Small/Mid Size Van for £5k
Discussion
I am looking for another van.
I currently have a Mercedes Vito and looking for something a bit smaller, but still want to have a side door.
I have a budget of up to £5k.
I am looking for something along the lines of a Vauxhall Combo.
Does anyone have any recommendations or experience with size vans? What else should I be looking at?
I currently have a Mercedes Vito and looking for something a bit smaller, but still want to have a side door.
I have a budget of up to £5k.
I am looking for something along the lines of a Vauxhall Combo.
Does anyone have any recommendations or experience with size vans? What else should I be looking at?
My Dad has a 2010 Citroen Berlingo with nearly 85,000 miles on the clock. It has been very reliable and the only thing it has needed (bar tyres and services) was an 0.80p washer fuse in the bad winter!
I think a 2010 is a bit out of range, but I think the early example (around 2008/09) should be in budget and come with decent toys like a Sat-Nav. They handle well enough, look modern and can take a good capacity.
The Combo is a very dated design from 2002. Not great IMO. Just my 2p!
I think a 2010 is a bit out of range, but I think the early example (around 2008/09) should be in budget and come with decent toys like a Sat-Nav. They handle well enough, look modern and can take a good capacity.
The Combo is a very dated design from 2002. Not great IMO. Just my 2p!
Transit Connect is probably the most practical, especially the LWB model. They are thirsty and have very basic interiors, passengers seat doesn't adjust at all.
Berlingos are a hoot to drive and the 2.0HDI was fairly brisk! Not as practical as the Connect, great on fuel though.
Combos are awful, cramped interior, horrible electric power steering and not a particularly useful load bay IME.
Fiat Doblo, fairly decent load space and engine. Horrible to drive though, very light steering and couldn't get on with the driving position.
Renault Kangoo, again very cramped interior, not a particularly big load bay and quite unreliable from past experience.
Berlingos are a hoot to drive and the 2.0HDI was fairly brisk! Not as practical as the Connect, great on fuel though.
Combos are awful, cramped interior, horrible electric power steering and not a particularly useful load bay IME.
Fiat Doblo, fairly decent load space and engine. Horrible to drive though, very light steering and couldn't get on with the driving position.
Renault Kangoo, again very cramped interior, not a particularly big load bay and quite unreliable from past experience.
This! Gut the interior except for the front two seats - sorted!
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/4280399.htm
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/4280399.htm
most people don't like them, and there getting on a bit, and you look like a french farmer, but in my experience Citroen c15's seem very very hard to kill, uber cheap to buy and run.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_C15
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_C15
Edited by Noesph on Monday 1st October 23:37
Got a Doblo (2006) here, and it's a great drive. Not sure what the newer ones go for, but I have driven the 2011 model, and that was pretty good.
What most interests me is when mine is driven like a saint (and I mean an ageing saint) then it's getting about 65mpg, launched around town gets 40mpg, and sensible driving gets anything between 40-50mpg. If you cruise at 80 though, it'll drop to low 30s. Driving position on the original Doblo is awful for motorway work - get cruise fitted.
It drives like an old Mini - point the front wheels and off it goes.
I did do an economy run 19 months ago, 40 mile trip all motorway, and managed 84mpg! The new Doblo managed 74 on the same run.
As for reliability, it's been pretty good. It did throw 5th gear out the box once, and 800E later that was repaired. No one to this day has had a 5th gear go on them, and no one knows why it went. But other than that, 120,000m of trouble free driving in 6 years.
What most interests me is when mine is driven like a saint (and I mean an ageing saint) then it's getting about 65mpg, launched around town gets 40mpg, and sensible driving gets anything between 40-50mpg. If you cruise at 80 though, it'll drop to low 30s. Driving position on the original Doblo is awful for motorway work - get cruise fitted.
It drives like an old Mini - point the front wheels and off it goes.
I did do an economy run 19 months ago, 40 mile trip all motorway, and managed 84mpg! The new Doblo managed 74 on the same run.
As for reliability, it's been pretty good. It did throw 5th gear out the box once, and 800E later that was repaired. No one to this day has had a 5th gear go on them, and no one knows why it went. But other than that, 120,000m of trouble free driving in 6 years.
tinman0 said:
Got a Doblo (2006) here, and it's a great drive. Not sure what the newer ones go for, but I have driven the 2011 model, and that was pretty good.
What most interests me is when mine is driven like a saint (and I mean an ageing saint) then it's getting about 65mpg, launched around town gets 40mpg, and sensible driving gets anything between 40-50mpg. If you cruise at 80 though, it'll drop to low 30s. Driving position on the original Doblo is awful for motorway work - get cruise fitted.
It drives like an old Mini - point the front wheels and off it goes.
I did do an economy run 19 months ago, 40 mile trip all motorway, and managed 84mpg! The new Doblo managed 74 on the same run.
As for reliability, it's been pretty good. It did throw 5th gear out the box once, and 800E later that was repaired. No one to this day has had a 5th gear go on them, and no one knows why it went. But other than that, 120,000m of trouble free driving in 6 years.
Agree, I can't believe the person who said they were crap to drive has driven one. I've done 50k miles in mine and it's a great little tool.What most interests me is when mine is driven like a saint (and I mean an ageing saint) then it's getting about 65mpg, launched around town gets 40mpg, and sensible driving gets anything between 40-50mpg. If you cruise at 80 though, it'll drop to low 30s. Driving position on the original Doblo is awful for motorway work - get cruise fitted.
It drives like an old Mini - point the front wheels and off it goes.
I did do an economy run 19 months ago, 40 mile trip all motorway, and managed 84mpg! The new Doblo managed 74 on the same run.
As for reliability, it's been pretty good. It did throw 5th gear out the box once, and 800E later that was repaired. No one to this day has had a 5th gear go on them, and no one knows why it went. But other than that, 120,000m of trouble free driving in 6 years.
I owned one for a few months, maybe mine was a bad example, but I just couldn't get on with the way it drove.
Seating position was too high, steering was too light, body roll was comical. It was good at doing its job though, very spacious in the back and twin sliding doors were a nice touch.
I was told it could do 110mph to.......
Seating position was too high, steering was too light, body roll was comical. It was good at doing its job though, very spacious in the back and twin sliding doors were a nice touch.
I was told it could do 110mph to.......
My vauxhall combo 1.3cdti although immensely practical & extremely economical, was woefully unreliable.
Litterally every couple of months would bring a new failure. Annoying in the wallet but doubly so when used for work.
Word of warning about transit connects!
They are NOT car-derived vans.
Ie, you adhere to lower speed limits, higher toll road charges etc from other small vans.
I am tented to get another, but to be honest (& donning my flame suit) I think it would be a mini can this time.
Although chintzy, they're bound to have great residuals (& lease deals) & warrenty/servicing packages which will offset the higher purchase costs.
My 5 grand would go on a deposit for one of them
(or if that's too poncey a caddy!)
Litterally every couple of months would bring a new failure. Annoying in the wallet but doubly so when used for work.
Word of warning about transit connects!
They are NOT car-derived vans.
Ie, you adhere to lower speed limits, higher toll road charges etc from other small vans.
I am tented to get another, but to be honest (& donning my flame suit) I think it would be a mini can this time.
Although chintzy, they're bound to have great residuals (& lease deals) & warrenty/servicing packages which will offset the higher purchase costs.
My 5 grand would go on a deposit for one of them
(or if that's too poncey a caddy!)
lestershaw said:
how about this
kangoo trekka
seeems to tick quite a few boxes andf its a 4 x 4
If you can find one.kangoo trekka
seeems to tick quite a few boxes andf its a 4 x 4
The Trekka was a car derived van, so you would pay road based on C02 rather than LCV. Believe me, Trekkas are very expensive to tax, even the 1.9 DCi engine. Renault did make the Kangoo van as 4x4 for a brief time, but sold about 50 in the UK !
LaurasOtherHalf said:
My vauxhall combo 1.3cdti although immensely practical & extremely economical, was woefully unreliable.
Litterally every couple of months would bring a new failure. Annoying in the wallet but doubly so when used for work.
Same here, had a 1.7 di for 5 years, every year was about a £1K in repairs!!! last straw was fuel pump failure, quotes of £1.5K!!!! supplied and fitted.Litterally every couple of months would bring a new failure. Annoying in the wallet but doubly so when used for work.
Some of the problems:
snapped front springs (Had virtually all suspension parts replaced)
drive shafts both sides
CV boot
drivers door hinge corroded and came away from body (this dammaged the front wing as well)
bonet catch failed
side loader door failed
rear door locks failed
alternater
had gearbox problems
brake problems
thats just off the top of my head.
LaurasOtherHalf said:
My vauxhall combo 1.3cdti although immensely practical & extremely economical, was woefully unreliable.
Litterally every couple of months would bring a new failure. Annoying in the wallet but doubly so when used for work.
Word of warning about transit connects!
They are NOT car-derived vans.
Ie, you adhere to lower speed limits, higher toll road charges etc from other small vans.
I am tented to get another, but to be honest (& donning my flame suit) I think it would be a mini can this time.
Although chintzy, they're bound to have great residuals (& lease deals) & warrenty/servicing packages which will offset the higher purchase costs.
My 5 grand would go on a deposit for one of them
(or if that's too poncey a caddy!)
All vans pay the higher toll road charge as far as I am aware, certainly do on the Severn Bridge. Can't comment for other toll roads, but would have thought most toll staff wouldn't know what was car derived and what wasn't.Litterally every couple of months would bring a new failure. Annoying in the wallet but doubly so when used for work.
Word of warning about transit connects!
They are NOT car-derived vans.
Ie, you adhere to lower speed limits, higher toll road charges etc from other small vans.
I am tented to get another, but to be honest (& donning my flame suit) I think it would be a mini can this time.
Although chintzy, they're bound to have great residuals (& lease deals) & warrenty/servicing packages which will offset the higher purchase costs.
My 5 grand would go on a deposit for one of them
(or if that's too poncey a caddy!)
Someone mentioned about car derived vans being taxed differently. Just checked on my 04 Caddy (MK4 Polo type) and that is taxed as an LGV despite it being a car derived van.
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