Fiat Ducato Buyer Beware

 Thanks Tinwheeler, ABM and JVB66 for your comments, at least I know I am not alone....

PS Hope I am using this message board correctly, it's my first attempt.

Parahandy

I would never have known you were a first timer, PH. At least you didn't have JV's stutter.

Welcome to CT.

For  many  years  it  was  accepted  that  Motor  Homers  of  all  types  were  friendly  souls  spending  time  on  the  road  waving  to  other  m/homers.  This  was  always  untrue  --  we  were  just  slapping  the  top  of  the  dash  board  to  make  the  darned  thing  behave  as  it  should   ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,,

my first Ducato based van, a 2007 Bolero bought 2nd hand privately developed an odd electrical fault and some funny warning lights were displayed on the dash...

the van was still in the 3 year waranty and i contacted Fiat (in Italy) who assigned me a case number, got me booked into Wincanton Motors who did their very best over a couple of visits, even including bringing an expert from Italy on board...

they were determined to resolve the issue and eventually found that a mouse (from the previous owner, I'm fairly sure) had chewed into a wiring loom.

this was replaced and all was well after that.

although I did have to have a 'chat' with the garage, I was not charged at all for the repair.....

their Customer Service team were in touch a couple of times and were always 'on the case' as far as I am concerned.

my only experience of Fiat CS but it was a good one and I know many businesses who would have reacted differently at the outcome.

apart from this resolved issue, all four of our Ducatos have been great conversion base vehicles and OH's little 500 is utterly dependable, drives well, is cheap to run and I wouldn't shy away from another.....or from my next van being on a Fiat.

back in the 70s Fiat had a justifiable reputation for crap, rust ridden vehicles, but the 'Fix it again' thing is a mile away from their modern output...

from what I see on some MH forums, a whole bunch of 'converters' could learn a bit from Fiat, especially one or two large UK brands 

I have had dealings with Fiat HQ in Milan and found them very courteous, friendly and spoke excellent English.  The last time was about having fog lights fitted, retrospectively.     I spoke to my Fiat Pro dealer, Chelston at Wellington, and was quoted £750.     I challenged the price as my van was pre wired for fog lights at the factory.   The dealer said the pre-wiring was only for use by the factory if the fog lights were ordered with the van as an optional extra.     The high cost was due to a second relay having to be fitted.

I phoned Fiat in Milan who then spoke to Chelston and asked them to do a discount for me, but Chelston refused.   I didnt buy the fog lights at that price, but Fiat sent me a credit note for £75 off my next service for the my trouble.

I also asked there advice on where I could buy engine oil, because no one in UK had any stock of the new 0-W30, about a year ago.     I was about to go to Spain for a couple of months and wanted to carry some spare oil.    Fiat sent me a huge list of places I could get the oil from.  I eventually bought it from a back street garage in Spain!

So far, no issues with Fiat and love driving the big beast!     16,000 miles in 26 months.     I find the steering is lighter than my Volvo.

I have a mouse in my garage which is helping itself to my bird food!

BillC

Your  mouse  might  have  been  related  to  the  one  that   ate  my  peanuts,  KB  --  but,  believe  me,  you  won't  be  getting  a  visit  from  the  north  !!

Bill, just read a post on MMM re the engine oil...posted by Nick (euro serve) who runs a fleet of Ducatos and has established that euro 5+ and euro 6 vans could both use 0-w30 or 5-w30 without issue.....

Hi BB, thanks for that, good to know.    I have a feeling that is what was used at my first service in January.     However, the 0w30 I bought in Beni was 5L, so hope I dont have to buy anymore for some time.

How is your weather down there?

BillC