The Ducato Campervan is a B-Class motorhome at the top end of the campervan spectrum.
Comparing the Apollo Adria SP 600 (130 .. 150hp-6m) with the Jayco FD19 (180hp-6.4m)
Ducato vans drive very nicely and a lot of the long term motorhome owners here in Australia are very happy, but there are exceptions. If you go to some online complaint websites problems often dominate the agenda, probably due to our human tendency to spend time online when stuff goes wrong.
So at the motorhome show 2018 in Melbourne I signed a contract with Apollo for the Adria Twin 600 , and thereafter I read the Ducato forum posts. Many where relating to the 2013/14 model which was dubbed "Motorhome from hell" by its british owner - see Motorhomefromhell.com. Fortunately this problem has been fixed in the current model from 2014/2015 on wards. Rain water cascading into the engine bay can upset the electrical systems and the Fiat patch up fixes introduced during the 8 year life cycle of the affected model where deemed inadequate by some forum members. So if you own the older model check you engine bay often enough for corrosion and blockages. Thanks to my thorough research I could get out of the contract and ended up with the superior Aussie built Jayco FD19 with 180 horse powers and a much longer 5 year warranty ! Adrias Europran warranty was only 2 years.
Comparing the Apollo Adria SP 600 (130 .. 150hp-6m) with the Jayco FD19 (180hp-6.4m)
Ducato vans drive very nicely and a lot of the long term motorhome owners here in Australia are very happy, but there are exceptions. If you go to some online complaint websites problems often dominate the agenda, probably due to our human tendency to spend time online when stuff goes wrong.
So at the motorhome show 2018 in Melbourne I signed a contract with Apollo for the Adria Twin 600 , and thereafter I read the Ducato forum posts. Many where relating to the 2013/14 model which was dubbed "Motorhome from hell" by its british owner - see Motorhomefromhell.com. Fortunately this problem has been fixed in the current model from 2014/2015 on wards. Rain water cascading into the engine bay can upset the electrical systems and the Fiat patch up fixes introduced during the 8 year life cycle of the affected model where deemed inadequate by some forum members. So if you own the older model check you engine bay often enough for corrosion and blockages. Thanks to my thorough research I could get out of the contract and ended up with the superior Aussie built Jayco FD19 with 180 horse powers and a much longer 5 year warranty ! Adrias Europran warranty was only 2 years.
Forum comments:
(1) The X2/90 does seem to be much improved in this respect with 3 large drains, no centre joint and plastic covers now over most under-bonnet items, including the auxiliary belt and pulleys and the alternator, all of which were bare in X2/50 guise. I'm not getting any water under the bonnet when parked up but there is still no seal between bonnet leading edge and the headlamp units with the result that the fusebox and ECU still get wet when driving in the rain.
(2) I own a PVC on a Fiat Ducato and have suffered issues with water ingress past the scuttle, which had buckled. The scuttle was replaced under warranty but it still leaked at one location where the adhesive pad had not stuck to the windscreen. I had intended taking it back to Fiat but have not bothered as I reckon it is a waste of time as the basic design is crap and the problem will always come back. I reckon you would be better just applying some tape over the joint between the scuttle and the windscreen and lots of people on here have done the same successfully. More water actually gets in between the joint between the bonnet and the lights but this was easily fixed by applying some self adhesive rubber seals from B & Q for doors and windows in your house in the gap. This was originally a temporary fix some months ago but it has worked so well I have left them in place. I was washing the van last weekend using a jet wash and when I looked under the bonnet there was hardly any water under there. I am guessing that this is due to the colder weather which means that the scuttle is not being heated up by the sun and pulling away from the windscreen. The main components under the bonnet are protected by plastic covers so I am not sure how much of a problem a little bit of water is. It is all a bit annoying and slightly worrying but I think I just have to live with it and keep and eye on it.
(3) We had a 2013 X250 Fiat and the small drainage holes constantly blocked up so kept a length of copper wire in the cab to keep them clear as and when. Apart from this we had very little water penetration into the engine bay. We now have a 2015 X290 Fiat and the large drainage holes in the scuttle panel are certainly good. We drove down through France at the end of August in atrocious weather, so much rain we could barely see to drive at times but the water cleared away no problem and no ingress into the engine compartment.
Alan
FUEL ISSUES (ANY DIESEL PURCHASE)
Another reason for only buying a 2015 model (came out late 2014) are the new Euro6 diesel emission standards. These vehicles are cleaner and hence less likely to be banned from inner cities in future. One article on a 4WD website has already predicted the death of Diesel as eventually Diesel RV's are expected to give way to hybrids ! On 28 Feb 2018 German courts have ruled dirty older standard Diesel vehicles can now be legally banned from inner cities. The Ducato nowadays has new 2.3L Euro6 technology. Here in Australia the Ducato would require a better fuel than current standards to function properly and last longer. See 3013 whirlpool discussion here.
The fourth generation Ducato facelift was introduced mid 2014. Although based on the third generation model, it features a heavily revised front end, with more car like headlights styling. Euro 6 engines were introduced for the 2017 model year in late 2016, and does not require Adblue .
FIAT DUCATO RECALLS
Multiple recalls have issued in 2017 / 2018 - My Van was affected by 2 campaigns
Fiat Ducato recalled for intercooler fix - CarAdvice www.caradvice.com.au › Car News › Fiat › Fiat Ducato
Feb 9, 2018 - Fiat has recalled the 2.3-litre diesel Ducato van over concerns the intercooler sleeve could come loose from the throttle body.The manufacturer says if the condition occurs, the engine warning light ...
You visited this page on 27/02/18.
2016-17 Fiat Ducato recalled for exhaust fix - CarAdvice www.caradvice.com.au › Car News › Fiat › Fiat Ducato
Oct 18, 2017 - The 2016-17 Fiat Ducato van has been recalled this week over concerns the exhaust recirculation system could break and cause a loss of drivability. According to the manufacturer, affected vehicles may be fitted with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) pipe that breaks due to ...
2017 Fiat Ducato recalled for camshaft fix - CarAdvicewww.caradvice.com.au › Car News › Fiat › Fiat Ducato
Mar 10, 2017 - Fiat has issued a recall for 56 of its 2016 and 2017 Ducato vans fitted with the 2.3-litre ‘Multijet’ engine over concerns the camshaft could crack. The Italian company reports the camshaft could crack while the vehicle is in use due to a manufacturing fault.
2014 Fiat Ducato recalled for suspension fix:: 15 vehicles affected www.caradvice.com.au › Car News › Fiat › Fiat Ducato
Jan 11, 2017 - Fiat has issued a recall for 15 of its 2014 'FL' Ducato vans over concerns the rear suspension system does not meet required standards.According to the Italian manufacturer, the affected vehicles are...
Fiat Ducato Reviews - ProductReview.com.au
https://www.productreview.com.au/p/fiat-ducato.html I have read that the boss of Chrysler Aust, who import these heaps of crap wants to get away from theFix It Again Tony attitude. The only way to do this is to do I what I am going to do, buy Japanese not European rubbish. I have had 2 Hiaces, one which did much more work then the ducato, one problem in five years, ...
https://www.productreview.com.au/p/fiat-ducato.html
http://forums.motorhomefacts.com/149-fiat-ducato/
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2082015 Whirlpool on Aussie Diesel
https://unsealed4x4.com.au/diesel-is-dying/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_Ducato
http://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/Fiat-Ducato150-Windscreen-Scuttle-Trim-Panel-Leaks-Into-Engine-Bay/39970/
http://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/Fiat-Ducato150-Windscreen-Scuttle-Trim-Panel-Leaks-Into-Engine-Bay/39970/
http://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/Water-ingress-fiat-ducato-2000/46917/