I aim to buy my first van at the end of this year..

[WaterTight]

I'm not a car person and know jack all - so rather than get shafted looking for bargains I thought it best to hedge my bets and go for a small/medium van (it's all I need) with reasonably low mileage and spend about 2.5 - 3k. I'm thinking if it's got service history (or at least part service history,) fairly low mileage (which can be checked) and one of the types that loads of people seem to go for (carry / expert / combo / berlingo) I'd have to be quite unlucky to get something about to fall apart. Does this sound like it should work as a plan? Or would it be madness not to try and get it looked over by someone independant (at great cost no doubt...)

As a sidepoint - why the hell are vans so expensive? It looks to me like cars are generally cheaper. I mean obviously you can spend lots on a car but there are lots of cheap cars. There don't seem to be any cheap vans. The only ones that seem cheap turn out to have 200k on the clock and appear to have been banger racing. I thought it might simply be because they're bigger and therefore more materials used but big vans are really not all that more expensive than small vans. Is it because they're built to be tougher or something?

Any other tips would be appreciated.

 

[Resolute]

It's probably best to get someone else to look over it if you can. Also it might be worth buying from a garage rather then privately as it's slightly safer.
Things you need to consider are age, mileage, condition, service history etc.
Where abouts are you based? If your in the south east and likely to work within the M25 then you need to consider the low emission zone.
There are cheap vans around, you just need to look for them but it also helps if you do have some knowledge of vehicles so you know what to look for.

 

[Guest123]

I originally looked at a small to medium sized van, but decided against it, Vans quickly fill up with everything you already have and what you add in the future. So I opted for a LWB transit and racked it out from end to end. It's like a mobile plumbers merchants! I've got everything in it, as well as about every conceivable pipe fitting I'm likely to need, I've got drills, grinders, my pipe rack and even my table saw on board and still have space for bathroom suites and rubbish removal. It's the best purchase I've bought and as I can get a emergency call out to work in the middle of nowhere in the wee small hours, I'm not relying on a plumbers merchant as I've usually got the fittings to repair bursts etc.
Basically a small van may tide you over in the short term but you could be left with it as vans are hard to sell if your business really takes off and you need something bigger.
By the way the fuel economy on my LWB Transit is better than my Mazda estate!

 

[Resolute]

Only problem with a bigger van is parking!!!

Do you leave all your gear in your van though? I don't leave anything in mine!

 

[Phil]

I'd love a nice big van but I would just fill it with expensive tools/equipment and then have them all nicked. Also these big vans are amongt the most hated on the roads as they block peoples veiw.

Also I would never be able to park it.

What do you use now watertight, car?

Push along trolley? 😱mg_smile:

 

[WaterTight]

I use a car. And through necessity-inspired-ingenuity have managed to fit more in it - accessibly and reasonably neatly - then I see people use small vans to carry. About 8 large cases of fittings, all powertools, a mini plastic chest of waste fittings, a crate of toilet parts, buckets, hoses, an extendable ladder, electronic, pipe freezer, open tote tool bag, 2.5 metre lengths of pipes run down the side - 1 1/4 inside 1 1/2, 15mm inside 22mm, bags of fixings, spares, a huge hold-all of traps and wastes. It all fits and I can get at all of it with relatively little rumaging - and because it's a car it all sits side by side and stays put. The main reason I want a van is actually because of appearances and looking professional.

 

[Resolute]

That's a lot in a car! What do you drive?

Before I brought my little van I used the family car - trying to fit everything in a vectra for a bathroom install was a nightmare and meant I forgot things (although I still forget to put things in the van so prob says more about me then the vehicle)!!!

 

[WaterTight]

Oh it's a huuuuge car...

Wait for it.....wait for it......




(not my actual one pictured..) You'd be surpsied with 1.5 yrs worth of organising, reorganising, head scratching and jigging and re-jigging. There's litereall not an inch besides the driver's seat wasted. I even bought those things that hang down the back of the seats for maps and kids games and what not and keep silicone tubes and oddments in them. Even the passenger footwell contains a selections of taps. The reat footwells contain bags of fittings too.

I'm actually concerned that when I get a van I'll be irritated by how much things will move around, I'll need some decent racking. good thing about a car as well is I just sling a messy dust sheet over everything at the end of the day and it looks of no interest to thieves. Looks like a bag lady is sleeping in it.

 

[Phil]

I have a Combo and the passanger seat has a massive permenent box of waster traps on it with a seat belt round it and the footwell has a similar box with waste pipe fittings although finding a certain one (normally right at bottom) means you have to make a right mess.One thing I've never been able to organise is my silicone tubes, I have 15 - 20 normally. Pink grip, builders mastic Dow Corning etc, at the moment they are in a plastic tub but I'd like to rack them up somewhere so I can pick the one I want without having to trash my van everytime I wasnt one.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

I'm not a car person and know jack all - so rather than get shafted looking for bargains I thought it best to hedge my bets and go for a small/medium van (it's all I need) with reasonably low mileage and spend about 2.5 - 3k. I'm thinking if it's got service history (or at least part service history,) fairly low mileage (which can be checked) and one of the types that loads of people seem to go for (carry / expert / combo / berlingo) I'd have to be quite unlucky to get something about to fall apart. Does this sound like it should work as a plan? Or would it be madness not to try and get it looked over by someone independant (at great cost no doubt...)

As a sidepoint - why the hell are vans so expensive? It looks to me like cars are generally cheaper. I mean obviously you can spend lots on a car but there are lots of cheap cars. There don't seem to be any cheap vans. The only ones that seem cheap turn out to have 200k on the clock and appear to have been banger racing. I thought it might simply be because they're bigger and therefore more materials used but big vans are really not all that more expensive than small vans. Is it because they're built to be tougher or something?

Any other tips would be appreciated.

for this much money and required service history and low mileage ,you have just one option put those money as deposit and drive a way a used vw transporter or merc vito van ,will never regret my advise

 

[Phil]

My electrician (poor lad) has had his Vito broken into 3 times this year and ALL his power/hand tools stolen each time. Insurance payed out for 1st lot but the other two times he had to pay.

He said he would never get another Vito as the locks are so easily chisled.

His words not mine, I've never had one.

 

[armyash]

Only tip i'm in a position to offer is take someone with you to look it over. Best bet is get yourself on some kind of car/van enthusiast forum and see if there is anyone local who would be willing to look it over for you. They might want a small fee but you might get lucky and they might do it for nothing as they will probably be happy to come along and feel clever showing you whats what!

Have a chat with them over the phone/online just to make sure you are singing off the same song sheet then jobs a goodun.

Will be better than getting ripped off and at the end of the day you don't have to take the van if you're not happy with it regardless of what the guy says.

just an idea 🙂

 

[arran197]

Transit Connect LWB. Don't bother with a Berlingo. They're too small. The normal Connect is too small. The Transit is too big. This is what I have found, I drive loads of vans. For our proffession, Transit Connect LWB all the way. Had one for 18 months as daily transport from the company I used to work for. It was great. Not the best for fuel economy, but handled great, had plenty of rear space and was reliable. Should be readily available in a variety of colours and specs. Mine was fitted with a/c, rear parking sensors, cd player, full sized passenger seat, 4 air bags, remote central locking, alarm, extra interior lighting and fully racked out in the back. But you can get them with even more kit, electric windows etc.

I now drive a New Berlingo every day and it isn't a patch. The interior is more car like, so is a nicer place to be and has cd player, electric windows. But the body roll is terrible, the gearbox feels like it's made of cheesecake and the back is no where near big enough.

 

[Mrs Tara Plumbi]

I know nothing about vans cars etc.. they are just a way of getting from A to B.
But as long as I've known Mr TP every new van he gets is bigger than the last.
He says there is little difference in price between SWB MWB & LWB so get the biggest so big things fit in - like 3m copper also sheets of plaster board.

Now, we have 3 kids and when I found I was pregnant with twins i did what all parents of twins do - sold the Ford Escort to get the car with the biggest boot - a Vectra.
I hate it but the boot is a tardis.
Now I'm getting rid and plan to get double cab (6 seats) van instead of car - I wish i had thought of it when they were babies - it would have been easiet to carry around all that baby stuff!
Mr TP is trying to convimce me that I should get MWB but I am sure SWB is quite big enough for twin pushchair and Tesco's shopping! - Bit of a shock for those who break in hoping to steal tools!

Anyway if you can work out of a car then a well organised SWB should be easy.

Buying new on finance can out better deal than buying old used - I know, I've bought a lot of old cars.
Leasing can be excellent ONLY IF you do low milages - typicially less than 10,000 p year - this will suit me so I probably will probably lease a Vivaro.

Also changing to a van from car - a diesel engine should do more than twice as many miles as petrol - well over 200,000

 

[arran197]

Vivaros are good vans. Very economical and the interior has some good cubby holes. Drives quite nice too. Not as good as Ford vans though.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

I'm not a car person and know jack all - so rather than get shafted looking for bargains I thought it best to hedge my bets and go for a small/medium van (it's all I need) with reasonably low mileage and spend about 2.5 - 3k. I'm thinking if it's got service history (or at least part service history,) fairly low mileage (which can be checked) and one of the types that loads of people seem to go for (carry / expert / combo / berlingo) I'd have to be quite unlucky to get something about to fall apart. Does this sound like it should work as a plan? Or would it be madness not to try and get it looked over by someone independant (at great cost no doubt...)

As a sidepoint - why the hell are vans so expensive? It looks to me like cars are generally cheaper. I mean obviously you can spend lots on a car but there are lots of cheap cars. There don't seem to be any cheap vans. The only ones that seem cheap turn out to have 200k on the clock and appear to have been banger racing. I thought it might simply be because they're bigger and therefore more materials used but big vans are really not all that more expensive than small vans. Is it because they're built to be tougher or something?

Any other tips would be appreciated.

out of all the vehicles you have listed,the expert/scudo is a good size,seats 3 up front with a push if its the mk 1 like mine it comes with 3 engines 1.9 which is gutless but good on diesel,1.9 td or the one i have the 2.0 hdi which will take out most cars but with power comes bigger diesel bills get the van from a dealer you will pay a bit more but the head failed on mine (because the previous owner let it run out of water) but the dealer picked up the bill since its been fixed its been excellent,can get all my kit in and its reliable

 

[GQuigley67]

I've got a swb transit 2.2 tdci transit, i still havent racked it out ye but it is pretty much full at the moment, got a steel bulkhead fitted aswell so now i don't hear things moving about as much which is great !! Transit is ideal for taking away scrap like boilers etc, but anything like bathroom suites i refuse and just say i dont have a license for waste removal 😛

 

[Guest123]

I've got a swb transit 2.2 tdci transit, i still havent racked it out ye but it is pretty much full at the moment, got a steel bulkhead fitted aswell so now i don't hear things moving about as much which is great !! Transit is ideal for taking away scrap like boilers etc, but anything like bathroom suites i refuse and just say i dont have a license for waste removal 😛

Our local council charges me £40 for the privilege of recycling my waste. Taking the pee out of local business they are. I take 3 or 4 old bathrooms and waste at a time to get my money's worth out of the £40 fee.

 

[GQuigley67]

i just refuse to take it, unless its valuable of course 😛 I just recommend a hippo bag now

 

[Guest123]

i just refuse to take it, unless its valuable of course 😛 I just recommend a hippo bag now

Unfortunately it's one of the first things they ask me is about taking away the old suite. It's a selling point that I'm able to do this for them, though I hate it.

 

[cdodds2004]

had a transit connect its defo a good van for the price 3k and mine served me excellent just upgraded to a vivaro its bigger but i need extra room now to carry alot of spares on the van going to be economical with my time this winter and minimize 2nd returns to jobs!

selling my connect mate if ur interested 04 plate 52k good nick 🙂

 

[Spanner2k7]

I had a nice
lwb transit connect It was ideal could get my tools in and a complete bathroom suite, only downside was I bought a dual fuel, petrol/ LPG, thought I could save money using LPG, what we did not know (my mate got one aswell) the fuel ecomomy was awful. Got about 23MPG on the gas and 29mpg on petrol. The other we did not know was that you cannot run them on just gas.
Drove mine hard down the motor way and notice it started missing, (had to have a coil assembly).

Told my mate about and in 4 weeks he said his van was under powered, took it in and he had burnt out the valve, it was going to cost £1200 to fix.

All because the engine does not have any lubrication from the gas, so either you run it half on gas and half on petrol, or get a lubrication kit fitted.

Other than that it was a good van.

 

[jase158]

I have a Combo and the passanger seat has a massive permenent box of waster traps on it with a seat belt round it and the footwell has a similar box with waste pipe fittings although finding a certain one (normally right at bottom) means you have to make a right mess.One thing I've never been able to organise is my silicone tubes, I have 15 - 20 normally. Pink grip, builders mastic Dow Corning etc, at the moment they are in a plastic tub but I'd like to rack them up somewhere so I can pick the one I want without having to trash my van everytime I wasnt one.

I get 110mm pipe and screw them in to my racking then can fit 2-3 in each,, has to be on the floor though oherwise they will fall out, either that or get a box to put them in, wine box, i.e.

 

[jase158]

I'm not a car person and know jack all - so rather than get shafted looking for bargains I thought it best to hedge my bets and go for a small/medium van (it's all I need) with reasonably low mileage and spend about 2.5 - 3k. I'm thinking if it's got service history (or at least part service history,) fairly low mileage (which can be checked) and one of the types that loads of people seem to go for (carry / expert / combo / berlingo) I'd have to be quite unlucky to get something about to fall apart. Does this sound like it should work as a plan? Or would it be madness not to try and get it looked over by someone independant (at great cost no doubt...)

As a sidepoint - why the hell are vans so expensive? It looks to me like cars are generally cheaper. I mean obviously you can spend lots on a car but there are lots of cheap cars. There don't seem to be any cheap vans. The only ones that seem cheap turn out to have 200k on the clock and appear to have been banger racing. I thought it might simply be because they're bigger and therefore more materials used but big vans are really not all that more expensive than small vans. Is it because they're built to be tougher or something?

Any other tips would be appreciated.

I went to BCA, (british car auctions) they have a commercial vechile sale once a week, all old british gas, royal mail, southern electrical and ex finance vehicles, you can choose exactly which one you have been looking for, the mileage is average, depending on price your willing to pay, Full service history on 90% you can go and have a look at it starting up, before you buy, check it out, hear it run and sometimes they are even already shelved.
The only 2 things I would say is, 1. take a mechanic friend with you, he will instantly tell you if there is something wrong with it or not (if you know one)
2. go once to see how it all works, and do not buy anything this time, Just a practise run, i.e.

 

[armourer]

I bought an 04 Citreon Dispatch about a month ago.
Ex meals on wheels wagon so no hard driving and only 40K mileage.

One owner and full service history, cost me £2000.
Decent sized van and very reliable.
The garage I get them from buys them direct and valets them then knocks them out on a quick turnover and £200 mark up.

If your in the midlands pm me and I will put you on to them.