Mercedes vito dualiner

[gtlee]

Has anyone owned or have the use of an Mercedes Vito dualiner,the reason being I need a van for karting goods from wholesalers but also need the comfort as well?

What sort of running and maintenance costs are expected for one of these Dualiners and mostly how reliable/ ease of repair?

Thanks in advance for any comments/advice.

Gtlee

[Degudodger]

A friend of mine had a 1996 Vito and over the six years he owned it for the only issue he had was bodywork rust.

[Oli]

The main problem with the Vito is the VW Transporter Kombi - a far better van in every way. 

[gtlee]

I had a look of at the VW but just didn't like the looks plus they're quite a bit more money too,read that they're not as simple to work on than the merc?

[Oli]

They might be a bit more money, but at five years old they are worth a lot more money. Very simple to work on, and service schedules are now 25k/2 years. Don't dismiss them without trying them.  We have sold hundreds of VW Transporters and only a couple of Vitos.  The Vitos suffer from body rust issues, and glow plugs and injectors that seize in the heads, that result in cylinder head removal!
Just my tuppence as always. We are totally independent so have no allegance to any particular brand, just saying what works for our own fleet and customers  

[scooba]

RUST !

[gtlee]

Oli,

Cheers for the input you may have changed my mind!

[Nodz]

One of my colleagues had a vito and as mentioned above rust is a problem. He also had 2 injectors go on it (at different times) which were a pain in the arse to get out and one of them he had alot of grief with and needed work done to the head aswell iirc.

[gtlee]

Just had a chat with a guy across the road from me,he's had 2 vito's and from his experience no major troubles except the routine maintenance.

No rust issues either.

I like the vito's looks..........this is becoming a difficult choice!!!

[Oli]

This is my last comment on the subject;

Just google the words 'vito' and 'rust'

Good luck in your van search

[andrewparker]

^^ Lol, pretty conclusive

[Beddie]

This is my last comment on the subject;

Just google the words 'vito' and 'rust'

Good luck in your van search

Seems they rust MORE than a mk5! 

[v2brett]

Rust again from me, id go with what Oli says and get the Vw 

[gtlee]

This is my last comment on the subject;

Just google the words 'vito' and 'rust'

Good luck in your van search

Rust again from me, id go with what Oli says and get the Vw  

It seems the overwhelming concensus is to go for the VW.........(my heart goes for the Vito but now my head says VW).

VW 8 Merc 0

Just to complicate things what other marques should I also consider?

[phil1975]

We used to have merc's at work personally I never really got on with the vito, I prefered the sprinters more room in cab and the vito has the mercedes handbrake pedal on the floor and release on the dash (bad design imo).
Early vitos were front wheel drive and the later ones 07 onwards switched to rear wheel drive which improved them somewhat, rust on the early ones is a problem and gear linkages can be a problem.
Just remember vw transporters tend to be bought by the people who drive them (so better spec and looked after) and alot of vitos tend to be company vans (so lower spec and treated like company vehicles!!)