overgrown sherpa or another parts bin mis match couldn't care less british attempt at.................................
MD
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I used to have the misfortune of regularly driving 3.5 tonne LDV minibus conversions. Gutless, uncomfortable, badly built, poor handling, flimsy trim and monumentally unreliable.
We never knew how much to blame the hire company we had to use, but we collated about 70 journeys we'd made as a club using the vans. There had been a fault in more than 50% of cases, major (journey stopping) faults seven or eight times.
I personally had the brakes 'fail' on me twice, once when the rear load sensor went, causing the rear wheels to lock under the slightest pedal pressure, and once when it started pulling so hard to the left on the motorway that it needed half a turn of lock to stay on the road.
The guy from LDV that used to have to come out to retrieve us pointed out that the logo was the letters 'LDV' superimposed on a skip. I'm guessing that isn't a coincidence.
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was being passengered in an ldv luton a good 10 years ago and as we traversed a railway bridge with old brick walls and a big drop to the line a front spring broke on the van with a hell of a bang
on investigating it transpired these springs were made of glassfibre, i thought the agents were kidding at first,anyway got that fixed and the next day an injector pipe broke so we hobbled to a bosch centre where we had it fixed as we waited
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overgrown sherpa or another parts bin mis match couldn't care less british attempt at.................................
MD
The Crappy engine is Italian btw, not British, Maxus has won several awards and they were very cheap compared to others.
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>>>>>>>> its free?
You're right Bellboy
But my Transporter Van is free too and what a superb van that is..................
Great looks, steering, handling, loads of power, comfortable, great controls, radio, seats.
I can get out of that van after a four hour drive and not even know I'd done it.
Maxus? What a pile of poop.
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The Maxus isn't as bad as some posters say, I does drive ok, the engine is ok too but what lets it down badly is the detailing.
Agreed, the radio is a MG-Rover cast off from about 1990 and there has been many problems with the flimsy handles and locks particually on the rear doors. The door mirrors don't have a blind spot mirror and every one i've driven they vibrate slightly at motorway speeds. Totally inexcusable in a van.
Hovever the cab is a nice place to be, certainally more room here for passengers than a Transporter. The dash is nicely designed too and I don't agree with the comment 'buttons all over the place'. Why the dials are in the middle though is a mystery but they are easy to read.
What it needs is some experienced van engineers to sort all this minor stuff out and maybe it'll be fine.
I've driven both the Maxus and the Transporter for many many miles as part of my job and yes the VW is the better drive, but elsewhere it's closer than you think. A rubbish radio is not a reason to write it off!
Give it a chance!!
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The door mirrors don't have a blind spot mirror and every one i've driven they vibrate >>slightly at motorway speeds. Totally inexcusable in a van.
Surely a trivial detail for many van drivers on the motorway. Apologies for blatant stereotyping :-)
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Worst thing about the mirrors I found was once when driving down a narrow rd near caterham a VW transporter came the other way and unavoidable mirror contact occured.
My window was down and I ended up with dozens of really tiny thin bits of mirror glass peppered into the right side of my face, After 20 years of driving and doing dozens of mirrors in this manner this was the first time there was blood and injury and thats when I realized that every other van this size has a quarter light window which would prevent this from happening. Who designed the LDV ?
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I really am at a loss. I have had a 2007 Maxus swb 6 seat combi platinum for 5 years now. It is the best van I have owned by a mile. 6 people and more luggage than you would ever need. My pal services it once a year and it has nearly never missed a beat. I have had 4 part worn tyres put on in 30 000 miles and the only other repair was clutch master and slave Cylinders. It is really fast, smooth and quiet. I never find a problem with where the nobs, controls and switches are. It has everything this van. Metallic, alloys, remote cental locking, electric mirrors, windows, air conditioning, CD player, alarm, reversing sensors, fog lights and a 20 000 service interval. Not to mention really good on fuel. Who are really reviewing the maxus on here? Who cares about some and I say some of the stuff on here? What has happened to the real men of the world? Just get in the van, go to work and stop whining about crap like refinement and bumps and squeaks. My wife and some female friends of mine do less whinging. Keep the maxus on the road and become a real man. Only if you are brave enough. Happy motoring
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Totally agree my 2007 is a belter
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Why the dials are in the middle though is a mystery but they are easy to read.
Like the original Mini, perhaps so they could produce LHD and RHD versions without needing a mirror-image? Even cheaper?
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Maxus? What a pile of poop.>>
What a stupid comment.
Always amazes me that regulars to a motoring forum who are *supposed* to be enthusiasts slag off a vehicle.
A vehicle with faults to me makes it interesting.
Makes me love it even more.
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I hire vans fairly regularly, got a Maxus when they first came out a couple of years ago. Really wasn't that bad, drove non-stop from Glasgow to Muswell Hill in it in 6.5hrs without missing a beat, the 2.5 dci VM engine and cabin were both perfectly adequate over that distance and back via Edinburgh in sleet and snow.
I agree about the radio, though, this example had only done a couple of thousand miles and the CD player would work for all of ten mins before it kept trying to change constantly between CD and radio - but it all fairness, I think it looked like something had been spilled in it!
In contrast, I drove the current shape Transit the other day, vast disappointment compared to the last one - it stalled remarkably easily, and the dash-mounted gear change was clunky at best.
As for VW vans, I don't doubt they're nice places to be, but can anyone honestly say that the new Crafter is remotely pretty?? Seems to be a trend at the moment for giving vans huge grills and big vertical headlights, makes them look pretty brutal! They kinda remind me of Citroen H vans though!
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use a maxus every couple of weeks.
its not bad, its just not as good as the vevaro.
compared to the old LDV van we used to borrow, its a massive step forward.
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I can get out of that van after a four hour drive and not even know I'd done it.
Don't most van drivers manage that - albeit with the aid of a mobile phone?
};---)
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I bet the LDV is better to drive than a J4 I once owned.
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Absolutely agree with you....
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Imagos, Why is it a stupid comment?
Your reply, now that IS stupid!
A vehicle with faults makes it interesting?? Are you on this planet?
Lets clarify a few things.
I drive between 100 and 600 miles each day in my van. The van is as much a tool to me as the things that I carry in it. My transporter runs rings around this Maxus. I've had a local job today so I have only travelled 160 odd miles in the van and I stand by what I said last night. The radio that was rubbish to start with gave up altogether this morning. The heater control is jammed on 'screen'. The blower only works on top speed. There is a nasty clunk from the ns door whenever I go over a bump, as if it is not shut properly. The gearchange is like stirring a bucket of bricks.
After a busy day getting into my transporter is no problem but even this short journey home tonight was hard work in itself.
Remember, this van is an 07 reg with 5000 miles on the clock. Many of our works transporter vans are on over 300,000 at three years old.
I wouldn't trust this thing to get to 10,000
If, as you say, "a vehicle with faults makes you love it more"
you should MARRY this heap and may you live happily ever after
; o )
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 30/10/2007 at 19:07
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quote by stuarti
"The gearchange is like stirring a bucket of bricks."
>>>>>>>>> a classic ................im going to remember that one
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bellboy, my user name is stuartl.
If you are going to quote me you'll need to get my name correct so the royalties find their way to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
: o )
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sorry ,it was spelt rong on the van ;-)
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I had to laugh at the post that said that the letters LDV were superimposed in a 'skip' symbol!!!!!
Very apt, in my personal opinion of course!!!!
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I had to laugh at the post that said that the letters LDV were superimposed in a 'skip' symbol!!!!! Very apt in my personal opinion of course!!!!
i think that was one of mine
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>>I've had a local job today so I have
only travelled 160 odd miles in the van and I stand by what I said last night. The radio that was rubbish to start with gave up altogether this morning. The heater control is jammed on 'screen'. The blower only works on top speed. There is a nasty clunk from the ns door whenever I go over a bump as if it is not shut properly. The gearchange is like stirring a bucket of bricks. After a busy day getting into my transporter is no problem but even this short journey home tonight was hard work in itself.<<
A radio is a cheap fix, so is a dodgy heater control and poorly fitted door.
A poor gearchange can loosen up with 20-30k hard use - the box on my Suzuki van is hardly slick, but it works.
Some vans are designed to be like a car and some are designed as pure tools, thus have a far more rough and ready approach to build.
Granted, the LDV shouldnt have all those faults, but they are trivial at best.
If it however has a tendancy for mechanical failure, that is unacceptable as vans are usually relied upon, perhaps more so than cars are even.
My Suzuki Carry is undergeared, noisey, the side door rattles a bit, the dashboard is from some early 90's supermini they made, glovebox catch rattles, window screeches when you wind it down, gets blown around in the wind and the gearbox is notchy until properly warmed up ( ie very rare doing its 10 mile typical journey ). So on the face of it, an annoying little van without any depth of ability.
It is however fantastic for my business being cheap to insure, does 40 mpg which is enough for town running, has a near 6 ft load bay that is totally without intrusion, twin side doors so great access, fantastic turning circle ( London Taxi esq ) and the steering makes parking and driving effortless even retaining enough 'feel' for cornering.
If you used it for your job, you would hate it.
I however love my little van and currently there just isnt a decent alternative available aside from Daihatsu's van but it would be barely a step up except in price.
There are enough LDVs around that there MUST be a reason for that.
I thought the T35 VW I hired was a plasticky vile place to sit and the driving position was useless too. Im sure someone out there thinks total opposite though.
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I had a Bedford Rascal and that was superb compared to this Maxus thing.
Ask yourself the question:
If you had parted with whatever amount of money these awful things cost new, would you be happy with all these faults.
If they are a 'cheap fix' why dont ldv get it right in the factory?
I challenge anyone to take a Transporter like mine and an LDV away for a week each and then tell me that the LDV was better.
They are like chalk and cheese
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Stuartl, your vitriol towards the poor Maxus needs no further response as you have clearly made up your mind.
All I ask is for you to consider the resources of the mighty V.W. company
against the small outfit that is L.D.V.
I think they've done pretty well.
(I even drove a Maxus today and quite enjoyed it!)
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Imagos said>>>>>All I ask is for you to consider the resources of the mighty V.W. company
against the small outfit that is L.D.V.
Is that an excuse for churning out such a rubbish van?
If you are satisfied with the Maxus then I am very pleased for you and can assure you that if you are happy with that van you should be happy in the knowledge that it can only get better! (This is my opinion and not that of HJ)
My PERSONAL opinion is that the Maxus is a diabolical van that I had low expectations of and it failed to meet them.
My Transporter is ready tomorrow and I cant wait to get it back.
Imagos, have a Transporter for a week and then tell me a Maxus is anything better than 1/10!
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I have had the misfortune of being given an LDV Maxxus van from my work. Its a 120hp version which I am sure is the 95hp with no rev limiter.Long wheel base hi top version On the very first day out in the van the left rear door stuck shut and would not open. On the very same day the little button on the passenger side door fell off when I locked the doors with the remote. After a month only the left indicator and fog lamps were working at the back but changing bulbs is a nightmare , The wiring is too short and very weak and the plastic is very brittle ,ended up having 2 new rear lights,
At 3000 miles I have worn a hole in the rubber floor by the accelerator pedal already, the dashboard is rattling and I often hear a strange buzzing sound coming from the passengerside.
The turbo is rubbish and struggles with any weight on board even in 1st gear.
The brakes are already squeeking at the back, but the brakes have always been useless since new, The passenger door wont shut properly and needs a good slam, The drivers door creaks The electric window buttons are positioned where I rest my right elbow.
The door interiors and door mirrors move when using the electric windows which are very slow and noisy. And its drinking about 20 litres of diesel a week more than my old VW Transporter 2.8 turbo.
Found rust already. And the metal is so thin you have to be carefull when washing it as you can easily dent it with your sponge !!! On the motorway it pulls left and sways about all over the place .Severe road noise and wind noise and annoying beeping sounds all the time And if you have one with a parking sensor I say ignore it as it means nothing , its a waste of time
I want my 7 yr old VW back this is 3 months old and feels like its falling apart. I really feel sorry for anyone who has to drive one of these on a daily basis.
WHAT A DREADFULL VAN INDEED.
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I recently hired a Maxus on 3 occasions from Hertz. Each one was less than a year old and all of them has many problems. The remote blipper for each one had failed, has to open with the keys. I kept resting my arm on the door and avtivating the electric window. The rear door locks were broken on all of them, and one of them broke down in McDonalds car park (immobiliser fault). Just a brief look at them shows they are thrown together. They did, however, drive OK.
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Imagos {P} , are you listening to this???????
As the OP, I gave my opinion of this van and you shot me down in flames.
Since my original posting my 55 Reg Transporter has been back to VW for a new set of brake pads and I asked my fleet office for ANY van rather than a Maxus saying that I would rather pay for a van myself if the Maxus was the only option. They sorted me out a Combo Van for the day which was fine
>>>>>>LDV Driver said............
I want my 7 yr old VW back this is 3 months old and feels like its falling apart. I really feel sorry for anyone who has to drive one of these on a daily basis.
WHAT A DREADFULL VAN INDEED.
I know what you mean LDV. As I said in a previous post, my companies 'Run-out' vans are 55 reg Transporters and have done around 300,000 miles and are still fine to drive covering an average of 2000 miles a week.
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I have:
1 VW T5 2004
LWB Transit 2.4 MK 6
SWB Transit 2.0 MK 6
MAXUS 2.5 2007
NOTHING WRONF WITH THE MAXUS AT ALL - YOU HATERS THAT CLEARLY DONT HAVE A CLUE ABOUT WHAT A WORKHORSE IS. GRANTED NOT THE SAME BUILD QUALITY AS A VW - BUT I BET IF I PUT THE WRONG OIL IN THE MAXUS IT WILL JUST KEEP GOING AS OPPOSED TO THE VW THAT WILL SPIT ITS TOYS OUT THE PRAM AND KNACKER THE CAM SHAFT... EACH VAN HAS GOOD AND BAD POINTS AND AS A WORKHORSE IT PERFECTLY ADEQUATE. WHAT A BUNCH OF HOT AIR SPEWING FAIRIES ON THIS FORUM. GET A GRIP AND RECOGNISE THEY ARE DIFFERENT VANS FOR DIFFERENT POCKET SIZES. NOW THE TRANSITS mk6 ARE IN A CLASS OF THEIR OWN AND NO ONE HAS MADE A VAN TO BEAT IT.
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Learn to take caps lock off next time!!
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< deleted >
Edited by Andrew-T on 26/04/2015 at 11:39
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Maxus? What a pile of poop.>> What a stupid comment. Always amazes me that regulars to a motoring forum who are *supposed* to be enthusiasts slag off a vehicle.
Its a motoring forum discussion board where we can slag off or praise a vehicle. Simple really.
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I stumbled across a review recently in a major commercial vehicle publication which was quite complementary about the Maxus.
Not had the pleasure of driving one myself, but I certainly see quite a few of them about.
Cheers
DP
--
04 Grand Scenic 1.9 dCi Dynamique
00 Mondeo 1.8TD LX
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>>>A vehicle with faults to me makes it interesting.
As the Land Rover owner said to his wife, wiping engine oil off the kitchen table.
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You've been to my house !
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Been there, done that - except it was the worktop rather than the table.
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I have to say I disagree. I bought my LDV 3.5T 120hp from new 3 months ago. So far I have done 9500 trouble free miles. Now the engine has loosened up some what it is very quiet and economical (around 30 mpg). The brakes work very well and do not squeak at all. Bearing in mind I am a Kitchen Fitter and cart a hell of a lot of equipment around. It came with ABS, EBD, Air Con & Electric Windows. It is very comfortable to drive and has a lot better driving position (in my opinion) than the VW LT and Ducato, both of which I tested. It also has more cabin space and loading space. Granted it is not perfect. The wing mirrors need sorting out, better stereo(!), and maybe better plastics etc. But it is a first try for LDV bearing in mind they went out of business a couple of years back and before then their development partner Daewoo went bust. The Merecedes/VW are too expensive and have a rubbish warranty. I have a 100,000 mile warranty and the van costs me £250.00 a month. A first rate attempt and they are built in this country. The more people that buy one, the more money LDV will have to improve on the next one. As well as supporting manufacturing industry in this country.
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I respect your opinion but obviously would not agree with your opinion of an LDV!
>>>>>The more people that buy one, the more money LDV will have to improve on the next one.
I have to say I find this the strangest reason I have ever heard for spending hard earned cash on a vehicle
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I have read all the comments about this van and must add mine, I bought one of the first Maxus vans on a 55 plate and yes it has many faults but with a 100,000 warranty over 5 years most of its faults were rectified whilst under warranty.
Though I would not buy another Maxus mine has covered 110,000 miles and is running well I also have a Vivaro on an 04 plate that I purchased new and its had three gearboxes !
I conclude that the comparisons with VW are not just as a similar VW is almost double the cost of a Maxus you get what you pay for !!
sq
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 08/01/2008 at 06:01
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How can trying to support manufacturing in this country be strange? Don't under estimate the power of "Buying British". I tried to as much as I can. That is my choice. The country needs as support for its manufacturing base
Edited by podman on 19/01/2008 at 18:50
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How can trying to support manufacturing in this country be strange?
I dont disagree with buying British at all but a van is a tool to it's driver as much as the tools he or she carries in the back (in the case of the construction/engineering industry) and a very essential tool of lets say a courier driver. If you are waiting for a parcel to be delivered, your washing machine to be repaired or your kitchen to be installed I doubt if you would find it much consolation if the van driver failed to show up as he had been patriotic rather than buy a reliable van.
There has been talk of the good warranty of the Maxus. Is there an LDV garage where a builder can drop his van off at 630am for a warranty repair so he can still arrive on site at a decent time? I doubt it. Instead it is a case of wait until at least 8am, hand over driving licence, id etc for a courtesy vehicle, transfer your van contents into the hire van and then get to site very late, only to have to leave early to get the van back to the garage and go through the same all over again.
Wouldnt it be easier to buy a decent van to start with and the little extra that it costs would be easily covered by the fact that it will get you to work every day without any hassle?
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So you dont like the maxus then StuartL.
You've made your point over and over, now it's getting boring.
I worry about more important things in life.
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Imagos, I was replying to a previous post by someone else and addressing the comments that they made, not you.
If you are bored with the topic then dont read the post, let alone respond to it then you will have all the time you need to worry about the more impotant things in life.
Have a nice day!
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>>>>o worry about the more impotant things in life.
Oops!! I meant important!!!
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We've got 5 of 'em on the hire fleet I maintain. They seem to be acceptable to commercial hirers. Pallets and standard sized sheets of various stuff all fit in.
Actually, we haven't had a single complaint about them, and believe me, hirers can be a moaning bunch of so and so's
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 20/01/2008 at 19:57
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Had this van a couple of weeks now, vast improvement on our old 99 ducato. And the build seems better than the 55 transits we were looking at.
We would have love to own a VW, BUT you cant really compare the transporter as its not the same size van and is no use to us. The other VW (crafter) is so much more expensive and cannot be compared to the maxus honestly. Im sure a Merc car is way better built than a Ford Ka!
We also have a few niggly problems but as it was bought used from a dealer we will have them all sorted.
British made and designed, brilliant. Not a great van, but then we didnt pay a great price. Better than a ford or fiat.
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A few years ago I was unlucky enough to be the occupant of an LDV minibus enroute to Manchester Airport. Whilst attempting to get comfortable in those wretched seats I noted that it seemed rather gutless with the driver changing gear constantly to keep the speed above a heady 30mph. Just as I enquired 'everything OK?' it died. Talk about panic on my behalf - thought I was going to miss my flight! Luckily I managed to grab another taxi, a quick 'bye' to LDV man and into a diesel Astra. The contrast was amazing, we were cruising at 90, the seats were comfortable and it got me to the airport on time.
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What about the Sherpa, now that was a fine piece of kit.
Popular with carpet fitters, if I recall, because it was one of the few vans a certain width of carpet roll would slide into while still allowing the back doors to shut.
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All UK carp.
What the hell does one buy with ones own money now?? Seriously.......What Van? Owner operator like me (Builder) What now? I am lost.
Best regards to all...........MD
Edited by Pugugly on 25/03/2008 at 22:17
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>>>> All UK carp.
MD,
Carp, sir?
Steady on, all I meant was the Sherpa had a longer loading bay than other vans around at the time, which I'm pretty sure is right.
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Toyota hiace (original) for carpets. Legislation decreed that it had to IIRC due to the cab forward design
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Referring back to the thread about the Sherpa... at the time of the miners' strike, I remember seeing a lot of them around Nottingham where I was a student. The "freight Rover" division of what was still trading as BL knocked out some Police specials which used to go like stink. That 3.5l Rover engine used to get everywhere...
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So far the only big problem we have with it is its turning circle is poor compared to the swb ducato we had
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Referring back to the thread about the Sherpa... at the time of the miners' strike, I remember seeing a lot of them around Nottingham where I was a student. The "freight Rover" division of what was still trading as BL knocked out some Police specials which used to go like stink. That 3.5l Rover engine used to get everywhere...
A very interesting van to drive - when the police introduced them to replace v4 corair engined transits they did a 'conversion driving course'. I think this was to get you used to driving a 100mph + skip. The gear lever was positioned very far back (like behind you) as the engine and gearbox had to be mounted so far back in the cab. If you gave them the welly you could empty a full tank of petrol in spectacular fashion. The best part was watching the flames come out of the exhaust on overrun. Shame the rear spring hangers couldn't take all the torque from that meaty engine - they regularly pulled away from the chassis rail. Steering one fully laden certainly built up the biceps!Stil they had twin rear wheels which made them quite stable unlike the Transit hightop 2.9 Granada engined specials that replaced them............
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Just like to say My Maxus is by far the best van i have ever driven and ive driven quite a few over the years
trouble is , in 8 years i havent serviced it nor changed the cam belt , i havent even topped up or changed the oil lol
only things i have had done ,is one clutch and one slave cylinder and two masters and a handbreak cable
always meant to get it serviced (kit has been in van for three years now , but garages / mechanics always seem to be to busy
but starts first time runs sweet as a nut , cant ask for more
after reading some of the complaints about it i an now very reluctant to have anything done to it as it might never work again
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Hear hear! Whenever I'm buying beer or plonk I always try to buy British. Unfortunately these days they are even shipping beer from China!
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I have to say I disagree. I bought my LDV 3.5T 120hp from new 3 months ago. So far I have done 9500 trouble free miles. Now the engine has loosened up some what it is very quiet and economical (around 30 mpg). The brakes work very well and do not squeak at all. Bearing in mind I am a Kitchen Fitter and cart a hell of a lot of equipment around. It came with ABS, EBD, Air Con & Electric Windows. It is very comfortable to drive and has a lot better driving position (in my opinion) than the VW LT and Ducato, both of which I tested. It also has more cabin space and loading space. Granted it is not perfect. The wing mirrors need sorting out, better stereo(!), and maybe better plastics etc. But it is a first try for LDV bearing in mind they went out of business a couple of years back and before then their development partner Daewoo went bust. The Merecedes/VW are too expensive and have a rubbish warranty. I have a 100,000 mile warranty and the van costs me £250.00 a month. A first rate attempt and they are built in this country. The more people that buy one, the more money LDV will have to improve on the next one. As well as supporting manufacturing industry in this country.
Precisely, if more people buy from them, they have money for investment to improve for the next generation - they are cheaper than other vans and this is another factor in build/material quality as well as in limits to R&D budgets. VW and Ford can invest endless millions in R & D, and they (especially Merc and VW) charge accordingly. A reasonably priced LDV means a small business can afford a newer vehicle than they could get from VW/Merc/Ford/Iveco/Renault
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