Tradesman Transport - Tatty van or tidy car?
Discussion
If you don't need the 4 or 5 seats that would come with a car then a van would be my suggestion.
As you are a mechanic do you not have any trade contacts who could get you one? Maybe one that needs a bit of work that you can do easily enough. e.g. Timing belt, or MOT failure on something like brakes that the customer doesn't want to spend money on fixing etc.
Fix it and clean it up and then run it for a few months and see how things go.
Good luck.
As you are a mechanic do you not have any trade contacts who could get you one? Maybe one that needs a bit of work that you can do easily enough. e.g. Timing belt, or MOT failure on something like brakes that the customer doesn't want to spend money on fixing etc.
Fix it and clean it up and then run it for a few months and see how things go.
Good luck.
Edited by JM on Tuesday 25th April 22:27
Continuing on the ADAC theme - look for something like a Mk2 Toyota Previa. Rock solid reliable, massive inside (especially with all the seats removed) and handy sliding doors on each side.
You could kit it out with a bench along one side to work on brake callipers and similar smaller jobs, without having to do it out in the open.
You could kit it out with a bench along one side to work on brake callipers and similar smaller jobs, without having to do it out in the open.
My only experience is having gone from a job where a Mondeo Estate coped absolutely perfectly, to a firm where signwritten Vitos are all they use. Far more space in the back than I'll need, difficult to park, can't access many car parks with a set of ladders on the roof, etc. The van was broken into 5 times before the firm decided to shell out for extra security. One time when I phoned up the police to tell them, their first question was "is it signwritten", "well, that's your problem". No one ever broke into the Mondeo.
Thank you guys so much for the input.
Very interesting and varied comments - I've come to the conclusion that a car could work, [b]IF[/i] done right. As some posters mentioned, I think a tidy professionally sign written car would be every bit as professional as a car, but simply grabbing an estate/MPV and slapping on a set of magnetic signs doesn't quite have the same effect as a van.
While I think turning a large MPV into a vehicle suitable for running the business out of may be an interesting project to do in the future, I suspect to do it right will cost more time and money than I can I spare now, so I think I'll stick to looking for a van and tidying it up as much as reasonably possible for now
Oh, and thanks for the general business tips about websites and so on; It gives me something to do inbetween checking gumtree every 15 minutes!
Very interesting and varied comments - I've come to the conclusion that a car could work, [b]IF[/i] done right. As some posters mentioned, I think a tidy professionally sign written car would be every bit as professional as a car, but simply grabbing an estate/MPV and slapping on a set of magnetic signs doesn't quite have the same effect as a van.
While I think turning a large MPV into a vehicle suitable for running the business out of may be an interesting project to do in the future, I suspect to do it right will cost more time and money than I can I spare now, so I think I'll stick to looking for a van and tidying it up as much as reasonably possible for now
Oh, and thanks for the general business tips about websites and so on; It gives me something to do inbetween checking gumtree every 15 minutes!
You can hire a Transit Custom for less than £300/month.
You will then look professional and doing well, rather than Trevor who does odd jobs for cash!
The Customs are also very good vans. (Im on my second).
You will be amazed how well a sign written van works as advertising.
My last van was sign written (electrician) and was always getting asked for a card a petrol stations/Tesco Etc, or neighbours popping around to the house your working on was quite common too.
You will then look professional and doing well, rather than Trevor who does odd jobs for cash!
The Customs are also very good vans. (Im on my second).
You will be amazed how well a sign written van works as advertising.
My last van was sign written (electrician) and was always getting asked for a card a petrol stations/Tesco Etc, or neighbours popping around to the house your working on was quite common too.
Have you checked out how the prices of the "car" versions of the Berlingo, Partner, Doblo etc. compare with the vans?
You might be able to pick up something a little tidier and more cared for and block out the back windows with wrap with your business name and number/email - at first glance it would look like a van and many people might not even notice it isn't!
Only problem might be that they often come with wheelchair access, which might be a bit odd!
You might be able to pick up something a little tidier and more cared for and block out the back windows with wrap with your business name and number/email - at first glance it would look like a van and many people might not even notice it isn't!
Only problem might be that they often come with wheelchair access, which might be a bit odd!
Most clients couldnt care a jot either way. Know several trades who operate out of estate cars, I used a (lifted) l400 delica for a number of years, h8rs will h8, the prissy will priss, no one norm really bats an eyelid, so long as you fix their motors you can turn up in chitty-chitty-bang-bang frankly
One thing you really need to take seriously though is security, the scumbags will have anything of remote value out of it in next to no time as the police seem to think thats quite okay.
One thing you really need to take seriously though is security, the scumbags will have anything of remote value out of it in next to no time as the police seem to think thats quite okay.
"My" mobile mechanic usually turns up in a 5 series. TBH. I couldn't care less what he drives as long as his work is good, which it is, and cheaper than a garage, which it is. Are any of the naysayers above really maintaining they would turn someone away for arriving in the "wrong" vehicle? Really?
Thanks for the comments and replies guys.
In the end I've taken a gamble and bought a 06 plate SWB Petrol/LPG Transit...
After the comment from the mobile mechanic above I started worrying that all my gear wouldn't fit in a Berlingo sized van, which pretty much doomed any hope of me getting any reliable AND tidy van. I saw the Transit ending on eBay below budget and fairly local, so I went for it.
I'm not going to lie. It is a bit rough, but hopefully once the peeling vinyl wrap is removed and some general elbow grease is applied it'll start to look a lot better. Thankfully the panels are surprisingly straight and rot free for a sub grand transit, and it drives nicely.
In the end I've taken a gamble and bought a 06 plate SWB Petrol/LPG Transit...
After the comment from the mobile mechanic above I started worrying that all my gear wouldn't fit in a Berlingo sized van, which pretty much doomed any hope of me getting any reliable AND tidy van. I saw the Transit ending on eBay below budget and fairly local, so I went for it.
I'm not going to lie. It is a bit rough, but hopefully once the peeling vinyl wrap is removed and some general elbow grease is applied it'll start to look a lot better. Thankfully the panels are surprisingly straight and rot free for a sub grand transit, and it drives nicely.
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