What to look for in a diesel van?

[Luke1981]

Hi guys,

I am in the process of looking for a small combi van for the wifes new business.
I dont know anything about diesel and was wondering if someone can tell me what to look out for and to avoid.

I saw one the other day and it had oily deposits in the coolant tank which made me run a mile.

Looking to spend 2.5K and seen vans with around 70000 miles.

Any advice would be greatful

thanks

Luke   

[Thom89]

Citreon Berlingo, or Peugeot Partner vans (same van, only different badging) fall into your price bracket very well, HDi diesel engines are way better than anything else out there, cheap servicing, and very good economy, and bodies that don't go rusty, and an ability cope with starship mileage with ease. Buying one with 150k on the clock should not be seen as a problem, so long as they have a fully backed up service history, these vans can easily cover 500k with no major issues, oil and filter changes are crucial, and should be carried out at the correct intervals, no ifs or buts! they are genuine work horses

Thom

[Bellend]

Citreon Berlingo, or Peugeot Partner vans (same van, only different badging) fall into your price bracket very well, HDi diesel engines are way better than anything else out there, cheap servicing, and very good economy, and bodies that don't go rusty, and an ability cope with starship mileage with ease. Buying one with 150k on the clock should not be seen as a problem, so long as they have a fully backed up service history, these vans can easily cover 500k with no major issues, oil and filter changes are crucial, and should be carried out at the correct intervals, no ifs or buts! they are genuine work horses

Thom

Have to agree. 

Not the nicest things to drive IMO but for a van they're fine.

Nippy things that just go and go and go.

[Luke1981]

Thanks for the advice guys

[luke]

vauxhall combo vans are nice to drive imo, just make sure it's not a red royal nail as they have been ragged to high heaven and back!

[OakeyDoak16v]

vauxhall combo vans are nice to drive imo, just make sure it's not a red royal nail as they have been ragged to high heaven and back!

Not really, I have an ex royal mail combo with only 46k on the clock (06 plate) and it's ace!! It's limited to 77mph, cost me 2k and does 50+ mpg!! A great little van. 

[luke]

vauxhall combo vans are nice to drive imo, just make sure it's not a red royal nail as they have been ragged to high heaven and back!

Not really, I have an ex royal mail combo with only 46k on the clock (06 plate) and it's ace!! It's limited to 77mph, cost me 2k and does 50+ mpg!! A great little van. 

i guess it's all swings and roundabouts, my friends 1.7 cdti 52 plate on 170k runs sweet as a nut and hasn't had any problems, whereas my another friend has the 1.7 cdti 52 plate on 80k from royal mail and he had to get rid of it as there were that many problems on it, they have the isuzu engine so they will happily go to 500k miles, they pull well also, which makes me want a van even more to lug about items

[OakeyDoak16v]

Swings and roundabouts then mate.  I had mine in the garage last week because i was convinced that the fuel guage needle was stuck. It turns out there was nothing wrong with the needle, just the van being frugal.. 

[Thom89]

vauxhall combo vans are nice to drive imo, just make sure it's not a red royal nail as they have been ragged to high heaven and back!

Not really, I have an ex royal mail combo with only 46k on the clock (06 plate) and it's ace!! It's limited to 77mph, cost me 2k and does 50+ mpg!! A great little van. 

i guess it's all swings and roundabouts, my friends 1.7 cdti 52 plate on 170k runs sweet as a nut and hasn't had any problems, whereas my another friend has the 1.7 cdti 52 plate on 80k from royal mail and he had to get rid of it as there were that many problems on it, they have the isuzu engine so they will happily go to 500k miles, they pull well also, which makes me want a van even more to lug about items

The Japs have never made a decent Diesel engine yet! never come close, and never will do... pretty much the same deal as buying a French made TV... You just wouldn't go there!

Thom

[The Mighty Elvi]

Well IMHO the Honda 2.2 ICDTI engine was great.