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I'm thinking about getting a van to replace my 5 series estate that’s proving to be a bit small...
I need an auto and I’ve been spoilt by the plush interior of the 5er so I’m think that a Vito Sport X would fit the bill. Does anyone here have any experience of them? Or can you suggest an alternative. Transporters don’t really float my boat, but I could be talked around.
Budget is £10k ish.
To make it topical, what would you prefer to drive in snow and slushy conditions? FWD or rear wheel drive? 🙂
Will you get one for £10k? They were pretty spendy and depreciate quicker than That Other German Brand but still...
Think it was the V6 in the Sport-X and the auto box.... easy to drive and very smooth. Also wider and lower than the VW, all the toys fitted, nice leather seats....
"what would you prefer to drive in snow and slushy conditions? FWD or rear wheel drive? "
Which ever had the most suitable tires for the conditions...... Which is why my rwd van didn't have issues getting up the hill at the puffer and the other identical van had issues getting from the road to the lower parking area.
Anyway keeping on topic.
As chilled 76 will tell you shortly 10 k is a little light unless your willing to live with moon and back twice milage .Think he was around 10k for a 116 5 seater with 110k
I’m not scared of high miles, all my recent cars have been at, or very close to, 100k on purchase and caused me no problems. My 3series was over 150k when when a Punto punted me into a Jag on the M27 and was as sweet as a nut. My 5series is at 117k and I’m looking to change because I can’t get bike and dog (in crate) in the car.
WRT fed/rwd in the current conditions, I had no issues in my car yesterday but struggled to get the wife’s Clio (on brand new A rated tyres) over some raised block paving last night. I had to take a run up at it... in conclusion, I’d take 4wd if it was an option.
Hi, I have had a 115 cdi LWB Vito for seven years now, on the whole its been very reliable and I find it easy to drive with no problems in snow with winter tyres, Driving confidently helps, and carrying a bit of momentum has got me up hills and past fwd cars to my surprise.You can disconnect the traction control completely off (ASR) by holding your finger on the button on position two for at least 10 seconds, you should here a slight click, this has got me off frozen car parks a number of times. On higher mileage vehicles things to watch out for are, Front wheel bearing noise, up until fairly recently it was £1000 for each side including labour, There are now aftermarket kits available for around £300 but its worth listening for any noise on road test. The glow plugs are another expensive fix and can snap in the head, check that the glow plug light goes out on the instrument panel, I used a specialist extraction company as a precaution and it saved on removing the cylinder head. A slightly notchy gear box (1st to second) was sorted by replacing a plastic nuckle thats fitted under the gear shift (available on Ebay). I also lubed up the gear cable mechanism under the gear box and it made a big difference. The antiroll bar bushes are prone to knocking (fitted on the subframe) but are a cheap and easy fix.The centre drive shaft UV joint has been replaced and rebalanced by a prop shaft repair company, When I first bought the van all door sills were coated with wax oil and so far the van has held up well but it is a common problem so inspect carefully.
Front wheel bearing noise, up until fairly recently it was £1000 for each side including labour, There are now aftermarket kits available for around £300
Bloody hell - how does a bearing replacement end up at a grand! That's beyond ridiculous.
Driving in driving in snow and slushy conditions?
As well as appropriate tyres, four-wheel drive might be handy...
I used to have a 5 series estate and now have a swb (aka compact) 62 plate Vito sport x. Probably paid over the odds for it with 120k miles but it’s great to drive. Have a car as well so it’s stayed parked up in this weather. As rear wheel drive it’s even larier than the 5 on snow) Did the alps run last year in it (had one warning light come on when I ran it on fumes to the final fill up) and had done it the year before in a leased T6. Much nicer with the v6 😊
I’ve had a V6 extra long for 11 years.
It’s done 205000 miles and goes great.
We’ve got a place in Austria we drive to regularly and it’s great for the journey, with decent Winter tyres on it gets up the snow covered road to our place no problem, and it’s fairly steep.
Biggest job I’ve had done was a prop shaft rebalance.