Small Vans/Car Derived Vans

[B17NNS]

Looking for a small van or car derived van for one of our sales/delivery guys.

Berlingo/Transit Connect size

Anybody got any experience of any particular vehicles. Recommendations or ones to avoid?

Also what are the benefit in kind issues - have been told it is currently a flat £500 PA for the user but this is being abolished soon.

Thanks in advance.

[IS200RJR]

If you can justify putting him down as being on 24hr call out there will be no tax involved.

[Graham]

IS200RJR said:

If you can justify putting him down as being on 24hr call out there will be no tax involved.

you dont need to do that its all down to what personal use you get..

if its just driving to and from work and incedental private use I.e. stopping on the way to work for a paper or going to the tip once a year then there will be no tax payable when the rules change next year.

I've got 2 vans and am now only paying tax on one of them as the other is only used for the company.

if you get full personal use of the van then the tax goes to about 3k off you tax allowance and i think there is also a fee for personal fuel


still a lot less than a company car though

G

[B17NNS]

Just spoke to the accountant.

Current BIK for vans is zero for business use and travel to and from work.

If the vehicle is to be used for personal use there is a flat £500 BIK to pay.

This is however due to change in April 07 to move it in line with company car tax.

[adetuono]

B17NNS said:

If the vehicle is to be used for personal use there is a flat £500 BIK to pay.

You'll only pay tax on £500, ie £125 if basic rate taxpayer, £200 if you pay tax @ 40%. Make the most of it; another loophole slams shut.

[greenie]

The tax situation on vans changes in April and you need to be aware of that. Look in the business forum as there is always topics on it.

We run a Berlingo which while cheap to buy and well specs is poorly built and the mpg is very poor for a diesel (in the 30's!)

We also have Corsavans which have been very good. You don't get a good spec as standard but it is well built and the dual rail diesel engine is fantastic (relatively!). Mpg is always mid 50's no matter what you do!

[B17NNS]

Ok, its between these:

Citroen Berlingo
Vauxhall Combo
Nissan Cubistar
Renault Kangoo
Peugeot Partner
Ford Transit Connect
Volkswagen Caddy
Seat Inca
Fiat Doblo Cargo

The vehicle will be doing between 20/25k per annum so economy, cost of maintenance will be important.

What is the best way to fund this? Purchase, Contract Hire, Lease?

[sb-1]

We run a 1.9D Berlingo Van (800) We have had it since 1998 and it has now done 100K miles.No problems at all with it.

Fuel consumption is up to 50MPG depending on load and how driven.

Steve

[ntel]

sb-1 said:

We run a 1.9D Berlingo Van (800) We have had it since 1998 and it has now done 100K miles.No problems at all with it. Fuel consumption is up to 50MPG depending on load and how driven. Steve

On the other hand, I have had a Berlingo 1.9D van since Sept 2000. It also has about 100,000 miles on it now and its been crap. Loads of problems. Its now due for changing so I'll probably go for an Astra or something of that ilk.

[ed]

Freelander Commercial would be my transport of choice.

[jas xjr]

i always had contact hire vans with maintenance. you pay a fixed monthly amount and everything is taken care of. you have a card for tyres etc. it used to be 100% allowable against tax. things may have changed and i am sure someone more qualified will be along!
might you consider a full sized transit swb. my vans used to do 75k a year, they are bulletproof. my philosphy is to always to go for a larger van than i need,saves getting fined for overloading.plus the van is relatively unstressed and still handles ok. hth

[Neezer]

Bet you could pick up something like an MG ZR van on the cheap. It's a bit of a left field choice, i know, but it may just be worth considering. Bit different too!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Experience I had:

1) Transit Connect: Very Good
2) Berlingo: Very Good
3) Doblo: Disaster

[Carlt]

B17NNS said:

Ok, its between these: Citroen Berlingo Vauxhall Combo Nissan Cubistar Renault Kangoo Peugeot Partner Ford Transit Connect Volkswagen Caddy Seat Inca Fiat Doblo Cargo The vehicle will be doing between 20/25k per annum so economy, cost of maintenance will be important. What is the best way to fund this? Purchase, Contract Hire, Lease?

New Doblo just got Van of the Year

[Frik]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Experience I had: 1) Transit Connect: Very Good 2) Berlingo: Very Good 3) Doblo: Disaster

Likewise:

4)Kangoo - Clever fold down seat/cage swing jobby
5)Caddy - Very good interior, cracking fun to hustle

[ferg]

jas xjr said:

might you consider a full sized transit swb. my vans used to do 75k a year, they are bulletproof.

New ones not a patch on the old ones though. They are MUCH better to drive, but things go wrong a LOT more.

[mustard]

Berlingo 600 LX 1.9D run for 3yrs 46k miles

Mechanically fine, electrical (on its 3rd indicator stalk!) and trim issues (door catches/handles etc not that durable)

[loose cannon]

we run a kangoo at work which is a great little van just dont run crap tyres as the roadnoise will kill you

[lazyitus]

Carlt said:

New Doblo just got Van of the Year

Who on earth voted for that? The deaf blind man with an ear wax problem and eye patches?

Spend more than 3 hours in one of these and you're ready for suicide.

[MJK 24]

ed said:

Freelander Commercial would be my transport of choice.

But maintenance and fuel consumption would be high and can't see the fuel consumption being brilliant.