Buying a cheap small van, Berlingo or other?
Discussion
I'm thinking about buying a Berlingo/Partner van.
It'll be used mainly to carry a mountain bike or two about and to avoid getting my other car dirty with dump runs etc so I'm not going to be spending a great deal, up to £1500ish. I want the van so the bike will be secure compared to roof racks etc and so I can stand the bike up.
The mountain bike is 1.7m long and as I'd prefer to just chuck it in the back without taking the wheels off. Other small vans seem to be too short in the load space, I did consider the transit connect but the lower speed limits really put me off.
I'm not sure if there are other vans I should be looking at?
I'm not concerned about fuel economy as it won't be doing many miles.
My main concern is reliability, a cheap van isn't cheap for long if it spends it's life in the garage.
What should I be looking out for when buying? Most seem to be the 1.9d lump so slow but hopefully reliable? I've noticed a couple of 1.4 petrol vans, is the petrol engine in these any good?
It'll be used mainly to carry a mountain bike or two about and to avoid getting my other car dirty with dump runs etc so I'm not going to be spending a great deal, up to £1500ish. I want the van so the bike will be secure compared to roof racks etc and so I can stand the bike up.
The mountain bike is 1.7m long and as I'd prefer to just chuck it in the back without taking the wheels off. Other small vans seem to be too short in the load space, I did consider the transit connect but the lower speed limits really put me off.
I'm not sure if there are other vans I should be looking at?
I'm not concerned about fuel economy as it won't be doing many miles.
My main concern is reliability, a cheap van isn't cheap for long if it spends it's life in the garage.
What should I be looking out for when buying? Most seem to be the 1.9d lump so slow but hopefully reliable? I've noticed a couple of 1.4 petrol vans, is the petrol engine in these any good?
I have a 1.9D Berlingo MPV and before that a 1.8D Kangoo van, both used as daily Snotters.
Apart from a couple of minor electrical faults they've both been pretty reliable. The Kangoo went to 142k and the Berlingo is on 73k. Build quality of both is better than you might expect from a French car.
The Kangoo was more economical, managing 55+MPG whilst the Berlingo will just nudge 50 with a bit of care. The Kangoo was also quicker than the Berlingo which is glacially slow from start but both can be hustled along once rolling. Both will cruise OK at 60-70 MPH but struggle to keep up much more than that.
The Berlingo is superbly comfortable and quiet - it has a better ride quality than my XJ8 - whereas the Kango was noisy and had a hard crashy ride when unladen. Access to the oily bits is much, much better on the Berlingo which has a simple, uncluttered under bonnet layout compared to the Kangoo which was a nightmare to work on.
Both will do what you need. Probably better to find a well cared for example rather than worry too much about what the differences are between them.
Apart from a couple of minor electrical faults they've both been pretty reliable. The Kangoo went to 142k and the Berlingo is on 73k. Build quality of both is better than you might expect from a French car.
The Kangoo was more economical, managing 55+MPG whilst the Berlingo will just nudge 50 with a bit of care. The Kangoo was also quicker than the Berlingo which is glacially slow from start but both can be hustled along once rolling. Both will cruise OK at 60-70 MPH but struggle to keep up much more than that.
The Berlingo is superbly comfortable and quiet - it has a better ride quality than my XJ8 - whereas the Kango was noisy and had a hard crashy ride when unladen. Access to the oily bits is much, much better on the Berlingo which has a simple, uncluttered under bonnet layout compared to the Kangoo which was a nightmare to work on.
Both will do what you need. Probably better to find a well cared for example rather than worry too much about what the differences are between them.
nagsheadwarrior said:
Vans are generally poor value,buy a tall estate or mpv n block out the windows or even better a hearse with the coffin deck stripped out¡
Why are they poor value?I've just sold my FiL 55 plate berlingo 2.0HDi which was on 145k for £1k. As it's a tool for his business, it's impeccably maintained. Services on time every time, any knock or bump or noise and it's off to the garage as wheels not turning equals business not earning!
If you can find one with the hdi engine it's a peach. And very reliable. No dpf if you choose right either! Very versatile for what you require
The only drawbacks are insurance is often more expensive, my brother switched from Astra estate to astravan and his shot up, 25% I think. The other one is you may need to sort a permit at your local tip and maybe only get so many visits per year.
Speed addicted said:
I'm thinking about buying a Berlingo/Partner van.
It'll be used mainly to carry a mountain bike or two about and to avoid getting my other car dirty with dump runs etc
It may be worth checking with your local council what their policy on using Vans for dump runs is. Surrey council require you to apply for a permit in advance if I want to use a Van (including hire vans), and if I am using a Van I can't dump 'Construction and DIY waste', and their list of excluded items is exactly the kind of waste you produce when doing any sort of DIY or gardening. An Estate car however has no such issues.It'll be used mainly to carry a mountain bike or two about and to avoid getting my other car dirty with dump runs etc
How about a Skoda Roomester? Similar size to the small commercial panel vans but it's 'real' car, and it looks like you can get a bike inside without requiring a spanner, and if you are willing to remove the front wheel Skoda have bike racks that allow up to three bikes to stored in the car, and it's a 5 seater when you need it. Plus, as it's based on the Fabia/Octavia there is a range of petrol and diesel options.
I checked with the tip, they're not worried as long as it's not trade waste.
Insurance is all of £200 fully comp as I live near Aberdeen and it's a low rate area.
Just checked the roomster and the only one on autotrader below £3500 has 209k miles. They're just too new for my budget.
The van/car just needs to be reliable and big enough in the back for the bike. I'm buying a cheap one because it won't get used more than around 3k a year. Mpg isn't really an issue.
Years ago I had a company Berlingo van for a 50 mile each way commute, but it was new at the time and the only problem I really remember was the locks not working.
Insurance is all of £200 fully comp as I live near Aberdeen and it's a low rate area.
Just checked the roomster and the only one on autotrader below £3500 has 209k miles. They're just too new for my budget.
The van/car just needs to be reliable and big enough in the back for the bike. I'm buying a cheap one because it won't get used more than around 3k a year. Mpg isn't really an issue.
Years ago I had a company Berlingo van for a 50 mile each way commute, but it was new at the time and the only problem I really remember was the locks not working.
Edited by Speed addicted on Saturday 11th January 09:22
GoodDoc said:
It may be worth checking with your local council what their policy on using Vans for dump runs is. Surrey council require you to apply for a permit in advance if I want to use a Van (including hire vans), and if I am using a Van I can't dump 'Construction and DIY waste', and their list of excluded items is exactly the kind of waste you produce when doing any sort of DIY or gardening. An Estate car however has no such issues.
How about a Skoda Roomester? Similar size to the small commercial panel vans but it's 'real' car, and it looks like you can get a bike inside without requiring a spanner, and if you are willing to remove the front wheel Skoda have bike racks that allow up to three bikes to stored in the car, and it's a 5 seater when you need it. Plus, as it's based on the Fabia/Octavia there is a range of petrol and diesel options.
I would have thought that that might make driving it a tad difficult...How about a Skoda Roomester? Similar size to the small commercial panel vans but it's 'real' car, and it looks like you can get a bike inside without requiring a spanner, and if you are willing to remove the front wheel Skoda have bike racks that allow up to three bikes to stored in the car, and it's a 5 seater when you need it. Plus, as it's based on the Fabia/Octavia there is a range of petrol and diesel options.
Had/have a 1.9d Berlingo and 2.0HDi Picasso, 2.0HDI is a far superior engine for hustling along. My Dad used to run the berlin go and get 50mpg, but when I was using it I struggled to get 40mpg (my excuse was heavier right foot due to wearing steelies most the time), as for the 2.0hdi I'd get 45/50 mpg driving in a similar manor if not a bit faster pace. 1.9d is a good engine shouldn't cause too much headache but is woefully slow and gutless, but the van itself was quite chuck able in the bends but you had to learn if you were trying to press on, overtakes needed to be planned 10 miles in advance.
I used to be able fit my bike in the Berlingo no problem.
I used to be able fit my bike in the Berlingo no problem.
matchmaker said:
GoodDoc said:
It may be worth checking with your local council what their policy on using Vans for dump runs is. Surrey council require you to apply for a permit in advance if I want to use a Van (including hire vans), and if I am using a Van I can't dump 'Construction and DIY waste', and their list of excluded items is exactly the kind of waste you produce when doing any sort of DIY or gardening. An Estate car however has no such issues.
How about a Skoda Roomester? Similar size to the small commercial panel vans but it's 'real' car, and it looks like you can get a bike inside without requiring a spanner, and if you are willing to remove the front wheel Skoda have bike racks that allow up to three bikes to stored in the car, and it's a 5 seater when you need it. Plus, as it's based on the Fabia/Octavia there is a range of petrol and diesel options.
I would have thought that that might make driving it a tad difficult...How about a Skoda Roomester? Similar size to the small commercial panel vans but it's 'real' car, and it looks like you can get a bike inside without requiring a spanner, and if you are willing to remove the front wheel Skoda have bike racks that allow up to three bikes to stored in the car, and it's a 5 seater when you need it. Plus, as it's based on the Fabia/Octavia there is a range of petrol and diesel options.
However an MPV with removable rear seats might be a better bet - small vans tend to hold their value - for example, an Espace for 1400
Noesph said:
Citroen C15, there not very nice to drive (they are basically a 70's Citroen Visa, but they were making them up to 2005), but there very simple and basic, but very reliable. In my experience they seem to go on forever, hard to break and very cheap to buy.
Noooooo!We had one at work, and managed to get it sent up to Shetland as we couldn't kill the horrible thing. Then the two of us that organised its departure ended up working in Shetland for the best part of a year and driving it daily! It was treated badly, offroaded at speed and never serviced. I just can't bring myself to go there.
Looked at the Espace, it does look properly cheap. I don't know if the running/repairing costs would be higher than the more simple vans.
I can get a Berlingo or Combo for around 1000-1500 for something that looks decent.
Edited by Speed addicted on Saturday 11th January 18:18
Speed addicted said:
Noesph said:
Citroen C15, there not very nice to drive (they are basically a 70's Citroen Visa, but they were making them up to 2005), but there very simple and basic, but very reliable. In my experience they seem to go on forever, hard to break and very cheap to buy.
Noooooo!We had one at work, and managed to get it sent up to Shetland as we couldn't kill the horrible thing. Then the two of us that organised its departure ended up working in Shetland for the best part of a year and driving it daily! It was treated badly, offroaded at speed and never serviced. I just can't bring myself to go there.
Looked at the Espace, it does look properly cheap. I don't know if the running/repairing costs would be higher than the more simple vans.
I can get a Berlingo or Combo for around 1000-1500 for something that looks decent.
Edited by Speed addicted on Saturday 11th January 18:18
I know, there not nice in anyway. My brother has one for work, had it about 4 years now. He killed every other car / van he's had in no time, but he can't kill the C15.I'd buy the berlingo, I've drove all sorts of vans and quite like the berlingo. My Dad has a Kangoo and I've had a few too and the rear load space isn't as generous as the Berlingo, plus the Berlingo is a better van to drive. A wee bit more powerful, roomier cabin, lighter steering, just a nicer van. All the vans I've had apart from my Trafic which I own have been works vans so you can imagine the abuse I gave them :smilie: and the Berlingo would be my van of choice if I didn't need a Trafic sized van. Don't buy a Vauxhall Combo, horrible things.
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