Anyone know anything about vans????
Anyone know anything about vans????
Author
Discussion

loudpedal

Original Poster:

3,945 posts

296 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
quotequote all
OK chaps, I may need to buy a van for work purposes... but know sod all about them... Need a mid-size van, maybe Kangoo size. Any recommendations? Rear wheel (or 4 wheel) drive is much preferred as I am a snob like that.

Cheers

Loudpedal

>>> Edited by loudpedal on Thursday 12th December 14:14

littlegearl

3,139 posts

284 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
quotequote all
erm, mk 1 escort van?
morris minor van?
and others...

can't think of any 4wd unless you have an angle grinder and a new 'box, propshaft, diff. etc...

Podie

46,649 posts

302 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
quotequote all
Vans? er... white ones are fast.

You buying new or secondhand? If new, Ford Transit Connect... just won "van of the year"...

Aprisa

1,891 posts

285 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
quotequote all
We run mainly Renault and they are Ok with a good parts supply. Not much crap about nowadays so the best bet is to go for one from a grey import place such as www.trade-sales.co.uk and get it serviced yourself, all the three year warranty stuff goes out of the window for a properly used commercial. Ours do about 100K a year with only minor hiccups.
HTH Nick

loudpedal

Original Poster:

3,945 posts

296 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
quotequote all

Podie said: Vans? er... white ones are fast.

You buying new or secondhand? If new, Ford Transit Connect... just won "van of the year"...


Oh of course it will be white. The only colour to have. No self respecting homicidal maniac would drive anyfink else.

I think new... Will not do heavy Mileage (maybe 20,000 p.a)

Transit connect looks ok, but have driven a fwd transit hi top and it drove like woolly sh1t: near death in every corner. Hence the rwd thing.

andyparrott

1,756 posts

310 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
quotequote all
Sprinters are quick (especially the 160bhp version) and RWD but probably a bit bigger than you want

JMGS4

8,904 posts

297 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
quotequote all
I use a VW-Polo Van (they call it a Caddy here), with the cheapest 60hp petrol engine, does around 140kph flat out, can load almost 3/4 tonne, is comfortable, well built and is cheap to run... 2 star... and a damn sight faster than all the numpties. very good handling a bit of understeer when you REALLY thrash it, get the ABS addditionally. otherwise as bogstandard as bog makes it. and the multiuse tyres are great even in thick snow!
Even my wife loves it, and she can't drive, she just gravitates from point to point using a vehicle......No bull, just a great and reliable and CHEAP lil van.....
NB there is a very cheap running TDI version but a good bit more expensive to buy, but it may be less thirsty in the long run if you're doing real miles....

>> Edited by JMGS4 on Thursday 12th December 15:25

gtir

24,741 posts

293 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
quotequote all
I have a white 98 (R reg) Ford Fiesta Courier (hi cube) van that I may be selling. 80k, some service history and two owners from new.
Cambelt and service in March.

Its a 1.8 diesel.
MOT till 4/03, Tax 3/03
Only £1400 o.n.o

>> Edited by gtir on Thursday 12th December 15:28

Podie

46,649 posts

302 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
quotequote all

loudpedal said:

Podie said: Vans? er... white ones are fast.

You buying new or secondhand? If new, Ford Transit Connect... just won "van of the year"...


Oh of course it will be white. The only colour to have. No self respecting homicidal maniac would drive anyfink else.

I think new... Will not do heavy Mileage (maybe 20,000 p.a)

Transit connect looks ok, but have driven a fwd transit hi top and it drove like woolly sh1t: near death in every corner. Hence the rwd thing.


Transit hi-top is very different to the standard transit, and the connect is the new smaller (medium sized) van... quite car like in it's handling. Take one for a spin.

Seem to be a lot of Peugeot Boxer vans around... and the Merc Sprinters are pretty nippy, but might be a bit big.

Fatboy

8,267 posts

299 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
quotequote all
They do 4WD Sprinters...

And of course there's nothing faster than a dirty white Astramax...

filmidget

682 posts

309 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
quotequote all
Peugot do I small 4wd van - kango sized but can't remember the name.

Unfortunately (I am guessing for you) it's also been given a huge ride height/ground clearance and big-ish tyres to go with the 4wd.

Cheers, Phil

bob the planner

4,695 posts

296 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
quotequote all

JMGS4 said: I use a VW-Polo Van (they call it a Caddy here), with the cheapest 60hp petrol engine, does around 140kph flat out, can load almost 3/4 tonne, is comfortable, well built and is cheap to run... 2 star... and a damn sight faster than all the numpties. very good handling a bit of understeer when you REALLY thrash it, get the ABS addditionally. otherwise as bogstandard as bog makes it. and the multiuse tyres are great even in thick snow!
Even my wife loves it, and she can't drive, she just gravitates from point to point using a vehicle......No bull, just a great and reliable and CHEAP lil van.....
NB there is a very cheap running TDI version but a good bit more expensive to buy, but it may be less thirsty in the long run if you're doing real miles....

>> Edited by JMGS4 on Thursday 12th December 15:25


You could try getting hold of the Caddy used at Thruxton in September in the VW Racing Cup. IIRC it had the same 2l as te Golf TDi and was pretty quick, although it skipped through most of the fast corners before it retired !

Bob

skippy_oz

36 posts

283 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
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Mercedes Vito is smaller than Sprinter, and nice drive. RWD I think.

rpguk

4,514 posts

311 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
quotequote all
How about a BMW Z3 van?



>> Edited by rpguk on Thursday 12th December 18:29

dennisthemenace

15,605 posts

295 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
quotequote all

rpguk said: How about a BMW Z3 van?







Ive got a new vauxhurl combo (cant getaway from soddin vauxhurl) its got a 1.7 16v diesel lump thrown under the bonnet goes fairly well and has a side loading door so its very practical with what i do , the 1.7 DTI engine is a lot better but if you want a decent van get the 2.0 DI astra van puts the sh1ts up sprinters and the one i had came with an auto box with sports mode etc so it would red line in every gear , Good fun

dennisthemenace

15,605 posts

295 months

Thursday 12th December 2002
quotequote all
Oh and its silver not white

littlegearl

3,139 posts

284 months

Friday 13th December 2002
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those damn vauxhall vivaros are fooking quick...

i was doing 95mph on the motorway and it passed me at about 110 without any effort - it looked like it could go quicker as well,

they're probably a bit big for you as they're a small transit size but smaller than the movano

jmorgan

36,010 posts

311 months

Friday 13th December 2002
quotequote all
Maybe too large but Transits ok. Fun when empty, sideways around roundabouts. Escorts as well, nothing special but up to the job. Larger, Lwb transit and sprinters, sprinters better build and gear box, engine etc. Iveco cr@p. Elbow knackering gear box.
What are you meaning ti shift?

littlegearl

3,139 posts

284 months

Friday 13th December 2002
quotequote all
whatever you do don't buy an escort van, 1st gear going up hills... on the motorway...

and NEVER go near the LDV 3.5 tonner, it has 90bhp and is shite.

kevinday

13,766 posts

307 months

Friday 13th December 2002
quotequote all
Peugeot Partner