Jump to content

Scratter Van


Recommended Posts

Posted

Petrol ones are fine. Earlier ones have Pinto's which are perfectly capable and easy to look after, later will be the twin cam (twink) engine which is also perfectly fine.

My mk2 is a long wheel base high top model with the 2.0 Pinto. It's plenty quick enough and I've had some weight in mine before I started camper converting it. Didn't seem to really effect it much.

There are V6 petrols too, usually ex ambulance/police etc, I'd love one but apparently quite thirsty!

 

That said I'd still prefer, in a van, the diesel option. I really like that old 2.5Di!

Posted

I don't know why people pick on Vanettes for being slow, it's not like Transit DIs or N/A  XUD or DW8 Sevel vans are epic speed machines either. At least they have the option of more powerful engines I guess.

 

I think it's because the car magazines at the time tested the Serena, which was basically the same thing with seats and windows. So the pub bores read it was the slowest car you could buy, and this became accepted wisdom about Vanettes. The car magazines had no reason to test the other vans you mentioned so, while they were just as slow, this knowledge wasn't in the average pub bore's databanks.

  • Like 2
Posted

The rather splendid Commercial Motor Archive is GR8 for old van facts.

Posted

I reckon a 1.9D LDV Pilot would struggle to get to 60 within half a minute.

 

Or, indeed, at all...

 

$_86.JPG

 

;)

Posted

That's a convoy with a transit motor tho .

I can confirm that either a boxer or ldv pilot with the 1.9d is just too slow for the uk . I'm used to some pretty slow vehicles but those two are beyond a joke

Posted

Probably out of your budget but I am really pleased with my petrol powered Connect Transit and would definately reccomend (if you can bear the modern-ness). It was about 30% cheaper than a Diesel equivalent too.

 

Still want an LDV Cub however. Just because.

Posted

Interested in this thread, been after a KNOBVAN or similar for a while, my budget is much less though - sub £1k

Posted

V6  transit  = 10 -15 mpg

 

That's pretty poor. Now I want one even more!

I might shoehorn an Essex V6 into my mk2!

Posted

ultimate van:

 

8683094006_2a0e1b4029_m.jpg

 

ldv 400 v8. cop spec only, or an ambulance. AMBO IS GR7 FOR LUKIN LIEK A NONCE.

  • Like 1
Posted

What are early Ford Rangers and early l200 like??? I have seen a couple for a grand.

Awful. A guy at work had his replaced with a Mitsubishi something or other.

 

He said he hated the Mitsubishi because the Ranger had used so much fuel he was getting enough clubcard points for a weeks shopping every few months.

Posted

What are early Ford Rangers and early l200 like??? I have seen a couple for a grand.

Very thirsty, chassis rust, ranger 4x4 has chocolate gearbox.

Posted

V6  transit  = 10 -15 mpg

 

With the old Essex 3.0 maybe. The 2.9 efi cologne will get into the 20s and they go like stink too (for a van)

Posted

I bet you were tempted to buy it back - looks proper cosy. $_12.JPG

It hadn't ever been welded when i had it but time has taken its toll - its done another 50000 miles as well. Interior has stood up well.

  • Like 2
Posted

Mind you, non-turbo Dispatches are not much better. I'd risk ruinous fails and go Hdi.

ruinous fails are rare on the 8v 2.0HDi engine - mine has just turned 206,000 miles last night - utterly, utterly reliable. Other XM owners will confirm the durability and reliability of the 8v 2.0HDi. Yet to have a failure to proceed in the last 35k. It's had a couple of niggles - thr standard stuff any car/van would have - ball joint for MoT, split brake hose, couple of split turbo intake pipes, new exhaust and tyres are its solitary expenses - gets an oil change at 10k, service at 20k. Othr than that, starts, stops and goes and never fails to do less than 35mpg - with 40+ on a run at 65-70mph and 35mpg at 80.

 

Goes like shit off a shovel and handles OK.

Posted

I agree about the 2.0 hdi , the 90 hp has non coded injectors (30 quid each s/hand) , no dmf and no particulate filter . A nice smooth economical engine even in my Ducato van .

 

I think the 110 and 130 may have a dmf tho

Posted

I agree about the 2.0 hdi , the 90 hp has non coded injectors (30 quid each s/hand) , no dmf and no particulate filter . A nice smooth economical engine even in my Ducato van .

 

I think the 110 and 130 may have a dmf tho

I've been hearing this a lot recently too. Buy a 2.0 HDi 90BHP Pug/Citroen van circa 2005 for simplicity/longevity.

Posted

I agree about the 2.0 hdi , the 90 hp has non coded injectors (30 quid each s/hand) , no dmf and no particulate filter . A nice smooth economical engine even in my Ducato van .

 

I think the 110 and 130 may have a dmf tho

My 110 is on clutch one at 206k! I don't think it's a dmf.

Posted

Castros Bro. You have tempted us with a cheap French van and then gone all quiet on us.

 

You TEASE!

Posted

having had use of them for work purposes for a number of years 10 -15 is  the mark  even for an EFI  regardless of coachbuilt or van body  and that was on middle tier and event work  not full 999

I had an Efi with an ambulance body, it was nowhere near that bad.

Posted

What are early Ford Rangers and early l200 like??? I have seen a couple for a grand.

 

 

Made out of nothing but off-brand cornflakes after an inebriated trucker has had sex with the packet. 

 

The last Ranger (late 90s) I saw had shat a head gasket and needed chassis repairs, the last L200 was a 2002 and the chassis paint was structural. 

Posted

^ that's not a bad innings though is it? at 13 years loads of other makes would be rusting badly and needing engine work.

Posted

Well this is true, we look after an Isuzu trooper that's 15 and is similarly afflicted in the chassis department.

 

A lot of it is due to the coastal/rural area I'd suspect, however there are a lot of trucks out there that have had the arse ragged out of them.

Posted

I dare say if a pickup was bought by the normal working man instead of by businesses or farmers then they would last a lot longer.

I've bought a few 4bee4s from farmers and you end up with half a ton of soil from the underside.

Posted

I'd be wary with any purchase if a van. If you can find one that's being sold as the owner is retiring or something then great but a lot of vans get sold off as they are about to expire. After all its a tool to a tradesman like anything else. A joiner doesn't buy a new saw cause he fancies a new one, its because its fucked and he needs another one.

 

In past jobs when I've had a vans with work, we've got shut just prior to it collapsing. I had several chiller Transits, mostly used for multi drop work. 100-120k and they were fucked, mostly the drivetrain or the injectors would see them off. Or the impending welding bill. Given they were constantly operating a fridge, there was condensation running down the inside if the panels which promptly saw the sills fuck off. After the 3-4 years were up they used to put them through the auctions. I still see them now on Ebay, advertised as 'low mileage company owned' presumably given a hair cut.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...