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The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
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#1 | ||
BLUE OVAL INC.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,643
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So I've been in discussion with my employer with regards to upgrading our fleet of vans, he knows I'm a car guy and so I think he's looking to me to help him with the decision which I really appreciate.
We currently have a fleet of 3 Mercedes Sprinters and 5 previous gen Hiace. The Sprinters are 2x LWB and 1x SWB, all we're purchased in the past 18 months and all 3 are absolute lemons. 1 came back from having a knock sensor replaced today and another has got a stuffed A/C compressor, all have sub 50k and whilst covered by warranty, the inconvenience is a big turn off. The Hiaces are all well banged up and have racked up the K's, they need replacing as a minimum. Obviously my first thought was Transit, I made the suggestion and he contacted his Dealer who informed him that they haven't seen a Transit in 3 months and aren't sure when they will, he was also concerned with the 10sp auto however I note that there is a 6A version available in LWB high roof. He said he wouldn't even consider LDV. He asked me if there was anything I'd like in particular, having driven both the old Hiace and the Sprinters and doing so in rural area's of high speed and many immovable objects, namely tree's, I suggested something with a bit more frontal protection as the Sprinter has. He has a good relationship with a few Dealers and is arranging a weeks trial for me in both Staria Load and Hiace. So the requirements are... Must be one of the main players Must be able to accommodate a standard pallet through the side door Must have good payload Preferably a bonneted style for added frontal protection Thoughts and recommendations greatly accepted. |
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#2 | ||
Donating Member
![]() Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,155
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We have a current model VW Crafter as our delivery van. It's a medium wheel base with the low roof and has a twin-turbo 2.0 and 8-Speed torque converter auto.
![]() Best van I have ever driven with plenty of power, even when stacked to the roof with product. It also doesn't seem to lurch through corners, feeling very stable.
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PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
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#3 | ||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
Posts: 49,013
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I'm voting for the new Hiace, fits the bill and isn't European.
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#4 | ||
Donating Member
![]() Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,155
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Pity they discontinued the V6, I quite like the idea of dropping burnouts on deliveries.
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PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
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#5 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Brisbane (Southside)
Posts: 1,148
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Yep, me to... Company I work for has hundreds of them all over Australia and they seem to be hugely reliable and resilient. We buy them outright, run them for 5 or 6 years and 500k km odd (they are on the road consistently 5/6 days a week) and the consensus is apart from servicing and normal wear and tear stuff they are pretty well faultless. 99% are the petrol variant with only a few diesels thrown in.
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2008 FG XR6 Turbo ZF In Sensation - Gone, but not Forgotten.... Hers: 2024 Ford Everest Platinum in Equinox Bronze His Daily: 2020 (MY21) Kia Sorento GT-Line in Mineral Blue His Weekender: 2017 Commodore SSV Redline manual in Light My Fire Orange |
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#6 | |||
BLUE OVAL INC.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,643
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Quote:
As I do the country run and don't carry as much weight or volume as the metro guys, a MWB with GVM upgrade would be perfect. Looks comfy which is important as I do anywhere from 250 to 400km a day everyday. I'd need the bi-turbo for grunt up the hills, this also opens the door to the 4 motion option which would come in handy as I often find myself spinning the rear wheels of the Hiace's and unable to get up many steep rural gravel driveways. I'll put this on the list and see if he has any contacts at VW. |
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#7 | |||
BLUE OVAL INC.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,643
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Quote:
I haven't sized it up personally but prior to moving to Sprinters they had the Hiace in for evaluation and it didnt pass the cut. Would probably work for what I do as payload and space isnt as critical as it is for the metro guys but I get the impression he wants to replace everything and wants to stick to one brand if possible. |
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#8 | ||
AKA "the other bloke"
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,966
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Hiace.. son has the new model. Finds it more comftable n car like inside that the previous one, reckons once u turn off most of the annoying voice warnings is a good place to be
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Her's: 2000 AU II Fairmont Ghia 75th anniversary VCT meteorite & 2014 yaris - white His Toy: 2012 fg II GT-E, emperor red His: VS Ute 5 Litre 5 speed (povo pack) His: 2012 FG II GS, Vanish His: 2003 BA GT-P, Lightening Strike Jnr: 2002 AU III Falcon XR6 ST, 5 speed Blueprint & 1978 XC Fairmont Neptune Blue Previous: 1976 HX 50th Anniversary Kingswood 2014 FGX G6E Turbo 1980 XD Falcon GL 2003 BA Falcon XR6 1991 EB Falcon S 1989 EA Fairmont 1982 XE Fairmont 1968 XT Falcon |
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#9 | |||
Donating Member
![]() Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,155
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Quote:
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PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
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#10 | ||
BLUE OVAL INC.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,643
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Has the payload increased with the new Hiace though?
Yesterday I arrived at work to see they'd loaded a 1t pallet into my van and it was on the bump stops before I even considered putting anything else in it, pointed it out to the boss when he arrived and he said no way thats leaving like that and helped me take 300kgs out. The Sprinters eat 1t pallets behind the bulkhead and you wouldn't even know its there. |
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#11 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: NSW
Posts: 4,324
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Just buy a Hyundai Staria and be done with it
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#12 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 457
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I have a friend who drives the latest diesel Hiace around over long distances. He is very happy with it. It has good tech, fuel consumption and drives well.
Here's an article comparing some models. https://www.carsguide.com.au/tradies...iace-lwb-80531 |
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#13 | |||
BLUE OVAL INC.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,643
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Quote:
They all have pro's and con's with the Transit coming out on top in the areas that would suit my needs with the exception of side door access, if it cant take a standard pallet through the side door its of no value unfortunately as the freight we move on pallets must be against the bulkhead for safety reasons. These would make great tradie vans but when it comes to moving weight on pallet sized footprints they fall over, the Hiace in particular as it cant take one side or rear loaded. I didnt realise they we're so limited in that regard, not even worth trialing them with that in mind. |
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#14 | |||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
Posts: 49,013
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I'm a fan of the Sprinter, cut my teeth on those as an apprentice, comfortable to drive but all those Euro vans are ****boxes if you give them a rogering with big loads all the time.
The only benefit to the Sprinter is because of how popular they are and used by emergency services nationally, then live their second life post auction as a courier vehicle they are easy to get parts for and plenty of workshops are familiar with these big, comfy ****boxes. I'd be inclined to go a 319 mid roof mid wheelbase, 3L V6 diesel variant, it'll deal better with loads. Quote:
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#15 | |||
BLUE OVAL INC.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,643
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Quote:
Looking at the model range it looks like we have 2 ELWB super high roof 517 models Rear tyres are expensive They eat brakes A/C failed Knock sensor failed All with between 20-50k on them doing around 150k's a day. |
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#16 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,636
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I don’t mind the Transit but production has just about ground to a halt across the range. You’d be lucky to see one or two this year if you ordered them today.
Like all the euro vans they also rip through their brakes. We have one aus post contractor who didn’t make its first service before the brake wear indicator light came on. He wasn’t too impressed. |
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#17 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Canberra Region
Posts: 8,922
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Quote:
It's about 30cm shorter in the back, but nearly that much wider.
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2016 FGX XR8 Sprint, 6speed manual, Kinetic Blue #170 2004 BA wagon RTV project. 1998 EL XR8, Auto, Hot Chilli Red 1993 ED XR6, 5speed, Polynesian Green. 1 of 329. Retired 1968 XT Falcon 500 wagon, 3 on the tree, 3.6L. Patina project. |
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#18 | ||
Budget Racer
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 2,420
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Go old school!
This example has the extra frontal protection Sure there will be compromise, but 351 Clevo option! ![]()
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12.1@112Mph 285rwkw on n2o Cleveland Power |
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#19 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Melb.
Posts: 4,436
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Having Sprinters mean I guess you don't need low roof height of the Transit Custom/Vito/Transporter etc...
I think your choices are: Iveco Daily Fiat Ducato Ford Transit LDV Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Peugeot Boxer Renault Master Toyota Hiace SLWB Volkswagen Crafter All the above come with rear wing doors and the Renault may still have a semi-automated manual..and that's what it is,...not a fan...and if you drive one try reversing uphill with a heavy load. I think your biggest issue apart from fitting a non-negotiable need to fit a 116mm wide pallet through the side door is actual stock available or wait times. |
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#20 | ||
AKA "the other bloke"
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,966
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Renault... any van... run.....
3 at work.. constantly have at least 1 off the road at a time.. worst moment we had all 3 off the road with no eta for repairs.. hard to borrow vans from other areas to cover our shortfall. parts availability non existent and unreliable.. worst bit.. ours are low k vehicles My work is currently looking at sprinter cab chasis set up with a manufactured interchangeable pod for the rear moving forward.
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Her's: 2000 AU II Fairmont Ghia 75th anniversary VCT meteorite & 2014 yaris - white His Toy: 2012 fg II GT-E, emperor red His: VS Ute 5 Litre 5 speed (povo pack) His: 2012 FG II GS, Vanish His: 2003 BA GT-P, Lightening Strike Jnr: 2002 AU III Falcon XR6 ST, 5 speed Blueprint & 1978 XC Fairmont Neptune Blue Previous: 1976 HX 50th Anniversary Kingswood 2014 FGX G6E Turbo 1980 XD Falcon GL 2003 BA Falcon XR6 1991 EB Falcon S 1989 EA Fairmont 1982 XE Fairmont 1968 XT Falcon |
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#21 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Victoria
Posts: 7,854
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Doesn't look like the Hiace got the 500NM upgrade that the Hilux got on the 2.8 Diesel
That would be a deal breaker
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______________________________ 2015 Territory Titanium RWD Diesel - SOLD 2016 BMW X5 xdrive 30D Msport Seadoo Challenger 210SE 310HP |
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#22 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: QLD
Posts: 391
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I must have been lucky as our Sprinters have all been really good as far as reliability and warranty goes.
Main problems we have had has been clutches with new flywheels (but the vans are a min of 3400kgs all the time & have been known to tow buses on the flat ![]() ![]() I've found that having a good relationship with your dealer and feedback to MB in Melbourne helps, something we found wanting with the VW dealer in Vic who would just say " bring it in and we'll look at it when we get a chance to". 5 breakdowns in 12 months and it was gone, who needs a breakdown vehicle that does? Stay safe Terry aka Tbro |
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#23 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 657
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We have 50 or so Mercedes Vitos. They drive around all day at or nearly at there maximum payload. They are all 22.1 4cyl diesel autos, all approx 3 years old. I have to say on the whole they have been really reliable and economical considering the weight they carry.
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#24 | |||
Donating Member
![]() Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,155
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Quote:
The Crafter's wheels are basically always black with brake dust. ![]() ![]() This is what iron-removers were designed for......... ![]() ![]() ![]() Trust me to inject some detailing content in a completely off topic way. ![]()
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PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
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#25 | ||
BLUE OVAL INC.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,643
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Spoke to the boss about the Crafter this morning, he reckons they're just a Sprinter with a different badge but I dont think thats correct, they have a different driveline at a minimum.
Any thoughts on that? Got back this afternoon to find a new Staria Load in the carpark ready for me to put it through its paces next week. Still wont take the pallet that the metro guys require but may be suitable for what I do on my travels. |
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#26 | |||
Donating Member
![]() Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,155
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Quote:
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#27 | |||
BLUE OVAL INC.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,643
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Quote:
I hadn't even considered the Iveco, not a bad thing either from what I can see. Agreed on wait times, they'd ordered a new light truck before I started in August and it still hasn't arrived. Something to replace the Hiace that I use is probably of most urgency at the moment so that may simply come down to whats available asap, as for replacing the Sprinters, that may take more time. |
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#28 | ||
BLUE OVAL INC.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,643
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#29 | ||
PURSUIT 250
![]() Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: sydney
Posts: 5,774
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Hiace. I’m no Toyota boi. But the new Hiace is good and so very ugly
I’ve driven and worked out of all the usual characters and the hiace is the one I would buy. |
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#30 | |||
BLUE OVAL INC.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,643
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Quote:
That was in late November/early December, finally had it fitted this week. |
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