Hi all,
I've sneaked in from the Panda forum as I'm in the need of a small mpv or even a small van to keep our Panda company.

As a Fiat freak I'm naturally drawn to the Doblo, but could do with some help spotting a good one.

I'm not Sterling Moss and aren't going to lug heavy stuff, so was thinking of the 1.3 multijet or a later 1.4 petrol (later 1.4 might be a stretch on my budget) or at a push the 1.9 multijet.

I'm pretty handy with the tools and fairly well versed with common rails, their egr's and actuators etc, but is there anything I should be looking out for in particular?

My budget isn't going to get me a mint, late car, so I was hoping to find a "lived in" example that'll be usable for three or four years without major disasters.

Also, what sort of money are things like clutch replacement, do they have dual mass flywheels?

Any help would go down well, thanks.

Check out wishbones and track rod ends as they tend to go on them my 02 & 04 dobbies both have had this problem and it runs off the inside of the drivers tyre. Clutch I am not sure, I have been driving with a loose bearing in mine for about 2yrs.
Keep an eye on altenator belt/ pre-tensioner and be an expensive repair if the belt comes off.

alisonmcneilly said:

Keep an eye on altenator belt/ pre-tensioner and be an expensive repair if the belt comes off.

Click to expand...

I got tensioner and belt for £30

Biggest issue is timing belt/water pump, make sure they are changed at 5 years on the 1,9JTD of which there are plenty around. I like the 1.3 engine but the 1.9JTD versions (dont touch 1.9 non-turbo engines) are similar price & I get 50mpg easily in addition you have that extra power if you need it. The 1.9JTD is also 'soft tuned' so huge intergalactic mileages should be easy to achieve.

The 1.3 has timing chain which is an advantage but that is outweighed by the tensioners that fail. 1.2 is only good for around town and the 1.4 is a bit thirsty.

Space is the doblos advantage, I have had doors in them, freezers, dogs etc and unlike large estate cars you have the height.

IMO they might not be the prettiest car but certainly one of the most if not THE most versatile on the road today