Iveco's are the only ones built like a truck and scaled down not built like a car and scaled up. Seriously Iveco's are the best kit it this weight range.
The Fiat/Citroens are a half decent panel van but there Lutons are rare for a reason.
Transits - well lots of them the problem is finding a good one, next the the Renaults/Vauxhall some with good engines like the 3.0 some with C**P like 2.5 which leads me to the VW LT based on the sprinter the only change us the engine which is a VW/Audi 2.5 which is good but sought after.
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Can't agree with Paul 1 about the Iveco range of vans. We've got about a dozen on the hire fleet I work on, along with LT's and Transits.
The Iveco's are more trouble than the rest of them put together. Not only major mechanical problems, but poor quality electrics, shoddy trim, and (specially the high tops), doors that have never closed properly from new. If the service schedule is followed (every 25k with the newer ones) every half worn item must be replaced, as it probably won't last the next 25k. And after 50k, they all drive like old Polski Fiats.
LT's are ok. They're fairly high maintenance though, with regular gearbox and diff oil changes, cam and fuel pump belt changes and crankshaft damper replacement. And some of this work requires special tools. Front suspension ball joints and bushes are usual MOT failure points as well.
Transits are probably the best bet. They do have their problems, changing front discs will probably mean new wheel bearings as well, and we've had a few leaky injection pumps, and a couple of sheared water pump drives, but overall the Tranny stands up well to hirer abuse.
One point to bear in mind is that both the LT and Transit have dual mass flywheels, and these have been a problem with both makes. We replace them with solid flywheels.
From a hire company point of view, the Transit is tops, the LT a close second, LDV a distant third, closely followed by Iveco.
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Two penn'orth follows:-
For the last couple of years, I've hired Transit-ish vans for a trip from Teeside to London and back, plus for a few other UK "long haul" (!) destinations.
I'm given whatever's on the fleet at the time. I've built up a strong rapport with the hire depot team. They tell me "as it is" about the vehicles. My summary:-
- Iveco - Odd mechanical noises and a general feel of fragility and flimsiness. An impression of being eager but not hard-wearing. I turned back after half a mile with one that sounded like it had been fitted with undersize pistons. The engineer said, in all honesty "This is typical Iveco, mate". It did the work fine, but I drove it with gritted teeth. Nothing to match the XLWB high-top for sheer volume, though.
- VW LT - Sorry, but disappointing. Utterly uncomfortable seats, not particularly eager and willing, and an atrocious germanic gearchange. Boneshaker suspension (OK - it's German)
- Merc. Sprinter - Quick, refined, and smooth, but I have been told of some horrenously expensive and serious faults, surprising for something prestigious and expensive.
LDV Maxus - I'm just back from 700 miles in one of these. Flimsy, with poorly-fitting doors, niggly electrical faults, poor "orange-peel" paintwork. Apparently, this particular hire station returned their Maxus fleet en masseto the local dealer a few months ago as they were causing so much trouble. Fast and willing. I filled up at Brackley on the A43, then topped the tank at Stockton before returning for £35.00. And I didn't hang about. Not bad.
Transit - Can't really fault them in any respect. Solid, and a good reputation with the hirer. But, I suspect, quite dear.
I hope that this helps.
r
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The VW LT and Merc Sprinter are largely the same - I'm surprised you found such a difference. The LDV Maxus is made in Russia now, isn't it? If so that would explain the 'quality'
We had good experiences with a Transporter 2.4D lwb (ex-Anglian windows - high miles but every last penny spent on it detailed). If you can find a good one, that should do.
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The LDV Maxus is made in Russia now, isn't it? If so that would explain the 'quality'
Birmingham actually. The tooling was built for a joint venture with Daewoo in Poland, but when Daewoo went belly up the British taxpayer lent LDV the money to bring the tooling etc here.
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You talk about a flywheel problem on VW LT. It's concerning which engines/dates...
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