Transit or Zafira??

[Wimsy76]

Evening all,

I use a 2.0l mwb transit for work in that there London. Thing is, its becoming more and more expensive to run with insurance, congestion charge, diesel van tax etc. I don't really need such a large van so I thought about downsizing to a transit connect,Vauxhall combo etc.
But the running costs of these, particularily with the van insurance (london+van+scumbag druggie thieving b'stards=stupid cost!) is still too steep for a self employed sole trader like me.
I had a thought though and would like your opinions please.

I reckon buying a mpv such as a 1.6 Zafira, sticking a roof rack on it and getting the back windows tinted as dark as possible would be ideal. Lower car insurance, low tax= happy days?

How about an estate? Well I need a bit more room to carry tools etc which is why an mpv would suit better than an estate.
Also, I'm sure I've seen somewhere you can get some type of clear film which you put on the inside of your windows which prevents the window from smashing to bits when some street urchin decides to nick your stereo via your window. Does anyone have a link to a website selling this stuff please?

Does anyone have any thoughts? Good idea? Bad idea? Alternatives?

Cheers.

[okie592]

depends what you do, theres alot of tradesmen at work that are painters, plumbers etc use estates and hatchbacks insted of a van. only a builder would really need a transit for the extra payload a van has

[chrisispringles]

Will you be affected by the LEZ? If you are then it could be sensible to go for a petrol MPV over a van.

[NadiR]

How about getting one of those van type MPV's like the Kangoo or Partner, and strip the back out?

[m44kts]

What about an ex police dog van Zafira like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-55-Vauxhall-Zafira-...

[essexplumber]

Get a Ford S MAX mate, I would but my boss wants us in black or silver estates not 4x4s MPVs etc. I'm lucky though as I don't have to go in Londonistan anymore and only have to carry hand tools and a drill

[pits]

Bongo.

[oldcynic]

Would an Alhambra / Galaxy / Sharan with removeable rear seats be a better compromise? We've got an Alhambra due to excessive head-count but if I remove all the rear seats it makes a pretty good job of being a van and I suspect the seats are at least 15kg each. 45mpg on a run, nearer 30 round town.

Personally I hate the thing, but it certainly does what it was designed to do - and I'm comparing it with my quiet, comfortable leather-clad Volvo rather than a rattly Transit.

[Wimsy76]

Cheers guys for the advice.

I've got an 61 reg S-max and it is fantastic. I'd love one as a work 'van but they are pricey and I need a SOTW really, S-max's are too nice!

I thought about the Galaxy/Sharan/alhambra route but the car tax for these things are over £200 due to being 1.9l and above so they are ruled out. Under the current economic climate I need to cut costs so I'm looking for a 1.6l mpv, but most I see are 1.9, 2.0, 2.3l etc

Kangoos and Partners etc are a piece of wee to break into, I see so many missing locks and with extra padlocks.

The ex police van looks like a good idea.

Work wise, I repair and service boilers with the occasional install. I still keep going back to a Zafira 1.6l but any advice is still appreciated.

[Captain Muppet]

Wimsy76 said:

Lower car insurance, low tax= happy days?

Is the insurance still lower when you tell them its used for work?

Wimsy76 said:

Also, I'm sure I've seen somewhere you can get some type of clear film which you put on the inside of your windows which prevents the window from smashing to bits when some street urchin decides to nick your stereo via your window. Does anyone have a link to a website selling this stuff please?

Your window still gets smashed, but they can't get in to steal your stuff (as easily). So still a massive pain when they try it as you have to replace the window and the film.

[williredale]

My missus has a 1.6 Zafira. It's a bit gutless but there is loads of room in the back. I push the rear seats right forward and can fit loads of junk in. I don't know how easy it would be to remove the two extra seats and the row of seats as they are the reason we bought it!

[Matt UK]

Older diesel estate car?

10 year old Audi A6?
Merc E class even bigger, but prone to rust

[djfaulkner]

How much stuff do you need to carry?
My brother has an Astra LPG van - so no C-Charge


Just endless parking tickets.......

[BertieWooster]

OP - what about something like this:



http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C294573

It should be fairly cheap to insure and run. Plus they have a pretty massive boot on them.

Bertie W

[Six Fiend]

Estate car, tinted windows, fitted cage, job done

[djt100]

My old man is a kitchen fitter, has to carry a large amount of tools, but never really carries materials, a few years ago he stopped buying vans, currently has a Renault Scenic, Seats out, plenty big enough for what he needs.

So I'd say all depends on what you need to carry, a pallet of bricks is never going to fit, but if it's just tools then should not be a problem.

Also have a carpenter friend who drives a VW polo that he built a big box into the back of to fill with tools and not damage the car.