Like ambo11 says, Merc sprinter, We got one (of 3) with 245000 kms on it and I swear its getting quicker. They get a hard life and stand up well to what pretty much is abuse. As for Fait, piss poor peice of van. Ergo's are awfull and gutless as well not to mention there gearbox. And I can go from Gore to invers then up to Dunedin and back to Gore and use about $80 diesel. On a trip from Gore to Invers and back you dont move the gauge.
thejazzpianoma,
Jun 5, 7:20pm
Its really only the transits that have the corrosion issues. The rest are properly galvanized as far as I am aware. I don't really rate the Transit at all, I think you would be amazed at the difference all round.
thejazzpianoma,
Jun 5, 7:22pm
This is totally incorrect for the new models. The new Fiat multijet Diesels are real crackers. Fiat lead the world with engine design. Remember it was them that invented the common rail diesel in the first place and they just got better from there. They have just taken out literally half the motoring journalist prizes for best engines of the year. Thats pretty amazing stuff, 10 our of 20 awards or something along those lines. That said you really can't lose with either of the Fiat, VW, Merc though.
gunhand,
Jun 5, 8:01pm
The ones ive had anything to do with were late mid 2000ish or later. Sum of them must have been designed by a blind one armed man. When you had it in drive you couldnt use the right laft properly as it fouled the gear stick/shifter. And if you went to put something in the door panel pocket it vanished down about 4 foot where you had to stop get out and retreave it. You couldnt get your left foot in a natural postion either. Hopefully they sorted them. Thank God St John dismissed them.
thejazzpianoma,
Jun 5, 8:08pm
This is the thing, given that the Transit was bought new its likely the Fiat will be bought new. That means completly different van with two generations newer engines compared to what you were driving.So its just not fair to confuse things.
People thought the Ducato was crap and slow because when the new very modern looking body arrived on the scene in the late 90's everyone thought it was a new van when it was only a new shell. The now 30 year old non common-rail engines were still in use.
When you hopped in a 99 Mercedes it of course was about the first in the world to use the new common rail engines in a Van. The common rail design absolutely blitzes the old technology diesels so of course there was a perception that Ducatos were not up to snuff. However that only held true for a few years as the new engines were phased in.
For this reason its so very very important to make sure you quote your experience in context.
Now if someone was choosing between an early Sprinter and an Early Ducato. well then I would be backing you all the way!
But really, argument aside the VW is the likely winner. There engines are at least as good if not slightly better than both Mercedes and Fiat but more importantly the VW offers the best bang for your buck.
Its also realistically the best performing because you can get the high output engine for just an extra couple of thousand on an already cheap price. So thats $56'000 for a long wheel base with the high output 132KW engine. Thats really good buying.
By comparison the cheapest long wheelbase Merc is the Vito. $59'000 buys you only 120kw, one less gear in the transmission and higher fuel consumption.
Don't get me wrong the Merc's are lovely and like the Ducato I would have one but they just don't compete on paper or in person IMO.
dr.doolittle,
Jun 5, 8:17pm
My high top LWB 2001 Transit's great. Apart from a bit of rust developing around the widescreen & back door rubbers. But then it does sit outside for most of it's life. It's reliable, has plenty of grunt & fits 3x MX bikes in the back behind the retrofitted back seat & still has heaps of room & powers up the hills without fuss. For the dollars & size I recon they're hard to beat.
gunhand,
Jun 5, 8:27pm
That "laft" I wrote is suposed to be stalk. Oh and the only thing ive had to do with the transit is rust. And Ive drivin Mercs from 99 on up to 2010 models. The first were kinda gutless but a good learner truck. The new 2010 models are ok but vauge on the road. Lotsa storage in the cab though and good lights. The older ones were pathetic, does it not get dark in Germany!.2007/8 Mercs feel good on the road with great feed back and go very well. diffs were abit of a minor issue with some models. There is a reason they use Mercs me thinks. And they have tried the others.
thejazzpianoma,
Jun 5, 8:28pm
Not really relevant to the argument though. Yours has the old non-common rail engine and also bears no resemblance at all to any modern replacement.
Not meaning to be cheeky but you REALLY need to drive any of the three vans being suggested as a replacement. Compared to your Turbo Diesel Transit its an entirely different world all together.
BTW, I am getting to know those TD Transits like yours quite well. My folks have one as a camper.
thejazzpianoma,
Jun 5, 8:33pm
As an ambulance, I would actually make the same decision and use the Mercedes. You are into a fortune for conversion anyway and you are going to get your moneys worth out of it. For that reason I would get the 6 Cylender twin cam Diesel option. It costs but you are looking at a whole lot more power again. Not sure if we can get the 3.5 litre version but that would be even better again, from memory its something like 190KW which would be fantastic in an Ambulance. Different story for a work van though, I think value for money rules the roost there.
It will be interesting to see if the Ambo's try Ducato's again at all though. The new Multijets have only just become available in the Ducato's and assuming they are as good as the smaller versions used in the cars they will be fantastic.
But even so. if I were building Ambulances and could get my sticky fingers on the 3.5 Merc's there would still be no contest.
If you have the bucks to spend Mercedes have that whole extra tier of super high output engines that the other manufacturers don't. You have to pay for the privilege though thats the only catch.
dr.doolittle,
Jun 5, 8:36pm
I'm not up with the play on the model numbers but my Transits one of the first of the 'newer' shape. Not one of those old but ugly POS ones. You're right though, my post isnt really relevant to the original post but I thought I'd put in a good word for all the good hard-working Transit's
thejazzpianoma,
Jun 5, 8:38pm
The Transit was a bit like the Ducato. Everyone thought it was a new van but the early ones of the new shape like yours still use an old Turbo Diesel engine. You just missed the boat by about 1 year on a common rail.
Fair enough comment on the rust though, good that yours is holding up. Your shape was better for rust than the previous shape but still not really up to standard.
It was a funny time, everyone was rushing to get their new body shells out as there was quite an update in the styling from all the big names. Common rail technology was only just making its way to be ready for commercial vehicles and to be competitive body shells got up dated before engines in some cases.
dr.doolittle,
Jun 5, 8:47pm
All I know is that mine dosent have the same engine as the earlier model & has a heap more grunt. Especially when it gets new sparkplugs, oi !
dr.doolittle,
Jun 5, 8:49pm
P.S. I think when/if the motor dies I'd like to put a Lexus V8 & auto into it.
thejazzpianoma,
Jun 5, 9:05pm
Oh well disregard in that case. spark plugs means yours is a petrol! LOL didn't consider that. Thats why you find it responsive too.
thejazzpianoma,
Jun 5, 9:07pm
Yes, although in all honesty they did come pretty unstuck with the first batch. The trouble now is "perception" the new plastic is fantastic but people don't understand there is a difference.
thejazzpianoma,
Jun 5, 9:09pm
LOL, thats the way. Actually in the U.K big motor conversions are quite popular in Transits. Plenty of people who have done it and can give you some clues.
dr.doolittle,
Jun 5, 10:53pm
LOL, talk to any mechanic about how brittle plastic engine & coolant parts become over time.
dr.doolittle,
Jun 5, 10:55pm
I was pretending not to know the diff between a diesel & petrol motor. My Tranny definitely has a different DIESEL motor to the earlier ones.
antwerp87,
May 12, 4:57am
Just go Buy a Merc. There not too badly priced and not too bad when it comes to reliability. I know what ya mean when it comes to the Transit. We had one in Aus and massive issues continuously. Air Con went to get fixed 5 times and still no good haha. Dont know what ford were thinking with there semi auto trans. Had a fair few issues with that too.
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