General What's a Ducato really like to own?

[VanDriver]

Hello all!

I'm in the market for a van to replace my aging 330,000 mile VW Transporter and to be honest I'm well aware I am very unlikely to find another that will last so long, even from VW themselves. It was very reliable and I was getting decent mpg from the van for many years and would like to find something similar. I notice that the 2005 Ducatos fall within my budget and was wondering if someone would be so kind as to tell me what to look for and whether the 2.0 or 2.3JTD would be the better choice.

I've been told these vans are surprisingly good, pretty rustproof unlike a Transit, economical, and parts are reasonable too. Would that be right, and would the Fiat be a wiser purchase than the Peugeot/Citroen alternatives? I've always had a soft spot for Fiats owing to having had an old 131 Super Mirafiori Twin Cam once upon a time. It was missing most of its chassis legs due to tinworm by the time I was finished with it but it was a great car for a spot of fun while it lasted!

All advice gratefully received, thank you!

 

[PeterM]

Well, start here: https://www.fiatforum.com/ducato/205055-common-faults-244-model.html.
The 2.8 JTD is a good choice, but 330,000 miles will be very hard to achieve, I would expect! Very economical, much more complex and parts are not cheap.

 

[John C S]

I'm now in a Renault Master SM33DCi 100. The Ducato blows spots off of it power wise, but the Master has a very good build quality about it: Something that the 244 Ducato never had, particularly with the rear loading doors on the Maxi model!

 

[VanDriver]

Thanks fellas!

The 2.8 JTD is a good choice, but 330,000 miles will be very hard to achieve, I would expect! Very economical, much more complex and parts are not cheap.

Indeed! It is rare to see one go more than three times around the clock, especially on the original drivetrain. It never even had the cylinder head removed and in fact apart from a flywheel replacement, it has never needed anything other than consumables. We have been very lucky though in that regard. Many others cursed the 2.4D 5 cylinder engine.

Thanks for the info re the parts. I had been told they weren't too bad price wise but obviously my information was incorrect.

I'm now in a Renault Master SM33DCi 100. The Ducato blows spots off of it power wise, but the Master has a very good build quality about it: Something that the 244 Ducato never had, particularly with the rear loading doors on the Maxi model!

Yes, I have noticed that the Ducato doors are a little on the flimsy side, and the bodywork in general would appear to be easily dented. I can live with those things since it will be mostly used in construction work and occasionally towing a tonne and a half or so whereby dents and scratches are virtually guaranteed. Running costs and overall reliability are the main things in a working van that concern me. It's a difficult quest I know to find a van that will be reliable and easy to run but that can also step up to the plate when required. Since it would be towing a weighty trailer every so often so I imagine the 2 litre diesel would have to be ruled out and since I would expect the 2.8 to be the most expensive to run and maintain otherwise, I am thinking the 2.3 JTD might be the best of both worlds?

Now I know very little about Ducatos especially just what to expect from one of them. I did have the loan of an early 2.8 normally aspirated van a few years back which I thought pulled very well and had plenty of room in the back but it was only for a few hours and I didn't have enough time to form a definitive opinion on it. Being that it was probably a 2000 or 2001 van, I do remember the switchgear etc felt a bit cheap but if it is up to the job or at least doesn't cost a fortune to replace than that is ok.

If the newer model VWs were anywhere near as good as the old ones I would buy another but I don't believe in buying a badge for the badges sake. If I can get something a little newer that will do the same job for a little less money then I am happy to change. One further question though... I've read of the gearbox troubles some owners of the new model Ducatos are having to endure; is this a problem likely to affect its predecessor especially if it is going to be hooked up to a heavy trailer every so often?

The reason I have become interested in these vans is because I had a brief word with the owner of a 2.0 JTD recently. He told me he very happy with his recently purchased and obviously well looked after 2005 van. He also claimed he was getting up to 40mpg from it! Does anybody here have a 2.3 SWB low roof that that could give me an idea of mpg etc?

Thanks again, Michael

 

[John C S]

Expect about 25-27mpg in normal/hard use in a 2.8JTD Maxi, I have had this just over 30mpg on fast A-road/M/way runs.

This engine has a great power delivery, very linear and quick and you won't match anything else for roadholding and handling.

LDV Maxus - OK handling, great engine, bad gearchange.
Transit- Roly poly handling on the sub 3.3 tonners. RWD handles slightly better than FWD equivalents, although FWD's have lower overall height as you would expect
Merc Sprinter- Roly Poly wind blown handling, but a nice cab. 109 CDi engines has terrible Turbo lag.
Iveco Daily, a big van, whichever one you buy!
Master/Movano/Interstar. Nearest to a Ducato or equivalent, not so good handling but better build.
Trafic/Vivaro/Primastar Good car like drive, but drivetrains and gearboxes can be fragile, also applies to Movano et al.

Any other vans available, I have not driven!