Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,790
Club RR Member Number: 34
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just another one to say yeah, they're pretty much the worst van you can buy. all comparible vans are arguably better. they rust as bad as transits but at least transits are mechanically simple and robust, so kinda worth welding up. vitos definatley rust quicker than comparible age transits, plus are mechanically fragile. other vans are also mechanically fragile, particularly vauxhall/renault, but at least they don't seem to rust much. i can think of another van with electrics as bad as a vito. with the others, youre choosing between spending your maintainance costs on mostly body or mostly mechanical. with the vito you get to spend it on both  |
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mikeymk
Part of things
'85 Polo Coupe S 1.6 16v
Posts: 931
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I've already shared my experience of a '98 Vito, but that's not the only brand new Vito i had - now as this thread has strayed into later models it may be appropriate to share my experience with a '58 plate Vito i ran in '08-'09..?
Medium wheelbase in silver, crew seat and rear door windows, rear wheel drive. Lethal in the snow because the traction control tries to stop you controlling it yourself, but it can't handle it either, so you end up all over the shop.. And i couldn't get it switched off properly, though i probably can be.
Otherwise, not a bad word to say about it. Fairly pokey engine spec'd but usually full of tools and electric cables (they were only out the van at night) so it was weighed down. It was boring to drive but it did the job perfectly.
I've just looked for some on ebay and already these are rusting worse than the first ones, i mean great big holes everywhere, vans less than ten years old, it's shocking. Seems Mercedes just don't bother rustproofing vans..? The front wings won't rust though - i remember from washing it that they're plastic..
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mikeymk
Part of things
'85 Polo Coupe S 1.6 16v
Posts: 931
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I've just found a photo of in in my Photobucket, from when i was working on the recycling plant on Ardra Rd in london, snowy day in late '98 (or early '99).  |
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I've just found a photo of in in my Photobucket, from when i was working on the recycling plant on Ardra Rd in london, snowy day in late '98 (or early '99). Sorry mate, but that's a later spec Vito. They didn't come out until late '04..... |
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'96 Volvo 850T5 x2, '97 Alfa 145 Cloverleaf '96 Alfa 155, '91 XR2i 2.0 Zetec (sold), '88 BMW 520i slug (sold), '81 Escort Mk3 Project, '68 Mk1 Escort Estate, Berlingo Parts Chaser.
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Every Vito that's come near my workshop has had rust/paint issues besides the mechanical faults. All those listed above apply, plus the "black death" egr fault which they are renowned for. A couple of mates have bought them very cheap with this and then fixed it easily and cheap (must ask how!) but at the end of the day its a loser! If the general consensus is that the abysmal Vivaro/Trafic/Nissanwhatever is better then it must be total cr*p!
I have an ancient (99) Pug Expert 1.9 turbo with 175K on it, the seats are still like new and it has tinted glass and electric windows. Does near 50mpg in mixed use and will do 95 on a good day. Will be for sale soon as I'm reducing my fleet - how about a nice V6 turbo and autobox in a slammed and nicely shod shell for a cruiser?
Steve
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mikeymk
Part of things
'85 Polo Coupe S 1.6 16v
Posts: 931
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I've already shared my experience of a '98 Vito, but that's not the only brand new Vito i had - now as this thread has strayed into later models it may be appropriate to share my experience with a '58 plate Vito i ran in '08-'09..? Sorry mate, but that's a later spec Vito. They didn't come out until late '04..... ...and doesn´t look cool either as the thread starter asked for, just stock. " Cos my pix all make ya, JUMP JUMP! On here, they'll make ya, JUMP JUMP! Ah-ha, ah-ha.."  And btw, for my experience and advice on the 1998 MK1 Vito, try page one.. |
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jgtr
Part of things
Posts: 270 
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Having looked through this thread it does seem the answer to the question "can a Vito look good" clearly seems to sadly be no!!
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Last Edit: Aug 2, 2015 19:42:07 GMT by jgtr
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mikeymk
Part of things
'85 Polo Coupe S 1.6 16v
Posts: 931
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Mine didn't, cream pinstriping around traditional style cream signwriting only made the oak green look about as cool as burnt toast, but they were a nice shape if not traditional. Plain version of the one i had.. (google photo)  |
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I think that there aren't many good ones to see is because of everything that's being said, so next-to-no-one is touching them with a barge-pole. What I don't get is that I thought they were basically built on a version of the VW T4 platform - so why is there such a difference in quality - and - if T4s are so good - can't you do a bit of cheeky VW parts bin swapping to circumnavigate all the c r a p n ess. As a piece of design I think they have loads of potential - the wedge front, simple grill , rear box flares, flush glass and chunky square rear are all sweet styling. it's just a shame they're so dog-awful it's not really worth the bother. In another world - (as pointed out earlier) get one from when Benz' were basically unbreakable:  Benz Van Slammed by Little Pixel, on Flickr |
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Yeah, not really opposed to the looks of it (even if its too new for my tastes  ) and if someone is willing to put up with all the curse word, i say go for it, but noone should go into Vito ownership without reading a forum thread with a couple of pages of listings of how bad it is first, thats just cruel |
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I think that there aren't many good ones to see is because of everything that's being said, so next-to-no-one is touching them with a barge-pole. What I don't get is that I thought they were basically built on a version of the VW T4 platform - so why is there such a difference in quality - and - if T4s are so good - can't you do a bit of cheeky VW parts bin swapping to circumnavigate all the c r a p n ess. The very early vitos, shared one engine with VWs and that was the vr6...so unless you want to run a petrol guzzling 2.8 there isn't much part swapping you can do. Plus short of dropping a vw t4 body onto one to counter the terrible corrosion issues, i don't see what bits you'd want to be swapping. Shame really because like you say, they do have quite a nice wedgy look to them. |
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BT
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,772
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Thanks very much for all the help guys. After a few days down in the South West it is clear to see that the VW T1/2/3/4/5 is the vehicle of choice. I suppose I have to come to the most financially viable choice, at the moment that seems to be a T4.  |
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They do look quite good, but the Spanish factory was never known for the build quality. Before the Vito, they build the MB100. Are there any left?   |
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 Click picture for more |
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Did someone mention that the t4 and Vito share the same chassis? Maybe you could get a t4 and fit a Vito front end (bonnet, front wings, headlights, grill, front bumper) for uniqueness?
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Did someone mention that the t4 and Vito share the same chassis? Maybe you could get a t4 and fit a Vito front end (bonnet, front wings, headlights, grill, front bumper) for uniqueness? Never heard of that before, not really surprising though. As with the W210 saloons, there are good examples of these out there. A property maintenance guy who works in our area has a '97 povo-spec N/A diesel with 300k on it. Seems to have been lucky with rust, or very well looked after. One of the local Benz exporters I deal with for W124 bits is always buying them to send out to Africa, he recons he gets them for a few hundred quid but says they often need more than just welding so, even if the OP is a good fabricator, it might not be worth it. A pal bought a W639, the later RWD one, that turned out to have been clocked. The genuine mileage was close to 250k but the interior looked legit as the 88k he thought it had and it's needed nothing except servicing while he's had it. |
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BT
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,772
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Thanks once again for the input.
I have heard that the newer ones are pretty solid, but early ones are plagued with problems. As much as I would love to get a van now and throw some gear in it and head to the coast I think it will pay in the long run to hold out for a T4.
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There's one on Edinburgh Gumtree for five hundred quid, with MOT and a not-brilliant camper conversion. Clutch trouble though... GumtreeI must not phone the guy... |
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squonk
Part of things
Posts: 864
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Looks about £400 too much!!!
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2004 Chevrolet Avalanche Z71
2005 Mercedes CLK320 Cabriolet
1996 Mercedes C180 Elegance Auto Saloon
1996 Rover 620Ti (Dead fuel pump)
1992 Toyota HiLux Surf
1987 Range Rover Vogue (Rusty)
1992 Range Rover Vogue SE (More Rusty)
2006 Chrysler Grand Voyager
2008 Corsa 1.4 Design
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vertex
Part of things
Posts: 932
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BT
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,772
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Those Brabus people haulers really does not help my current feelings towards the Vito.
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) and if someone is willing to put up with all the curse word, i say go for it, but noone should go into Vito ownership without reading a forum thread with a couple of pages of listings of how bad it is first, thats just cruel 
