Vito. Buying advice sought please.
- Thread starter ringway
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Deleted member 37751
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Whereas Transits just break down and don't rust. Much.
Out of interest I was just looking at the Vauxhall Vivaro ... seems the most powerful version available now is only 117 bhp?
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Deleted member 37751
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Yeah, there is something perverse in the relationship that a lot of Mercedes owners have with rust.
I see loads of adverts "Rust not bad for year" and "Usual Mercedes rust" so on and so on.....
nick mercedes
MB Enthusiast
It's all you really need for a medium sized panel van?
nick mercedes
MB Enthusiast
They do rust, but only when they're 8 or 9 ?
Rusty van league:
1 Mercedes Vito (start going rusty around 12 months)
2 Mercedes Sprinter (start going rusty around 12 months)
3 Ford Transit (start going rusty around 8-9 years)
4 LDV Convoy (start going rusty around 8-9 years)
LDV Maxus, Fiat Ducatos, Trafics/Vivaros, just don't seem to rust at all?
Transit Connects seem immune too.
Not if you want to tow 1500 kg without being a rolling roadblock. Or if you want refined cruising at motorway/autobahn speed.
nick mercedes
MB Enthusiast
You can cruise as fast as you like in a Vivaro - so I've been lead to believe by the sort of people who drive all day at 90, six speed box, they just don't rev, even when you're flying.
Red C220
MB Enthusiast
LDV's don't rust as most of them never lasted long enough mechanically for the old tin worm to get a hold.
You have to "want" a van to pay £40 bananas for it.
They are just a box on wheels to move stuff in my mind.
Of course if I'm racing Ferrari's at the weekend I'd probably spring for a nicely fitted out one that I could sleep in.
For putting stuff in? I wouldn't buy a Vito again.
nick mercedes
MB Enthusiast
Tdcis - same as a Transit, or VMs in the last ones, not bad vans, LDVs, durable if not especially glamorus...
Most go for export, no parts needed to swap them from RHD to LHD so quite sought after.
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Deleted member 37751
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In my experience, Transits start rusting around the three year old mark.
Good shout with the Maxus, you can pick them up for pennies at auction and they are a genuine good buy. The fact that I would buy one to keep for myself says it all really.
I've got to admit aswell that the Vivaro/Trafic/Primastar vans are the most car-like to drive, whereas the Vito can be very, shall we say, physically demanding to drive.
nick mercedes
MB Enthusiast
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Deleted member 37751
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If I only had a couple of grand to spend and I needed a clean, reliable and honest van, yes I would buy one.
Such a shame about LDV, I think that the bad press they kept getting from the British media killed them really.
Such a shame about LDV, I think that the bad press they kept getting from the British media killed them really.
nick mercedes
MB Enthusiast
Getting taken over by various private equity firms, and then Blair giving the contract for the Army Lorries (that LDV was going to assemble) to Germany killed them, along with the recession.
For the small sum needed to rescue them it appaling that the Chinese were able to come in and assetstrip/lift and shift the whole operation to China.
Birmingham's about finished these days, I really don't know how people in the Midlands make a living now there's no manufacturing left, they can't all work in Mcdonalds and Tescos?
I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about there
Mrs BTB loves driving ours, and as mentioned I do at least a couple of 11-hour runs in it every year without any problems at all.
Does that just apply to white ones
Sorry but 117 bhp and 290 Nm in a big draggy 2+ tonne vehicle is not a good recipe for refined motorway cruising.
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Deleted member 37751
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Every single Vito that I've driven or had in has been a commercial vehicle in the purest sense. The gearbox is stiff beyond belief, 1st gear is very prone to the linkages being 'strained' and a bugger to get in, the N/S front window mechanism always seem to wear out too quick (it's a common fault; a metal cog in a plastic apertureI have absolutely no idea what you're talking about there
Mrs BTB loves driving ours, and as mentioned I do at least a couple of 11-hour runs in it every year without any problems at all.
), the front suspension is prone to falling to bits, the CD players never seem to work, the side loading doors are always slightly out of kilter and need adjusting, I've replaced God knows how many SAM modules.....and let's not talk of oxidisation on the older models....The Vivaro drives like a car; the gearbox isn't hardwork, the driving position is better than a Vito, the side loading doors never need adjusting and the only big thing that they all seem to have problems with is the life-span of the dual-mass fly-wheel. This also may sound hypocritical coming from a Mercedes owner such as myself, but the Vivaro is built in Britain!
Vauxhall Vivaro to be made in Luton | News | The Engineer
Just for the record, I've had circa 12 Vivaro/Trafics and 10 Vitos (2 of which were the 638)
To be fair to yours though, I would presume that you've owned it for near enough it's full life so it'll have been looked after as opposed to most other Vito's.
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Every single Vito that I've driven or had in has been a commercial vehicle in the purest sense. The gearbox is stiff beyond belief, 1st gear is very prone to the linkages being 'strained' and a bugger to get in, the N/S front window mechanism always seem to wear out too quick (it's a common fault; a metal cog in a plastic aperture
The Vivaro drives like a car; the gearbox isn't hardwork, the driving position is better than a Vito, the side loading doors never need adjusting and the only big thing that they all seem to have problems with is the life-span of the dual-mass fly-wheel.
Have you tried a Vito 120 (subject of this thread) though? That's a 5-speed auto, so the gearbox comments wouldn't apply. Never had any problems with the driving position on ours either, even on the very long runs I mentioned. We do have the 'comfort' driver's seat though, with armrest and lumbar support - maybe that makes a difference.
I agree the window regulator seems to be a common problem - both of ours were replaced under warranty (although neither had actually failed). I'd like to think they've improved the part, but time will tell! Never suffered from any of the other issues you mention ... the tailgate did need to be realigned, but only after I forgot it was open while reversing up to the front of our garage
so can't really blame M-B for that! Dealer did it FOC, by the way 
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Deleted member 37751
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I'm glad that you've had a good experience with yours Bill, I think that I've gone slightly off topic...
nick mercedes
MB Enthusiast
Does that just apply to white ones
Sorry but 117 bhp and 290 Nm in a big draggy 2+ tonne vehicle is not a good recipe for refined motorway cruising.
They fly, they six speed box means they don't rev much and they love the motorway, honestly.
And they drive so well.
