Berlingo, Kangoo etc comparison?

[a l l y]

Hi folks. I hope this is the right place to ask for advice about car models.
You look like a knowledgeable crowd.

I've had a Citroën Berlingo for a couple of years - X reg - and it's caused
me nothing but trouble and expense. I love it for its roomyness and storage
and the general look of it, but I can't afford the continual repair bills. I
know there are other similar cars about - e.g., the Renault Kangoo; the
Peugeot Partner etc - but are they any better? I'm not convinced about the
standard of car manufacture in France. Is there a Japanese car similar to
these? Anything from Nissan or Toyota or something? Before the Berlingo I
had Nissans for years, and they were incredibly reliable.

It's really hard to find out stuff like this online. Is there a website
where I can read up on the specs of similar cars? I can't afford a new one,
and most places I've looked seem to promote new cars. I want to know how
well an older model will survive and how many bits are likely to fall off
during normal usage. (In the case of the Berlingo, the answer is MANY.)

I'm not really into the techy stuff. Once I've got a car I just want it to
do the job it was made for with as little bother as possible. But right now
I don't know which car I'm looking for, to replace the beautiful but
unreliable Berlingo.

Help, please!

ally

[Adrian]

Post by a l l y
I've had a Citroën Berlingo for a couple of years - X reg - and it's
caused me nothing but trouble and expense. I love it for its roomyness
and storage and the general look of it, but I can't afford the
continual repair bills. I know there are other similar cars about -
e.g., the Renault Kangoo; the Peugeot Partner etc - but are they any
better? I'm not convinced about the standard of car manufacture in
France. Is there a Japanese car similar to these? Anything from Nissan
or Toyota or something? Before the Berlingo I had Nissans for years,
and they were incredibly reliable.

The Peugeot Partner *is* a Berlingo.

The Nissan Kubistar *is* a Kangoo, but I think it's only a van, not a
Berlingo Multispace-style sprogbus.

[a l l y]

Post by Adrian
The Peugeot Partner *is* a Berlingo.

Hmm. Doesn't surprise me. They look almost identical.

Post by Adrian
The Nissan Kubistar *is* a Kangoo, but I think it's only a van, not a
Berlingo Multispace-style sprogbus.

Really? But it's Japanese! Who's copying who? If it's Japanese won't it be
better built than the Renault?

ally

[SteveH]

Post by a l l y

Post by Adrian
The Nissan Kubistar *is* a Kangoo, but I think it's only a van, not a
Berlingo Multispace-style sprogbus.

Really? But it's Japanese! Who's copying who? If it's Japanese won't it be
better built than the Renault?

Renault own Nissan, so it's probably just a rebadged cheap froggie job.

[a l l y]

Post by SteveH

Post by a l l y

Post by Adrian
The Nissan Kubistar *is* a Kangoo, but I think it's only a van, not a
Berlingo Multispace-style sprogbus.

Really? But it's Japanese! Who's copying who? If it's Japanese won't it be
better built than the Renault?

Renault own Nissan, so it's probably just a rebadged cheap froggie job.

Hm. I learn something new every day. Does this mean the general standard of
Nissan cars is going downhill? How long have they owned them?

ally

[Adrian]

Post by a l l y

Post by SteveH
Renault own Nissan, so it's probably just a rebadged cheap froggie job.

Hm. I learn something new every day. Does this mean the general
standard of Nissan cars is going downhill?

No - why would it?

Post by a l l y
How long have they owned them?

100% since 99, but there were tieups before then.

[Adrian]

Post by a l l y

Post by Adrian
The Peugeot Partner *is* a Berlingo.

Hmm. Doesn't surprise me. They look almost identical.

Peugeot and Citroen are the same company - PSA group - and have been
since '75.

Post by a l l y

Post by Adrian
The Nissan Kubistar *is* a Kangoo, but I think it's only a van, not a
Berlingo Multispace-style sprogbus.

Really? But it's Japanese!

No, it's a Kangoo with Nissan badges.

Post by a l l y
Who's copying who?

Nobody's "copying" anybody. Renault own Nissan.

Post by a l l y
If it's Japanese won't it be better built than the Renault?

Why? It's built in the same factory - it's the same van with different
badges.

They also badge the bigger vans as Vauxhalls/Opels, under a licence deal
with GM.

Nissan Kubistar = Renault Kangoo
Nissan Primastar = Renault Trafic = Vauxhall Vivaro
Nissan Interstar = Renault Master = Vauxhall Movano

It's the same across much of the van market.

VW LT = Merc Sprinter
Cit Despatch = Peugeot Expert = Fiat Scudo
Cit Relay = Peugeot Boxer = Fiat Ducato

[Steve Knight]

Post by a l l y
Hi folks. I hope this is the right place to ask for advice about car models.
You look like a knowledgeable crowd.
I've had a Citroën Berlingo for a couple of years - X reg - and it's caused
me nothing but trouble and expense. I love it for its roominess and
storage
and the general look of it, but I can't afford the continual repair bills. I
know there are other similar cars about - e.g., the Renault Kangoo; the
Peugeot Partner etc - but are they any better? I'm not convinced about the
standard of car manufacture in France. Is there a Japanese car similar to
these? Anything from Nissan or Toyota or something? Before the Berlingo I
had Nissans for years, and they were incredibly reliable.
It's really hard to find out stuff like this online. Is there a website
where I can read up on the specs of similar cars? I can't afford a new one,
and most places I've looked seem to promote new cars. I want to know how
well an older model will survive and how many bits are likely to fall off
during normal usage. (In the case of the Berlingo, the answer is MANY.)
I'm not really into the techy stuff. Once I've got a car I just want it to
do the job it was made for with as little bother as possible. But right now
I don't know which car I'm looking for, to replace the beautiful but
unreliable Berlingo.

I bought some friends a Berlingo Multispace. It's been absolutely
faultless. May be worth buying a newer post-facelift model.

Kangoo is much smaller, and being a Renault, unlikely to be more reliable
than a Citroen...

[a l l y]

Post by Steve Knight
I bought some friends a Berlingo Multispace. It's been absolutely
faultless. May be worth buying a newer post-facelift model.

Sorry. Too late. I never want another French car after my experience with
this one. Maybe your friends' car is the one and only faultless Berlingo,
for all I know.

Hey - you bought your friends a Berlingo? You are the sort of friend I'd
like to have. If someone else bought it for me I'd be happy to change my
mind....... ;-)

Post by Steve Knight
Kangoo is much smaller, and being a Renault, unlikely to be more reliable
than a Citroen...

OK. So what else would you suggest I look at? I like the Berlingo because I
run a small business that occasionally needs a bit of van space, so I can
fold down the back seats and get loads of stuff in. The rest of the time
it's a lovely spacious car with room for my border collies at the back. Also
it's wide enough for a wee lass like me to lie down and have a kip on the
back seat if I have to make a long journey and start dozing off. The
Berlingo, second hand, wasn't too expensive, so I guess it's a matter of you
get what you pay for. But what other car might be better for us?

ally

[Steve Knight]

Post by a l l y
Maybe your friends' car is the one and only faultless Berlingo,
for all I know.

Or maybe you just bought a bad one?

Post by a l l y
The Berlingo, second hand, wasn't too expensive, so I guess it's
a matter of you get what you pay for. But what other car might
be better for us?

The Berlingo is unique really, the next best thing will be a larger people
carrier and that will be much more expensive. How much did you want to
spend?