Just got rid of my Audi A3 saloon, gone for a Jeep Avenger.
VLB it’s my pootle about one. For long trips the newer one is a twist and go GTS 300 but I love the whole ritual of mixing the fuel so use the older one when I can. I had to change the engine a few years ago so it’s not the original but reassuringly still plays up! .
I had an old R reg Frontera years ago and loved it. When I heard Vauxhall were releasing their brand new model, I thought I'd look into one. When I went to the dealers, they hadn't got a model in, but the salesman made such a big thing about it, I ordered one. Took 3 months to arrive, and looks great, but it really is a piece of shit. It's been recalled twice in six months for faults! I'll never bother with one again!
Im considering a PHEV. Been looking at the BYD Sealion 5. Looks a real nice car. Dont think im ready to go full electric just yet.
We are looking at going down the crew cab van route as most of our weekends are spent camping/hiking/cycling etc. The Vivaro is on the list, anything I should look for particularly?
The DPF will 100% bring you problems at some point. If you can buy non diesel or get a van thats had the system bypassed your life will be so much easier
Non-diesel options are few and far between unfortunately and we need a vehicle that will tow a substantial trailer as well.
Don't think I've ever drove a Citroën van but have driven plenty of Peugeot LWB vans at work. Was never a fan of the older vans but my new one (2024) drives brilliant....way better than the 2018 Mercedes Sprinter I had before however.... i think it's put together cheaply as I've had no end of bits of trim coming loose or falling off
My mate, who lives in Valencia, bought a new one (Opel badged, obvs) last year too, on the back of losing three family cars in the floods.
We bought one very nearly new from TMS Kia (it helps that my SiL is the Service Dept Manager there) with a couple of thou on the clock.
Decent cars. Especially if you can find a one owner car that's been maintained fully under the 7 year warranty. I'm sure you know already but in case you don't, the Hyundai i30 is the same car under the skin so worth looking at both. Kia is the better looker to my eyes but the Hyundai has a slightly nicer interior.
My ideal is something like a lwb, low roof Vivaro (or similar, Transit Custom etc) 6 seater crew cab so it can serve as a family vehicle but with a boot jump type basic camper set up in the back. We have a caravan but I also do a fair few short trips with my lad form which we currently use one of a number of small tents but as my back and knees are starting to grumble I quite like the idea of a proper bed in the back of the van. Having some sort of slide out kitchen would be handy for days out too
Can't be doing with a low roof. I have to be able to stand up, so I've kept the floor relatively thin (although adequately insulated) and likewise the roof.
Can't have a high roof as Wife has height barriers at work and she would need to commute in the van some days. If would only be used for sleeping in sporadically so camping comfort is very much a secondary consideration Vs daily practicality
