Looking for a Duetto.

We're looking for a Ford Transit Duetto. Either a Mk5 Transit with the turbo engine, or a Mk6 with the 2.4 litre engine. Good price paid for a low mileage example in exceptional condition.

Thanks
Peter.

Check MOT history for Duetto T865ASN.  We had it from Feb 2004 to May 2006.  It had major body and chassis repairs in 2004 and 2006 and big problems with the engine that eventually was traced to the electronic throttle pedal.  A superb camper van but a Ford Transit!

Having said that there were three such Duetto's at the ASOC National Rally last year, all looked in excellent condition.

Best go for the Mk 6or7 but avoid the Duroshift auto Mk6 and the Marquis fwd ones of 2010 ('pale' interior conversion)
Better body protection on Mk 6&7 Nice interion fitments up to 2009 The seal between the steel roof and A/S's top flat roof panel, for vent fitments, can be a source of water ingress. 
frederic

Thanks Peter. Is this one for sale now somewhere, or are you just referring to it as your time as the owner?

The Mk5's are good vehicles IF looked after properly. We had a very good '97 model for 3 years or so, but sold it a couple of years ago only for increased space of the Pollensa we have now, to enable longer trips away. The Pollensa is fine, and performed faultlessly during a 3,300 mile trip down to Croatia last September. But we kinda like the 'camper van' rather than the 'motorhome' experience overall going forward.

A Mk6 would be preferable, as it's a bit more modern and has the robust 2.4 chain driven engine which would have more go than the Mk5 engines. But we would easily be swayed by an exceptional Mk5. They are out there, and we're in no desperate rush, so it's just a case  of keeping eyes peeled and ears to the ground.

Frederic, 
Thanks for your reply too. That's useful info. I researched the auto boxes on the Transits, and was put off by almost no options for repair if there's a problem. I suspect that dealers are struggling to shift them for that reason, as there's a few nice low mileage auto's out there at the moment.

Pete. 

exmoorcamper1 wrote:Thanks Peter. Is this one for sale now somewhere, or are you just referring to it as your time as the owner?

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The later.

Are you after a Duetto with an A/S quality build, or more a more modern performance based Transit, with auto or no auto, FWD or RWD, common rail diesel or no common rail? I spoke to someone who had a non-turbo Transit and he complained about its lack of performance going up hills. I'd say that the A-S build quality deteriorated in the mid-2000s through cost cutting.

We had a 2003 2.4 RWD Duetto turbo diesel for several years, we were very satisfied with the A-S and chose the 2nd hand van on its build quality inside. In 2004 Ford increased the power output, perhaps the engine became common rail. Duettos of this vintage have 135 on the doors.

Beware that our Transit wouldn't have meet current standards for cheap journeys if travelling through low emission zones increasingly being created in ever more cities.

A fact often overlooked is the disadvantage of having FWD in a panel van, the floor plan is not level. When the front passenger seat is rotated rear facing it is not on the same floor level as the habitation floor level. In the RWD Duetto it is, someone in the passenger seat and single seat eat at the same level.

As per my PM, check out this one, Exmoor. 
https://www.edenmotorhomes.co.uk/used/motorhomes/auto-sleepers-duetto-10853/

PM deleted as the OP seems not to have revisited.

I may have a Mk 7 2007 2.4 silver Duetto 6 speed manual with 32k miles in good condition with good service history available late June (subject to delivery of replacement van currently on order). Vehicle is in Aberdeenshire, N.E Scotland.