Thinking about a connect.

[Mike1970]

Hello Chaps. I'm looking for a van to use for my hobby/commuting and I was thinking of a connect. I've got a max budget of 2k, the car will be my daily driver doing about 30 miles per day in cr4ppy M60 motorway traffic but I will be doing long trips into Europe every once in a while.

My questions are....

What sort of MPG will they do? I currently drive a land rover so speed isn't an issue.

Are the riddled with issues?

Will the front passenger seat fold flat to make a bed space so a 6' tall slightly rotund chap could lie flat full length?

Are the belt or chain?

I wait with baited breath, many thanks in advance.

Mike

[gt_addict]

A 90ps lwb would be your best bet if you're intending on laying down in the back. The passenger seat does fold flat as it was designed to fit 2.4-3m lengths of things in.

Mpg wise I get 39-40 around town if I drive carefully, but if I'm heavy footed it does go down the 36. Motorway journeys I can squeeze 44 mpg out of it. Mine is remapped which is a vast improovment over the standard map.

Common problems are the battery light coming on which is generally fixed by replacing a small wiring loom clipped behind the rad (£20). Also passenger side wheel bearings, but I wouldn't class that as a common problem.

Overall it's a nice van, cheaper than VW's and does exactly what you ask of it.

[Mike1970]

Thats fantastic, now for the "how long is a bit of string" question....

What sort of van could I get for my budget?

[gt_addict]

Blimey, yea that is a difficult question to answer. I paid £3500 nearly three years ago for mine. It's an "L" model so no electric windows or mirrors, no aircon and no stereo stalk on the steering column. I bought it with 86,000 on and now I've done 117,000.

[Wobby]

I paid £2200 +VAT for mine (lwb 75hp) about 3 years ago. It had 93k on it and was a 52 plate.

Its not got 235k on it and had been a good sound van.

If your getting one with towards 150k i'd budget a bit of money for extra repairs Mine seems to have enjoyed making me lavish money on it since about 150 - 160k miles

I spends loads of time on the motorways and can average 48mpg taking it very steady (thats changing up a gear at 2k revs and sticking to 60 mph (55 on my gps)). Mines been remapped/ Decatted and i've blanked the EGR.

Connects are a cracking sturdy built van, my swb was a few better on MPG but i'm guessing you'll have to sleep folded in half!

[kjb]

I paid £2900 for a 2005 lwh hi roof lx230 model with 92000 miles on it & have had to spend a small amount upto yet to get it to my standards,they are a little juicy though to be honest,but I'm more than happy with it

[gt_addict]

In reference to the belt or chain question. They are both.

Belt for camshaft and auxiliary bits. Chain for fuel pump straight from the crank.

[paul2012]

I got my 2003 Connect T200 75ps 87,000 on the clock with Full service history in april this year & paid £1200 for it.

These engine uses both chain & belt.

[sparkieno1]

I just bought mine 2 weeks ago, 2004 1.8 tdci 90ps lx in white. 100k. very good condition. its got cd player, electric windows and mirrors, heated mirrors and washer jets, steering wheel control for stereo. steel bulkhead. paid 1750 for it.

[higler]

Well I bought my van T 230 and loved it, it had done 130,000 so thought that should be fine. 3000 miles later had like a tappet noise on motorway got off the motorway and had to be towed off by Rac. Loads of differing info ie, injectors-No, Small ends? maybe, not a big end as noise was in the top end, Dropped valve--No. Ended up with the engine out when it was opened up all small ends were shot and breaking up, Big end was gone although the warning light never came up, and it was so worn it had gone too deep into the crank so had to be another crankshaft. The drive on the end of the crank for the oil pump was damaged and the oil pump was shot, all in all a bit of a disappointment.After talking to fitters that repair these vans it appears that buying a used connect van that hasnt been regularly serviced can be a nightmare, and how can you tell with an older van. It appears that around 130--to 150,000 miles is the time when you can expect to put your hand in your pocket. Mine cost me £2700 for a 2005 van, my bill to repair it up to now and its not fixed yet is £2200. that is having it reconned . I could have bought a second hand engine but it could have been the same as the one I had as it sounded great for 3000 miles so decided to bite the bullet and get it rebuilt, hopefully it will last a bit longer next time out. Would I buy another connect--N0 I would buy a peugeot as I had good service from them in the past with very little trouble, but then others would disagree probably. You pay your money and take the chances with any second hand vehicle.

[Redcon77]

I bought my connect a few months back a 2005 t220 with 95,000 miles 1 owner full ford service history looks like it has been looked after for £2750 it's early days yet and I am having a few problems with wheel bearings which sounds like a common problem on these have also heard people having trouble around the 130,000 plus miles but I'm going to stick to regular servicing and oil and filter change every 6,000

[davlon]

I've had 3 connects a 56 07 and 08 plate first one i had for 2 years it had a new starter motor a couple of tyres etc the next 2 didnt have them for long but nothing major
I would buy the best low miles one you can afford because they do seem to start costing you money once they hit the big mileage