Do I get another one?

I know that this is probably a stupid question on a HiJet forum but as my circumstances have changed I'm wondering if a HiJet is what I should be buying, now don't get me wrong i enjoyed my previous Porter but I did have a few issues namely the speedo packing up causing engine cutting out issues, the fuel pump packed up and it had overheating issues, all of which I fixed but I now drive 60 miles a day most days so is a HiJet the answer? I don't need a bigger van so I was thinking HiJet, Carry, Extol etc so what do you guys think is a HiJet the best thing for me or should I look elsewhere?

I should add that I sold the Porter and bought a C15 but missed the load space although it was very comfy and economical and bomb proof

Hijet/porters are so cheap and easy to get bits for as they are pretty common. Simple as hell to fix. Good on fuel. Park anywhere. Do a U turn anywhere. Fit pretty much in or on them. Loads breaking for parts.

Down sides are they are not the most comfy of vehicles. Side winds on the motorway are nervous affairs. Tail gates rattle. Bit drafty round the feet on a cold day.

I constantly think about changing my Hijet, but I know I will miss it and regret it. I quite fancy a Toyota Celica VVTLi 180 as they are hatch back and economical. But I know the next time I want to move a compressor or welder or a cement mixer or a sofa I'll wish I still had the hijet.

C15 is a pretty handy vehicle. And more comfy than a Hijet. You can't see over the hedges while your driving about admiring the views and it's french

I guess your getting that feeling...

When I got rid of my first Hijet and got a civic hatch, all the time I missed my silly little Hijet.

2 years later I put the civic on the scrap yard scales and jumped in my new Hijet with that old smile. I love them!

Yeah, it's a bit of a curse, Im Dreading the time when mine dies, I never used to be that bothered what I was driving, as long as it got me from a to b.... But Even with the recent problems its had I still love my weenybago!

Reckon.anyone will recommend not getting a Hijet?
Tbh I commute 50 miles a day round trip in mine, as I drive a lorry anyway I dont mind sitting at 55 on the motorway. I.would recommend getting different seats, they do make a world of difference to comfort.

Are the older 993s more reliable than the later EFIs, I presume they are slower but neither of them are quick so that won't bother me, I just want a dependable fun little van that will get me where I want to go, I know there are search functions on here but I like a debate, one of my friends has a Carry which has done over 100k and is totally reliable, I'm just slightly nervous as my first taste of HiJet life wasn't exactly unproblematic, I am a pretty good spanner man though so grease under my nails doesn't worry me.

Yep, smart car seats have made a huge improvement

I personally wouldn't touch a 993. Might as well have all the over taking power and torque you can get. Think the 1.3 is more common it would seem. It's a smoother more rev happy engine. Which will get you off the end of the Speedo on a cold crisp day.

For me it massively depends on where you drive. Around the city and locally they're perfect but i've no longer got another vehicle I can jump in and comfortably do a 150miles so I do feel slightly restricted with the jet at the moment. If I was needing to drive busy A roads and Motorways regularly I wouldn't have the Hijet.
I am thinking about changing it for a car derived van but chances are Tax will be a lot more and I was surprised for once how low the insurance came in on the hijet.

All bu 2 miles of my commute is motorway, I actually find it fine on a nice smooth motorway.

I find mine lovely on the motorway, it's only problems are occasional side winds and the seats, which are atrocious. I think mine are pretty knackered now, since they've had 16 years of bums on them, about 8 different owners so far...

When I get in my other one now with original seats which are in fairness still in pretty good condition, I realise how much better the smart car seats make the ride of the van feel. I would completely recommend a pair. They are alot more supportive and the bum bit doesn't sag/sink.

Which cars would you recommend nicking seats from?

Smart Cars for sure!

Logi pioneered this choice, then I swiftly copied as they are metal backed back and seat, nice and narrow to fit the van, the seat is low unlike most so you don't end up way too high. The passenger one flips down with two levers so you can get long items in quickly and easily.

When you fit them it almost seems like they were made for the Hijet.

And you can get leather and heated ones
My other bucket seats were comfy but too big, the Smartcar ones are ideal.

Was just about to link those, they look great for the price, but Burgess Hill is way out of my way, and I don't have the money anyway. I will need to save up for a pair methinks.

Is there much modification involved in fitting them?

Just the drivers side engine cover needs a good banging in one spot, but you'll find out when you fit them.

I drive mine long distance all the time, off to Grimsby soon I go a couple of times a year, drive to north and south Wales and Cornwall at least once a year each. I don't find the seats too bad but am going t keep an eye out for some smart car ones, they do look comfey, on the other hand wouldn't want to be too comfey and fall asleep!
There's plenty of room in the back for me and the dogs to sleep too!

So no new holes have to be drilled or anything, the rails just fit?

Yeah, need to.drill new holes to mount the rails.

Ok, so bang a lump into shape, drill new holes and that's pretty much it? Doesn't sound too awful. Now to keep my eye on these smart car seats. If it wasn't for the fact I do a lot of long journeys, it wouldn't be a problem, but since I do, and getting a numb arse and sore lower back is not my idea of fun, I'd like better seats.

Thats it, hammer, drill, nutsnbolts and Roberts yer maternal sibling. The drivers seat needs a wee stop ground off to allow it to recline fully if you want it to.
They seem to be the best option as most seat bases are too high for the Jet.

And back kinda ot, upping to 13" wheels makes a big difference to ride quality as well

Ok so to clarify, they are unreliable, uncomfortable, the wheels are too small and if you crash it your dead, but on the plus side they can carry a fair bit if stuff, they are fun to drive and cheap to fix, so what I really need to find is a cheap one that I can fit Smart car seats into and bigger wheels( which appear to be about as easy to find as the meaning of life) it appears that you need to be a masochistic lunatic with a fair knowledge of mechanics to buy one... That's me then.

Pretty much, yeah. Although on the unreliability front, mine has never seriously let me down, the only time it was off the road for a while was due to misdiagnosis. It has underlying problems I need to solve sooner rather than later, but nothing that will stop me taking it across the country without fear of it dying on me.

My last one ran for 2 years with hardly a hiccup, just sold it for not a lot less than I paid for it( only cos I got one with 9k from new or id have kept it) and I was all over the place in it.
Wheels are out there, quite a few of us have alloys, the feeling of achievement when you get a set is great
And driving one teaches you proper observation skills, avoid accidents or die basically...

O.K so now for the stupid question, looking at Ebay etc for a second hand Hijet it seems that the prices are all over the place, what should I be looking to pay and how many miles are reasonable for these engines, I see comments from you guys about picking good ones up for a few hundred quid but the ones I see that look O.K are all £1000 and more?