Is Vanette or Liteace a good choice for a used van?

[gbs]

We are looking for a used van to be used as a school service (no budget for brand new). Vanette or Liteace are our first choice but we are unsure if it is still wise to buy these models these days. Please state the pros and cons of having a used Vanette or a Liteace. Any suggestions and recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

[myk384]

The Vanette or the Liteace are not good candidates for a school service duty. Better check out larger models such as the Mitsubishi L300, Toyota Tamaraw FX, Isuzu Hilander, or Hyundai Grace.

[gbs]

Thank you for your reply. But in your opinion/experiences, can Vanette or Liteace be good enough for family use only, in terms of maintenance, aircon capabilities (I've heard Vanette has strong aircon system for example, I don't know about the Liteace), fuel efficiency? We intend to use Vanette/Liteace (because of its cheap price in the market than L300, etc) as family van/school service for my three (3) children as well.

[myk384]

Yung sa Liteace, medyo maraming parts and matipid pero yung 1.5 Carb engine medyo mahina sa hatakan. Suggest ko kunin ang GXL Variants (may power amenities na yan and classy tignan). Sa Vanette naman, yes you're right, malakas at malamig ang aircon (a good trait among Nissans) pero may naririnig ako prone to overheating. The Vanette has more pulling power kasi 2.0L pero im not sure about it's fuel efficiency. Suggest ko to check out the Grand Coach variants.

Yep, both of these vans are good family haulers in a budget. Kala ko naman pang school bus service eh.

Good luck and Happy Shopping!

[renzo_d10]

Aces & Vanettes are known for their own overheating problems. The AC systems are also relatively weak, especially for the Lite-ace.

If it's bought from a relative, which should be known to be keeping his/her cars at tip-top shape then buying one of those two shouldn't be a problem, however, if you'll be purchasing a unit from a complete stranger I think you're better off with other models.

Those two cars do not come by often, hence, the higher the risk you have in getting one which is problematic.

For it to school service or a family vehicle, one should be reliable, and I think the given two vehicles doesn't quite fit that requirement.

[myk384]

Why not consider the Toyota Revo?? Bigger than a Liteace yet reliable.

[gbs]

Thank you for your input guys. Hope others will share their experiences and opinions regarding "budget-friendly and yet still efficient" used vans.

[niky]

Fuel efficiency of the Lite Ace is decent but not great, considering how little power it has. The Vanette.. you'll be wondering why you're paying so much for gasoline, when it's not much more powerful than the Lite Ace. Our two liter Vanette had trouble doing steep parking ramps and inclines with a full load unless you got a running start. And even then, we'd sometimes have to get out and walk. And even then, you'd be banging off the limiter in first gear watching your speed get lower, and lower and lower... praying that you had enough momentum to get to the top. It was no fun to take it to Baguio or Tagaytay... as there are some subdivisions and streets where we'd have to get out and walk while whoever was driving backed up and took several attempts to get up whatever incline we had to ascend.

AC for the Vanette is either decent or pretty good, depending on the variant. Late models have extra radiator fans and better cooling, but early Vanettes and Lite Aces are notorious for overheating in traffic.

The only good thing you can say about Lite Aces and Vanettes is that they're comfortable (relatively) and cheap... the Vanette even has twin second row captain's chairs and seating for ten... but all these extra seats make the cabin cramped.

You can get roomier vehicles as school services that are more fuel efficient, drive just as well and aren't a pain in the ass to own... like the Revo, Adventure or earlier Crosswinds... these give you better safety than the lunchbox vans and much more space than the cruddy old mid-engined vehicles like the Vanette.

[gbs]

Thank you very much Niky for your very informative post.

[Bitulo]

The 1.5L engine of the Lite Ace makes it underpowered. Pero it is reliable and economical to maintain. We had problem with its aircon which was eventually solved. Huwag pauupuin sa middle row ang mabigat, kasi sa bigat yung ilalim ng upuan tinatakpan ang aircon blower sa ilalaim niya. The Vanette Grand Couch is a good bet. 2.0L ang makina. Wala nang overheating dito at malakas ang aircon. If well maintained maganda at matibay ang makina. Kayang kaya ang body. Dinadala ko sa Baguio nang punuan kasama mga bata at kamag-anak, pero wala problema sa akyatan. FC was about 6 to 7 km per liter city driving. Ang ginawa ko tinigasan ang hangin sa tire, at ginawa kong gas shocks para comfortable pa rin ang ride. FC mga 8 to 9 km per liter. Kinabitan ko ng aeronox at lalong lumakas ang hatak at nawala problema sa emission test. With Aeronox naging 9 to 10 ang FC ko.

[gbs]

Thank you Bitulo for sharing that information.

[dr. d]

my opinion:
get a besta or a pregio. they're diesels and offer better fuel expenses. also, they're more spacious, and ride higher, rendering them less susceptible to flooding. i would also recommend replacing their korean radiators with a tropical model. and since they're koreans, expect cheaper spare parts.

[cripple_rooster]

my opinion:
get a besta or a pregio. they're diesels and offer better fuel expenses. also, they're more spacious, and ride higher, rendering them less susceptible to flooding. i would also recommend replacing their korean radiators with a tropical model. and since they're koreans, expect cheaper spare parts.

Even their original radiators are actually not bad at all. I would only avoid the 2.2L Besta and the 3.0L Pregio because of replacement parts availability, but the 2.7L engine is a good option.

[niky]

With Aeronox naging 9 to 10 ang FC ko.

Only reason Aeronox worked is because the Nissan carb is tuned to run pig-rich. Safer and better solution would be a carb rejetting, but hard to find a mechanic to do this, nowadays.

No problem getting the Grand Coach (that was our variant, too) up the mountains. It's just that some of the inner roads are quite steep, and need a running start from the Vanette.

[GTi]

Both vans are bad, very bad... As repeatedly stated, both vans are severely underpowered. I have yet to see a Liteace in Baguio and as for the Vanette... When we went to Baguio once many years ago, one among our convoy used a Vanette. When negotiating a rather steep curve, it started to slow down and eventually stopped and began going backwards, very narrowly missing our vehicle which was directly behind it. And it had overheating problems too also perhaps due to the stress of the engine while running around Baguio. And since both of these are also gasoline powered, fuel mileage isn't good as well. The cheapest alternative I can suggest is the diesel Tamaraw FX, followed by the Hilander and the Kia Pregio (which should do well for school service). I am sure about the Pregio as we once brought a Pregio to Baguio and it had a full load. No problem with that though it must be noted that it was quite new at that time and was very well maintained. Its very comfy and spacious too.

[CVT]

Yung sa Liteace, medyo maraming parts and matipid pero yung 1.5 Carb engine medyo mahina sa hatakan. Suggest ko kunin ang GXL Variants (may power amenities na yan and classy tignan). Sa Vanette naman, yes you're right, malakas at malamig ang aircon (a good trait among Nissans) pero may naririnig ako prone to overheating. The Vanette has more pulling power kasi 2.0L pero im not sure about it's fuel efficiency. Suggest ko to check out the Grand Coach variants.

!

Bro.,- Grand Coach of the Vanette is just badge and trimmings,- nothing more compared to the regular Vanette....

Only reason Aeronox worked is because the Nissan carb is tuned to run pig-rich. Safer and better solution would be a carb rejetting, but hard to find a mechanic to do this, nowadays.

No problem getting the Grand Coach (that was our variant, too) up the mountains. It's just that some of the inner roads are quite steep, and need a running start from the Vanette.

Yes, it needs a running start when climbing steep roads.... Experienced this in Baguio once in a side street going to Grotto... The engine can die on you if you do not have the momentum.....

13.9K:mop:

[cripple_rooster]

Only reason Aeronox worked is because the Nissan carb is tuned to run pig-rich. Safer and better solution would be a carb rejetting, but hard to find a mechanic to do this, nowadays.

It's a shame that somebody can be considered a mechanic if he doesn't know how to re-jet a carburettor... OK, currently-widespread EFI works effectively, but with a carburettor it's easier to do emergencial repairs on the roadside instead of wait for a wrecker truck...

[sotel]

ayus lang naman ung lite ace namin nung pumunta kami ng baguio ,
nagikot ikot kami sa baguio wala namang overheat kahit punuan kami malakas naman

[basti08]

If it is 1997 today, I'd get the Grand Coach over the Liteace. But now is 2012, I'd pick the Liteace. It has more staying power. Simpler construction and economical engine. For small kiddos, OK na yun. Make sure you get a unit with good AC. and please, sa ibang suggestion like Revo etc, masyado naman malayo sa budget, wag na po natin i-suggest. Halata naman around 100K ang budget, baka lang po makagulo sa TS.