Crew Vans?

[MondeoMan1981]

Any recommendations on crew vans for families who have a lot to trail about?

We have 2 kids and if we overnight, loads of bulky luggage such as full size pram, pod cot etc.

My Arteon is great but I've had it 3.5 years now which I think is a record for me and sometimes it's just not big enough.

So I'm finding myself looking at crew van style vehicles - plenty cabin space for bulky kid seats and tons of room in the back.

Any FFers have similar? 5 seat is fine, 6 seat in a 2-2-2 even better.

I've looked at the ID Buzz but I'd rather pick up something cheaper then have some cash for a practical classic or weekend car.

Budget is up to £25k.

[Jag_NE]

You don’t need a crew van at all.

[Jamescrs]

A crew cab van on the face of it does seem overkill for your needs but I would say that the Transit Custom would be my pick if I wanted that type of vehicle, I use them myself occasionally through work and it a decent drive for a van and usually you can get a better one in budget than the alternative VW which is also decent but IMO is not as good value for money wise

[AlwynMike]

Choose carefully if going Crew van.
Speed limits can be confusing as some may be classed as a van (commercial).
Likewise insurance could be more.
Vw Caddy Life and its Ford cousin could be worth a look at.

[Countdown]

Why a Crew Van as opposed to an MPV or an Estate?

I could understand the need for a Van if you had 4 kids plus lots of kid-related gubbins but surely something like an S-Max or a Galaxy would be sufficient? A Crew van would be noisier, heavier on fuel, awkward to park....?

[dudleybloke]

Insurance can be quite expensive with crew vans.

[Lefty]

We used a 2019 Transit custom L2 as BIK-friendly company van for 5 years as a family bus and it was excellent but sounds like you might be better with a Tourneo. They’re great. Drive well, very comfortable, tons of space. I drove quite a few different vans before choosing the Ford and it was my favourite. Transporter had a nicer interior, Transit a much nicer thing to drive.

The downsides of the crew van are, obviously, no windows in back, no speakers or HVAC in rear seats. Very much 6 seat van. Tourneo gives a better passenger experience and you’ll get 6 seats in the back so could remove two and get your 2+2+2.

Quick edit: I just had a look on auto trader and quite a few have 3 seats in front, better to get two captain chairs (although I found that kids loved the front middle seat!)

This sort of thing

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024112667...

Edited by Lefty on Sunday 22 December 15:21

[KTMsm]

Why would you want a crew van rather than an MPV ?

The only vans worth having are the Vito, Transporter and possibly the Transit Custom

I drive an older Vito Traveliner which has full (tinted) windows because I have 4 kids and also use it as a van and tow vehicle

Mine is the 3.0 V6 auto, remapped 240bhp alloys etc and the reason I haven't updated it is simply because there isn't anything better - a mate has a 3 yr old Transporter DSG and it doesn't drive anything like as well

However if I didn't need the 8' load area or towing capacity I'd be in a better handling MPV

[Mark Turmell]

KTMsm said:

Mine is the 3.0 V6 auto, remapped 240bhp alloys etc and the reason I haven't updated it is simply because there isn't anything better - a mate has a 3 yr old Transporter DSG and it doesn't drive anything like as well

Hear that all the time from Merc and Ford van drivers, as if their van’s drive like Rollers

Op, If you want a Kombi, get a VW, there’s a reason why they are in demand and hold their values like no others.

You can also look smugly at other van drivers who can’t afford to buy a VW, but then try and justify what they got instead.

[Lefty]

They are massively practical and flexible things. Great for ferrying kids plus friends around (Dads taxis), bikes (with no need for removing wheels or anything), dogs, full size fridges etc in the back. No need for careful packing. Multiple rows of seats for separating squabbling kids, easy access from front to back. Big dry area for kids getting changed after sports or whatever.

Basically space never becomes an issue and even an L2 transit custom fits in every parking space you could ever need it to.

They are completely different to a small car-like MPV or even a large estate car in terms of practicality.

[Lefty]

Mark Turmell said:

KTMsm said:

Mine is the 3.0 V6 auto, remapped 240bhp alloys etc and the reason I haven't updated it is simply because there isn't anything better - a mate has a 3 yr old Transporter DSG and it doesn't drive anything like as well

Hear that all the time from Merc and Ford van drivers, as if their van’s drive like Rollers

Op, If you want a Kombi, get a VW, there’s a reason why they are in demand and hold their values like no others.

You can also look smugly at other van drivers who can’t afford to buy a VW, but then try and justify what they got instead.

They do hold their value well but I paid £23k+vat for a brand new transit custom DCIV and sold it five years later with 50k miles for £18k+vat. Can’t complain at that. Maybe a different story with a French or Italian Van but Fords hold their value really well.

I went into my van testing with an open mind and chose the Transit as the best vehicle. The VW does have a reputation and an image which appeals to some people but I don’t think they’re necessarily a better vehicle.

[KTMsm]

Mark Turmell said:

Hear that all the time from Merc and Ford van drivers, as if their van’s drive like Rollers

Op, If you want a Kombi, get a VW, there’s a reason why they are in demand and hold their values like no others.

You can also look smugly at other van drivers who can’t afford to buy a VW, but then try and justify what they got instead.

Since when has VW been a better brand than Mercedes

Mine is a 3.0 V6 RWD his is a 2.0 4 cylinder FWD

I drove his expecting it to be great, top of the range - it was awful, the gearbox defaulted to a stupidly high gear, when you accelerated it did nothing then jumped down multiple gears and span the front wheels, ride was awful too

I then drove him to Wales in mine, he first remarked how quiet mine was, then how nicely it rode and cornered and finally how it overtook so effortlessly

The only thing the Transporter did better was it has a higher load area - it's awkward getting Enduro bikes in a Vito

[ZX10R NIN]

Take a good look at the Ford Galaxy tons of space & it sounds like it will suit your requirements:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407262...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412117...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410235...

If you need bigger take a look at the i800:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412077...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410305...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411196...

Transit:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411186...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410074...

Citroen Dispatch:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410155...

[Lefty]

KTMsm said:

Mark Turmell said:

Hear that all the time from Merc and Ford van drivers, as if their van’s drive like Rollers

Op, If you want a Kombi, get a VW, there’s a reason why they are in demand and hold their values like no others.

You can also look smugly at other van drivers who can’t afford to buy a VW, but then try and justify what they got instead.

Since when has VW been a better brand than Mercedes

Mine is a 3.0 V6 RWD his is a 2.0 4 cylinder FWD

I drove his expecting it to be great, top of the range - it was awful, the gearbox defaulted to a stupidly high gear, when you accelerated it did nothing then jumped down multiple gears and span the front wheels, ride was awful too

I then drove him to Wales in mine, he first remarked how quiet mine was, then how nicely it rode and cornered and finally how it overtook so effortlessly

The only thing the Transporter did better was it has a higher load area - it's awkward getting Enduro bikes in a Vito

And looks better for middle-aged adventure blokes in TNF gear and Oakleys outside Starbucks.

[A500leroy]

Dacia jogger

[Mark Turmell]

KTMsm said:

Since when has VW been a better brand than Mercedes

Mine is a 3.0 V6 RWD his is a 2.0 4 cylinder FWD

I drove his expecting it to be great, top of the range - it was awful, the gearbox defaulted to a stupidly high gear, when you accelerated it did nothing then jumped down multiple gears and span the front wheels, ride was awful too

I then drove him to Wales in mine, he first remarked how quiet mine was, then how nicely it rode and cornered and finally how it overtook so effortlessly

The only thing the Transporter did better was it has a higher load area - it's awkward getting Enduro bikes in a Vito

Lost count of every Vito/Transit/Alphard/Bongo driver who told me how much they prefer their vans over a Transporter

[Frankychops]

Xc90 or another large car like it.

[Rough101]

Frankychops said:

Xc90 or another large car like it.

Would be my suggestion too.

[KTMsm]

Mark Turmell said:

Lost count of every Vito/Transit/Alphard/Bongo driver who told me how much they prefer their vans over a Transporter

Perhaps there's a reason for that...

There's always someone who says they prefer a front wheel drive to rear wheel drive and a four cylinder to a V6



The modern Transporter is an overpriced joke and it's on you

[Mark Turmell]

You can’t afford a new Transporter and that’s nothing to be ashamed of, enjoy your old Merc