In three decades or more ive used over a dozen vans or more, for carrying heavy tools, motocross bikes, road bikes, boat engines, diving equipment.
I've took 'em all mostly for granted - as we do because they are built to do a job.
If they are used in heavy traffic and thrashed on the motorways & Autovias of Europe, loaded up with all sorts of loads - you are going to suffer damage and the usual costs of servicing, repairs and generally expected van hassle.
It wasn't until I used this 18 year old Daily after two years that realised how little ive spent on it and how much abuse I put it through - all the other vans ive used the same way have eventually died - I've had Ford Transits, Renaults, Fiats, Vauxhalls, Bedfords etc etc.
Only the early Transits - (I'm talking Mk 1s & Mk 2s from the 80s came anyway near being as tough and simple to fix & service.
The 18 year old cambelt took me 1 & half hours to replace- as a precaution- five years or 150k miles Iveco state.
This particular van was only bought to replace a newer '08 Ducato bought with exactly the same miles as the Daily (95k) - I did the same miles in the same amount of time but used twice as many brake pads ( plus a set of discs) it had crap door locks, doors made of cheese which constantly required welding, the body wouldn't take any small dings or dents, it would have constant electrical issues, Egr, issues, crap plastic headlamps,, blew bulbs in the cold, the heater burnt out on top of the Col du Tourmalet in winter and many other stupid issues like a cramped driving position.
In the same miles, carrying the same stuff the Daily was warm, would never get stuck in desert mud, always got me through a 3 - 4000 mile trip flat out without any issues.
Later generation vans and vehicles in general are made of cheese.
