LDV

[sue denim]

Hello

My untrustworthy 1997 renault master has decided it wants to retire. Air flow meter problems.

I am looking for a replacement. LDV vans seem to be a little more economical to buy second hand. Is there a reason they are cheaper?.

Does anyone own one?

Your experience please.

Regards

'Sue'

 

[spinks]

We have an LDV pickup in work, hateful horrible thing, very vague steering, brakes eat pads like they are cheese, uncomfortable seats and the engine noise makes the radio not worth having! Not a lot positive to say about them sorry!

 

[Racers]

I helped drive a LDV minibus to the south of France, never again, the most uncomfortable thing I have ever done.
LDV have no idea whatsoever of ergonomics, probably why they are so cheap, no one wants them.

Pete

 

[Lons]

My only experience was a 1 week hire and though the van was only a few months old and low mileage it was absolutely horrible. Felt more like a 10 year old vehicle.

Go for a Vw if you can afford it would be my opinion. I'm on my second and had a Renault traffic in between but chalk and cheese comparison.

Bob

 

[RogerBoyle]

They are cheap because they are utter garbage
Slow, Noisy, uncomfortable, unreliable and prone to rust worse even than a transit

I would sooner use a horse and cart than own another one

HTH
Roger

 

[carlb40]

One other thing to consider depending how long you wish to keep the van. LDV are no more, so getting parts might mean trawling ads for used bits.

PS I had the misfortune of having to drive a sherpa van for 2 weeks - Pre LDV. The steering was soooo vague i could move the steering wheel 2inches either way and not move the vehicle. The suspension was terrible, very soft, take a slow corner at more than 20mph and it felt like it would tip over. Same at speed, at the time i regularly used a dual carriage way. 60mph limit, couldn't do more than 45mph as it felt like it would tip over.

Think i would rather walk than drive one of their vans again.

 

[Losos]

Never owned one but drove one a long time ago, still have the nightmares :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[No skills]

In a previous life I used to work in the delivery dept of a large firm and although never driving I had on occasion to porter for our van driver. We had several over 4-5 years, best by far was the sprinter - smooth quiet fast and better built that anything else - the ldv's we had for a short while were none of those things and got sent back as soon as possible (a week or two!). Close runner to them was a non-turbo transit that had ***** brakes when loaded with any weight (scary!) and was slower than a painfull death. Modern transits are thankfully much better.

FWIW

 

[marcros]

opinion seems divided then...

 

[G S Haydon]

Lifeless Dreadful Van . A VW would be nice but soooo expensive. Frenchies like Pug or Citroen are not great but better than LDV and seem about right for a workhorse.

 

[spinks]

what about a vauxhall vivaro?? we have 2 of them in work and they are infinitely better than the LDV.

 

[Cowboy _Builder]

After all the negitive feed back you've had about LDV vans i'd like to say something positive ....but i can't ! , they are a poor excuse for a van ,they have no power , couldn't pull you out of bed ..!, i know several people who over the years have swaped their transits for LDVs but soon got rid at the first chance and returned to Transits one or two have bought Sprinters .
I've had Transits since they were first introduced because they are the best type of van for my work as a builder , but if i was doing lighter work or deliveries i'd go for a Sprinter but an older one as the mpg is better ,so it depends on what you need it for .
,

 

[Hivenhoe]

After all the negitive feed back you've had about LDV vans i'd like to say something positive ....but i can't ! , they are a poor excuse for a van ,they have no power , couldn't pull you out of bed ..!, i know several people who over the years have swaped their transits for LDVs but soon got rid at the first chance and returned to Transits one or two have bought Sprinters .
I've had Transits since they were first introduced because they are the best type of van for my work as a builder , but if i was doing lighter work or deliveries i'd go for a Sprinter but an older one as the mpg is better ,so it depends on what you need it for .
,

Ldv Convoys were fitted with Ford engine and gearbox in the last two incarnations before the Maxus, basically de-tuned Transits and no computers etc to go wrong except on the turbo vans( ho ho ho), so should be as reliable as a Transit.
The Maxus used an Italian power train same as the Chrysler Voyager iirc.
Vivaro I believe is Renault.
Sprinter & VW are the same van.
Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat are the same van.
Whichever van you're looking at go to the relevant forum and ask there might be wiser?
I think they all have their problems and can cost an arm and a leg to maintain eg. Transit dual mass clutch and fuel pumps failures?