Are the base vehicles that different?

[ronidog1]

Having looked at a number of new panel van conversions I am beginning to wonder if there really is a difference between the standard base vehicles.

Any one have a view?

Ronidog

 

[Puddleduck]

According to the council bus driver:

FIAT = Fix It Again Tomorrow
FORD = Fix Or Repair Daily

............

 

[TheBig1]

the fiat ducato and peugeot boxer and the citroen are exactly the same van, just a different badge and a few options on engine choice

 

[deleted-member02]

Ducato's are wider than Transits / Sprinters and are therefore better suited to motorhome conversion.

 

[ronidog1]

I have a 2006 Renault Master at the moment would I notice a difference?

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[dave newell]

FORD= Found Outside Rapidly Dissolving. They all have their issues.

D.

 

[JohnH]

I used to give the hand overs for a local dealer and as such I would drive a variety of makes and models.
Only my opinion but I always preferred the Peugeot to the equivalent Fiat until you got to the A Class the I really liked the Fiats. I can only assume it was the engine mapping that made the drive different.
So I would strongly advise having a decent test drive on all road types. I used to take customers through a town and back on to the motorway and then winding lanes back. About 45 minutes to an hour. Worth doing, Motorhomes are not cheap and you need to be sure.
John

 

[ronidog1]

Well all these acronyms are interesting but I am not sure it is all that helpful

lets try a different question... what is the best base to have on a panel van conversion? Which one gives a smooth quiet ride and has good basics such as passenger air bags etc.?

 

[Techno]

I imagine they are all pretty decent when they leave the factory apart from known historical faults. I am the second owner of my 3.0 litre Fiat with full service history and all the issues under the bonnet are related to those who were paid to do a job properly. I found missing screws and bolts from my engine under trays, broken air filter housing and rounded out screw heads on the same, scuttle and air intake water drains both dislocated. Other items too but all related to badly done product recall work and servicing.

 

[WAG2CRU]

Good job Lotus don't make motorhome base vehicles:
Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious !

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[Lenny HB]

Fiats drive much better than Tranies & Mercs, Fiats chassis are galvanised, bigger cab deeper windscreen, body wider. Mercs have softer suspension roll a lot on corners & they rust.

 

[Ranger]

As has been said before Peugeot and Citroen use Ford engines, Fiat use their own except in 3.0L form which is I think is an Iveco (sofim) unit. Happy to be corrected though.

 

[Techno]

3.0 litre is Iveco and I think 2.3 is Iveco?
2.2 is ford

3.0 & 2.2 have camchains

My choice every time is 3.0 litre comfortmatic Iveco camchain etc etc etc with knobs on
plus EGR and CAT swerved

 

[Techno]

2.3 SOFIM

 

[happypre65]

Hi, The other thing is some are rear wheel drive and some are front wheel drive,front wheel drive on grass are mostly useless,as you can read in the forums,auto gearbox is also one to watch out for,most have problems,but the choice is yours,as already posted drive them first,regards H.

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[jongood]

Most of us manage to drive on grass in our FWD motorhomes - just takes a bit more care.

I think technology has moved on a lot since that argument.

Btw a large proportion of lgvs are now clutchless.
Jon