Family van ownership
Discussion
Looking to change our Subaru Outback to a family van at some point and need some general information.
What one do you have and why?
Running costs?
What is it like to live with?
Where did you buy it?
Any good websites for info or an old forum on here that I haven’t found?
Background - we currently have 2 kids and 1 German Shepherd and we’re possibly going to have a 3rd kid next year along with possibly getting another Shepherd. I need something future proof for an active, outdoor family. We do 12-13,000 miles a year on mainly country roads with some town driving and we go on days out regularly with grandparents.
What one do you have and why?
Running costs?
What is it like to live with?
Where did you buy it?
Any good websites for info or an old forum on here that I haven’t found?
Background - we currently have 2 kids and 1 German Shepherd and we’re possibly going to have a 3rd kid next year along with possibly getting another Shepherd. I need something future proof for an active, outdoor family. We do 12-13,000 miles a year on mainly country roads with some town driving and we go on days out regularly with grandparents.
What one do you have and why? A caddy because I got offered it dirt cheap(was looking for a van though for my job) 
Running costs? Don't know specifics but I have a 70mile commute and use £70. Before the price jump I'd do it on £35 but I also drove a bit less enthusiastically too on the way home.
What is it like to live with? Great, looks good,drives good. Wouldn't be without it now.
Where did you buy it? Off a maintenance company my mate works for.
Any good websites for info or an old forum on here that I haven’t found? Caddy2k
You can convert the panel van to have a 2nd row of seats for the full van feel or get the life version which is the car version.
Running costs? Don't know specifics but I have a 70mile commute and use £70. Before the price jump I'd do it on £35 but I also drove a bit less enthusiastically too on the way home.
What is it like to live with? Great, looks good,drives good. Wouldn't be without it now.
Where did you buy it? Off a maintenance company my mate works for.
Any good websites for info or an old forum on here that I haven’t found? Caddy2k
You can convert the panel van to have a 2nd row of seats for the full van feel or get the life version which is the car version.
So first thing, do you want an actual van, perhaps with a 'crew cab' ie two rows of seats?
Or a van-based MPV like a VW Transporter, Transit Tourneo, Merc V-Class?
Or a big car-based MPV like a Galaxy, Toyota Previa/Alphard etc?
All come with different trade-offs.
Incidentally the former PH writer Dan Trent has a detailed blog talking about how satisfied he is with what appears to be a crew cab Transit, seems to meet his 'active family' needs really well.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/content/longterm-revi...
My parents had a Previa for about a decade and I drove it a bit, pretty good all around, 2.4L engine and autobox work well together, handled neatly, reliable. They stopped selling them here ages ago but many ppl import them (Estima in the JDM) along with their grander Alphard and Vellfire derivatives. So I generally think they're a pretty decent bet.
Or a van-based MPV like a VW Transporter, Transit Tourneo, Merc V-Class?
Or a big car-based MPV like a Galaxy, Toyota Previa/Alphard etc?
All come with different trade-offs.
Incidentally the former PH writer Dan Trent has a detailed blog talking about how satisfied he is with what appears to be a crew cab Transit, seems to meet his 'active family' needs really well.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/content/longterm-revi...
My parents had a Previa for about a decade and I drove it a bit, pretty good all around, 2.4L engine and autobox work well together, handled neatly, reliable. They stopped selling them here ages ago but many ppl import them (Estima in the JDM) along with their grander Alphard and Vellfire derivatives. So I generally think they're a pretty decent bet.
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