Van chat!

Affiliate Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 219

Does anyone know what the designations (i.e. 80, 120) of the previous style transit vans stand for?

Also, whats a relatively quick van to own? We're talking transit size...can be any marque though! I'm particularly interested in the previous style transit but have been told they perform slowly at highway/motorway speeds...?

Ta!

FCS Event Manager Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 3680

Merc Sprinter!

you can get two versions of the normal van style, short wheel base and long wheel base, the swb being mid transit sized.

Don't go for a luton style or box style in any van variant, as they slow it down considerbly.

I've been driving both of these for the last 9 months and defo recomend them, even the LWB sprinter will sit quite happily at 100 mph, loads of torque, very quick on pull away and quite comfy for long distance work too.

Avoid the VW vans, i had a loan one whilst my sprinter was being serviced, they are slower than a slow thing on beta blockers on pull away and top end and are an uncomfortable beast.

Affiliate Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 219

Agree on the vw vans...i rented one a few weeks back and it wouldn't hit 80.

Sprinter though...i've been thinking of one of those and you can pick them up quite cheap..like about 2/3k i think.

Do you know what the suspension setup on these? I assume coils at the front and hopefully same at the rear...ifs its leaf springs it'll be a pain...?

Retroholic Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1000

the best van i ever drove was the fiat ducato, boy was that thing scaryily fast!

Retroholic Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 5685

Some on the sprinters (312?) max out at 120mph Laughing

Get one and get me one!

FCS Event Manager Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 3680

why would leaf springs at the rear be a pain?

most vans have leaf springs at the back to distribute the loading weight more evenly but the sprinter comes with both setups depending on application.

The 311 sprinter is the best one to go for, in either lwb or swb versions, its a good solid diesel lump that has power and quite economical at the same time, avoid the 208 and 308 versions as they are underpowered for this type of van.
Also check the gearbox, if 1st and reverse are hard to engage then the linkage is on the way out.
We have one 311 sprinter on our fleet thats almost at 150,000 miles and its still going strong with no problems at all!

FCS Event Manager Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 3680

Chet T16";p="99613 wrote:

Some on the sprinters (312?) max out at 120mph Laughing

Get one and get me one!

there is a 412 Sprinter as well with 156bhp on tap!!

Retroholic Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 5685

Maybe thats the one i'm thinking of then!

Retroholic Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1000

i think the transit numbers where related to loading capacities?????

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

sprinter is the one to go for.

Ducato? fast? if it had a v8 maybe, build quality on them is terrible, electrics terrible slower than a slow thing that has died as well tbh.

Forum Moderator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 1356

One word - RASCAL! Smile

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

with a hayabusa in it

Forum Moderator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 1356

oh yeah, don't go anywhere near Hyundi. My paw has one in spain for his work, engine is under the passanger seat and getting the headlights out to replace bulbs results in massi skin loss.

Don't know what it is other than pish, loud slow and generally gay in its design

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 12:18 pm

Peugeot Expert diesel, mate has one, drives fine like a car turdbo diesel, slightly smaller that transit but cheap to buy and run

Retroholic Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1000

obviously 3 fooked ones then as we hired 3 different ones cos the transits had all gone.

i never wrote this shite............... [b]obviously 3 fooked ones then as we hired 3 different ones cos the transits had all gone.

Site Subscriber Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 3547

Merc sprinter no doubt. We've got a renault master at work, that goes alright, we've got the DCi 120.

Retroholic Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1000

what the hells going on????????? i never wrote that last staement............

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

That'll be Chris accidentally clicking 'edit' instead of 'quote' on your post...

I do that sometimes, but I normally realise what I've done before submitting.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

bollocks, sortry mate, the admin powers I have will destroy the wolrd 1 day.

Retroholic Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 5685

fat fingers Laughing

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

whateva minga!