Van recommendations circa £3000.

Van recommendations circa £3000.

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Discussion

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah

Original Poster:

12,785 posts

99 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
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I have decided that within the coming months the trusty (2003) Kangoo needs retiring. Mechanically it's a cockroach, but there are just too many niggles that I'll never sort, and keeping it 'nice' is just chasing my tail now.

Budget likely £3000-£4000.

Its replacement doesn't need to be huge. A bit more bhp/speed would be nice (it is 65bhp) but not essential. Something a little more modern looking and to drive definitely. A great point about the Kangoo is that fixing/maintaining it is always cheap, I would like this to continue being the case ideally, IE not wanting something chucking out huge bills. I don't do huge mileage in it, maybe 10K P/A.

I have been thinking about VW Caddys initially. Does anyone know much about these? What else of it's size may be a must consider? Focus Connects, are they good? Maybe aesthetically getting on a little bit now?

Any ideas/advice/tips appreciated.

gforceg

3,524 posts

178 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
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Possibly in the wrong section.

Jimmy Recard

17,540 posts

178 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
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A classic van?

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah

Original Poster:

12,785 posts

99 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
quotequote all
gforceg said:
Possibly in the wrong section.
I did look, and struggled. Could you point me to the correct section, or mods please move. Ta.

Keep it stiff

1,762 posts

172 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
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Wrong section or not, this one looks just the job!

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C814393


Lugy

830 posts

182 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
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Caddy's are great vans to drive, from a quick glance £4k~ would get an '09/10 1.9 TDI (would be my choice of engine) with 130-150k miles - not so much of an issue if you don't do much yourself IMO.
I've never had any time for Connects but then maybe I've never experienced a good one. The other choice would be a Berlingo but I think the good HDI engine was dropped many moons ago - a mate recently worked on a job with a guy who'd ran his up to 400k with minimal hassle, can't imagine the newer ones doing the same!

gforceg

3,524 posts

178 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
quotequote all
Keep it stiff said:
Wrong section or not, this one looks just the job!

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C814393
This might have proved me wrong. C'mon Gromit, let's get to work.

gforceg

3,524 posts

178 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
quotequote all
Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:
gforceg said:
Possibly in the wrong section.
I did look, and struggled. Could you point me to the correct section, or mods please move. Ta.
Maybe in the Commercial Break section?

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah

Original Poster:

12,785 posts

99 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
quotequote all
Has anyone experience of the new shape Kangoo, say a 2012 model?

Flyin Banana

2,172 posts

237 months

Wednesday 11th January 2017
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have you thought about leasing a new van, no hassles with repairs or worrying what might go wrong, I can get you into a transit courier for around £180pm

have a look and see what you think, just let me know if I can help

Rob

MarshPhantom

9,658 posts

136 months

Wednesday 11th January 2017
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Toyata Hiace aren't bad value, and bulletproof.

www.gumtree.com/p/vans/2006-toyota-hiace-gs-2.5-lw...

115k miles, £3k

MarshPhantom

9,658 posts

136 months

Wednesday 11th January 2017
quotequote all
Flyin Banana said:
have you thought about leasing a new van, no hassles with repairs or worrying what might go wrong, I can get you into a transit courier for around £180pm

have a look and see what you think, just let me know if I can help

Rob
So that's going to cost him £6.5 grand to borrow a baby Transit for 3 years.

cbmotorsport

3,065 posts

117 months

Wednesday 11th January 2017
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Doblo? paperbag

Bebee

4,678 posts

224 months

Wednesday 11th January 2017
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As already mentioned, the Hiace is bullet proof, we have six in our business.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/vans/2004-toyota-hiace-2...

bearman68

4,642 posts

131 months

Wednesday 11th January 2017
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Connect is always quite tidy. Watch out for the ones that have the lower timing belt running in oil. Claimed change interval has gradually fallen from 150k to 125k to 100k, and will I think end up being about 75k. So if it's over this, budget to change it. (Not mega difficult or expensive) Avoid avoid the PSA / ford etc 1.6 hdi. Pile of rubbish.
You may be surprised the Renaults tend to be OK, and personally I would avoid VW. The electrics are a pile of st.
Serviced but never repaired the 2.5 Toyotas people are linking - though it aint the best to drive.
The Fiat 1.9 common rail engine is a pretty bullet proof bit of kit, could do much worse than one of those. No real issues that I have come across.
But it's still the ford for me (EGR also plays up more than most)

Little Pete

1,513 posts

93 months

Thursday 12th January 2017
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I've had my Connect TDDi for eight years and it's been ultra reliable. It drives as well as a Caddy but without the inflated VW premium they seem to attract. TDCi engines can have issues with injectors and pumps but well serviced vans don't seem to have problems. As has been mentioned, if the fuel pump drive is a belt in oil and not a chain, make sure this has been done or get it done. A failure will generate a very large bill!
If load bay length isn't an issue, get one with a factory fitted bulk head as this cuts down the noise considerably. They are also available with longer wheel bases and a higher roof.

W124Bob

1,744 posts

174 months

Tuesday 24th January 2017
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Do you want to live with van speed limits? Transit Connect has been mentioned on PH in other threads as subject to van limits because of its max payload and chassis.

B17NNS

18,506 posts

246 months

Wednesday 25th January 2017
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I ran a Connect T230LX for several years and enjoyed the experience. I'd have preferred the Caddy though had I had the budget at the time.

OldGermanHeaps

3,801 posts

177 months

Wednesday 25th January 2017
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I found the connect very poor on mpg, caddy would be my pick.

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah

Original Poster:

12,785 posts

99 months

Wednesday 25th January 2017
quotequote all
Thanks all for the suggestions, I've got my eye on a local 2012 Kangoo for £3500 that I'm rather sold on.