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Always seems to be people on about VW T5's etc - are they really that much better than Merc equivalent?
Is it just a fashion thing?
I know Merc's went through a phase where they rusted terribly - but have they got that sorted now?
After riding in a mates 2010 Vito van, that he had taken to somebody to turn it into a crew cab, all carpeted out and a rack in the back for fork mount QR brackets I wondered if it may be cheaper to get a Merc instead of VW?
I'm no expert, but based on my experience the vito is as good as t5, better in some respects. From 06 (I think) onwards vito has galvanised body so no rust. I prefer the drive of the vito too. For some reason I have a t5.... It made sense at the time as I wanted a camper and didn't have time to do my own conversion and there is a lot more choice in t5 than vito. The seem to hold their money almost as well as t5 too.
Hope this helps....
Cheers, are they a bit wider than a T5?
Is that a help or hindrance?
A lot of it is definitely fashion. Head to other sports and Vitos are the in van.
Having had both there's really not much between them. VW is big inside, both drive fine and have a decent choice of engines. Fwd VW is better in muddy fields (and snow if we ever got any)
SWB sprinter . . . 6ft wide (can sleep across the van), fits (just) in a car parking space, you can stand up in one, much more van than a T5 for the money . . . converting one now . . . very happy with the choice compared to a VW . . .
Vito's are rear wheel drive. Does that make the floor any higher due to the prop shaft? Does it reduce interior space? Serious question, I've never been in one.
People always say the rust issues have been sorted but I was in a yard full of 4 and 5 year old Sprinters last year and they all had fresh paintwork on the arches and sills. I wanted a bigger van when my Mrs. got a car and a Sprinter was my top choice but I couldn't find one without rust for my budget. They're mint to drive but new, clean ones are massively more expensive than ones that may or may not turn ginger.
I bought a dualiner new in 2006.
It's done 174000 now with no major issues and no rust. It's the 3L turbo diesel V6 and very quick, 204 bhp and 440nm.
I went for the extra long (about the same as a lwb T5) and can just roll bikes in behind the rear seats. Room wise in the cargo area (behind rear seats) it's about 6ft x 4ft x 4ft. With the rear seats out you get just over another 2ft in length so it will carry 8x4 ply. It's a bit lower than a T5 so will go in car parks, cheaper on the ferry etc.
I test drove a 180 T5 4motion Kombi recently and it was sluggish compared to the Vito and rattly etc. A good mate went from a Vito to a new T5 Sportline and hates it, the T6s are supposed to be a bit more refined though so worth a look.
From what I know, the Vito is the better van but the T5/T6 looks way cooler.
The floor of my T5 is higher, or seems it. Coukd be the big wheels lifting it up a bit.
There is not really less space, apart from the spare is in the back rather that under the floor in the SWB version.
Vito body is lower and wider but overall a bit narrower over the wing mirrors. I've not had the confidence to been through my narrow stone gate posts with mirrors out on the T5 yet. The Vito did go, but it cost me a couple! The height helps, my motorbike only just fitted in the Vito with the fors compressed a shade.
T5 is about 6" longer (2" longer than my garage 🙁 )
I had a 56 plate Vito 111 panel van and now have a new T5 140 bhp Kombi so hard to compare in age and spec but...
Vito felt faster. RWD didn't feel massively different but there's more steering lock. Not great in snow without weight in the back.
Prop shaft needed a recon at about 70k, so not immune from drive issues like the VW driveshaft I've heard about.
MPG better in the VW but not miles.
Fully galv from 56 plate on, sold with no visible rust at all and hopefully none developing.
I've had a T4, Mk1 Vito, Mk 2 Vito and T5. Loved them all, all for their own strengths, to be completely honest I'm not sure why I went VW this time. Mostly just fancied a change I think but I'm very happy, as is my mate with a Dualiner. I love the ride, the toys and the looks plus my long term plan is some kind of conversion (not full camper) which is far better supported for VW.
In the very unscientific test of the Milland round of Southern Enduro's 'car park' field, mine and lots of other T5s got stuck partway down it. A couple of Vitos got stuck right in the entrance.
Ex T5 owner, I actually prefer the look of the Vito but as I wanted a part time campervan the T5 had so much more stuff made to fit it specifically and since I used to own an air cooled one I was predisposed to prefer it I think but I reckon that it was an emotional rather than practical choice in the main.
In the very unscientific test of the Milland round of Southern Enduro's 'car park' field, mine and lots of other T5s got stuck partway down it. A couple of Vitos got stuck right in the entrance.
Having spent a lot of time getting in and out of muddy fields it's the got more to do with the operator than the vehicle...
If I was picking a wider interior makes a big difference to things like bike storage and takes nothing away on the road.
Thanks all.
Getting more and more tempted by a Dualiner when next car change is due
my brother has an 06 vito with over 200k on it and there is no rust at all that i can see. i have a 2010 viano xlwb.
the worst thing about the vito is the gearbox - make sure you drive it. another friend has an 07 one and its pretty terrible too. difficult shifts.
the viano is auto and is a dream to drive in comparison. my brother wishes he got an auto.
a k4 750 gsxr fits in the vito, just. the viano is just massive because it is xlwb but it only sticks out of a parking spot by say 6". my missus isnt keen on driving it to the supermarket or whatever so i'm going to get a reversing camera. for the time being i just park away from the shops and walk.
Having driven both a lot, it's more to do with the T5... Vito has a big box of air over the driven axle so not much weight on the driven wheels. It used to wheelspin coming up our leaf covered slightly inclined drive and wouldn't move on a flat car park in the snow, had some fun in wet grass camping fields, where the T5 is drama free. A few bags on sand help, or a good load but the T5 just grips. RWD did corner a bit nicer in dry tarmac though.
To add, I disliked the ride of my Vito as standard. Fitted Eibach springs for a subtle 30mm drop and it transformed the ride. Stopped the front end 'tucking' feeling and felt flatter in sweeping bends but still handled loads and rough tracks. Recommended to add then to your budget.
Got the Vito 119 Sport at the end of last year - it is stonking (and faster than a van has any right to be). Handles well enough for a big lump, and the 7 speed auto is really impressive (and that is speaking as someone with a pathological hatred of auto boxes, but a knackered left ankle which forced the issue).
The only time I struggled was getting home a while back, a slow speedleft hairpin up a short steep hill with ice. I gave up after three attempts and came in down the other hill instead! I have since bought snow socks just incase 😉
Not driven the VW, but a similar spec was a good bit more expensive. It's miles better than my old L200 though... except offroad... 😉
Capt.
Have you tried turning the ESP off in the menu system when you get in that situation? It actually inhibits progression when the driven wheels are slipping so you end up losing momentum and drive. There is an option in the menu to turn it off (Temporarily) for situations like that and the grass fields examples people mention above. Its not fool proof but it does at least give you the chance to 'spin' your way through things a little