Off Topic which fiat next?

[seanhyde]

HI I had loads of help here with my seicento. I've decided I want to buy an older doblo for around £2000. I want to know which doblo to try and buy. Here's my thinking . I've done the head gasket twice! on the seicento. I'm skint and can't afford garage bills .I do all my own servicing etc. Should I try and get a petrol Doblo as engine wise things should be the same as seicento which I'm used tr should I try and get one of the diesels because they will pull the car better ? But will the diesels be tricky to work on / expensive for parts etc?
Any thoughts ?

 

[blu73]

i assume the doblos diesel is the same as the jtd in stilo's?? My old stilo jtd had 180k on the clocks, never had to do anything much engine wise other than normal servicing.. But your probably better of asking the people with doblo's what to get.

 

[seanhyde]

Thanks for that. Any more thoughts would be appreciated

 

[Eklipze3k]

I've moved this into the Doblo section for you as these guys will know a lot more about these cars than us Cento lot

 

[seanhyde]

Hi I'm after your thoughts. I want to buy a Doblo. I have a seicento. I've done lots of work on it including Head gasket and all the work involved with that.My initial thoughts were to try and get a petrol doblo as I'll find servicing and repairs straight forward enough. Or should I get a diesel? If so which one. I don't mind driving slowly .I normally stick to 65 to try and get the most out of fuel. Will an early non turbo be slow but cheap and simple to maintain or should I get a turbo version. My budget is anywhere between £1000 and £2500. Do I go for a cheap high miler and hope for the best or should I spend the most I can. The idea is to do as much repairs as I can. If disaster strikes on a cheaper van then no worries get another one. Should I worry about miles?
Obviously there is no right answer but it would be great to hear what you think.
Thanks

 

[Ulpian]

Hi,
Well, my '03 JTD is running as well as ever. I had the cambelt replaced once, and it is due for another , and one of the glow plugs hasn't worked for two years, but that doesn't seem to make any difference.

I'm concerned about the life of the clutch - 90,000 miles, and the brake pipes might need replacing (rust) next month. I've had new wishbones (bushes) and a new radiator (leak), plus a few bits and pieces (pulley wheels etc. mostly), but other than that.... a very good car! I'm tempting fate here

I want to replace it because I'm getting to an age where borrowing money might be difficult, and I can't work on my own car and I don't want big bills.

Mine is pre-DPF, which has to be good, and I always idle it after every journey and never rev the engine cold. I' a mechanically sympathetic driver....

By the way, the non-turbo Diesel is notoriously slow and really obsolete, and the petrol 1.2 was underpowered.

Good cars: good luck

 

[seanhyde]

Thanks for that

 

[Caravadossi]

... Should I worry about miles? ...

I’ve an old WhatCar? mag (Aug2011) & at that time their “pick” was the 1.6 Mjet 105 Dyn (c/w alloys, aircon & CD player?). I’m not sure that agrees with the online review here …

http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/used/fiat/doblo-mpv/full-review/23658-7

I’d argue that diesels are for trips measured in hours - & at their most efficient at around 2K revs & 70mph.

120822

 

[TwyRob]

For around £2k you wont get a 1.6 as that's the newest model. Best to go for a pre 2006 1.9jtd to avoid a dpf. There'll be some to choose from. Go for one that's had a cambelt to avoid expense if you can.

 

[seanhyde]

HI thanks again
I was just coming to the conclusion that a 1.9jtd would be the way to go having looked at road tax/insurance etc. What are they like to DIY service? Is the cambelt difficult? On my seicento it is easy for DIY mechanic.

 

[TwyRob]

I haven't done the cambelt myself but other service items are easy enough. Glow plugs are difficult to replace when they fail. There is a service message to reset on the newer models, after 2005/06 or so. It's not quite as simple as a sei, but the older doblos aren't too bad to do. I go to a garage with my current doblo, for the value of the stamp in the service book and for the reset of the service light and oil degradation counter. If the car you buy has no service history or is older so it doesn't matter then you may as well do it yourself.

 

[actionman37]

Hi

i've got a 2006 56 1.9D Multijet 105 Cargo. Bought it in November last year & have done about 16k in it so far. The only things i have had to replace are all wear & tear parts such as front discs & pads, rear bump stops, exhaust & tyres.

I remapped it to roughly 130bhp within 4 days of buying it & have been averaging 49mpg up until 2-3 weeks ago when i decided to try get a bit better mpg by slowing down a bit on the mway. So for the last couple of weeks i've tried to stick to 60-65mph on mways. Average mpg according to the computer was increased to 55mpg within 1 week. It's now dropped down to 52mpg as i got sick of doing 65 all the time & have done more short journeys for work this last week or so

Anyways, all in all i'm really pleased with how the Doblo drives & runs. Even my mate, who's a bit of a van snob was impressed with how it drove & how quiet it is when i gave him a lift the other day.

Originally when i was looking at vans I was going to get a connect but tbh i much prefer the Doblo now. When the time comes to change it & i don't need a bigger van i'll probably get a newer Doblo


Craig

 

[seanhyde]

Thanks everyone . I've just got a 2005 1.3 multijet family version. I'm very happy with it. It needs new tyres. Which make lasts longest ? any ides

 

[Ulpian]

Congratulations on the new car. I hope it serves you as well as mine has me


I had mine MOTd yesterday.

It needed a new numberplate light, a sump plug and the headlamp realigned. Plus two new tyres as the they were probably damaged on a vast pothole : the tyre code is...

T17570TR14BUDEVE Evergreen.

Budget make; never heard of them but only £28.95 each

I normally spend more, but as I'm probably going to sell I wanted a basic service and the MOT.

I was surprised to get a new tyre so cheaply to be honest