What van to buy as a newbie

[telectrix]

buy a used toyota hiace. fit a bench seat behind bulkhead facing rearwards. still loads of room for tools etc. don't buy the pro-ace though, it's a froggy puggot in disguise. my hiace is a '04.196k on clock and i've spent 0, nowt,zilch, on repairs in the 3 years i've had it.

 

[Adam W]

I drive a Citroen Relay. It's alright, but if I was buying one myself I'd get one with air con. I wouldn't buy a Citroen car though. I have a Focus. It's good. I'm not keen on the Transit though, there I said it.
Mercedes might make enviable cars but their vans are rustbuckets.

Whatever you decide on get unglazed rear doors and deadlocks.

 

[Octopus]

Hi guys
I'm new to all this and starting my 2365 soon, but in the mean time and to help fund the course I'm selling my car. So I might as well replace it with a van.

Thing is this won't just be a work van. I still need to be able to carry my two kids around. So is need a crew cab/kombi. And I'd prefer isofix in the back.

Feel free to call me an idiot, but I'm tempted to get a camper and then fettle it a bit. Put the rock and roll bed on rails so it can be either at the front or back and make more space inside. Then it can be used as a work van or a family day van.

Do any of you drive a van that you use for every day family life?

Any advice welcome

Going to give us any clue as to how much you want to spend ?

 

[Dan Carroll]

My budget is 10k really.
I like Ford's but the interior is just a bit dull.

Might sound stupid but can you feasibly use a pick up with a top box and have access to all the gear with out it being a mess?

 

[MDJ]

My budget is 10k really.
I like Ford's but the interior is just a bit dull.

Might sound stupid but can you feasibly use a pick up with a top box and have access to all the gear with out it being a mess?

Not many Vans are attractive inside, but at 10K you are looking at an older van, it will have a few miles on the clock, still best of luck.

 

[Octopus]

PCP ?

 

[Octopus]

My budget is 10k really.

So that makes your budget £14k ....

It’s a business expense so you will pay less tax.

This year I bought a new van in January, and got the tax element sorted by July ....

You need to consider how you save for your tax bills and how best to fund a van .... not easy

 

[MDJ]

PCP ?

Thats a mistake, with PCP you are limited on mileage, anything over the agreed amount will cost a fortune, also Vans get scratched and damaged, another problem, when it is handed back the damage has to be paid for, cars and PCP, I can see that, but working mens Vans, no not in my view.

 

[Timbo]

Try Vauxhall Vivaro, I 've had mine for 3 years, taken it from 28k to 79k miles, only cost me for brakes and tyres, runs around fully loaded all the time.
2014 | 14 Vauxhall Vivaro 2.0 CDTi 115 2900 L2 H1 - http://www.northstarsussex.co.uk/used-van-vauxhall-vivaro-20-cdti-115-2900-l2-h1-918683

 

[Adam W]

£10k is a lot. If I were in your situation I'd be looking at spending up to about £2k for something small to get you and your tools/kids from A to B.

I've never bought a van, I've either commuted in my car or used a company van which is the best kind of van - unlimited business mileage, zero tax and insurance, free fuel and free servicing with a free loan vehicle when it's in the workshop.

 

[Rpa07]

Totally agree with @Timbo for vivaro idea, keep your eye out for the perfect crew cab and then solidly box in the back for security.

 

[Phil Thompson]

Renault Master crew van would be my thoughts, easy to get in and out of the rear, high enough to stand up in, and enough space in the rear as a vivaro van so can fit steps in easily, I have a 350 transit crew and it’s ok, but hard on fuel, and high at the rear so you need a step to make it anyways easy when you have more stuff than usual in it.

Remember also that space is harder to utilise with no side doors in factory crew vans.

 

[Midwest]

Hope those suggesting fitting a bench seat in the back of a vehicle not designed for such, and sitting two kids on it (seat belts?), will give suggestions on insurance and how to plea bargain, when you get pulled over by a droid.

 

[Andy78]

Hope those suggesting fitting a bench seat in the back of a vehicle not designed for such, and sitting two kids on it (seat belts?), will give suggestions on insurance and how to plea bargain, when you get pulled over by a droid.

Mine is a panel van converted with a bench seat. Done properly by a conversion company with genuine parts including approved seatbelts. Changed with DVLA to a 6 seater, and insured with a specialist company that give good rates to modified vans who are aware of all modifications.

 

[Midwest]

Mine is a panel van converted with a bench seat. Done properly by a conversion company with genuine parts including approved seatbelts. Changed with DVLA to a 6 seater, and insured with a specialist company that give good rates to modified vans who are aware of all modifications.

That's you crossed off my hit list.

 

[Jim_e_Jib]

I did say to call me one

I was planing on avoiding them as well to be fair. Thinking either a transit, vito or transporter. Although I'm not paying the premium for a vw.

I used to drive a couple of Mercedes Sprinters. They were permanently fully loaded at 3.5T, were flogged hard every day and just kept on going, bar the usual wear and tear. At 9 years old when the lease was up, one had over 200K on the clock, the other nearer 300K, both still going strong but the bodywork was getting tatty. If the Vito is anything like the Sprinter, it will rust pretty quick but never skip a beat!

 

[Octopus]

I've got a kombi, it can be a 2 seater, 3 seater, 4 seater or 5 seater

M lord

 

[telectrix]

bloody gas guzzling vans. be environmentally friendly. buy one of these.

 

[elsparko]

buy en e46 m3 and tell your kids to walk, problem solved

 

[Phil Thompson]

@Midwest thats why I went with the factory crew van, though the 6th seat jumps the insurance way up in price.