Well after lurking about these forums for a while now Ive decided to join up

Currently I own a Renault Scenic RX4 that gets approximately 42 mpg according to the trip computer the seating position is nice and high etc etc. However Mrs S has taken a shining to the doblo(1.9 active 105) after the cam belt snapped on the rx4.

So basically I want to know if any of you guys who have migrated from scenics/picassos regretted getting a doblo and what you think the pros and cons are

Thanks in advance for your replies

Hi there,
I loved the car when I bought it with the wife three years ago. Everything was fine and to a certain extent it still is.
My problem is the chav style salesmen and the rip off prices for work done and parts. I would only buy another one if I was going to sell it after three years.
The other thing I would do is buy it from the online company that sells them. Cant think of the name but someone will be along in a minute. Save yourself thousands.
It does seem that nowadays the easier and cheaper the repair cost is to the dealer the dearer it is to the car owner.
£200 quid for fitting a new erg valve for goodness sake.

www.fiatsupasaver.com are the people on-line you can buy them off at cheap prices! Check them out, many people on this forum have used them.

If you find yourself a good fiat dealer (or a good local garage that meet fiats requirements) then your laughing as servicing is quite cheap. The diesel is a sensible choice, and the fact your going down the 1.9 route is even better. You won't be disappointed. Why not go for a test drive?

Thanks Ozzie, I've had a test drive thanks to Gary at Gainmanor at silverlink,Tyneside they seem to get rated quite well form the posts i've seen in here. the problem with a test drive its quite difficult to make a sound decision on a couple of 20 minute test drives on such an expensive item. i am just being ultra cautious as i become a miserable old git cheers

hello kevin, you cant go wrong with a dobbie, I'm on my third new un, the sentiments about servicing I share though, but if you buy em cheap enough it doesnt matter, I currently own 4 fiats, so i think i'm a fair judge, for what its worth heres my oppinion on the current fiat range :
panda - I own a mj, best small hatch on the road
grande punto, ok but build quality problems, over priced old punto was much better
stilo - complete disaster area, reliability and resale value problems (i had one)
doblo - best value van based people carrier on the market, currently I have a new shape
barchetta, lovely stunning sports car, I had one, didnt lose a penny in 2 years
cant understand why fiat wouldnt bring out a right hand drive, it would be the most popular sports car in this country if they did
I also own a ducato based motorhome, if you look on the campervan market, a big majority are fiat based so they cant be all that bad can they

You'll probably be saving on insurance too. Doblos are, I think, either group 4 or 5 depending on the model. I insured my Dobbie fully comp for less than I was paying on my Peugeot, and that was TPFT!
I bought mine new last summer and it's great. Really good to drive, comfortable, good driving position, loads of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel positions, torquey diesel engine. My only complaint is the 3rd row of seats in the 7 seater, but if you're buying a 5 seater I can't think of any problems.

rich doblo, what about the high speed whistling noise from the new front grill ?
Or is my dobbie the only one that does that ?

Mine doesn't do that. I do get a sort of whistling noise at certain speeds but I'm almost certain it's the roofbars as it didn't do it before I fitted them. I drove it to the south of France and back last year and I didn't notice any whistling. I'm going to get the topline roofbars when I've got the money, less wind drag on those.

Just another couple of questions.

How well do they cope with speed bumps particularly those tank trap ones (the 2 / 3 bumps in a line across the road) do they have enough width and clearance to ride straight over them?

There is also a factory fit MP3 player option available for £120 is it any good?

hiccup said:

£200 quid for fitting a new erg valve for goodness sake.

Click to expand...

Was that including the vave?

Kevin S said:

Just another couple of questions.

How well do they cope with speed bumps particularly those tank trap ones (the 2 / 3 bumps in a line across the road) do they have enough width and clearance to ride straight over them?

There is also a factory fit MP3 player option available for £120 is it any good?

Click to expand...

The ones round here the Dobbie rides over them (wheel either side), you hardly feel them. As far as the stereo goes you can go to Halfords and pick up one that'll do MP3/USB/Absolutely Everything that'll sound better and be fitted for about £80 not a plug though they're expensive get one off the net and fit it yourself

I don't think a Doblo would clear those speed bumps with the gaps, they're designed for buses, which are 8'2" wide. A Doblo is no wider than any other car or van, about 5'6" to 6' at the very most.

T14086 said:

Was that including the vave?

Click to expand...

Yep. £165 for the valve the rest was fitting. Northgate canterbury.
Had the valve checke and was told it was working o.k. So thinking it may be the air filter sensor. £70 odd quid for that plus fitting.

£35 for fitting a EGR valve is good price i'd say however could of got a fiat recon valve for £85odd.

(p.s.air filter sensor? do you mean air flow meter)

T14086 said:

£35 for fitting a EGR valve is good price i'd say however could of got a fiat recon valve for £85odd.

(p.s.air filter sensor? do you mean air flow meter)

Click to expand...

Thats the one. Where can I get a recon erg in case I need to.

I get my recon-EGR valves from local Fiat dealer.