I've had m 07 model for almost 6 months now.
I had the factory fit MP3 player; heated mirrors, external temp gauge and tinted windows.

Overall I am extremely satisfied to date; MPG tends to be in the low 50s according to the trip computer although have not done a brim to brim test.

Disappointments are few mainly being the MP3 player not having any random play feature unless some one knows other wise; and the plastics tend to mark easily.

Delights
The temp gauge gives a "Danger Ice" warning when the temp drops below 3C was not aware it was ther until this week so an unexpected bonus from my view point.

So what have you lot found that your doblo has unexpectedly delighted or disappointed you with?

Disappointments are ... none really. All I can find are one or two niggles.
I don't like where the gearstick is mounted & the surrounding plastic - it annoys me on journeys by digging into my leg (my fault for being such a lardarse).
I don't like the radio pod, it looks like an afterthought, a bad afterthought. I would have continued the height of the display along in a straight line, moved the radio slot nearer the display & left room for an extra cubby hole. I would also have kept the top of the dash flat - somewhere to put the coffee cup.

Otherwise, the car is, in my opinion, perfect. Being 6'4" I have more headroom than I actually need, being somewhat 'chunky' I find this is one of a small number of cars I can simply step into the driver's seat with no problems, I also have shedloads of room to drive (aside from the niggle with the plastic around the base of the gearstick) & still plenty of legroom for the back seat passenger.
I also love the cavernous boot space.
The turbo really helps the car shift when needed & the 1.9 diesel engine is very economical (especially when compared to other similar sized cars).
Spacewise, I believe the interior is waaay bigger than most, if not all cars in its class - with the exception of the kia sedona.
Insurance wise, group 5 compared to 15 for the Sharan - what a joke, three times the cost for less space, less mpg & a higher purchase price.
Best thing is, a tradesman can buy the MPV, fill the boot with tools & still have the rear seats in place rather than buy the van.:slayer:

I have a 53 1.9jtd elx
I've had it for just under 2 years and I adore it!
It drives like a dream, is very comfortable, warm (when it eventually heats up ) and huge amount of space.

The only niggle is that you can't fold down 2 rear seats to leave just the one. You can only have all folded, or the single one.

Apart from that, I love it, love it, love it!

I have a 51 1.9, I am very sorry I didn't wait for the turbo version. The Doblo seems to be getting slower by the day but it is more likely the other traffic getting faster.

Lynt said:

The only niggle is that you can't fold down 2 rear seats to leave just the one. You can only have all folded, or the single one.

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Never knew that, not had a need to split the seats yet, I've had all the back seats folded though & the loading space is fantastic.

A neighbour has just bought a Nissan something or other, a huge, huge machine but you need to be a tiny japanese person to be comfortable driving it.
Just like the range rover & other silly fourbies, they are a huge motor but for the tall driver there really is no headroom - I had to wind the back of the seat down to create headroom - then I was trying to drive the thing whilst recumbant!
And with the enormously silly side steps, I struggled to climb in.
He wouldn't say what he paid but I reckon he remortgaged his soul.

sludgeguts said:

Never knew that, not had a need to split the seats yet, I've had all the back seats folded though & the loading space is fantastic.

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The original idea was to fit driver, 2 passengers and then maximum room left, for the 3 dogs. I don't know why they designed it so you can't have just one rear seat down.

Very roomy fab car though

Could also be very irritating if you had a puncture on a wet night, with a car full. Means thatb you have to empty the back seats to get at the tool kit!!

I'm mainly delighted with my Doblo.
The only niggles I have are that the 2 rear seats in the 7 seater don't split and when they are folded it doesn't create alot more space so you end up taking them out which is really a 2 man job.
I've also had the odd warning light pop up for no reason at all.
As for mpg, I don't know how you guys are getting 40 or even 50 plus on average. Over the year and a half that I've owned it, according to my trip computer, I'm averaging 35mpg. Maybe it's because of the extra weight with the 2 rear seats plus there's usually 6 of us in it, or maybe it's the 120bhp engine, or I'm just a bit lead footed. I do like to rev the engine to 3 to 3.5k before I change gear. Or most likely a combination of all 3.
Overall though, it's a fantastic car for under 10 grand and I feel sorry for people who've paid more than twice as much for a 2nd hand Galaxy. (well not really, it's their own fault for being snobs )

Hi
I've only had my Doblo 120 for over a week now and I'm happy with choice. The 40 MPG about might not be as good as old car a C5 at 50+, but will probably improve with some more miles on clock. Doblo seems lively enough for me and space in back is great. Saw a high roof and it looked OK and was fitted with ramp on back for wheelchair. Could not do that on most cars I have had.

Hi all we have a 1.3 doblo seven seater on an 05 plate, average 40mpg around town which is OK for us,no niggles for us, great car loads of space even tows our 900kg caravan at a push, cheap to insurance at 208 pounds for a year with the wife and me on fully comp insurance, cheap our what?

maisie the ugly bug said:

cheap to insurance at 208 pounds for a year with the wife and me on fully comp insurance, cheap our what?

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that's another plus point with Doblos, they're all insurance group 4 or 5.
You wouldn't get that with another make of MPV.

RichDoblo120 said:

that's another plus point with Doblos, they're all insurance group 4 or 5.
You wouldn't get that with another make of MPV.

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Exactly. I once hired a Sharan & was really tempted 'till I saw the price - to buy one under £10k, you're looking at something so old it no longer needs a tax disk.
Then you start comparing motors. The sharan, galaxy & alhambra are all similarly priced & insured (around group 15 'pends on spec). Then you look to other marques & they are all overpriced (even to insure) - and the strange thing about them all is the poor fuel economy. Somebody even told me to try the zafira - still costly to buy & insure & a heck of a squeeze.
Then you look at the dobbin - but who'd want to? and that's the great thing about them. Cheap to buy & insure, and very economical considering their size - and they don't half shift when you want them to.

sludgeguts said:

Exactly. I once hired a Sharan & was really tempted 'till I saw the price - to buy one under £10k, you're looking at something so old it no longer needs a tax disk.
Then you start comparing motors. The sharan, galaxy & alhambra are all similarly priced & insured (around group 15 'pends on spec). Then you look to other marques & they are all overpriced (even to insure) - and the strange thing about them all is the poor fuel economy. Somebody even told me to try the zafira - still costly to buy & insure & a heck of a squeeze.
Then you look at the dobbin - but who'd want to? and that's the great thing about them. Cheap to buy & insure, and very economical considering their size - and they don't half shift when you want them to.

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well said.
the Doblo is one of the best kept secrets when it comes to MPVs.
The only reason more aren't sold is down to pure snobbery.

RichDoblo120 said:

well said.
the Doblo is one of the best kept secrets when it comes to MPVs.
The only reason more aren't sold is down to pure snobbery.

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I agree that snobbery plays a part. If the Fiat garage employee's took that black mask away from their eyes it might help. Still buy cheap pay dear.

RichDoblo120 said:

that's another plus point with Doblos, they're all insurance group 4 or 5.
You wouldn't get that with another make of MPV.

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all diesel fiats are quite cheap to insure.

mine is group 5, equivently powered astras/focus etc are about group 7 or 8 (a few 100 pounds more)

to get my optimum MPG I tend to keep the revs around the 2200 mark which keeps the speed between 50 and 60 on motorways depending on the terrain.
I don't mind the fact that the road in front of me tends to be clear and the queue behind me seems extensive

I bought mine to carry my speedway bike and all the gear required.
it does a great job and has often been said to be like the Tardis! ( not quite as fast though)

i prefer a roomy and comfy doblo taxi to any old cramped mondeo/laguna any day

its a cracking affordable car.

and its very affordable to