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My Peugeot partner is about to die so I'm looking at spending about £6-£7k on another secondhand van.
Caddy's seem too expensive for the miles as does the newer shape Transit Connect, so the choice seems to be another Partner/Berlingo, a Fiat Doblo, Nissan Nv200 or Mercedes Citan. I don't do massive miles in it but would like a bit of comfort for surf trips to Devon etc. What do you have that you'd recommend or not touch again with a barge pole?
Many thanks.
The Merc is just a rebadged Renault just in case you don’t known
Nv200 no scene tax n the DCi motor is a goodun
Citan XLWB is my next wheels, picking up next week. 😁
I've just hired a Peugeot Partner for a few days and loved it! Plenty space, fantastic to drive. What's not to like?
Why not the Connect Merak? OP said they are expensive, but mine is generally ace. It's the current shape one, not the mk. 1, which was a lot more van-like to be fair.
Mate drives a fiesta based van, but with a high top and a little longer not the one that's a fiesta without rear seats and windows. Says he can get a bike in Diagonal (not sure it's a modern geo). Says it is quieter than his posh Audi.
Been looking at NV200's myself as they seem great value, the Tekna seems to be the one to get as its a tad more powerful/6 speed box and more toys. Caddys are great (had one for the last 5 years) but pricey-upside to this is stronger resale value. I find the SWB abit short for bike use if I get another it'll be a Maxi (2.0 as the 1.6 has a rep for eating injectors) Can't comment on newer Partners but had an 04 plate 2.0hdi and it never died despite my constant misuse/abuse!
The Merc is just a rebadged Renault just in case you don’t known
Its a bit more than 'just rebadged'. The Renault is to my mind a much better drive than the Mark 2 Berlingo / Partner vans which the OP would be in the market for (I own a Mark 1 still and my heart sinks when I need to drive a Mark 2) and the Merc is that van plus their own improvements- they haven't just added a badge. So its a better version of a van that is already very good. The perception that it is only a badge is very useful though - it keeps the prices down and you don't really pay any extra for them over the equivalent Renault when buying second hand
If you like the Partner you've got you'll find the Mk2 a bit disappointing in terms of comfort and drive and they don't seem to grow old well - the 2-3 year old 40k vans I've driven felt pretty tired compared to my 12 year old / 100k Mk 1. The dash mounted gear change doesn't wear well and the pedal position isn't good but on the whole they feel pretty jarring and rattly compared to the previous model
I'm going to keep my Mk 1 Partner on the road for as long as practically possible - there aren't any current vans I'd chose in preference over them. But when it does have to go it will probably be replaced by a Kangoo or Citan.
What improvements have Mercedes made?
I was looking at the Citan because compared to some others, it seemed good value for money but have put off by some pretty negative reviews. Apparently the drive is a lot less comfortable and 'car like' than other vans. I'll keep reading up on them though, while I look at other stuff. I'm also struggling a bit because I can't claim the vat back and most vans seem to be +vat.
I have a mk 2 Berlingo and previously had a mk I and I'm happy with it. I'd probs look at the XL version of I was buying a newer one which is just slightly longer I think.
I have a boot jump thing for the back now and it works really well.
Nv200. Had it 5 years, no issues. Would buy another without hesitation. Bit longer than most small vans and bikes fit lengthways with no problems. Long enough to sleep in also.
We have the last of the MK2 Peugeot partner In the facelift car guise mind.
We previously had 2 mk1s - a van and a car.
The MK2 is better in almost every respect .
Much better seating position and longer seat rails/better lumbar support.
The MK3 load space looks much worse though
Citan has a bit more about the interior than a kangoo, it's quieter and just a bit nicer than the Renault, has a different front end, and all models come with cruise control as standard.
Reported 60mpg will be a huge improvement over my current 1.8 petrol civic.
The new partner and experts are really nice looking vans, lots of vans around now that look really good, proace, new vivaro etc.
The Citans and Kangoos - and also the new Nissan NV250 - all come out of Renault's factory in Maubeurge France. They're all the same so unlikely to be quieter than the other. There are a couple of changes to the interior and the grille and standard spec but they are the same van. NV200 also uses the Renault / Nissan 1.5dCi engine.
I've had a nv200 7seat for about 3yrs now. Been using it as a private hire / taxi and am upto 50000 miles. In that time it's had two warranty repairs, a wheel bearing and an exhaust sensor, but no other issues. Its cheapish to run, the dci engine is pretty good and averages 44mpg on a mix of roads.
The interior is plastics as you'd expect from a utility based 7seat. the driver's seat is just starting to develop the van tare that all taller vans seem to get.
I replaced the standard radio with a android/iPhone compatible one for navigation and getting the correct dash control leads was a mare. The tekna is better spec but stupidly rare and the satnav is pish anyway. The wheels are a bit small 14's and look slightly strange on a van, but the tyres are cheap as a result.
The gear box linkage feels very wobberly and has done since new, especially when compared to any car.
Theres a bit of confusion on the cambelt replacement time. The mission documents online say 54,000miles or 90,000km. Nissan main dealers say 90,000 miles so look out for that on any service history.
Overall for the money it's a good vehicle and we'll priced within the 2nd hand market.
I’m on my second Nissan now an NV 200 Tekna ( first was the Vanette), had it five years and it’s been spot on. It’s a lovely drive compared to my mates standard 200, very nippy and much quieter than his as well. Had a hose replaced under warranty and that’s it other than consumables.
Had a lot of front tyre wear if carrying a bit of weight, I was going through two sets of fronts a year till my local garage got me sorted with some different tyres.
I’m changing mine in September for something bigger as it’s a works van and I could with a wee bit more room.
I can carry two bikes assembled in the back no problem, probably get three in but never had to.
It's looking promising for the Nv200.
Does anyone know if it comes with a hatch in the bulkhead so I can get 2.4m lengths of timber or my 9ft surfboard inside like I can in the Peugeot?
Not that I know of, mine doesn’t anyway but you could cut a panel out.
Theres no bulkhead hatch in the standard van bulkhead, it's one of its down sides. But like cogglepin says, you could cut a hole behind the passanger seat which can fold forward. Or you could just upgrade to the folding mesh bulkhead.
Like most cars&vans there's an active international Facebook group as it's sold under various badges around the world.
Picking up my XLWB Citan on monday! Woohoo!