HiAce or MB100 AND MB100 or Urvan Escapade?

**LLeR 010** · April 30th, 2006 12:07 AM

I go for MB 100 or Starex

**corbon44** · April 30th, 2006 05:23 PM

Worth considering ang Nissan Urvan - 2.7 Diesel, 15-seater (meron din 18-seater, with the rear seats facing each other ala-FX style, worth considering if for shuttle service business).

Most are used for Airport duty, though some naghahatid din sa puerto galera (dami nyan dito sa laguna!).

**niky** · April 30th, 2006 06:25 PM

Eh. I don't like Subic vans!!! Aside from the ever-debated conversion safety issue, the left-side sliding door, and the wrong way headlights... the wrong way wipers (just noticed this recently on a converted Previa) are a new pet peeve.

Oh, back on topic... most 5-year old original LHD Hiaces are 600-760k.

**BlueBimmer** · April 30th, 2006 06:29 PM

HiAce nalang..

**OTEP** · April 30th, 2006 09:58 PM

Mag Hi-Ace commuter ka na lang kung for rent-a-van purposes.

We've never had a Hi-Ace but we have a '97 MB100. Hindi pa din namin mabenta today dahil wala kaming makitang worthy replacement. Features we liked about the local MB100:
*True front engine configuration (the engine is at the front of the vehicle and is used as an impact absorbing device during crashes).
*Since front engine, there is a walk through space between the front seats.
*2.9 OM662 engine. 105bhp (same as D4d na 2.5?). No computer, no electronics. Very easy to service. Even has an underbody skidplate to protect it ala SUV. Has ample torque. Very easy to chirp the front tires when launching. Lakas ng climbing power as long as you keep the revs up. Top speed: 140kph.
*Hard plastic interior. Very hard wearing and easy to clean. Unlike pressed vinyl and lawanit of the Toyota.
*Minimal bare metal in cabin. Flourescent interior lighting (with dim/bright mode) in addition to cargo lamp, map lamps and front dome lamp.
*Front wheel drive. No more tire spinning while backing up our steep driveway. Predictable understeer (hindi pumapalo ang pwet). No driveshaft means low floor design making it one of the roomiest cabins this side of a minibus.
*All seats have seatbelts. Half of the occupants get head restraints. All rows of seats (except last row) have reclining function.
*Split folding rear seats. For more flexible cargo/people hauling. Ample foot room under the seats. Ample enough to enable you to stow luggage under rows 2 and 3.
*Rear roof mounted a/c means no a/c arc above driver's head. All rows are provided with a/c vents.
*Huge brakes (requiring 16" wheels). Superb braking power for such a large vehicle.
*Single rear leaf spring provides better ride than those multiple leaf set ups but without giving up payload capacity. Front suspension is standard torsion bar set up.
*Parts are available either from Mercedes Benz or Korean car specialists.

Some cons:
*Some interior trim feels cheap. Makes chirpy chirpy sounds on some road surfaces.
*How lousy is Korean rubber? We've snapped belts, burst hoses, and blown tires. All were replaced by superior replacement parts. No problem since then.
*Noisy transmission. Improved transmission only installed in last of the series. It's just noisy but it does not mean it is malfunctioning.
*A/C cleaning requires dashboard removal ala REVO, VOLVO, and BMW.

Isip pa ko...

**yebo** · April 30th, 2006 10:22 PM

di ko rin naman gusto subic vehicles (except possibly the isuzu bighorn)

ano pa ba iba pwede? would you recommend instead of buying 1 hiace (* 600k) e buy 2 hyundai grace/h100 instead (* 240k each)? then spend the change on upholstery? sabi ng misis ko pag hyundai grace/h100 daw buy 1 then use the rest for down payment on a new starex crdi! tempting! isep-isep...

doc otep, magkano kaya 2nd hand mb100 nowadays?

**niky** · April 30th, 2006 10:25 PM

If you buy a Hyundai Grace, set aside 40k or so for an engine change. It'll come sooner or later.

Seriously, though... you never know, there might not be any major problems with it if you get a good unit.

**OTEP** · April 30th, 2006 10:28 PM

Sa autolink (known for their jacked-up prices), prices ranged from Php 340k for a rebadged 1997 Ssangyong Istana import to Php 518k for a 2001 local (CMC model) with the upgraded transmission, 'Elegance' stripes and badging, and those tacky body colored wiper arms. The last models were also downgraded to plastic wheel covers instead of the alloy wheels of earlier MB100's.

IF we were selling ours today, the asking would be around Php 370k since there's practically nothing to fix and the vehicle has been cared for.

Local units usually fetch a price premium over imports though some imports esp. the top-line MB140D's hold their value pretty well.

**niwde11** · April 30th, 2006 10:29 PM

yebs, yung sa kaibigan ko nabenta nya ng 260 late 2004. wait 240 lang yata.

dati me nagaalok sakin. gusto mo ba?

**vinj** · April 30th, 2006 10:33 PM

The MB100 is a good van but mas marami nang aayusing at this point in time over the Hiace.

Kung rent-a-van business i'd go with the H100 or a Nissan Urvan (kung kaya ng budget). The Hiace is also quite good but the acquisition price is still high for the 2000 and up models.