Newbie Transit buyer looking for info.

[pabrown]

Looking for a van to carry motorbikes to trackdays, tow a caravan occasionally & do 110 mile per day commute (empty) on motorway & some country lanes.

I am looking at SWB Transit because of the length of the load space compared to other vans in it's class.
I saw a SWB 2.4 Y plated (2000?) van in a local garage for £2750+VAT with approx. 60k on clock supposed to be a good runner.

What is the 2.4 diesel engine like for economy compared to the 2.0l FWD engines?
Are there any major problems to look out for with this van?
How do I tell what HP this engine is?
Is the van worth that price?
Whats the RWD van like to drive in the winter?

Bad question but any idea how it compares to a VW Transporter (because it's the only van i've driven) as far as MPG & handling?

[sc_BK]

From my experience and reading on here, the 2l are better on fuel

That one in the garage is atleast double the price of most other Y reg vans, but maybe it is in REALLY good condition so if you're happy with that van then whats important.

If your winter driving is mainly empty then a FWD should give better traction

Weight is also a big consideration, I asuume the van you were looking at is a 330?

The 260/280 FWD's drive better but you're obivously a bit limited with the gross, with 2 bikes, spares, passengers etc you could be over on the vehicle and with a large caravan over on the train.
How much does your caravan weigh?
Also do you have a B or a B+E licence? Cos you if you only have a B, you can tow more with a 260

[pabrown]

I was working on the old fashioned principle that a larger engine would be better for cruising on Motorways but I guess the 2.0l FWD could be more efficient.

I guess the weight of bikes, tools, passenger etc would come to 575kg. I haven't bought the caravan yet but I expect to get one when I start working away. From what I have seen 2berth caravans seem to weigh 1300 - 1500kg.

I was going to try & get a mate to check whether a transit could tow a caravan. Do I need to know what model of transit first or do they all have the same towing capicity?

Your comments about the price are interesting as I thought it was expensive but when I checked in parkers guide it was quoting £2815+vat (330 75ps) or £3040+vat (330 90ps). Not sure what ps this van is but it looks likely to be the 75ps if parkers guide is correct.

[ake]

if you know the reg no we can find out the ps. All transits can tow caravans, but the size varies, a RWD 330 will be able to tow much more than a 260/280. The Gross train mass of a 260/280 is about 3500kg, the gross train mass of a 330 is about 5500kg

[pabrown]

if you know the reg no we can find out the ps. All transits can tow caravans, but the size varies, a RWD 330 will be able to tow much more than a 260/280. The Gross train mass of a 260/280 is about 3500kg, the gross train mass of a 330 is about 5500kg

Just waiting to hear the outcome of the GTM debate in another part of this forum.

Is a 330 still a car MOT?

If i buy from a van dealer that is providing a short warranty should I still be getting an engineers report / inspection?

Hopefully going to check a few vans out this weekend.

[neilc5023]

think the 330 is class seven just ive had one but im not sure now as it might have been a mwb medium roof and been 3500 that was class seven?

[pabrown]

think the 330 is class seven just ive had one but im not sure now as it might have been a mwb medium roof and been 3500 that was class seven?

So once the GVW is 3500kg or above it becomes a commercial vehicle & you need more than a car MOT? Is a commercial vehicle (class7?) MOT worse than a car MOT?

Any comments on getting vans inspected even if they are from dealers?

[sc_BK]

class 4 is cars/vans up to 3000 gross, class 7 is vans 3000-3500 gross
There's only a couple of quid difference and most places do both

[pabrown]

class 4 is cars/vans up to 3000 gross, class 7 is vans 3000-3500 gross
There's only a couple of quid difference and most places do both

So all the Ex RAC transits are class 7. Is it any more stringent to get the van past the class7?

[sc_BK]

As far as I know the tests are exactly the same (I had one a few weeks ago), it's just that obivously the garage has to have stronger ramps etc

[pabrown]

As far as I know the tests are exactly the same (I had one a few weeks ago), it's just that obivously the garage has to have stronger ramps etc

That sounds OK then.

I had a look at a 57 plate Maxus today & thought it looked OK except for some rust which surprised me on that age van. Also looked at a few 06 plated Transits & noticed signs of rust at edges of wheel arches & couple of other places, it made me wonder whether vans get the same body protection as cars or whether vans are built down to a budget so you would expect them to rust more?

Very good prices on the Maxus compared to Transit but that probably says something about it's reputation. It did make me wonder though at £2990+vat for a 55plate when all I want to do is blat up & down motorways with a motorbike in the back.
Sorry last sentence should probably not be mentioned on a transit forum.

[sc_BK]

Ye pays your money and ye takes your choice..... for around £1500 (no vat) you could buy an early mk6 which could give you years and years of trouble free, comfortable driving.
Transit parts, even from Ford aren't TOO expensive, and used/aftermarket/custom parts are available all over the place.

I'm sure the maxxus beats transit in some areas (mainly price new?), so if you like it. buy it.
But we all like the transit, hence why we're here in the first place

[pabrown]

Ye pays your money and ye takes your choice..... for around £1500 (no vat) you could buy an early mk6 which could give you years and years of trouble free, comfortable driving.
Transit parts, even from Ford aren't TOO expensive, and used/aftermarket/custom parts are available all over the place.

I'm sure the maxxus beats transit in some areas (mainly price new?), so if you like it. buy it.
But we all like the transit, hence why we're here in the first place

I think price is probably the only thing it wins on & that might only be short term.