Narrowing down selection

Hi

Having sold my Executive a few months ago, I am now thinking of buying a van that I can use as our daily transport as well.

So having looked at the options I have narrowed it down to the Clubman or the Duetto.   I have discounted the Symbol and Symphony, as I was never happy with the Peugeot gearbox.  

The niggling rust problems on the Ford is still at the back of my mind,  I had a 1995 Duetto which I liked, but it had the the proverbial tin-worm problems, so I got rid of it.   The one I am looking at the moment is a 2000, are any more likely to be more rust proof than the earlier ones?

Then there is the Clubman, but they are way overpriced so I would have to do some hard bargaining if I go down this road.    I had a Trident some years ago, but don't think I could put up with the Rock and Roll bed and Porto Potty (too old)


Any advice would be most welcome

Andy

Hi,
When I was buying around 2003 I went for the symbol as around 2001 it was about 7 inches wider than the transit base so I could sleep across the van and leave all the extra cushions behind, also it was easier to get from the front to the back without tripping over the gear lever. The transit is however in my opinion much nicer to drive and the front seats far superior, also the floor is reasonably level so the passengers feet can actually touch the floor when the seat is reversed. Ford customer service is reasonable, Peugeot seem to delete everything after 5 years and you are on your own. It comes down to finding a good van at the right price, happy hunting,
Chris

Hi, early on in our deliberations following my 6oth, we rented an Adria 4 berth with a drop-down bed and found that it was not for us !!!  rather claustraphobic. We then viewed Symbols and Duettos and loved the sliding doors giving us a large `open` space. Eventually a 2000 Duetto came on the horizon and after grovelling beneath with screwdriver lamp and goggles we bought `Maurice`. Not too keen on the trim colour but it has grown on us. I am intending to remove the drivers armrest as it gets in the way but on the whole a nice drive. Although there are a few spots of rust beneath I intend to treat these with Kurust etc.

We bought our Duetto as a second vehicle, transport to work and to try motorhome life. Now we are thinking of changing to a Gatcombe next spring. The Duetto has been a good starter motorhome but we are now thinking of stretching out a bit more.
The only warning about the Duetto as many people have said is the rust issues. We spent next to nothing on running the van but body wise it has been a costly lesson.
We are hopping the VW wont have the body issues

Hi gents,


I had a Duetto(1995 Mk 5) about 10 years ago and liked the layout and performance, but I had to have the wings and bottom of the back doors treated for rust.       I wondered if Ford had got to grips with it by 2000.       Maybe thats why the moved to Poland!

I've had a few VWs and they also had rust problems,  particularly the iconic split screened vans.   Perhaps its something we have to live with.

Ho well, have to keep looking.


Cheers

Andy

More modern VW `s do not have rust problems well I haven`t seen one yet, I am on my second one, a T4 , that is why I only have them, plus easy and comfortable to drive, economical, and the Clubmans are so comfortable, they are a tardis, couldn`t go back to a Topaz size van, I do use it every day it is my vehicle in place of a car, I love it. 


Each to their own and how they use the vans