Why do vans cost so much?
Why do vans cost so much?
Author
Discussion

lestershaw

Original Poster:

1,591 posts

188 months

Friday 14th September 2012
quotequote all
Why do vans cost so much, AND hold their money so well?
they are usually basic spec
a big empty area
single skinned
crappy seats and
horrible to drive

Chrisw666

22,655 posts

229 months

Friday 14th September 2012
quotequote all
They're built for a purpose, and I've always found them to be relatively cheap.

lestershaw

Original Poster:

1,591 posts

188 months

Friday 14th September 2012
quotequote all
most vehicles are built for a purpose,

how is approx £14000 for a vivaro good value, 3 seats that arent comfortable, lucky if you get air con or electric windows, so very basic spec, i still dont get it

anonymous-user

84 months

Friday 14th September 2012
quotequote all
Commercial value.

Chrisw666

22,655 posts

229 months

Friday 14th September 2012
quotequote all
lestershaw said:
most vehicles are built for a purpose,

how is approx £14000 for a vivaro good value, 3 seats that arent comfortable, lucky if you get air con or electric windows, so very basic spec, i still dont get it
Find me a car for £14k that does the job a Vivaro was designed for better than it.

banghead

lestershaw

Original Poster:

1,591 posts

188 months

Friday 14th September 2012
quotequote all
i cant find any vehicle other than a van, however much it costs that can do what a vivaro can do, still doesnt make it good value.
a van usually fulfills one purpose only.
lets say then you compare a transit connect size van, about £4000. for less than that you could get quite a few people carriers that the seats fold down and offer a similar amount of space, and then turn pack into a 6 seater +so i reckon some car/mpvs can do the job of midsize and small vans.
when the vans get bigger there arent many comparable vehicles i agree.
so the answer to my question is, the cost is high due to the demand?

Chrisw666

22,655 posts

229 months

Friday 14th September 2012
quotequote all
Why are you trying to fathom the cost of something you don't understand and have no use for?

A people carrier isn't a van, and not many builders, plumbers or couriers are going to choose one over a van for a multitude of reasons.

I'm giving up now though because trying to explain things to you will be like standing on a bridge over the M1 shouting at cars to slow down.

zeduffman

4,319 posts

181 months

Friday 14th September 2012
quotequote all
Prices are inflated because they're used in the commercial sector rather than privately. It's an investment into your business as much as it is a tool.

RJP001

1,173 posts

180 months

Friday 14th September 2012
quotequote all
Commercial vehicles always cost more, that is the rule.

Fast Bug

13,594 posts

191 months

Friday 14th September 2012
quotequote all
The cost isn't that high, you need to think about the money a van can earn you. An MPV won't do the same job as a van as the payload isn't anywhere near that of a van. Nor will it carry the same volume in it.

It's like saying a cat can do the same job as a guard dog. It can't, end of story.

CoolC

4,502 posts

244 months

Friday 14th September 2012
quotequote all
It's silly sometimes.

Ford Fiesta van, basically a 3 door with the seats removed.

Cheapest Fiesta Van £11k +VAT

Cheapest Fiesta £9.5K

The basic fiesta will be better specced (or at least a match) than the basic Fiesta Van, and has the option to be used as a car with extra seating when needed.

Edited by CoolC on Friday 14th September 12:05

Cledus Snow

2,142 posts

218 months

Friday 14th September 2012
quotequote all
a big empty area - That's the point
single skinned - confused
crappy seats and - Not for the driver
horrible to drive - Not anymore



LoonR1

26,988 posts

207 months

Friday 14th September 2012
quotequote all
lestershaw said:
a van usually fulfills one purpose only.
lets say then you compare a transit connect size van, about £4000. for less than that you could get quite a few people carriers that the seats fold down and offer a similar amount of space, and then turn pack into a 6 seater +so i reckon some car/mpvs can do the job of midsize and small vans.
when the vans get bigger there arent many comparable vehicles i agree.
so the answer to my question is, the cost is high due to the demand?
So a workman is better off with a vehicle that has nice see through windows so all his tools and equipment can be seen by everyone? So he has to unload it every night for safety?

Vans are multi purpose and seem to run forever. There is high demand for them, so the prices stay high.

You can get very good deals on new vans anyway, so list price on new is effectively irrelevant and not forgetting the VAT / tax / VED breaks for running one exclusively for business.

I've got one that I only use for motorbike trackdays, much cheaper than any other form of transporting my bike & equipment.

A mate's just bought a top of the range Vito with 220bhp and a V6 engine. It's more luxurious inside than my M3 and has all the gizmos on it that you'd expect. It cost c£35000 compared to my M3 costing nearly twice as much fully kitted.

LoonR1

26,988 posts

207 months

Friday 14th September 2012
quotequote all
[redacted]

Wheelrepairit

3,046 posts

234 months

Friday 14th September 2012
quotequote all
Ive just priced up a lwb merc sprinter, comes in at an eye watering £28,956

Sweet baby jesus thats a lot of money.

Pommygranite

14,470 posts

246 months

Friday 14th September 2012
quotequote all
But the op's point is apart from the steel skin there's fk all in a van yet they cost a lot for literally not a lot of components.

POORCARDEALER

8,666 posts

271 months

Friday 14th September 2012
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Been offered pre reg Berlingos this morning with Air Con and Bluetooth, list at 14K + VAt for £9150 + VAt....list price means nothing in van world

CrispyMK

200 posts

170 months

Friday 14th September 2012
quotequote all
lestershaw said:
Why do vans cost so much, AND hold their money so well?
Surely you've at least answered one of your own questions? They hold their value because they cost so much.
confused

lestershaw

Original Poster:

1,591 posts

188 months

Friday 14th September 2012
quotequote all
Chrisw666 said:
Why are you trying to fathom the cost of something you don't understand and have no use for?

A people carrier isn't a van, and not many builders, plumbers or couriers are going to choose one over a van for a multitude of reasons.

I'm giving up now though because trying to explain things to you will be like standing on a bridge over the M1 shouting at cars to slow down.
please dont give up as you havent " explained " anything to me. you keep telling me reasons without the explanation. i think you have already banged your head against the wall too many times before you answered my post as you presume too much
i run a building company and i manage over 40 vehicles plus cars
i have just spent the last 3 weeks researching a van for personal use, for mountain biking and to take a few mates and equipment to do some bungee jumping and maybe skiing in early 2013.
i ended up buying a long wheel base high roof vivaro, and after 3 weeks got one that i thought was great value compared to most of the others i looked at. it is classed as a van yet has no bulkhead and has side windows so you can see into the van, you can screen the windows off , but you can do that in a people carrier.
i still maintain, that also there is a high demand for them, not everyone can get the vat back, and the fact they are a van might make them less secure than a people carrier. still makes me wonder why they prices are so high.

Fast Bug

13,594 posts

191 months

Friday 14th September 2012
quotequote all
They don't cost that much though, ignore the list price as you can as much as 40% off that. I can do a swb Trafic for £10995 + vat including free air con, list price for that would be £18470. Obviously those prices exclude VAT, but £11k isn't that much considering what you can do with the van