I did not see any Vito specific forums listed apart from this one so I thought I would ask here first!
I have a 1998 VW T4 Transporter (Eurovan?) which has served me well and the logical replacement would be the T5...but...I have always liked the look of the Vito and looking around you seem to get more van for the money over here compared to the VW.
I will be looking for a 2003-ish Vito with electric pack, aircon etc but know nothing about the vehicle, model/engine variants, power output, options etc. so was wondering if there was an 'Idiots Guide' or something to the differing models I may find on the used market.
Has anybody else here made the jump from VW to Mercedes?
What were the strengths/weaknesses of each van when it comes to comparing the two vehicles?
I did not see any Vito specific forums listed apart from this one so I thought I would ask here first!
I have a 1998 VW T4 Transporter (Eurovan?) which has served me well and the logical replacement would be the T5...but...I have always liked the look of the Vito and looking around you seem to get more van for the money over here compared to the VW.
I will be looking for a 2003-ish Vito with electric pack, aircon etc but know nothing about the vehicle, model/engine variants, power output, options etc. so was wondering if there was an 'Idiots Guide' or something to the differing models I may find on the used market.
Has anybody else here made the jump from VW to Mercedes?
What were the strengths/weaknesses of each van when it comes to comparing the two vehicles?
Any other opinions/info etc. gratefully received.
Thanks & regards,
-=Glyn=-
Howdy Glyn,
I am a Vito owner, have been since 2004
I have a 2002 112CDI which has served me well. I purchased it with 70,000 miles and theres almost 140,000 on it now. It is 120 BHP so does drive quite well
Mechanically it has been pretty good, had a few small issues but no major dramas although I do service religously/look after it well
Thats the good stuff
The biggest issue with any of these vans I have come across by far is rust. My own van is corroding unbelievably and is currently going through Mercedes warranty procedures to see if they will repair it as it is obviously due to bad matierals/workmanship
Do a quick search of the forum and it will bring up countless examples of similar rust issues - on both cars and vans
If buying a new van it would definately be a 174bhp VW T5 - I actually drove a 102BHP T5 last night and reckoned my older rusty Vito drove better and felt more solid - But the 5 cylinders are crackers, particulary the 174, if you ever get behind the wheel you will buy one (exactly what happened to my cousin and he was adament he wanted a Vito until that point)
By all accounts the MK2 Vitos (which are now Galvanised) are rust prone also
I have included a couple of pictures of my own van to emphasis my point that I would sooner jump from Mercedes to VW than the other way around....................
I would steer clear of the T5. we have had two and they have both been the most unreliable vans we have ever had.
The first, a 2004 104ps set itself on fire (either the factory stereo or the ciggy socket according to the insurance copanies forensic specialist, and a common occurence on that van), the handbrake failed before that and it ran down a hill, and we then got a recall for the handbrake.
The second a 2004 130ps tip is now at 102,000 miles, we have had it off the road for months at a time for starting problems, got that all sorted and then the gearbox exploded (a 8" hole in the side)
We now have a 2006 vito 120 cdi, which is a far better build than the T5, Rygor commercials in Swindon are ace dealers and could not be more helpful. The van is so good we also bought a Jeep with the same engine in!
You were definately unlucky with the T5s, I have had good expierence with VW and due to my current rust issues with Mercedes I would be reluctant to try another
I cant help but wonder if the fact your T5s were early (04) models had a bearing on your troubles, early models of anything usually have issues which are then addressed by the manufacturer and improved upon
You were definately unlucky with the T5s, I have had good expierence with VW and due to my current rust issues with Mercedes I would be reluctant to try another
I cant help but wonder if the fact your T5s were early (04) models had a bearing on your troubles, early models of anything usually have issues which are then addressed by the manufacturer and improved upon
I can't help but think you've been unlucky as well.
I bought my Vito new in 2000, it has done over 180,000 km, has been driven around australia and has never caused me any problems. (that included driving through north queensland tropics and through the top end during the wet season.)
OTOH, I have a mate who was responsible for doing the evaluations for the T5's for a State Ambulance Service and he was terribly dissapointed. He ended up with a Vito after finishing his eval (bought without influence and no discount from the yard)
having had a T5 as a company vehicle when in surveillance, I still prefer the 638.
I would look around , I have yet to see a big company running a fleet of Vitos , most are small or sole traders . I would go with VW.
not sure of your locale, but there is no shortage of Vitos at a fleet level here. mercedes dominate the market by a considerable margin.
as a piece of trivia, the largest fleet owners seem to be the fundamentalist religious groups (usually the Brethren) - they get a huge discount from the dealers (minus radios as it's against their religious sensitivities)
never been able to work that one out... I'm guessing one of their flock is a VW dealer..
Vito or YAN (Yet Another Transporter) 
... and that's from a 2004 van?? 
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