension, or something higher I would have been able to drive out.

 

So, I'm looking for something reasonably high although 4x4 not a necessity (only been one year when it was truly needed). 2wd would be cheaper on fuel which is important! High roof would be good, to make it easier to get bikes in without the faff of removing wheels. A van with windows seems ideal, and the Kangoo is probably my favourite of the bunch; also from my limited experience it seems more car-like to drive than the Berlingo/Partner. Cheap road tax, cheap tyres, and hopefully stand up to high miles reasonably well.

 

Does anybody have experience of what to look out for, or any other words of wisdom?

[Cavcraft]

There are too many around with knackered engines for my liking. I honestly reckon the Berlingo would be a better bet, but have you asked Mr B if he still has hia Fiat Doblo for sale? that was a really smart little van.

[willswitchengage]

Tommy Saxondale loved his

 

 

...or how about a Rover Streetwise?

[wackywacerwill]

[Hendry]

They did a 4x4 or faux-4x4 version called the Trekka, they are fairly rare but from what I remember quite useful and even have rubber floors instead of carpets

[Ian_Fearn]

Mat, I replaced my BX with a Kangoo. Great fun to drive despite being pretty sluggish and 49mpg but I flogged mine due to the number of problems it had at only 3 years old. Renault agreed it had problems but couldn't fix it despite Renault UK being called in.

 

Personally, I avoid modern diesels. They're an arse when they go wrong and less fun than a petrol engine  . If you have an LPG station on your way to work it could be a half decent compromise for big miles.

 

I'd have another Kangoo like a shot but i'd get the 1.6 petrol without all the diesel engine problems. I think you'd be better off with a Berlingo though.

[gordonbennet]

C15d was a crackin motor, you won't find a simpler modernish vehicle anywhere, no power steering but not bad to steer.

 

Agree about Berlingo, 1.9 NA is probably the simplest of all, it won't pull your eyeballs back with acceleration but one up to speed it bowls along, obviously the td will be better but hold value more, lots of petrol  versions were supplied new with LPG conversions, despite only being a 1.4 NA they had a lot more torque than any of the cars fitted with the same lump.

 

Pre facelift models had standard wiring, facelift gained multiplex.

 

Don't for goodness sake get one without power steering unless you've arms like popeye.

 

Seriously good ride quality on these.

 

The new model is a good motor too, much nicer to drive, based on C4 Picasso underpinnings including rear disc brakes but without the electric parking brake of doom.

[Mr Lobster]

Yep, been there bought one, got to know some RAC men better.

 

We bought one on the same sort of reasoning - decent to drive (had a newish Blingo van at the same time and Kangoo seemed nicer and better screwed together though Blingo did 40k in eight months without any issue but I did find it a bit less comfy), good on fuel (55mpg ish) and just mega useful. Spent a while looking for a good one and found a one owner, full history example. Done 95k but looked like it had been really looked after. WCPGW?

 

Everything.

 

In the space of twelve months and about 15k miles it ate its way through a starter, pads and discs, alternator belt tensioner (which happily shreaded the belt which then got tangled up with the cambelt which skipped a tooth or two although amazingly without any damage) a turbo, then another turbo when the new one failed, wiper motor and would have been needing a clutch too. Last straw was driving into a nice farmhouse in nice Cornwall when a rear torsion bar snapped. RAC recovered it back to Lancashire where a second hand rear axle saw it back on the road and it then found its ass on ebay.

 

That said, I'd actually have another as when it worked it was properly useful in a way that only a van with windows can be.

 

Renault Kangoo dci by Mr Lobster, on Flickr

[mat_the_cat]

C15 would be PERFECT. If they didn't rust to buggery. Otherwise it's the nearest I can get to a modern practical car without being modern. Looked at a few actually, but I tend to keep things long term and I'm afraid the rust fear put me right off...

 

LPG would be good, so long as the tank didn't take up loadspace. There is a local station, and I'm very much a fan of the fuel. Also share the concerns about modern diesels, so a petrol to convert was definitely a possibility.

 

Good to see you on here Ian - I'm Mat Fenwick if you hadn't realised...

[Micrashed]

+2

Citroen Berlingo

 

Mk1 for full length sunshine roof fun or Mk 2 for general good looks.

 

We had an ex OOH service vehicle and it took me and the tribe everywhere. Bloody great it was. Reliable, frugal in HDi form and consumables no more expensive than the Xsara base.

[Dave_Q]

Got to be the Berlingo IMO.

 

I ran one in van flavour, 220k miler with a 1.7 n/a xud.

 

Faster than you'd think if you thrash it mercilessly, gave me no problems in a year and 20k miles except ones I caused myself by running a Lucas pump on biodiesel.

 

A turbo XUD from a 306 is meant to be a straight swap for more oomph, I'd probably avoid the HDi.

[Micrashed]

 I'd probably avoid the HDi.

People do think that, yet the 90 BHP DW10 is very under stressed and rather reliable. Lift pumps suffer, but not the actual donkey.

[catsinthewelder]

I went car shopping with a mate 3 years ago with Blingos and Kangoos at the top of the list,  we ended up buying a low milage 03 plate Kangoo 1.2 pez for £2k.  To my mind it was a bit pricy but I spent half an hour crawling over and under it and couldn't find anything to knock the price down on.

 

It's had two minor failures to proceed which seems fair for the use it gets and isn't that slow considering it's tiny engine (compared to a BX 19D).

 

Being as it's you though I'd have thought a C15 would fit the bill even better

[mat_the_cat]

Being as it's you though I'd have thought a C15 would fit the bill even better

 

Noooo, no more welding!

 

Hadn't ruled out a Blingo, just that I preferred the way the Kangoo drove. But haven't driven either more than 50 miles or so. Wonder which is more resistant to rust, although I've never seen really rusty examples of either.

 

Lana has agreed to loan me some money, which should mean I can afford a decent example. Anyone would think she's pleased at the idea of me to driving her around in the BX...

[Dave_Q]

People do think that, yet the 90 BHP DW10 is very under stressed and rather reliable. Lift pumps suffer, but not the actual donkey.

 

I have no experience with the HDi engines myself. I'd just avoid personally due to general ludditery.

[phil_lihp]

I had an early 1.9D Kangoo for a few months, it was pleasant to drive and I preferred it to the Berlingos I used to drive at work.  It went better and was generally a better driving experience.  Mine wasn't the best example, life on a smallholding had made it pretty disgusting and the sills and floor were starting to rot and it had traditionally 'quirky' Renault electronics but otherwise it wasn't a bad old thing.  I'd recommend them - if you can find a good one.

[Micrashed]

1Ive had 3 DW10 in 90 BHP guise, one ran up to 174K and was still going strong when sold.

 

Currently running a DW10CZSD in the C8 and that is a little fragile putting out 150bhp, but its stressed to buggery compared with the DW10. Smokes like a beagle when clogged, but by christ it can shift two and a half tonnes of lounge on wheels.

[Ian_Fearn]

Good to see you on here Ian - I'm Mat Fenwick if you hadn't realised...

 

Yo Mat, yeah I guess mate! There can't be many others with such a superb fleet . I got rid of my Kangoo and bought a Defender. That make the Kangoo look like a Toyota.

[mat_the_cat]

Superb? There can't be many places where that description would be used!

 

Tempted by this, despite 4wd not being needed. On the plus side I'm guessing the bigger but lower tuned diesel is more reliable, but balanced out by lower mpg and extra road tax. And slower, not that I'm that bothered.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-52-RENAULT-KANGOO-1-9-dCi-80-Trekka-4x4-/251468100759?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3a8caab497

[Micrashed]

^^^
Renner - check

4x4 system - check

Mismatched paint - check

 

WINNAH

[mat_the_cat]

Hmmm, now sober I'm beginning to wonder about the wisdom of the one in the link...

[Honey Badger]

Occasional 4x4 pez van like car needed, step this way sir the Honda H-RV is waiting for you

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201401291393718/sort/default/usedcars/model/hr-v/postcode/nn84sa/radius/1500/maximum-mileage/up_to_80000_miles/price-to/1500/page/1/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/make/honda?logcode=p

 

Need a little more space and LPG is a possibility, a shiny silver CR-V Mk 1 awaits

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201404193454261/sort/default/usedcars/page/1/price-to/1500/model/cr-v/radius/1500/maximum-mileage/up_to_80000_miles/make/honda/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/postcode/nn84sa?logcode=p

 

Loads of room in both, low mileage and pretty un-burstable if looked after, I'd say both would be a wiser investment than a slightly shonky French Dizzler with a known tendency to break several expensive and hard to reach bits on a regular basis, Twosmoke may well be able to point out any problems with the Hondas.

[messerschmitt owner]

I'd recommend an HDi Citroen Dispatch (or Pug of Fiat equivalent) - mine is nudging 200k, I have its previous service history and it hasn't cost much in three ownerships. Cavernous too.

 

In my ownership, it's been an exhaust and two tyres (and soon to be a service). Don't believe what you hear about the HDi engines - the 110 in mine is smooth and reliable (so far).

[Wilko220]

C15 would be PERFECT. 

 

Having just taken delivery of some new practical-shite in the form of MrDuke's Xantia estate (pics to follow eventually, promise)...

I might be able to be persuaded to part with this beast fairly soon.

 

I can confirm that, apart from the propensity to rust like a '60s Vauxhall, they are absolutely mega in every respect.

 

[mat_the_cat]

wiser investment than a slightly shonky French Dizzler with a known tendency to break several expensive and hard to reach bits on a regular basis

 

This forum's not what it used to be...

 

In all seriousness though, I can't see myself in a soft roader. Bizarrely, something French and quirky is hugely more appealing, and if it comes to fixing faults I'd rather they be electrical than anything else.

 

C15 - selective quoting FTW I'm saying no now, but going to France in a month or so where I will no doubt see loads of them and reawaken the urgings.

[ruffgeezer]

Another ex-ruffgeezer fleet vehicle, fantastically simple, and drives like a classic, just a crude French one. Would strongly recommend.

[DVee8]

Here is a curved ball

 

How about a Toyota Yaris Verso

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201404243644592/sort/default/usedcars/model/yaris_verso/postcode/dh23hx/radius/200/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/make/toyota/page/1?logcode=p

There seem to be a few under 1k around

[rainagain]

I had a DW8 in my 206 which I think some of the Partners used, was a great engine I managed ~210,000 miles before trying to play submarines with it. Not very fast, not as economical as a common rail but had a feel it would go on forever (if you keep it away from deep water).

[KruJoe]

Yaris Verso is now the chariot of choice for octogenarian coffin dodgers, particularly the type who previously pottered about in small Daihatsus.

[Ratdat]

High roof would be good, to make it easier to get bikes in without the faff of removing wheels. A van with windows seems ideal

 

 

 

Cheap road tax, cheap tyres, and hopefully stand up to high miles reasonably well.