Citroen Berlingo Multispace - Dad-to-be swapping small van for a LAV - which one | Motoring discussion | Back Room Forum

Sat 18 Mar 2017 20:46

Citroen Berlingo Multispace - Dad-to-be swapping small van for a LAV - which one - Eddles

Hi all, been a bit unsure about which car to replace my van! Hoping you can help me.

Currently have 2 vehicles - a nice 2008 Volvo V50 T5 dual fuel and a battered 2005 Ford Transit Connect T200 TDDI van - the V50 being my "luxury rather fast car" and the van for work & own business - despite the van being battered and ugly as hell, it's awesome as it has a massive "trunk" that swallows anything when I use it for tip runs, Costco runs and when I move stuff. You can even fit two pallets in the back. I often pick up my wife from the city using the van. While the engine has 100k miles on it, it is utterly reliable, starts on the button and I am fully confident it'll last for another 100k easily. My only complaint of this van really is that it has poverty spec and I'm actually surprised that the steering wheel is included as standard at all.

Anyway, now I have a baby on the way, I need some seats in the back to secure the baby seat. As I love the van, it's so useful and pratical with the massive "trunk", so I'm looking to replace it with a van based LAV such as the Citroen Berlingo, Fiat Doblo or the Renault Kangoo. I'm keen on getting the "new" van at an auction. My budget is £2000-£3000, possibly a little bit more if there's a good reason to do so.

Why a van based LAV? Well, they're cheap, I don't mind the ugliness, I want something small with a massive "trunk" - the above vehicles has maximum trunk sizes of over 740 US gallons despite the small size, and I'd like something I don't mind getting damaged - I struggle to not care about vehicles in great condition, while with my battered van, I pay no heed to what I chuck in the back and where I park it. I love high spec vehicles and tend to get the top of the range ones with lots of electronic goodies. Also, all LAVs I'm looking at has sliding doors so it'll be really easy to get the baby/kids in/out. I'd like to keep it for as long as I can.

Despite driving diesels for a long time, I've become quite turned off modern common rail diesels as I feel they're less reliable with expensive consumables - DPF, DMF and the fragile injection system. I also am keen on converting the next vehicle to dual fuel (to petrol & LPG/propane) to save on running costs & improve emissions. However the van based LAVs tend to have weedy petrols and powerful diesels and I like me some speedy cars!

Initally I was looking at the 1st gen Citroen Berlingo, but finding the cheapness of the 2nd gen Berlingo at auctions, I've become tempted, and I've found about the 2nd gen Kangoo and 2nd gen Doblo which tend to get better reviews than the 2nd gen Berlingo. However all 4 doesn't have great reviews, so I keep changing my mind between the 4 - I'm hoping you guys can give me an outsiders perspective!

From what I see of the vehicles:

1st gen Berlingo - can pick up a good example for cheap, easily to find one with a sunroof (I don't know why I have a big fetish for sunroofs especially that I've never owned a car with one since my first car back in 1997!) and has excellent storage options - I quite like the rear drop-down roof storage. Downside is the poor crash safety rating, poverty spec, and, well, the design is old from 1998.

2nd gen Berlingo - video review

- doesn't look too bad, decent storage options (not as good as the 1st gen, however) but cheap plasticky interior.

2nd gen Kangoo - can get some good spec, but they're not very common in the UK and thus would be hard to get a decent one at an auction.

2nd gen Doblo - video review of the facelifted version

- best ride (fully independent suspension), I like its quirky looks, it has a decent interior. However, I'm not keen on Fiat in general, though I know GM contributed to the design of the Doblo.

My top choice would definitely be the 2nd gen Tourneo Connect by miles but it's too new to find a second hand one that fits my budget, and the 1st gen Tourneo Connect is ridiculously overpriced in the second hand market, they tend to go for double cost an equivalent Berlingo would cost.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

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Sat 18 Mar 2017 21:44

Citroen Berlingo Multispace - Dad-to-be swapping small van for a LAV - which one - mss1tw

Several of us here have nothing but praise for the mk2 Berlingo

Mine was a good as gold over 50,000 miles

Probably worth going for the petrol engine. The 1.9 is a good lugger and utterly reliable but just such hard work with the lack of patience of todays drivers and the 1.6 HDI is known as the Diesel of Doom

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Sun 19 Mar 2017 08:22

Citroen Berlingo Multispace - Dad-to-be swapping small van for a LAV - which one - JEREMYH

I have taken two mk1 Berlings over 320K also a 52 plate Citroen C15 with the same engine and gearbox

I would say the mk1 Berlingo all day long as the 1.9 engine and box is bullet proof and cheap/easy if a repair is needed

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Sun 19 Mar 2017 21:38

Citroen Berlingo Multispace - Dad-to-be swapping small van for a LAV - which one - Eddles

Fantastic, thank you very much for your advice, very helpful, much appreciated! Shame the 1.9 D options is pre-2005 only.

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Sun 19 Mar 2017 21:38

Citroen Berlingo Multispace - Dad-to-be swapping small van for a LAV - which one - Eddles

Fantastic, thank you very much for your advice, very helpful, much appreciated!

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Sun 19 Mar 2017 08:37

Citroen Berlingo Multispace - Dad-to-be swapping small van for a LAV - which one - SLO76

I like these wee van based motors, they make excellent family workhorses and often, certainly in the case of the Berlingo and Kangoo, offer a soft compliant and highly comfortable ride quality.

The best of these was the first gen facelift Citroen Berlingo with the near bombproof 8v 2.0 HDi which offers bags of torque, 50mpg and will do 500k with care. In fact I know of one Peugeot E7 taxi with this engine that's still running with over 800k! It really is a belter of a motor and not to be mistaken with the later diesel of doom 1.6 HDi which is to be avoided at all costs. Auto Trader:

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20170309311...4

The first gen cars also ride a little better but as far as I remember they only fitted Isofix seats after 2006 so you'll need to physically check any you look at. I wouldn't put a non-Isofix baby seat in any car. The petrol engines are the only reliable options other than the older 1.9 and 2.0 8v diesels and the 1.6 16v is lively and robust but remember they're due a timing belt and water pump at ten years or 100k. I'd do it at 8yrs to be safe and price it in when bidding.

Your budget will get you the best of the best first gen cars but you will find early second gen petrols for not much more. Again do not touch the 1.6 diesels! The 1.6 16v is good and you won't be up against an army of other buyers who all mistakenly want the diesel. It's bigger, safer but I prefer the first gen 2.0 HDi which really stands out but again not too sure about Isofix. Auto Trader:

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20170316333...6

I'd leave the Kangoo although the engines are pretty robust especially the 1.5 dci but I've run two of them over the years, one 1.9 and the other a later 1.5 and both were pigs. Certainly very comfortable for a small van and the 1.5 engine was a cracker but other faults were nonstop.

The Doblo is great value and drives ok but the diesels can be trouble and the petrol engines are gutless. The later 1.4 16v is a bit better but again lacks pulling power. Cheap but Fiats are prone to problems as they age.

I also personally wouldn't be buying at auction at this price point. The bulk of stock at auction is there for a reason with exception to end of term ex fleet stuff, more often than not it has a problem or needs or has had extensive paintwork. You also can't test drive it and have no comeback if it all goes wrong. These are also workhorses, not vehicles people just change because they fancy a change, they get sold on when they start to become a problem.

Best bet is a privately owned car that's for sale on the drive of a nice address. One that's been owned longterm, has a full service history and has been cared for as a family wagon or elderly buddies shopping kart. Buy privately and there's no comeback again but you do get to meet the last owner face to face and there's no profit motive so there's usually a good bit of room to negotiate. Only do so if you know what you're doing or can take someone with you who does.

I regularly watch private punters making mistakes at auction. Bidding frantically (usually on diesel people carriers) on motors I've already rejected as ive spotted or heard a serious fault on it they've missed. A few weeks back one young (skint looking) couple had a near miss when bidding on a Zafira 1.9 diesel that had a knackered turbo. They were fortunately outbid and I approached them after the sale to talk some sense into them. They've were much relieved and very thankful.

Auction buys can and often do go spectacularly wrong. Again always go in with the mindset that it's there for a reason. If it's good retailable stock no dealer would send it through the ring, they'd sell it themselves. If it's an odd spec or unappealing colour then that is often reason enough but we certainly only sent cars to auction that had serious and costly issues. Anyone who bought one would find the repair costs vastly outweighing the lower price they paid.

Buy a better but older car privately or at a dealer would be my advice but if you can't resist taking a gamble then buy something from a fleet disposal sale (rules out petrol though and don't buy ex Post Office) or a big main dealer trade in disposal sale where some larger dealers won't sit with older stock. Most do now so be very wary, even Arnold Clark are keeping good old trade ins as old as 12yrs. They've a 55 plate Ford C-Max at one near me at £1,500 which is far below their previous £3k starting point. You need to do your homework on who's selling it.

Edited by SLO76 on 19/03/2017 at 08:42

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Sun 19 Mar 2017 13:50

Citroen Berlingo Multispace - Dad-to-be swapping small van for a LAV - which one - daveyK_UK

You ahould pick up an early (58/09) 1.6 petrol Citroen Berlingo Multispace/Peugeot Partner Tepee for that kind of money.

Its no rocket, but a dependable engine.

The 1,6 diesel has a bad reputation but on the early current shape Berlingos/Partners, the lower powered version had no DMF to worry about and if you can gwet one with full history you might want to chance it.

I would avoid the Renault Kangoo like the plague, the few petrol onmes around all seem to be automatics and you will struggle to beat 22mpg!

Not to mention they have lots of the bits from Renaults disasterous 2000-2010 decade.

The Fiat Doblo is well worth consdiering, the 1,4 petrol 16v is nice enough to dreive and slighlty more economical than the 1,6 petrol Berlingo multispace.

The main problem with Doblo's as they age has been the suspension - you can find out nmore on the Fiat owners forum.

I would also consider a Fiat Qubo 1.4 petrol which drives lovely, has decent MPG and plenty of space. They still sell them in the UK and they are cheap to buy and run.

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Sun 19 Mar 2017 21:43

Citroen Berlingo Multispace - Dad-to-be swapping small van for a LAV - which one - gordonbennet

No one's mentioned Caddy Max.

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Mon 20 Mar 2017 10:55

Citroen Berlingo Multispace - Dad-to-be swapping small van for a LAV - which one - daveyK_UK

The Caddy mpv is expensive (badge snobbery), has plenty of suspension and component faults, the diesel engine in them is awful and they did not sell in big numbers in the UK

In regards the latest van based MPV's

The best van based MPV on the market is the Ford Tourneo Connect, but they are not cheap (which is sort of the idea of these vehicles).

The best value van based MPV is still the Citroen Berlingo Multispace (Peugeot Partner Tepee still commands an extra £1k for no more than a badge).

The cheapest by some distance is the Fiat Doblo MPV which can be picked up brand new for under £10k

The Skoda Roomster is van based, and big discounts are possible.

There is talk again of Dacia introducting the Lodgy in the UK, but I cant see it happening.

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Mon 20 Mar 2017 11:30

Citroen Berlingo Multispace - Dad-to-be swapping small van for a LAV - which one - Bromptonaut

The Skoda Roomster is van based, and big discounts are possible.

Can you clarify this? SFAIK there is no successor, at least in UK, to the Roomster. This was based on a car platform and parts from Fabia and Octavia.

Rumour was that there would be a van derived replacement in form of rebadged and perhaps mildly reskinned Caddy. No sign of it so far.

I have the 2006-15 version in 1.6/90 diesel guise and love it but not sure it meets OP's needs not least due lack of sliding doors.

Edited by Bromptonaut on 20/03/2017 at 11:32

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Sun 19 Mar 2017 21:48

Citroen Berlingo Multispace - Dad-to-be swapping small van for a LAV - which one - Eddles

Fantastic, thank you very much for your advice, very helpful, much appreciated!

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Sun 19 Mar 2017 21:47

Citroen Berlingo Multispace - Dad-to-be swapping small van for a LAV - which one - Eddles

Fantastic, thank you very much for your advice, very helpful, much appreciated!

Wow lots of excellent advice! Have taken away a lot from this - definitely not going for an auction now, what you said made sense. I tend not to go to car dealers, so that's private sales for me. Based on all your and others advice, the 1.6 petrol seems to be the best option - shame the 2.0 diesel is on pre-2005 Berlingos only, so no isofix, but I'm still tempted. Unfortunately, it seems that the 1.6 petrol is rare, but luckily I've got some time until the baby's ready so I can bide my time until the right one comes up.

Thank you again!

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