Tradies & Transits

Snelens · 25-08-2010, 10:33 PM

G'day all,

I have a little electrical business in the inner 'burbs of Melbourne. We currently have Toycar townaces, econovans, my FG ute & a vito.
They are all getting long in the tooth, or too small and need upgrading. We do a lot of service work so holding a lot of stock in the vans is handy.
Being a Ford man at heart I like the look of the new Transits, specifically a low roof, SWB version.
Now the confusion that I thought I would share with you guys!
I have thought about the Hiace but am not convinced about the safety (I couldn't bare the thought of one of my guys getting crushed legs) and the value / price equation is not great.
The iloads make me grin as for the price I can get a 2 YO Vito and they are a tad too small for what we do.
I have thought about going down the service body path from Cooks, TSB etc but am not convinced on the size and layouts.
I like the look of the VW's but service costs scare me.
The Vito has been great really but resale is not what I was hoping. Parts prices are OK but at the end of the day they are just a little too small.

So we are back to the Transit. What can the membership share with me?

Any opinions?

Thanks in advance.

JimNiki · 25-08-2010, 10:49 PM

I drive one every now and again for work deliveries...tall one ... LWB.
Diesel 5 speed, drives like a truck but feels very strong and solid...
I always shift from 1 to 2 to 4 ...good torque.

geckoGT · 25-08-2010, 10:56 PM

I can't really be much help as I have not researched it but what year transit are you looking at and have they changed much since 2006?

We operate the Ford Transits as patient transfer vehicles and they are rubbish, underpowered, uncomfortable and the semi auto gear box is utter crap to use and have frequent clutch failures. We hate them and the service is no longer getting them, we now get Mercedes Sprinter 315 for the same use. Obviously I have no idea of the costs but the Sprinter is better to use.

Transit is 3 star ANCAP, test is here.

Much better than the Mitsubishi, test is here

XR Martin · 25-08-2010, 10:58 PM

Like most Euros, just dont own it out of warranty.

The only thing the Hiace excels at is reliablity. Otherwise it has a poor driving position, bad brakes, under tyred, poor performance (diesel has good economy though), no bulkhead, useless centre seat.

However, if my business was relying on the vehicle, id have to ignore all that and go for the reliablity over the other stuff. Hiace also has a good range of accessories, and cheap servicing.
Most Toyotas are overrated, but as the Hiace is built in Japan primarily for that market, its one that deserves that reputation.

CAMS290 · 25-08-2010, 10:59 PM

The Hyundai I Load get a very good write up, lots of loyal Hi Ace customers going to Hyundai, I know of 3 people in the last 12 months.

XR Martin · 25-08-2010, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geckoGT

I can't really be much help as I have not researched it but what year transit are you looking at and have they changed much since 2006?

We operate the Ford Transits as patient transfer vehicles and they are rubbish, underpowered, uncomfortable and the semi auto gear box is utter crap to use and have frequent clutch failures. We hate them and the service is no longer getting them, we now get Mercedes Sprinter 315 for the same use. Obviously I have no idea of the costs but the Sprinter is better to use.

Transit is 3 star ANCAP, test is here.

Much better than the Mitsubishi, test is here

Autos may feel underpowered, but the manuals go like stink, and are a bit of a handful in the wet unloaded.
Not sure what the go is with Euros and those silly pretend autos, cant they make a decent proper commercial grade auto with a torque converter?
Turbo diesel autos are generally alot nicer to drive as you are always in the torque curve. In manuals its always easy to slip out of it when changing gears.

Mongoose · 25-08-2010, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geckoGT

I can't really be much help as I have not researched it but what year transit are you looking at and have they changed much since 2006?

We operate the Ford Transits as patient transfer vehicles and they are rubbish, underpowered, uncomfortable and the semi auto gear box is utter crap to use and have frequent clutch failures. We hate them and the service is no longer getting them, we now get Mercedes Sprinter 315 for the same use. Obviously I have no idea of the costs but the Sprinter is better to use.

your bang on there. Ask anyone whos worked for ford before. one word sums it up AVOID

geckoGT · 25-08-2010, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Autos may feel underpowered, but the manuals go like stink, and are a bit of a handful in the wet unloaded.
Not sure what the go is with Euros and those silly pretend autos, cant they make a decent proper commercial grade auto with a torque converter?
Turbo diesel autos are generally alot nicer to drive as you are always in the torque curve. In manuals its always easy to slip out of it when changing gears.

Sprinter is now a traditional auto and has been for about 4 years now. The last auto transit I drove (2006 model I think) was semi auto (stupid electric clutch) and suck to drive. You put your foot down to take off and then it takes a lengthy time to decide what to do before moving, you need a big gap in traffic to pull out. Added to that with any load the clutches burn out easily on moderate to steep inclines, particularly if reversing.

vztrt · 25-08-2010, 11:29 PM

mntxr seems to work on a lot of them, so he would be a good one to speak to.

But I believe if you steer clear from the auto's in them you should be fine.

Fiesta God · 25-08-2010, 11:35 PM

Uncle has an 8-year old Vito, never missed a beat, done 150,000kms and no problems, he swears by it.

Not sure about the Transits, the new ones have a good reputation in Europe, they seem to sell in big numbers over there.

**ebxr8240** · 25-08-2010, 11:56 PM

We have had transits at work .. They checked with telecom guys .. The consensus was that the auto's all seemed to fail...Engine wise or whatever...
We haven't had too many issues considering the drivers don't own them etc..
Can be a little slow to get up on boost in first .. But once you get used to reving a little before letting clutch out your fine..
Nice to drive with all there gear on board..
Much more comfortable than Rodeo, Nissan...
Some have over 160.000 klrs on them...
With the short trips they lowered service intervils to 10,000 klrs unless the driver lives a fare distance away..
Servicing brakes is much cheaper than the ILoad .. There brake pads etc are VERY expensive...

Kieron · 26-08-2010, 01:02 AM

My uncle has had Transits for 30 odd years as ice cream vans back in the UK, his opinion is stay away from the Transit and go for the Mercedes Sprinter as it's far more reliable.

His current van is a Volkswagen Crafter which he also considers to be better than the Transit.

MethodX · 26-08-2010, 01:34 AM

What about the Renault vans?
Anyone heard anything about them?

blackxrsix · 26-08-2010, 10:19 AM

Ive got two sprinters a 2008 and a 2010 they are really good vans never had any dramas they drive like a car,plenty of power service every 30,000kays and heaps of room.My 2008 sprinter is for sale 55,000kays $35,000 plus gst i had a 2006 vito and the roof rusted all the way around they fixed it under warranty but deffinetly go the sprinter.

290v · 26-08-2010, 10:19 AM

We haver about 10 transits at work all manual all seem to be going well had issues with the semi Auto's but since they were traded out of our life all seems well. Oil has to be euro emissions standard in it, changing brake pads about every 50ks as for the Renault one of our operators lost the key's we had to wait 3 weeks for a replacement key from France as they have the only blanks for the keys and supply vin. number as well as proof of purchase of the van all at a cost of $600 dollars

Brazen · 26-08-2010, 10:48 AM

Some of the big fleets are switching over to Hyundai ILoads, this is after extensive evaluation of putting different vans in the fleet, testing fuel economy, reliability, driver feedback etc.

Also I think they have an optional locking diff, good for muddy worksites.

Next time your at a petrol station and see a courier-driver filling up, ask them about their opinions. Talking to one a couple of years back certainly put me off Transits.

Franco Cozzo · 26-08-2010, 05:39 PM

I fit out ambulances at work and we've only got one transit in thats second hand and being used for patient transport duty.

The Mercedes Sprinter is a favorite with everyone.

reds89 · 26-08-2010, 07:11 PM

we have 2 transits at work,both 6spd manual and haven,t had any drama,s and they are constantly on the go.

Archilino · 26-08-2010, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reds89

we have 2 transits at work,both 6spd manual and haven,t had any drama,s and they are constantly on the go.

x2 we have had a new 6sp manual turbo diesel lwb at work for almost a year now and no problems at all.

4.0i_SiX · 26-08-2010, 09:18 PM

Dont touch the semi Auto Transit...EVER! We have just sent one down to Ford ( we dont have the equipment to repair it ) and the bill is a 9k so far. We work on alot of vans and I would stay away from Renaults, purely because of the price of parts. The earlier mercedes vans ( MB140 etc ) were absolute garbage and drove like crap. The newer sprinters drive well. Parts are up there but nowehre near as much as the renaults. Iload is a hynudai, could be good could be bad

duaned · 27-08-2010, 12:02 AM

Whatever you buy my advice is to go with a diesel and manual cogbox. It's hard to fault a diesel in the reliability stakes, and fuel consumption to boot.

Snelens · 28-08-2010, 04:10 PM

Thanks fellas.
It looks like we will go one BF LPG tray with a body for car parks access in the cbd and 2x transit.
The feedback on the newer transits fits in with what I have read on the uk forums.

Transit Truck · 29-08-2010, 03:22 AM

I have a 3 month old 6 spd cab chassis Transit and its brilliant! Hill start assist is a great feature, I really love having a manual with this, otherwise i wouldn't of bought a manual.

lamborghinifan · 29-08-2010, 07:28 PM

http://fordforums.com.au/showthread....ighlight=hiace

check this out for my take on hiaces

bigdude1011 · 30-08-2010, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4.0i_SiX

MB140

AFAIK the MB140 was built in South Korea – by Ssangyong.

vztrt · 30-08-2010, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdude1011

AFAIK the MB140 was built in South Korea – by Ssangyong.

They're all built in S.Korea. But the recent ones are some of the most reliable.

Snelens · 30-08-2010, 01:43 PM

I have to weigh up all factors including purchase price. We are lucky to do 35k km per year so driver comfort is not as important as someone doing 100k km. I want the guys to be proud of their vans so am open to the VW etc but it comes back to the dollar return factor. The I load is only the same size as the swb 115cdi Vito we have so not big enough.
I will just have to do the sums!

sgt_doofey · 30-08-2010, 02:22 PM

I just drove one for a week as a motor home in NZ. Was comfortable enough, especially on the days we did 6+ hours of driving. We had one that was semi-auto, and yes, it was crap. In the end, I basically switched it to manual mode and did the gear changes myself. Did get some rather nasty shuddering when traveling at really low speeds in first and reverse. Most likely, it was riding the clutch a bit and getting a good vibration going. I would have preferred a normal manual, but didn't get that choice.
It was gutless. Driving up the slightest of inclines caused the thing to slow down a fair bit, usually with one or two gear changes before it held a speed. Mind you, this was in a 3T motor home, so your experience might be different if you're carrying less than that.

Dr Smith · 30-08-2010, 02:52 PM

Any "auto" Transit is the old model which had many problems, the current new Transit is manual only and quite good. Come is fwd and rwd. Then again I drive a VW T5 auto, just bought the extended warranty and the only thing I enjoy driving more to our G6ET...nothing out drives the VW for commercial vans. If looking for new an updated Vito is due soon as well. For my staff I'd buy a Transit if they can handle manuals, for myself I'd buy the VW again.

Snelens · 30-08-2010, 06:17 PM

Thanks Dr Smith. I concur. I am hardly ever doing tool work so am happy in the ute. I am over the flash ute stage (have had 3 x XR's) and now love my pov pack colum shift egas. The boys will be happy in new transits but I will do a $ analysis next week.