which van ?

[digger]

I have £9k to spend on a works van. Doesn't have to be a high roof or long wheel base. I will need slam locks fitting as the areas I work in are prone to day light break ins. I'll be putting a child seat in the front for little one.

Finding a van is probably 85% harder than finding a decent woman.

Any tips on what to avoid ? Looking at Vauxhall or Renault as transits seem bland. Oh and madam wants black ( she's 4,she wins)

[Tim Kelly]

I recently bought a '14 Transporter, which seems very fancy to me after my 13 year old Dispatch which it replaces. Might be worth a look?

[aga man]

I would certainly look at the Renault kangoo 1.5 diesel. Can't speak for the newer models but i have ran Kangoo's for the past 13 years and they have been bombproof and very reliable. your budget would buy a very nice one.

 

My 4 year old daughter often rides about with me in mine.

[Fuji Shooter]

We have a Vauxhall Vivaro as as an office van, looks quite nice and drives well.

[McSpredder]

Lots of tradesmen have started using Fiat Doblo vans in this area in recent years. Also sold as a Vauxhall Combo.

 

Dealer in Hawick is advertising 16 plate Vauxhall Combo L1 H1 2000 1.3 CDTi 90 at £8499+VAT (saving £6700+ VAT against new). Obviously at the wrong end of the country for the OP, but maybe similar deals available elsewhere.

 

I have never driven the van version, but find the Doblo MPV very comfortable and practical. Not suitable if you want to make a fashion statement, and you have to be able to live with all the Postman Pat jokes.

[Del T]

I've the Peugeot expert. Seems ok,plenty if poke to spin the wheels out of every junction if you're heavy footed. Fits my lads car seat in and a passenger ,bit of a squeeze though.

Has armaplate on the locks and deadlocks on all doors coupled with the factory deadlocking.

Lots of mod cons compared to the old expert/dispatch etc.

[TONY R]

In The Big vans Sprinters Crafters , smaller vans we got the VW T5its a T 30 an old 08 but its been a great van 130K now and no real issues. Another van i like my Brother just got a 09 Vito its a nice drive have a look at then too.

[Duckandswing]

The neighbour has a Toyota. Can't for the life of me remember the model but its mid size and done well over 200k miles. He raves about it and is currently after another as his is looking tatty, on an x reg I think.

[TONY R]

Will be a Hiace power van, we had one years ago great van, but i think this fella is after somthing newer.

[digger]

thanks for the input gentlemen. A problem has arisen in as much as my mate is buying the van for me ( I'll be paying him back from the jobs ).He is VAT registered and I'm not. Plan was he would buy a van for me but he can't claim the vat back if it's in my name and I can't insure it if it's in his. Double balls

[Scully]

The VW range of Transporter variants are very popular around here, with many self employed blokes owning them. Even our local undertaker has one ( which I used to drive ) as a private ambulance.

[Rupert]

I have a transporter, nice van, solid residuals.good image dear to buy and fix,has some known weak points,would nt buy another, too dear for what it is and too cramped in the cab,

Had 2 traffics back to back,loved em did big mileage in them both, chap to buy, fix and own,comfortable and refined, bloody cheap to lease too, i have seen deals at £169 a month plus vat

 

BIL has an expert his 2nd, loves it been reliable

[Scully]

Would have to agree with the cramped cab when there's three in there.

[bostonmick]

thanks for the input gentlemen. A problem has arisen in as much as my mate is buying the van for me ( I'll be paying him back from the jobs ).He is VAT registered and I'm not. Plan was he would buy a van for me but he can't claim the vat back if it's in my name and I can't insure it if it's in his. Double balls

I believe that it states on the v5 that this document does not prove ownership just the keeper.so he can have the van invoiced to him and you can insure it as yours

[bornfree]

I've had a transit mk7 for ten years got it new in 2006 its done 175,000 miles and very little has gone wrong. The engine clutch and gearbox have never been touched. Just brakes rear shocks front wheel bearings handbrake cable and roll bar bushes. I've just traded it in for a new Citroen relay ( they are doing great deals on them) I will know in ten years time if it was a good move.

[vampire]

I have had Vauxhall,merc and ford.all personal choice at end of day,but why on earth would anyone buy a black van its gonna be hotter than hell so better have climate or buy white.

[bostonmick]

The transit is not the best seller for nothing.

[digger]

thanks Mick

[vampire]

The transit is not the best seller for nothing.

My transit was as secure as a tent till the police told me how my tools were nicked !

[bostonmick]

My transit was as secure as a tent till the police told me how my tools were nicked !

And what van is burglar proof then.transits are by and large extremely reliable and durable.

[TONY R]

And what van is burglar proof then.transits are by and large extremely reliable and durable.

Transits need to be in the olympic roting team, hell we would win gold with them things.

Old sprinters get scaby look terible but dont rot anyway as bad as transits. and the newer ones still rot bad, the quality is just not there.

[silver pigeon69]

would avoid Vauxhall Vivaro like the plague! I had an 09 plate that Vauxhall bought back off me because they couldn't fix it. Well known problem with the injectors failing and welding thenselves into the head! Colleague has a brand new one, this years, and after two weeks, sent it back with a list, 2 pages long of all the different faults it had. They ranged from dash lights not working, to warning lights showing, to the electric windows and radio not working!

Have not had one but have only heard good things about the new transits! My next van will be a transit.

[Tim Kelly]

A good thing about the new transits is how low the roof is. You should be able to get under standard 2.1m parking restrictions easily. Unlike my Transporter, which is inconvenient.

[team tractor]

Transporter, transporter , transporter.

 

I'm 34 years old and since I was 17 and learning I've only had transporters.

Yes I had a few problems like erg valve but so does every diesel. I've had a hinge/door stop snap on this one but be replaced it out of warranty the n75 valve started playing up but was also fixed for free.

I wouldn't buy anything else . My 12 plate kombi is still worth £17k lol from £23k new. That's why we buy them.

Edited August 24, 2016 by team tractor

[bostonmick]

Transporter, transporter , transporter.

 

I'm 34 years old and since I was 17 and learning I've only had transporters.

Yes I had a few problems like erg valve but so does every diesel. I've had a hinge/door stop snap on this one but be replaced it out of warranty the n75 valve started playing up but was also fixed for free.

I wouldn't buy anything else . My 12 plate kombi is still worth £17k lol from £23k new. That's why we buy them.

I have absolutely no interest in the resale value of vans and trucks that we run.they are bought to do the job and earn their keep.by the time we have finished with them they are fit for nothing more than scrap but will say the transit has served us well for many years and many many miles.one of ours has done 308k never had any major works only normal brakes exhaust a few shock absorbers.its eight years old cost nowhere near 23k has no rot and still goes out everyday to work.it will undoubtedly come to the end of its life one day but will have paid for itself several times over by then.thats why we run transits