Wot to buy?? Mk6 or mk7?? Or vivaro??

[Gas safe jim]

Hi I'm hoping to get some advice on whether to buy a late mk6 or a early mk7 swb transit? But have also been tempted by vivaro's?? But have heard that they can be trouble??

I had a mk6 as a company van and couldn't fault it really 98,500 miles of which I done 80,000 of and all that was ever done was oil changes, brakes discs n tyres, the only little problem I had was with the brakes but that was sorted by a garage quickly so assume it wasn't too major!!?? But as I say was companies so I didn't ask! To be fair the van got thrashed everyday (red lined) and didn't blow up!! I did hear of some other mk6 vans on the company having new turbos n gear boxes, so would like to know if this is common and I had a absolute gem of a van??

That van went back to the rental company cos of the milage and replaced with a mk7 from brand new 56 plate but I only done a few thousand miles in it and I left that company, it seemed like a nice van and I liked the new interior n gearstick position etc...but I thought it was slower (both vans were 85ps) and I had fuel card so didn't take any notice if it was better or worse on fuel!! I'm now self employed so treat my vans better and do care about the fuel!! Lol!! Nearly forgot to say the only thing I did notice was the paint work appeared to get loads of pin head rust spots?? But like I say really didn't have the van long!!

Since then Ive just had combos as I haven't had the money to buy a decent mileage transit!!

So wot I really would like to know is- wot ones more economical?? Are they the same road tax?? does the mk7 have problems cos of new gearstick position?? Are there any major faults with the mk7?? I would appreciate any feed back from ppl who have done a lot of milage in these vans and what one they found best and most reliable as I'm not fussed about the face lift n cabin!! More the reliabilty n fuel economy, due to being self employed!!!

The other van I've looked at but have never drove is a vivaro but have heard they can be bit of a nightmare?? Does anyone know if they are really that bad??

I think that's all!!??
Thanks for your time lads and look forward to the feedback!!

[trigger]

I have had 2 Vivaro's as company vans and they have both been great, no trouble with them at all, they are quick, quiet and very nice to drive, i like Transits but i have heard too many horror stories about mk6 and 7's, the last proper reliable Transit was the mk5 which i currently own but if i have to move on it would be a Vivaro

[madmark]

There is nothing wrong with the transit ,lets get this right, you have heard horror stories trigger well have you owned a mk6 or 7 ......no
I have a mk6 my family all run mk6s, we have had no big problem with them

So take no notice of trigger and get a transit They are the best van on the road
Shove your stupid viviviviaroio sheds trigger if you like them that much then go and bloody get one

and please note this is a ford transit forum so the question speaks for itself buy a TRANSIT

[sportacus]

vivaro = eats gearbox's
i'm on my 2nd mk7 1st one was a sportvan and did have problems, at the time i swore never a ford again, but couldnt resist getting another, its coz they are so nice to drive, esp after a vantuner tune

[Honey monster]

Hi,
Weve got a fleet of vivaros in work,about 70 of them,all around 3 years old with 50 to 70,000 miles on them.I find them more comfortable than a transit with more room in the cab but less room in the back. We can just about get a sheet of 8x4 ply in the back,corner to corner. No real horror storys but a couple with brake problems and have had about 5 recals to main dealer in 3 years. Think if I was self employed id go for a late mk6 transit,as a work horse they are great and parts are not to expensive. Ive got a mk6 myself and the only thing I hate is the rust spots,whay ford dont sort this out I dont know. No rust at all on any of our vivaros.

[trigger]

well have you owned a mk6 or 7 ......no

Not owned but loaned for a few months by a firm i did some work for, right shed it was, couldn't wait to get back into my mk5 at the end of each day

[madmark]

well have you owned a mk6 or 7 ......no

Not owned but loaned for a few months by a firm i did some work for, right shed it was, couldn't wait to get back into my mk5 at the end of each day

mate must of been a bad one!

[AndyG]

well have you owned a mk6 or 7 ......no

Not owned but loaned for a few months by a firm i did some work for, right shed it was, couldn't wait to get back into my mk5 at the end of each day

mate must of been a bad one!

Nah It was a reno tragic with a Ford badge stuck on the front grill

[Gas safe jim]

Well thanks for the replies, still a bit confused but think Im going to go for the Mk6 cos spoke to a family friend who is car dealer and he also recommends them and hopefully will help me find a decent one!!

[Altransit]

There must me a good reason why you see more Transits than Vivaro's on the road, especially as you can get a new Vivaro on the road for 11 grand


...................................... think about it

[stevo]

Ive driven alot of different vans and none even come close to a Mk6. Roomy, comfortable, good on fuel (30mph) and just generally a nice place to be.

[ake]

Mk7, I'm on my second and love it

[TIMO]

Well thanks for the replies, still a bit confused but think Im going to go for the Mk6 cos spoke to a family friend who is car dealer and he also recommends them and hopefully will help me find a decent one!!

ye prolyy coz he already got one to sell ya? if hed got a vivaro to sell hed a proll said that theyre better

[SCANIAMAN]

To be honest you couldnt give me a vivaro,trafic,primastar,with a fixing price of 1500/2000 quid for a recon box and complete clutch kit,is by far daylight robbery this is there major downfall,it will happen to you no doubt about it,it is a built in flaw,the box was made for a car,and ass-holes that drive them like a car are the downfall of these vans,I may be bias ,but will stick to the transit as always from a mk 1 to a mk 6,which I like the best,not saying there perfect ,but they are for me I can go any where to get a part,I was let down badly by renault,a french truck in france and they made me wait a week for a clutch and charged me 2500 quid for the pleasure,blasted french,stick a renault where the sun dont shine

[winterheating]

everybody says the renault vans (trafic/primastar/vivaro) use the car gearbox, but i cant see it the 6 speed ones have literally no 1st gear, you may aswell set of in 2nd, cant see that in a car, the internalls are surely different, but either way theres no denying that the gearboxes are terribable.

I know 3 people who had the vivaficstar, one was from brandnew, 140ps dci 6speed, he had it at vauxhall loads uner warrantee but still a pain when its your work vehicle.
after 2 years when warrentee ran out traded it in for a mk7 140ps and hasnt had a single problem in 3 yeaRS, HE SAID THE
vivaficstar was slightly quicker but only cos the tranny has a 100mph limiter

Another mate bought an absolute dog of a van 55reg 100ps dci 6speed, 100k on it needed full respray so a little bit cheaper, but since owning hes had everytghing apart from the block and water pump replaced and thats no exaggeration, he said if anything else goes hes going to get rid and get a mk7, then his turbo went and he still has the van probably cos he has 7k in a 3k van now
i drove the van back when he bought it, and wasnt very impressed by it comparing it to my 05 100ps mk6.

Another plumber i know has spent 2.5k on his 54reg 60k vivaficstar in the last year and its still cutting out just recently he was tempted by my offer of £1200 to rid him of his missery the other day

Theres only one reason the has always been more than twice as many transits on the road than any other commercial vehicle(thats a fact).
Its because its far superior overall, they are the most adaptable, cheapest to run and maintain, nicest looking, easiest,nicest to drive