Berlingo First barn doors a bad idea?

[Tinycamper]

Hi All
Keen to buy a Berlingo and have seen a Berlingo First 2008 car version, which wasn't the model I was after ( wanted the modutop and a few more luxuries like electric windows as a minimum ) but is in really good condition and has v. low mileage at what seems a fair price. (£2900)
My question is this, is it really rubbish to have barn doors rather than my preferred tailgate with the shelter for cooking etc??

The other cars I've found for sale look the part but seem to have triple the mileage/ other problems, will it make fitting a boot jump not nearly as good?

Any opinions appreciated

Thanks

Rosa

[PZ123]

I'd say keep looking for one with a tailgate, even in the rain the tailgate open stops rain from wetting my nearly completed boot jump.
Also, if you are with a larger group you just set out a couple of camping chairs under the open tailgate and its a nice gathering area. Also means I csn cook in the rain with the tailgate protecting the pullout cooker.
In short, I think a tailgate opening is the best way to get the most out of a boot jump

[cancunia]

Overall, I'd second the tailgate as the preferred option, it's more convenient & adds shade & shelter with no effort. The barn doors are handy when there's wind coming from the side & you could fairly easily put a tarp over the doors for more shelter.

Edit:
I'm surprised that the Berlingo you're looking at does not already have electric windows at least in the front doors. Also thinking about it, can't say when the last time was that I saw a car with barn doors. Just to be sure, is it definitely a car, not a van that's had windows added? If it's the latter, take a close look at insurance & tax.

[Argos69]

Tailgate!!!!

I've now had both and the tailgate is superior in my view. You can buy a mini "awning" which clips over the barn doors to almost give you the best of both, but no good in windy weather. I like the barn doors for simple side wind shelter, but I've worked at the rear of both vehicles and I know which I prefer.

To sum up - Tailgate!!!!

[Romahomepete]

Overall, I'd second the tailgate as the preferred option, it's more convenient & adds shade & shelter with no effort. The barn doors are handy when there's wind coming from the side & you could fairly easily put a tarp over the doors for more shelter.

Edit:
I'm surprised that the Berlingo you're looking at does not already have electric windows at least in the front doors. Also thinking about it, can't say when the last time was that I saw a car with barn doors. Just to be sure, is it definitely a car, not a van that's had windows added? If it's the latter, take a close look at insurance & tax.

Enterprise cars and vans are minimum spec M59s running alongside the newly introduced B9s in 2008 to about 2013.  They were intended as a cheap no frills vehicle and so barn doors manual windows and probably no central locking.  The vans were all 600KG

Peter

[Gryffindor]

Yes, M59 MPVs with barn doors do exist, and they are called Firsts. I have the opposite problem - I spent ages looking for a barn door model but in the end went for another tailgate like I had before, because the car itself was in great condition.

However my problem has nothing to do with boot jumps - I'm so tall I bang my head on the tailgate and get backache if I have to stay under it for long!

If I was shorter and wanted to go offgrid, then it would 100% be a tailgate for that job without question.

As for awnings and sidewinds, just think tents - all you need do is throw a large tarp over the whole tailgate so that it hangs down to the ground, then rope and peg it at the corners. Adapt this idea as you wish of course.

BTW I think t is rare to find a Berlingo without front elec windows, though to be fair they also always seem to come with circular plugs where windy-up handles would have gone through the door cards. The windows in the side sliding doors are never elec.

[Opensauce]

As stated Berlingo First car with barn doors & 75bhp 1.6 turbo diesel was offered for about the first year of the next model production. I nearly bought one in 2009. My dealer had one in stock but no aircon which was available as option.

I could have done a factory order that would have taken months to get aircon because I really liked the car as a replacement for my 05 1.9 diesel Berlingo. However at that time there were plenty of cars in UK stock & I was offered an XTR 110bhp diesel for a fantastic price so I went for that for 8 happy years. I took delivery in March 2009 but checked vin number car had actually been built in July 2008.

[GraemeT]

My preferences in order:

1. Tailgate (on our Berlingo was very useful for reasons already stated above) - especially for keeping the weather off.
2. Barn doors - got 'em on the Mini - good if you are loading dogs in and out if you have no grill at the back. PITA if you are trying to load a bulky box
3. Single, side hinged (as seen on Jeep Cherokee, Land Rover Freelanders) - you need loads of space behind to fully open these, so loading up in a car park is a pain.

[Gryffindor]

What I'd really like is a split tailgate like the ones on the first Range Rovers. I had one when I was very young and it was immensely practical, even though the floor pan had DINKY TOYS stamped into it!

I'll also admit that I've thought in the more recent past about getting a second Berlingo tailgate from a breakers and having a go with a grinder - but there would be big issues, not least with mounting the lower hinges and designing the lower 'gate' to bear weight (for instance, me). Shame!

[bikerbaker]

Tailgate for me apart from:-

Cold weather when the struts don't extend fully. Could/probably will replace them this year but they are fine in warmer weather and been the same for 16 years.

The temptation to pull down on the strap when too close to the car. Managed to knock myself unconscious once (not a drink related incident either).

Coming back to the car to find some **** has parked so close that you can't open the back. The B9 hinged rear window is ideal IMHO, hired one in France before the UK launch and wanted one but Citroen UK were no help, got fed up and kept the M59.