Discussion
I'm in need of a van, transit sized, think they are called panel vans?
Been having a look on eBay etc and prices seem a bit sporadic?
Renault traffic's seem to have depreciated the most, is there a reason for this?
My budget is £2K, could stretch to £3K, but would then have to compromise elsewhere.
The requirements are really just white (for advertisement), it must be a clean example and look representative. Ie don't want to look like a local scum.
So can anyone give me any advice?
Cheers
Been having a look on eBay etc and prices seem a bit sporadic?
Renault traffic's seem to have depreciated the most, is there a reason for this?
My budget is £2K, could stretch to £3K, but would then have to compromise elsewhere.
The requirements are really just white (for advertisement), it must be a clean example and look representative. Ie don't want to look like a local scum.
So can anyone give me any advice?
Cheers
I'm starting an electrical company, so just want a smart looking van which I can store/transport stuff in, whilst advertising my company.
It is a vat reg. ltd company so vat is not a problem.
The one thing I'm wondering is about mileage. How do vans with 150K + mileage hold up.
Or am I best paying a bit more for lower mileage or older?
It is a vat reg. ltd company so vat is not a problem.
The one thing I'm wondering is about mileage. How do vans with 150K + mileage hold up.
Or am I best paying a bit more for lower mileage or older?
Go for a Transit, reliable & still the best workhorse, Vivaro/Primastar/Traffic are OK if you get a later one, the early ones have chocolate gearboxes, Peugot/Fiat again later = better. Most vans should be good for 200k or more as long as they've been maintained well so s/h is important. Ideally you want a van that has been owner driven not a fleet van that has been thrashed to within an inch of it's life HTH
My work van (ford transit) has 156k on it and still going fine. Its a 2010 so done a lot in 3 years, just make sure it's been service well. My vans showing up a few (very small) things that a good service will fix coz it's done 16000 from last service. Works van so that's why they not service it yet. Iv been driving it hard for a year now and works fine.
Think carefully about what you need to transport - smaller vans get 45mpg, smaller transits 30mpg, LWB high tops get around 25 - it soon adds up.
French vans like French cars tend to break - hence why they are cheaper.
Vans tend to get treated worse than cars so I'd buy on condition rather than miles but 150k is a lot for anything this side of a Sprinter.
Take a good look on AutoTrader in the Van section and see what's about.
French vans like French cars tend to break - hence why they are cheaper.
Vans tend to get treated worse than cars so I'd buy on condition rather than miles but 150k is a lot for anything this side of a Sprinter.
Take a good look on AutoTrader in the Van section and see what's about.
Right having had numerous works vans over the last 16 years I'll add my 2p's worth.
Anything french NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
breathe
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo etc
every french works van or car I have had has been a complete shower of s
te the pugs were the worst letting go at sub 80k when well looked after ( only one user ) and serviced as book.
mk 1 merc vitos unreliable expensive to fix very easy to break into rot like an early 80's fiat
toyota hiace, unkillable expensive to service in comparison to others but nice and easy to drive and very reliable took one well past 250k with no issues.
vw transporter and caddy.
transporter was new to me and the best van I've ever driven left the company before it had clocked up more than 15k so cant comment on the long term.
caddy I got it with 175k on the clock and it was a non turbo 1.9 ( I think ) derv lump probably still going.
current van is a 2006 transit connect with 180k on it I've put 140k of that on apart from 4 ( yes 4 !! ) alternators and a broken engine mount ( £900 bill to fix as it killed the off side drive shaft ) its done ok.
they seem to totaly die at about 250k
Anything french NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
breathe
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo etc
every french works van or car I have had has been a complete shower of s
te the pugs were the worst letting go at sub 80k when well looked after ( only one user ) and serviced as book.mk 1 merc vitos unreliable expensive to fix very easy to break into rot like an early 80's fiat
toyota hiace, unkillable expensive to service in comparison to others but nice and easy to drive and very reliable took one well past 250k with no issues.
vw transporter and caddy.
transporter was new to me and the best van I've ever driven left the company before it had clocked up more than 15k so cant comment on the long term.
caddy I got it with 175k on the clock and it was a non turbo 1.9 ( I think ) derv lump probably still going.
current van is a 2006 transit connect with 180k on it I've put 140k of that on apart from 4 ( yes 4 !! ) alternators and a broken engine mount ( £900 bill to fix as it killed the off side drive shaft ) its done ok.
they seem to totaly die at about 250k
I'm an electrician and I have a Toyota Hiace. They are a bit basic, but they go on forever. They don't rust, unlike any ford van, some of them are a joke. The mechanical components have been made to last, unlike the Renault Trafic etc. Servicing and parts can be expensive, but you get what you pay for. For £2k I would say this is going to be the most reliable, non tatty van for the money.
As above, if you don't need the extra space, don't go for anything bigger than a berlingo as mpg will sting you something rotten. You really will use twice as much fuel in a transit size van vs a berlingo/caddy sized van. A 2.4 transit will do about 28-30 mpg on a run and the 2.0 will do a bit over 30 IME. A berlingo diesel can do about 50mpg.
And as mentioned above avoid the mk1 Vito like the plague. There's not a single good thing about them.
And as mentioned above avoid the mk1 Vito like the plague. There's not a single good thing about them.
No idea what length double ladders would be but I think it would be obvious whether or not yours would fit on a connect. I don't think the connect is the best for mpg btw but you can get the focus 1.8 petrol in it which should be pretty good for moving a small van about (but not great for fuel economy)
Transit Connect is a great van if its big enough for you, Ive got a 2006 and ladders go on top fine.
Mine had around 120k on it when I bought it and Im just coming up to 150k 3 years later with only minor repairs, I did the timing belt when I got it plus its had a drive shaft, intercooler pipes a battery exhaust and tyres, flew through 3 MOTs
Im not sure what the MPG is but I get about £65 worth of diesel in the tank wich gives me between 350 and 400 miles
Mine had around 120k on it when I bought it and Im just coming up to 150k 3 years later with only minor repairs, I did the timing belt when I got it plus its had a drive shaft, intercooler pipes a battery exhaust and tyres, flew through 3 MOTs
Im not sure what the MPG is but I get about £65 worth of diesel in the tank wich gives me between 350 and 400 miles
Transit Connects are ok but avoid the std Mk6 Transit as even the Tddi versions ie the 80-100hp ones suffer from pump and DMF problems and are costly to fix. TDci versions are a complete money pit with injectors at £200 a throw plus recoding plus have the same pump issues.
The best van to buy is either the 1.9 tdi Transporters or better still the 2.4 five cylinder versions which have a lot more power, six speed box and near equal fuel economy, both have VW's bullet proof PD engine.
The best van to buy is either the 1.9 tdi Transporters or better still the 2.4 five cylinder versions which have a lot more power, six speed box and near equal fuel economy, both have VW's bullet proof PD engine.
"avoid the std Mk6 Transit as even the Tddi versions ie the 80-100hp ones suffer from pump and DMF problems and are costly to fix. TDci versions are a complete money pit with injectors at £200 a throw plus recoding plus have the same pump issues".
There is a fuel pump sender, 99/100 it is the fuel pump sender unit and not the pump, bit of a pig of a job to do and most garages just want to m(t)ake money and say its the pump.
There is a fuel pump sender, 99/100 it is the fuel pump sender unit and not the pump, bit of a pig of a job to do and most garages just want to m(t)ake money and say its the pump.
You will always get Transit horror stories because there are so many of them.
I bought a 51 plate minibus with 45k on the clock for a shade over £3k. Very straight, clean and after I removed a load of the seats, tinted and blacked out the rear windows and had it registered as PLG / 6 seats - its exempt from the LEZ and is £2 on Dartford bridge.
Mine tows a trailer of 2500 kgs quite frequently and after getting a chap off the Transit owners site (Vantuner) to reflash the ECU it bloody flies now, so much so its quite fun!
Plus Im getting mid 30's mpg when not towing.
Had to change the timing chain tensioner due to the death rattle and last month changed the clutch - the DMF is a PITA though the majority of commercials have these with similar issues. Good thing is the complete kit is less than £150 plus fitting.
Minibuses are cheaper than the vans, equivalent vans were £5k+ and usually uncared for.
Looked at Renaults before, all were battered and tired mechanically. Its a minefield trying to find a good one.
Set aside £500/800 for potential repairs - any van will need something done.
I bought a 51 plate minibus with 45k on the clock for a shade over £3k. Very straight, clean and after I removed a load of the seats, tinted and blacked out the rear windows and had it registered as PLG / 6 seats - its exempt from the LEZ and is £2 on Dartford bridge.
Mine tows a trailer of 2500 kgs quite frequently and after getting a chap off the Transit owners site (Vantuner) to reflash the ECU it bloody flies now, so much so its quite fun!
Plus Im getting mid 30's mpg when not towing.
Had to change the timing chain tensioner due to the death rattle and last month changed the clutch - the DMF is a PITA though the majority of commercials have these with similar issues. Good thing is the complete kit is less than £150 plus fitting.
Minibuses are cheaper than the vans, equivalent vans were £5k+ and usually uncared for.
Looked at Renaults before, all were battered and tired mechanically. Its a minefield trying to find a good one.
Set aside £500/800 for potential repairs - any van will need something done.
I run a small fleet of vans, about 7 little and 1 big.
We had a few Connects back along, but the build quality was sporadically woeful.
We have mostly had Peugeot Partners as little vans since and they have been more or less bombproof.
Our last two big vans have been Jumbo Transits. Again, pretty much fault free.
We had a few Connects back along, but the build quality was sporadically woeful.
We have mostly had Peugeot Partners as little vans since and they have been more or less bombproof.
Our last two big vans have been Jumbo Transits. Again, pretty much fault free.
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