buying a vito, some advice please ;)

[danzo]

hi all,

im looking at buying an old vito to use for work, proberly around a year 2000 with the 2 grand i have got.

im really a car person and have never had a van before, i like mercedes cars so im hoping i will like a vito van, tho i know nothing about these vans.......

what id like to know from people with experience of owning or driving vito's is, whats the most reliable model, 108, 110, 112 etc etc.

what model has the best mpg but also combines this with an acceptable power, (i like fast cars so dont really want a REALLY SLOW van),

is there anything else i should be considering when buying a vito??

so basically which one is going to give me 40mpg, reliable and not too sluggish

dan

 

[brody]

Hi Dan,
I have had a 108, 2x112, 111 and now have a 116 on order, had all from new and did at lest 100,000 miles in each. I wouldn't go for 108 (defiantly stay clear of any non cdi 108's) The 112's that i had, i was getting up to 38mpg out of. It makes a huge difference depending how you drive it. Rust problems on older ones can be a problem. I have loved every one that i have had.

 

[brody]

the 112's are pretty quick for a van and are chipable

 

[BTB 500]

is there anything else i should be considering when buying a vito??

The old shape "638" Vito wasn't galvanised (in fact early new shape - 639 - ones weren't either), and rust can be a major problem. I suspect you will struggle to get 40 mpg unless driving very slowly & gently.

 

[finisterre]

I have an old 108, very low tech, extra slow 0-60 in 20+ seconds, plenty of rust, runs on vegetable oil. No problems whatsoever in 13 years of ownership.

I like the lack of things to go wrong and it handles okay.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

For your £2k, you should be able to get a 2002 110 CDi with between 100-150k on. Although the 2.2 engine should be good for 300k if it is looked after.
One thing to definatley look for is 'black death' on the injectors.....
Do a forum search on it for more detailed info.

 

[swannymere]

Get a VW T4 Transporter, more reliable IMHO.

 

[rizzer]

i had a 99 112 for ten years from new with about 80k miles on. It was a great van, very few problems. Sold it for just under £2k 18 months ago. The 112 goes very well and I reckon I was getting just over 30mpg with mainly short local drives, on a good run I know I could get over 40mpg. Rust wasn't an issue either. I now have a 120 dualiner. Good luck in you search.

 

[nick mercedes]

im looking at buying an old vito to use for work, proberly around a year 2000 with the 2 grand i have got.

Don't do it.

Vitos really are flawed vans, both the old shape you are shopping for and the new shapes ones.

Both suffer from extreme rust problems, and engine reliability/build quality is laughable.

You'd be better off with a Vivaro or a Transit, both much better vans, although Transits aren't immune from rust...

 

[BTB 500]

Don't do it.

Vitos really are flawed vans, both the old shape you are shopping for and the new shapes ones.

Both suffer from extreme rust problems, and engine reliability/build quality is laughable.

I agree about the 638 Vito, but not the 639. The Vianoand 639 Vito are identical apart some cosmetics (trim etc.) ... are you saying that also has an "extreme rust problem" and "laughable build quality"?

The only rusty 639s I've seen have been very early non-galvanised ones. The others have a 12 year bodywork warranty.

 

[Timmy boy]

Hi, I have had several of the older shape vitos. they were all company vans so were not so wel looked after by the drivers. All of the vans had problems with rust on the rear arches bottom of sliding doors and rear tail gate. gear boxes were often going wrong and i felt the brakes on all of them were very poor. personally i wouldnt have another 1. Thats just my experience.
Tbh imo as mentioned the t4 is a better van but for 2k I think you will struggle to get a t4 that hasnt got the same problems as a vito as they tend to still hold good money.
I also had a 54 plate trafic I have nothing positive to say about these either. pretty much everything on it electrical went wrong in the 2 years i owned it.
I now drive a 57 plate Transit sport van. Already with tiny amounts of rust bubbling on the roof. tyre wear is a joke. about 11k on a set of front tyres at over £100 a corner.
from my experience all vans have there problems pick one you like and hold your breath.
Good luck.!!

 

[danzo]

thank you everyone for all your replies

now i have read all 10 replies i must say im put off buying a vito now lol.

i think im going to have to re think what else to spend my 2k on, as mentioned id love a transporter but i need double that amount for a good one......

thanks anyway everyone,

Dan

 

[Timmy boy]

I was meaning to ask before what do you need the van for? could you get away with a conect, combi, berlingo something that size?

 

[swannymere]

You can get a decent Transporter for £2k you just need to be picky, things to look at are the sliding door rollers as these a are a pain to replace and surprisingly expensive. My neighbour has just picked up a W-plate 2.4 diesel which was signwritten but was rust free and in quite good general condition for £1750 but it was a case of being in the right place at the right time.