Guest pelmetman Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Having followed the Fiat debacle8-)...............It got me wondering whether any of these modern vans ie Ford, Merc's, Sevel etc will still be on the road in 20 years????:D................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leake Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 In twenty years time what makes you think anyone will be able to afford the fuel to run them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCC Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 It's the complexity of modern vans that concerns me. They need more amd more specialist servicing and have very expensive components like catalysts and particulate filters. Having said that, as vans they are probably better than ever clocking up huge mileages over a limited number of years with little problem. Do you think the conversions will last 20 years either? When you here about beds that won't deploy because the battery hasn't been connected to the electric motor you've got to wonder whether those motors are necessary and whether they will still be working in 20 years. Does it matter, or will the spread of low emision zones and increased environmental standards mean that we won't be allowed to use them anyway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
euroserv Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Hello campers, This is a complex one. I would say that as far as vans are concerned, the 'life or death' moment when an engine packed up after more than 5 years and a couple of trips to the moon used to be quite straight forward. It gets more complicated now because there are other expensive items that can fail and for this reason we now strip accident damaged vehicles to act as donors in the years to come. We also consider the value of vans we might be selling against the parts that they contain and often find that they are worth more if broken up than 'given away' to the trade. It's not the same with campers. For a start they are so much more expensive to buy, either new or second hand and even if the cost of running one of the later vans, what with cats and complex electrics to consider; they are still going to have much longer lives than their panel van counterparts and due to the lower mileage it seems very likely that with regular servicing and good care they could well last for 20 years or more. There will undoubtedly be some expensive failures along the way but this will be insignificant compared to the cost of replacing the whole vehicle; just as it is now, and has always been. I reckon you should buy the best built interior that you can possibly afford and avoid anything too garish because you are likely to have it for a long time! Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Its the electric bits that seem to suffer the most.......... My brother has a blind business and he and his business partner run full spec automatic Renault vans, after just 4 years and several thousand spent keeping his partners van on the road they ended up scraping it because a small electrical part needed for the auto box had been discontinued*-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Collings Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Yes but with the increasing scarcity of oil mostly as statics/garden sheds/ chicken houses etc . Its being so cheerful that keeps me going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 I think the most likely answer is that some will, but most won't. Next? :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGD Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 Our 1992 MH is still chugging around in 2011.A venerable 2.5 TD van vase. But I guess it is in a minority out of all the 1992 produced MH's. Ours has no CDI. No computer, no chips, no electronics - basically nothing. Which means nothing to go wrong. I can actually service it myself. Juts imagine self-servicing a 2011 van........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest peter Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 Why not? repairing and diagnostics are where the difficulties arise. Servicing is more or less as it always was, oil - filters - brakes etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel wood Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 I think that Brian Kirby has given the perfect answer. As regards our own 2008 Auto-Sleepers Symbol ES, if it is then I think that we will have done many more repairs INSIDE the van as bits will no doubt continue to drop off and more modifications will be needed to compensate for such things as screws that are too short to hold things in place. Also by then we may possibly have found and eliminated all the squeaks and rattles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1footinthegrave Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 pelmetman - 2011-08-04 1:05 PM Having followed the Fiat debacle8-)...............It got me wondering whether any of these modern vans ie Ford, Merc's, Sevel etc will still be on the road in 20 years????:D................. Turn it on it's head, how many old vans like yours are still on the road. My recollection of them is they were noisy, uncomfortable to ride in, and rotted away. Technology moves on. even my "old" 2003 Ducato is light years better in almost every respect than my previous 2001 1.9 Ducato. It will if required cruise well above the legal speed limit, returns 32+ per gallon, drives like a car, and not like a lorry. So in short who cares, what ever follows will be better. I for one could not go back to driving the old crap of yesteryear, and would love a new van for the improvements made. At the end of the day, they were and still are delivery vans designed for a working life of maybe 4 to 5 years perhaps that's the reality we have to live with and hope with a bit of care for those that cannot afford to upgrade, get a few more years than that.. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayjsj Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 Only last year I sold my 23 year old Autosleeper Monocoque Talisman, the weakest point was the Talbot bodywork, which virtually all had to be replaced. Plus new upholstery,cab seats etc., BUT it was still giving good service, and i believe still is, to the person who bought it. Will my 2005 Peugeot Autocruise last as Long ? ? depends if the spare parts stay available AND if ever more restrictive laws on emissions ban me from actually driving it anywhere ? I think that as finances get scarcer people will be 'making do' and mending and keeping them running for longer, especially as the prices for new vans 'sky-rocket' out of reach. This drive on emissions and restrictive laws will have to wait until the Population can afford it. Ray *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starvin marvin Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 This is something I don 't think about, as I doubt if I will be around in 20 years! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1footinthegrave Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 Ah, mmmm, ditto :-S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayjsj Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 As I started , last Month, to officially get back some of the money I have been paying the government over the last 50 years. I have every intention of living to be at least 150 years. just to make sure I get it all back !! So I could be buying 4 new Motohomes over the next 85 years. I'll let you know how long they last ! (lol) Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 The biggest killer of old vans was rust and now that they don't disintegrate before your very eyes there is no reason why many more should not live to old age. Whether I would want a modern Euro 5 van when it's old with all the complexities and engineering compromises is another matter? On the other hand the more that survive the cheaper they will become as one of the reasons that old vans seem to hold onto their value so well is their diminishing number and increased numbers at decreased prices might enable less wealthy people to own and enjoy one? Now - where did I put me crystal ball - I better ask Mystic Meg! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teflon2 Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 Just take a look in the scrapyards quite newish vehicles scapped because the engine management systems have died. Slightly off line but my wifes citroen pcasso just had a new indicator switch replacement 2002 modle £68.00. my wifes 2003 had to be the comlpete consoul euro complient £158.00 plus labour plus V.A.T. its the electronics and the E.U that will kill off the newer vans. John :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted August 7, 2011 Share Posted August 7, 2011 teflon2 - 2011-08-06 9:28 PMJust take a look in the scrapyards quite newish vehicles scapped because the engine management systems have died. Slightly off line but my wifes citroen pcasso just had a new indicator switch replacement 2002 modle £68.00. my wifes 2003 had to be the comlpete consoul euro complient £158.00 plus labour plus V.A.T. its the electronics and the E.U that will kill off the newer vans. John :DI think you raise a valid point there John:D......................The parts alone for newish vans are just so much more expensive, also main dealers seem to feel the need to charge exorbitant prices.For example my works Transit went for its annual service and MOT last week.............It failed the MOT on 8 points8-)...........But the cost to replace front disc's (£38 a pair) new pads, new steering joint, plus some welding, full service, MOT.............£330...........or the price of a Fiat wing mirror:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted August 7, 2011 Share Posted August 7, 2011 1footinthegrave - 2011-08-05 10:50 PMpelmetman - 2011-08-04 1:05 PMHaving followed the Fiat debacle8-)...............It got me wondering whether any of these modern vans ie Ford, Merc's, Sevel etc will still be on the road in 20 years????:D................. Turn it on it's head, how many old vans like yours are still on the road. My recollection of them is they were noisy, uncomfortable to ride in, and rotted away. Technology moves on. even my "old" 2003 Ducato is light years better in almost every respect than my previous 2001 1.9 Ducato. It will if required cruise well above the legal speed limit, returns 32+ per gallon, drives like a car, and not like a lorry. So in short who cares, what ever follows will be better. I for one could not go back to driving the old crap of yesteryear, and would love a new van for the improvements made.Based on my own experience:D...........I bought a new 1999 works Transit as I was so impressed with the 1990 Travelhome that we inherited............One of them is quiet, reliable, and will do 31mpg, and the other took 10 years to sort out all the problems*-).................................Perhaps they built them better in 1990;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starvin marvin Posted August 7, 2011 Share Posted August 7, 2011 Rayjsj - 2011-08-06 7:41 PM As I started , last Month, to officially get back some of the money I have been paying the government over the last 50 years. I have every intention of living to be at least 150 years. just to make sure I get it all back !! So I could be buying 4 new Motohomes over the next 85 years. I'll let you know how long they last ! (lol) Ray How often do you have this dream, or is it a nightmare? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starvin marvin Posted August 7, 2011 Share Posted August 7, 2011 teflon2 - 2011-08-06 9:28 PM Just take a look in the scrapyards quite newish vehicles scapped because the engine management systems have died. Slightly off line but my wifes citroen pcasso just had a new indicator switch replacement 2002 modle £68.00. my wifes 2003 had to be the comlpete consoul euro complient £158.00 plus labour plus V.A.T. its the electronics and the E.U that will kill off the newer vans. John :D I tend to agree with you, previously it used to be water ingress and body rot that killed m/h's. Basically expensive repairs. So if things have improved, which they appear to have, then expensive parts replacement is simply the next killer. Which manufacturer has the worst reputation for poor electrical items? its our good old friends Fiat. Simples I know the other manufacturers have expensive parts replacement costs, but are these other companies sourcing more reliable items. I think I know the answer to that question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest peter Posted August 7, 2011 Share Posted August 7, 2011 Did you know that a Mercedes sprinter is way way cheaper to maintain and service than the fiat. Makes you think don't it?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelling Tyke Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Hello, Some will, some will not......... Our van is over halfway there and I'm sure it'll manage the next 9 years.........and more. I'm determined to get the cost -per-night usage down as low as I can. :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rupert123 Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 peter - 2011-08-07 10:36 PM Did you know that a Mercedes sprinter is way way cheaper to maintain and service than the fiat. Makes you think don't it?. Really Peter, where did this come from? Not really the subject of the thread and I assume you are refering to fairly new vans. My X250 based van repair bills have been over a 3.5 year period and 29,000 miles, one set brake pads, two tyres, one mirror which I broke myself, even warrenty work pretty much none. The yearly service on the base vehicle works out at around £125 with parts at Dave Newells. Would be interested to see how the Mercedes beats this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 rupert123 - 2011-08-08 12:06 PMpeter - 2011-08-07 10:36 PMDid you know that a Mercedes sprinter is way way cheaper to maintain and service than the fiat. Makes you think don't it?.Really Peter, where did this come from? Not really the subject of the thread and I assume you are refering to fairly new vans. My X250 based van repair bills have been over a 3.5 year period and 29,000 miles, one set brake pads, two tyres, one mirror which I broke myself, even warrenty work pretty much none. The yearly service on the base vehicle works out at around £125 with parts at Dave Newells. Would be interested to see how the Mercedes beats this.I think that's the secret Rupert:D.............Your using Dave Newell, not a main dealer;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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