Van advice

[mike33445566]

Hello I'm looking for some advice on choosing a van.
I have a few ideas what I want my van to do but can't seem to find one that fits the bill.

I use a motorbike for work so it will mainly be used for a quick school run or at weekends ideally for camping or trip to beach.
I use my bike 90% of the year unless it's icy or snowing which can vary how long that hangs round but I'd use the van then also.

So it needs at least 4 seats.
Would be great if the seats can fold down flat for a bed for a quick overnight stay somewhere.
I dont want it too big.

Ii don't have a big budget. 5-6k.

I've looked at
Bongos and delicas but worried about old Japanese imports servicing rust and old diesels and poor mpg
Considered toyota alphards and nissa elgrands. They look a bit too swish on the inside wouldn't want muddy walking boots in there or able to chuck the bikes in also large old petrol engines would be a fortune to run..

Toyota hiace or granvia as a diesel can't see many of these bur could be a goer.. or old Toyota previa. Maybe a Ford galaxy would be fine?

Finally I'm thinking maybe best idea is an old crew van
Vivaro, transporter type with rock and roll bed in.
Or honda step wagon have smaller 2l petrol engine and don't seem as swish as the other Japanese imports.

Can anyone recommend the van I'm looking for?

Your help is much appreciated.

Thanks..

Mike.

[kiethton]

Slight over budget Tourneo Connect:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206156...

Caddy Maxi (hopefully one with fewer miles):

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204275...

Citroen Berlingo/Peugeot equivalent:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206206...

[mike33445566]

Cheers for this toruneo looks very cool.
I always thought these style vans would be out of my price range.
Will add these to the list.

[R56Cooper]

I have a 2011 Merc Vito W639 as a daily driver (camper conversion) and am really pleased with it. Mine's the short wheel base / compact so fits in standard parking bays without overhangs.

Engine is 2.2 diesel, lots of reports of them doing 500-600k miles. Think mine is the fairly low powered one but there are more powerful versions.

Drives like a van but to be fair, it hustles along quite nicely and is rear wheel drive.

Anything after 2006 is galvanised so no rust issues. I know Merc Sprinters and earlier vitos had massive rust issues but touch wood mine's been fine.

Other point I really like is that it has sliding doors on both sides, whereas a lot of VW vans I see about only seem to have them on one side. There is the option of a lifting tailgate or barn doors, I have the tailgate, great for sheltering under when it's raining.

I think vans in general have gone a bit crazy in price, think lots have been doing camper conversions.

Hope that helps, the guy who built mine https://www.redfishcampers.co.uk only does Vitos and he reckons they're far superior to the other comparable vans.

ETA having checked Autotrader post-2006 Vitos might be slightly beyond budget but just an idea.

Edited by R56Cooper on Wednesday 13th July 13:24

[twing]

Plenty of Vivaros around that price. Fit a "Tip & Tumble" seat in the back and you'll have plenty of room for the bed. Can get side windows fitted when budget permits.

[mike33445566]

Thanks for the replies.
I'd looked at vitos actually. Yeah the engine get great reviews.
Maybe could stretch the budget if its worth. Dont think they're seats go flat but as previously said could grt them swapped..

Re the vivaro. I think is probably best option and I can maybe adapt it for what I need.

Cheers.

[Al U]

kiethton said:

Slight over budget Tourneo Connect:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206156...

Thread hijack. What's the point of the piece of tat on the bonnet? If just aesthetics then wow.

[magpie215]

I've got an RG1 Stepwagon....Great versatile and nippy for its size.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say if you up the budget the i800 is well worth a look:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207097...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206307...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207027...

They're a bit over budget but they make a lot of sense & you can remove the third row of seats easily.

[nismo48]

Vivaro a good bet

mike33445566 said:

Thanks for the replies.
I'd looked at vitos actually. Yeah the engine get great reviews.
Maybe could stretch the budget if its worth. Dont think they're seats go flat but as previously said could grt them swapped..

Re the vivaro. I think is probably best option and I can maybe adapt it for what I need.

Cheers.

[DaveyBoyWonder]

Al U said:

Thread hijack. What's the point of the piece of tat on the bonnet? If just aesthetics then wow.

Supposedly stops the bonnet from getting stone chipped but I don't think anyone really fits them for that. I think some people thing they look good (they're wrong)...

[R56Cooper]

DaveyBoyWonder said:

Al U said:

Thread hijack. What's the point of the piece of tat on the bonnet? If just aesthetics then wow.

Supposedly stops the bonnet from getting stone chipped but I don't think anyone really fits them for that. I think some people thing they look good (they're wrong)...

Typically seen fitted to knackered vehicles whose bonnets are already stone chipped.

Bizarre, protect your vehicle from damage by fitting a huge chunk of plastic to the front. Each to there own!

[KTMsm]

If you don't need a van and can get away with an MPV you'll get far better VFM

The bigger the van the worse the MPG and most have few comforts (eg Aircon) vans can also be awkward to insure and most have lower speed limits

However I drive a Vito as I need it's bigger size and I like that I can throw a dirt bike and a mattress in the back and head off for a dirty weekend

[Silvanus]

If you are looking at Vivaros, Transporters and Vitos, take a look at the Hyundai i800

[mike33445566]

magpie215 said:

I've got an RG1 Stepwagon....Great versatile and nippy for its size.

Thanks I've seen these. Was pretty interested not seen any upclose. I've had a couple of honda bikes and cars so know they're reliable. Are they OK for parts and servicing?

Cheers.

[biggbn]

Hyundai, as others have suggested. Something pleasingly old school and indestructible feeling about them. Low tech, rwd, big diesel lump, what's not to like?

[soad]

R56Cooper said:

DaveyBoyWonder said:

Al U said:

Thread hijack. What's the point of the piece of tat on the bonnet? If just aesthetics then wow.

Supposedly stops the bonnet from getting stone chipped but I don't think anyone really fits them for that. I think some people thing they look good (they're wrong)...

Typically seen fitted to knackered vehicles whose bonnets are already stone chipped.

Bizarre, protect your vehicle from damage by fitting a huge chunk of plastic to the front. Each to there own!

I wondered about these also. Then again, my windscreen got damaged twice on a motorway...HGVs are to blame, stay well away from them.

[Al U]

soad said:

R56Cooper said:

DaveyBoyWonder said:

Al U said:

Thread hijack. What's the point of the piece of tat on the bonnet? If just aesthetics then wow.

Supposedly stops the bonnet from getting stone chipped but I don't think anyone really fits them for that. I think some people thing they look good (they're wrong)...

Typically seen fitted to knackered vehicles whose bonnets are already stone chipped.

Bizarre, protect your vehicle from damage by fitting a huge chunk of plastic to the front. Each to there own!

I wondered about these also. Then again, my windscreen got damaged twice on a motorway...HGVs are to blame, stay well away from them.

Unless you think that sticking a piece of tat to the leading edge of the bonnet is somehow going to attract stones to hit that area instead of your windscreen I don't think it would have made much difference.

I remember when I used to do 25k miles per year and one year I think I went through 4 windscreens.

[mike33445566]

KTMsm said:

If you don't need a van and can get away with an MPV you'll get far better VFM

The bigger the van the worse the MPG and most have few comforts (eg Aircon) vans can also be awkward to insure and most have lower speed limits

However I drive a Vito as I need it's bigger size and I like that I can throw a dirt bike and a mattress in the back and head off for a dirty weekend

Thanks. I cant seem to find an mpv that suits at the moment need to take a look at the hyundai as people have suggested
Looked at chrysler grand voyager they're pretty big.

[magpie215]

mike33445566 said:

magpie215 said:

I've got an RG1 Stepwagon....Great versatile and nippy for its size.

Thanks I've seen these. Was pretty interested not seen any upclose. I've had a couple of honda bikes and cars so know they're reliable. Are they OK for parts and servicing?

Cheers.

I'm a year into owning it.

No bother at all honda and specialists(Automatrix)can provide parts.

Big Facebook groups can be a help if issues crop up.

Glass can be an issue windscreens can be a wait if you need one.

K20 engine in mine so shares service parts with other domestic models.

I've no worries with it at all infact we are running it as our only car having dropped the other car last year.