Duetto or Symbol ?

I am looking to buy either a Duetto or Symbol as the layout is pretty much the same.  Now the question is - for model years  between 2001 and 2006,  is the Transit engine better that the Peugeot  or would you say they were as good as each other???  Also, is the Peugeot bodywork as prone to rust as the Transit ??  I have a budget up to £25k 'ish and want something that's going to last.  Any comments/experiences appreciated.

The Duetto is bigger inside, more space and if you can sleep across the width of the van, no need to move the front seats in order to make up the (double) bed.

I cannot speak with certainty about the engine, but given the lowish mileage that most motorhomes do, I would not think it a big factor. Also, Ford spares are cheaper than Peugeot, so any replacement parts will cost you less.

In terms of body rot, have a look at all the MK6 Transits running round today and you will see that they seem to last as well (or better) than the Peugeots; so not a major factor to my mind.

I chose the Duetto because it was rear wheeled drive and I never regretted it.

Hi,
As I recall in 2001 the peugeot was several inches wider than the ford so that you could sleep across the van and leave the extra cushions at home, also there was more room between the cooker and toilet. The peugeot passenger seat was to high for comfort and the floor at the back was lower making it worse, the ford floor was flat. As far as rot goes peugeot could suffer with an engine cross member and offside sills, fords could rust anywhere but are repairable. Mechanically peugeot gearboxes are rubbish, personally it would be a ford every time,
Chris

Thanks for your comments guys - I think the Duetto might  just be ahead overall.

chrisvesey wrote:Hi,
As I recall in 2001 the peugeot was several inches wider than the ford so that you could sleep across the van and leave the extra cushions at home, also there was more room between the cooker and toilet.

This was certainly the case in the vans we looked at before buying, but that was a long time ago and I haven't been in a newish Duetto.

The peugeot passenger seat was to high for comfort

Depends on the individual, surely? I find the passenger seat comfortable and I have short little leggies  

and the floor at the back was lower making it worse, the ford floor was flat.

I see the lower floor of the Boxer an advantage - more headroom, in the Duetto's we looked at, the ceiling was quite a lot lower than the Symphony's.

As far as rot goes peugeot could suffer with an engine cross member and offside sills, fords could rust anywhere but are repairable. Mechanically peugeot gearboxes are rubbish, personally it would be a ford every time,
Chris

Not everyone [believe it or not] has gearbox problems - I haven't in 14 years of ownership, using the van as an everyday vehicle [he says - touching wood] I haven't heard of the engine crossmember rotting, but the bolt-on crossmember under the radiator can [20 minutes to replace] I took mine off and wire brushed/Hammerited it a few years ago and its still solid. I've repaired & had repaired both sills, front jacking points and a couple of chassis outriggers at the rear end - bear in mind that it's 21 years old.
I have no experience of owning a Trannie but I'm quite happy with my Pug. [otherwise, I wouldn't have kept it for 14 years, would I?]

Frank

And spotting your dates again, the Transit went to front wheel drive after 2000 and was bought in shorter by AS. A 1999 model would be well worth looking at instead.

Machloop wrote:And spotting your dates again, the Transit went to front wheel drive after 2000 and was bought in shorter by AS

Our 2008 MK7 Transit based Duetto was rear wheel drive (all Duettos are RWD)

The overall length of the Duetto on the medium wheelbase MK7 was 4 inches shorter than the long wheelbase 1999 MK5 version which we had previously. We never noticed the difference inside.

Spospe wrote:

Machloop wrote:And spotting your dates again, the Transit went to front wheel drive after 2000 and was bought in shorter by AS

Our 2008 MK7 Transit based Duetto was rear wheel drive (all Duettos are RWD)

The overall length of the Duetto on the medium wheelbase MK7 was 4 inches shorter than the long wheelbase 1999 MK5 version which we had previously. We never noticed the difference inside.

I stand corrected, I thought that AS bought in the fwd transits with the shape change.  We looked at both shapes when we bought a second hand one in 2005. We much preferred the older shape for the extra room inside.

The short answer is "dunno" 2 years ago we looked at a 2007 Duetto which was £25,000, had done 40,000 miles and we got the feeling that it had not been looked after. We then (the same day) looked at a 2006 Symbol, 11,000 miles in as new condition for £23,000. We have not regretted buying the Symbol. It all depends on what comes up when you are looking.

I'm sure that whatever you get, you will have lots of fun.

Paul

Hi,
Must admit to being biased against peugeot, mine was a pain, bought it 3 years old, speedo failed due to water in gearbox (poor design), gearbox stripped and checked, drive to speedo replaced, scuttle drain mod fitted. Odd rumble from transmission eventually traced to wheeel bearing failure due to spacer missing from new (quality control?) Engine fault, would not tickover, absolute fortune spent replacing sensors, ecu testing etc. Problem is that no peugeot mchanic seems able to work on petrol engines of this vintage, they certainly couldn't sort mine at the main agent, I did eventually sort it myself but by then I was sick of the van. Pity as when it was ok it was smooth and powerfull, much better than the underpowered non turbo of the same time, never again,
Chris

Hi Taurian, I have sent you a PM.

Regards Chris

chrisvesey wrote:Hi,
As I recall in 2001 the peugeot was several inches wider than the ford so that you could sleep across the van and leave the extra cushions at home, also there was more room between the cooker and toilet. The peugeot passenger seat was to high for comfort and the floor at the back was lower making it worse, the ford floor was flat. As far as rot goes peugeot could suffer with an engine cross member and offside sills, fords could rust anywhere but are repairable. Mechanically peugeot gearboxes are rubbish, personally it would be a ford every time,
Chris

It is possible to buy the kit to lower the passenger seat so that it is the same as the drivers. I was lucky as mine had been done by the previous owner...Super vans,,,BUSBY65.

I think the Peugeot is wider,,,Old Fords were terrible for rot if not looked after,,front wings,windscreen surround,tops of doors. Mechanics on older Fords bullet proof..Not so good now,,,to much technology as is the case with most modern vehicles..I believe Ford now produce the engines for Peugeot Fiat and Citroen commercial vehicles,,BUSBY65.