Bought a little van!
Discussion
His name is Vanny.
Opted out of the company car because it was costing me far too much in tax. If I was spending £150-£200 a month on a car, I'd want it to be more interesting than a Honda HR-V. Plus, who wants to spend any more time than necessary in their "workplace".
Anyway - The Van!
It's a 2010 Citroen Berlingo. The pictures flatter it a bit, but it's not in bad nick, other than a few little jobs. Main one is get hold of an exterior window seal as mine's bent, get a roof rack, take the vinyl off the back windows and general tidying up.
One annoying aspect I've found is that the replacement model came out in 2008, but they kept making the original alongside until 2011 - makes getting parts for it a pain in the bum. "Oh, it's a 2010 model!" Nope, just ppretend it's a 2007 one please.
Opted out of the company car because it was costing me far too much in tax. If I was spending £150-£200 a month on a car, I'd want it to be more interesting than a Honda HR-V. Plus, who wants to spend any more time than necessary in their "workplace".
Anyway - The Van!
It's a 2010 Citroen Berlingo. The pictures flatter it a bit, but it's not in bad nick, other than a few little jobs. Main one is get hold of an exterior window seal as mine's bent, get a roof rack, take the vinyl off the back windows and general tidying up.
One annoying aspect I've found is that the replacement model came out in 2008, but they kept making the original alongside until 2011 - makes getting parts for it a pain in the bum. "Oh, it's a 2010 model!" Nope, just ppretend it's a 2007 one please.
Andy665 said:
I feel I need something like this in my life, just a general hack that can be used and abused
Yup. I've got a load of crap in the garden from the previous owners off my house. Going to ship it off to the in-laws. Then we're having some building work done next year, so it will be handy for bits and bobs for that too....and maybe a track day.
We had a Dispatch for 18 months while we were having building work done, we spent £900 on it and we sold it for £900, having spent just over £100 to get it through it's MOT.
We were genuinely sorry to see it go, it paid for itself in bargains from ebay/Facebook Marketplace (like a cast iron bath for £90 and a glass shower screen for £1) that others simply couldn't pick up and trips to the tip (once you've navigated the council's arcane methods for registering a van as non-commercial) were a doddle.
One of the best automotive purchases I've made in terms of usefulness.
We were genuinely sorry to see it go, it paid for itself in bargains from ebay/Facebook Marketplace (like a cast iron bath for £90 and a glass shower screen for £1) that others simply couldn't pick up and trips to the tip (once you've navigated the council's arcane methods for registering a van as non-commercial) were a doddle.
One of the best automotive purchases I've made in terms of usefulness.
Once you've had a van you'll wonder how you ever managed to survive without one 
tip runs, carrying mountain bikes, moving bulky objects and picking up materials from the builders merchants are all made so much easier.
Trips to IKEA or B&Q can be made without a seconds thought. Whatever you paid for it will seem well worthwhile when you're in the carpark watching all the lesser mortals with their even lesser cars struggling to fit that enormous flatpack wardrobe or sheet of plywood into their Fiesta, while you, chuckling at their complete lack of forward planning, slide your purchase in with room to spare, toss the free catalogue onto the dash top with all the others, then cruise past the rows of arguing couples on your way to the exit, soaking up all the envious stares at your superior choice of vehicle
tip runs, carrying mountain bikes, moving bulky objects and picking up materials from the builders merchants are all made so much easier. Trips to IKEA or B&Q can be made without a seconds thought. Whatever you paid for it will seem well worthwhile when you're in the carpark watching all the lesser mortals with their even lesser cars struggling to fit that enormous flatpack wardrobe or sheet of plywood into their Fiesta, while you, chuckling at their complete lack of forward planning, slide your purchase in with room to spare, toss the free catalogue onto the dash top with all the others, then cruise past the rows of arguing couples on your way to the exit, soaking up all the envious stares at your superior choice of vehicle
Darkslider said:
Once you've had a van you'll wonder how you ever managed to survive without one tip runs, carrying mountain bikes, moving bulky objects and picking up materials from the builders merchants are all made so much easier.
:
Not got a van as any suggestion of one is greeted with "We don't need something so big", yet I had to use rope and time to get a flat packed wardrobe in the hatchback, also quite anxious sometimes with the bikes on the roof, after a ride it would be nice to pop into a cafe with the bikes hidden in a van rather than on the roof of a car that has to be in line of sight. tip runs, carrying mountain bikes, moving bulky objects and picking up materials from the builders merchants are all made so much easier. :
There is some simple and cool about the Berlingo, but doubt it's shared with the majority. The new one is quite boxy and I'm sure the 5 seat version would suit more people than a 4x4, the space and practicality is great.
Is it your only car now OP?
V6todayEVmanana said:
Not got a van as any suggestion of one is greeted with "We don't need something so big", yet I had to use rope and time to get a flat packed wardrobe in the hatchback, also quite anxious sometimes with the bikes on the roof, after a ride it would be nice to pop into a cafe with the bikes hidden in a van rather than on the roof of a car that has to be in line of sight.
There is some simple and cool about the Berlingo, but doubt it's shared with the majority. The new one is quite boxy and I'm sure the 5 seat version would suit more people than a 4x4, the space and practicality is great.
Is it your only car now OP?
It is and it isn't. I have work's car for going to see customers, but it's got a tracker and I have to keep logs of who I've seen to assure HMRC that I'm not getting any benefit in kind from it There is some simple and cool about the Berlingo, but doubt it's shared with the majority. The new one is quite boxy and I'm sure the 5 seat version would suit more people than a 4x4, the space and practicality is great.
Is it your only car now OP?
But I don't have another personal car. If I'm popping to the shops or to see a mate, it's in the van.
I spent AAAGES agonizing over the size. Looked at a Citroen Dispatch, you get an extra 20cm in the load bay but the whole vehicle is a lot more imposing when parked at the bottom of the garden. Looked at a Nissan Kubistar (Kangoo) but was too small. The Partner/Berlingo and VX Combo all sit in that nice "car that happens to be a van" size. This model's based on the 306 estate, so is a normal car size.
What would have been ideal would be something the size of a fiesta, with the load capacity of a 44 ton artic, 1 tonne weight, 300 bhp and 90mpg. Also cheap tax and availale for 500 quid.
It's also not subject to the lower van speed limits, but I'm going to absolutely double-check that with the local traffic police. It's a CDV on the logbook, it's based on an existing car chassis, there's also a car version of it, and it's got a fully loaded limit of less than 2 tonnes. Everything points to it being OK, but some people have different opinions.
Cambs_Stuart said:
Nice. Do these come with three seats in the front? As my boys and their bikes get bigger (and the oldest is only a few years off learning to drive) I've been considering a van...
My brother has a Partner (same van) and he has 3 seats. Well, it's more like two and three quarters, but you know what I mean. Mine's a 2-seater.Update on Vanny. Came to a bit of a crunch time. Dropped some stuff off at the in-laws and noticed the rear wheel is leaning in at the top.
I took it to get looked at and the verdict, as per an advisory on the MOT is "rear bush worn" I wasn't too worried. I mean, what harm is a rear bush? It's just a block of rubber, right? Can't affect much or be difficult to fix. Apart from the fact that it's a French car with trailing arm torsion beam suspension, and the common "rear bush failure" actually means "replace whole axle assembly". Poo.
I've decided I'm going to spend the money. I like the van and a full suspension refresh won't do it any harm after 155,000 miles. so that's another 400 quid (he's going to sort out some worn inner tie rod joints as well). Not financially sensible, but sod it, I've grown pretty attached to him.
Other things I've done:
The fuel cap surround was missing. Fixed it.
The bulkead ladders and board intruded into the load bay too much for my liking so I took the passenger one off, and also swapped it onto the driver's side one as it was a bit battered (and off the wrong van).
Took out the wooden floor and cleaned out underneath it. Yes, under it, and it's back in place now. Bonus was I found some more load strap points on the wheel arches that were hidden, so I've cut access holes in the wood to get to them. Wanted to check if I was going to spend nearly half the price of the van on suspension it wasn't rotten. Happily the floor looked nearly new!
Polished up the front end because it had some sort of dark water stains on the paint, but it came out pretty well! Well, by my standards. I'm sure a real detailer would consider my efforts the "before" picture!
Also washed inside the roof and cleaned the headlining in the cab.
New roof rack
The window rubber was all bent and misshapen. A second hand one is impossible to find and a new one is £165!! Took it off and de-bent and re-bent it all so now I have a good seal on the window. Before picture:
One of Vanny in the air:
After all this is done, I'm thinking of a new set of glow plugs. And painting the wooden panels.
I took it to get looked at and the verdict, as per an advisory on the MOT is "rear bush worn" I wasn't too worried. I mean, what harm is a rear bush? It's just a block of rubber, right? Can't affect much or be difficult to fix. Apart from the fact that it's a French car with trailing arm torsion beam suspension, and the common "rear bush failure" actually means "replace whole axle assembly". Poo.
I've decided I'm going to spend the money. I like the van and a full suspension refresh won't do it any harm after 155,000 miles. so that's another 400 quid (he's going to sort out some worn inner tie rod joints as well). Not financially sensible, but sod it, I've grown pretty attached to him.
Other things I've done:
The fuel cap surround was missing. Fixed it.
The bulkead ladders and board intruded into the load bay too much for my liking so I took the passenger one off, and also swapped it onto the driver's side one as it was a bit battered (and off the wrong van).
Took out the wooden floor and cleaned out underneath it. Yes, under it, and it's back in place now. Bonus was I found some more load strap points on the wheel arches that were hidden, so I've cut access holes in the wood to get to them. Wanted to check if I was going to spend nearly half the price of the van on suspension it wasn't rotten. Happily the floor looked nearly new!
Polished up the front end because it had some sort of dark water stains on the paint, but it came out pretty well! Well, by my standards. I'm sure a real detailer would consider my efforts the "before" picture!
Also washed inside the roof and cleaned the headlining in the cab.
New roof rack
The window rubber was all bent and misshapen. A second hand one is impossible to find and a new one is £165!! Took it off and de-bent and re-bent it all so now I have a good seal on the window. Before picture:
One of Vanny in the air:
After all this is done, I'm thinking of a new set of glow plugs. And painting the wooden panels.
I rebuilt my 306 beam as have many other hobbyists using guides most commonly written by Mei (welshpug). There'll be subtle differences here and there but a beam is a beam.
It is easier to rebuild a second beam unless you have no daily need for the van. Sometimes you can repair, but if the needle roller bearing has disintegrated your trailing arm shaft could be eating the beam tube.
Avoid companies who offer beams refurbed as most seem to just bodge it!
It is easier to rebuild a second beam unless you have no daily need for the van. Sometimes you can repair, but if the needle roller bearing has disintegrated your trailing arm shaft could be eating the beam tube.
Avoid companies who offer beams refurbed as most seem to just bodge it!
tvrfan007 said:
I rebuilt my 306 beam as have many other hobbyists using guides most commonly written by Mei (welshpug). There'll be subtle differences here and there but a beam is a beam.
It is easier to rebuild a second beam unless you have no daily need for the van. Sometimes you can repair, but if the needle roller bearing has disintegrated your trailing arm shaft could be eating the beam tube.
Avoid companies who offer beams refurbed as most seem to just bodge it!
Interesting post, cheers. I really fancy a refurbed axle, I've seen quite a few refurbished on various websites. I'll make sure to get some advice from people of who's good and hopefully avoid any cowboys. IMAxles seem to be well thought of. I'm pretty sure mine's fairly well buggered. Passed an MOT a couple of weeks back with it a an advisory, but you can tell under load.It is easier to rebuild a second beam unless you have no daily need for the van. Sometimes you can repair, but if the needle roller bearing has disintegrated your trailing arm shaft could be eating the beam tube.
Avoid companies who offer beams refurbed as most seem to just bodge it!
sjabrown said:
There’s a danger with wee vans... they get under your skin.
Yes they do. I have a Caddy that I originally decided I needed as a utility vehicle. It was a cheap ex gardeners van that was full of "garden" and a bit ratty. It's now got over 200bhp, leather, carpet, a kitchen, coil overs, brakes off a Mk5 GTI and now I need another small van because this one is too nice to pile things to go to the tip into 
Enjoy "Vanny" OP - small vans are the best thing in the world to have around the place and making them nicer than when you got them is part of the charm
I just bought the "car" version of this, a 2008 multispace. I was looking for a van but struggling to find one in budget with less than 150000 miles on the clock. The one I eventually bought is a one (very elderly) owner, 1.6 HDI with 60000 miles on the clock, bought locally for £1200.
Seats are coming out to make it more vanlike, and rear windows getting as dark a tint as I can find. Had considered a remap but it actually quite suits it's 75bhp.
My ( supposedly) grown up daughter hates it but what does she know? It feels very French in a casual, laid-back, hippyish way, and reminds me of a 2cv (they were pretty uncool too back in the day).
Anyone looking for one might do well to search for "disabled" or WAV (wheelchair accessible vehicle) in the classifieds, there are some pretty low mileage examples going for peanuts compared to the clapped out van versions. Some even come with rear ramps and internal winches which were expensive add-ons originally but actually bring down the price of old ones. They're quite handy for dragging anything from motorbikes to cast iron baths into the rear.
Seats are coming out to make it more vanlike, and rear windows getting as dark a tint as I can find. Had considered a remap but it actually quite suits it's 75bhp.
My ( supposedly) grown up daughter hates it but what does she know? It feels very French in a casual, laid-back, hippyish way, and reminds me of a 2cv (they were pretty uncool too back in the day).
Anyone looking for one might do well to search for "disabled" or WAV (wheelchair accessible vehicle) in the classifieds, there are some pretty low mileage examples going for peanuts compared to the clapped out van versions. Some even come with rear ramps and internal winches which were expensive add-ons originally but actually bring down the price of old ones. They're quite handy for dragging anything from motorbikes to cast iron baths into the rear.
Edited by Desiderata on Monday 29th June 23:31
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