richardofswansea
New member
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2012
- Messages
- 5
- Points
- 2
Hi everyone,
I've been reading these forums for a few years, but not posted before.
We've got a 2007 Ducato Maxi converted into a camper van. We lived in it full time for a year and a half, but don't use it now as much as we'd like to. It's served us pretty well over 8 years of ownership.
Good features:
- light, easy, car-like drive
- averages 32mpg, not bad for such a big lump
- wide inside with vertical sides gives more space for conversion
- front wheel drive leaves space below for under-slung tanks. Again useful for the conversion.
- Euro 4 engine good enough emissions for us to be let into Berlin etc. Might not be good enough in the future as standards get tighter.
- has always started reliably, no fuss, unlike the olden-diesels of yore
Problems which have arisen:
- corroded gear linkage preventing selection of reverse (a common problem)
- a badly installed tow bar tripping the rear lights (the installer's fault, not Fiat's, but the cluelessness of Spanish auto-electricians was astounding)
- intermittent failure of one of the indicators, eventually traced to a poor earth connection
- sudden clutch failure at 90,000m. I won't grumble if the new clutch lasts another 90,000m.
- rear and side doors temperamental. Hard to adjust so they shut reliably and tightly. Can't be shut quietly.
Richard
(PS - I'll own up. My secret reason for posting here is troubleshooting. I've had problems posting a question in the Ducato section).
I've been reading these forums for a few years, but not posted before.
We've got a 2007 Ducato Maxi converted into a camper van. We lived in it full time for a year and a half, but don't use it now as much as we'd like to. It's served us pretty well over 8 years of ownership.
Good features:
- light, easy, car-like drive
- averages 32mpg, not bad for such a big lump
- wide inside with vertical sides gives more space for conversion
- front wheel drive leaves space below for under-slung tanks. Again useful for the conversion.
- Euro 4 engine good enough emissions for us to be let into Berlin etc. Might not be good enough in the future as standards get tighter.
- has always started reliably, no fuss, unlike the olden-diesels of yore
Problems which have arisen:
- corroded gear linkage preventing selection of reverse (a common problem)
- a badly installed tow bar tripping the rear lights (the installer's fault, not Fiat's, but the cluelessness of Spanish auto-electricians was astounding)
- intermittent failure of one of the indicators, eventually traced to a poor earth connection
- sudden clutch failure at 90,000m. I won't grumble if the new clutch lasts another 90,000m.
- rear and side doors temperamental. Hard to adjust so they shut reliably and tightly. Can't be shut quietly.
Richard
(PS - I'll own up. My secret reason for posting here is troubleshooting. I've had problems posting a question in the Ducato section).
