Anyone for a Peugeot Van?

Lessmore wrote:
We rented a Peugeot 205 in Europe back in '85. It had the 4 speed, 1.1 liter 4 cylinder.

I found the defrosting system inadequate, construction and design flimsy and the engine underpowered.

Had a Peugeot in Europe in 2010. Nicely finished, went very well. Overall reliability who knows?

Lessmore wrote:
The GM Express and the Ford Econoline have been fine, reliable, durable, service oriented commercial vehicles for many years.

Never used here by Ford or GM Holden although very cheap, poor payloads vehicle dynamics, questionable reliability.Also not used by RV builders although very cheap to purchase.

hone eagle wrote:
Given enough time anything can get to 80 ,why would you want to ?
Understand driving in NA - top speed is not the issue - maintaining speed is

Cruising speed in Australia is normally 70mph. North America is not "crowded" compared to Europe which is horrendous.A lot of US roads are as "crowded' as ours.

Lessmore,

You are not alone with the extreme rusting observations on Mercedes/Dodge/Euro style vans as it's the same here in Michigan and in the Midwest when we travel. Lots of rust visible on only a couple year old vehicles like on the white FedEx sprinter style vans that deliver stuff ot our home. Rust on white paint certainly can't be missed! Also seen rust on some not very old MH's in CG's using the chassis.

As for Peugeot vehicles, they have never been even marginally impressive or acceptable to me. Their history of usage reliability has been extremely poor. Are they different in the last few years? I sure hope so or GM would be making a huge mistake!

They'd have to be sure "it" actually has the required structure strength and suspension then they'd need to put a real engine in it followed by an adequate transmission that would stand up to North American use and demands. A glowing example is that the Mercedes/Dodge Euro vans leave so much to be desired as FedEx and UPS can tell you and show with their years of excessive repair data amassed. Not pretty!

We rented a Peugeot 205 in Europe back in '85. It had the 4 speed, 1.1 liter 4 cylinder.

I found the defrosting system inadequate, construction and design flimsy and the engine underpowered.

It wasn't pleasant and it was relatively new, with low miles on it.

A Ford Escort I had rented a few years before in Europe, I found more satisfactory.

Although that was a number of years ago, I hope GM checks things out thoroughly and has high expectations for the specs, build quality and design of this venture.

As far as Euro vans go...I like their height...both for cargo and working in the vehicle. The idea of using a smaller engine appeals to me...if the smaller engine in a large vehicle...that when loaded can carry a lot of payload and deal satisfactorily with winds and highway speeds...considering that there is a lot of surface area....therefore a lot of resistance to overcome.

I don't know about other RV members...but where I live I've noticed significant rusting on outer side walls of the Mercedes/ Dodge Euro vans. I haven't noticed significant rust problems on either the Ford Econoline, the GM Express.

Maybe just here in my part of the world has this been noticeable...but maybe not. I don't know.

The GM Express and the Ford Econoline have been fine, reliable, durable, service oriented commercial vehicles for many years.

They come in (past tense Econoline) in a number of configurations, wheelbases, SRW, DRW, etc.

The design of either vehicle has not changed in many years.

But why should it ? These vans are essentially commercial trucks...designed to carry cargo and loads.

A boxy body style....can't be beat when carrying cargo.

westernrvparkowner wrote:
Years ago I was visiting an auto dealer client of mine. The dealership sold Peugeot as well as several GM makes. We were chit chatting in the break room when the Peugeot Sales Specialist (actually required by Peugeot as a franchise condition) strolled in and proclaimed that a Peugeot had just won the Paris to Dakkar rally. Without even lifting his eyes from his newspaper the dealership's service manager quipped "They must have had the faster wrecker in the race." The dealer often told me he didn't care much money he lost selling a Peugeot, because he would always make it up in the service department.

There are Peugeots and there are Peugeots. They won the World Rally Championship several times and won the Le Mans 24 hours outright with a diesel a few years back. I had a 1979 504 wagon years ago. Had it for over ten years. Under powered with its little 2L pushrod hemi 4 banger but very comfortable and roomy, built like a tank and except for one blown head gasket and a starter motor, quite reliable.

RobertRyan wrote:

hone eagle wrote:
Sprinter and at any grade they practically stop

You should tell Winnebago, Fleetwood about this as both have a Class C on the Sprinter and in Winnebago's case have compounded the problem by building a Class A on the Sprinter. I would write to them and complain.

I agree with Hone Eagle. I DREAD getting behind Sprinter on the passes. Its worse then getting stuck behind a first-gen Prius. The problem isn't the RV makers. They are staying within MB spec. But MB has given the Sprinter an artificially high GCWR for the roads we have out here.

Given enough time anything can get to 80 ,why would you want to ?
Understand driving in NA - top speed is not the issue - maintaining speed is.
Its crowded here and the only RV's doing 55 are on this forum.
I haven't seem them on the road .
most everybody else does close to the average speed at the time.

hone eagle wrote:
Sprinter and at any grade they practically stop

You should tell Winnebago, Fleetwood about this as both have a Class C on the Sprinter and in Winnebago's case have compounded the problem by building a Class A on the Sprinter. I would write to them and complain.

Sprinter- and any grade at all they practically stop

bow wow

hone eagle wrote:
I have followed 'euro van' motorhomes - they are dogs , barely get out of their own way.
Euro speeds for these trucks/vans are slow ,distances short, they are not suitable for NA
IMHO

I do not know what "Euro Van Motorhome" you have seen but we had one pass us in England doing 80mph. Speed Limit is supposed to be 60mph.
They easily do 75mph here
Sabconsulting on the TC forum drove a Ford class C rental and said "it was really slow"

The van is an E series (sorry, I mean it was a TC cloaked as an E-series van) with the 5.4 Triton gasoline engine. Initially, driving slowly around Aurora the v8 seemed ideal – quiet and smooth. I soon learned later when I needed to push this van up through the Rockies, or accelerate into fast traffic, that the right-hand peddle generated more noise than movement. Having come from a turbo diesel truck this gasser felt painfully slow, but I soon learned you had to drive it like an old lady – just letting it build up speed slowly.