Small van

[Wet dream]

Not sure if this is in correct place please move if not.

Looking for a new small van possible a ford connect, VW caddy or peugeot partner. Looking to spend around £4K.
Just looking for people's recommendations and exsperence with the above if there is one to stay away from.
Also not fixed on the van so if there is a better one that I have missed open to suggestions.


Cheers

 

[Keefy]

I'd look out for a VW Caddy, Ford Connect and if you're desperate the Peugeot - in that order. I'd normally just say stay away from anything French, particularly Citroen.

 

[Masood]

Have you considered a Vauxhall Combo? I've got one and it's a solid, reliable workhorse (so far!!!)

 

[Kyle87]

This is my vw caddy and I love it. My first van and there's plenty if room for kit. I'd get a toilet and basin if I needed to. New ones have a side door and look more like a van than mine. But I'd recommend it all day long. Heard bad things about combos and kangoos etc

 

[leethegasman]

Ford transit connects with two side loading doors are nice. you can rack them out to make the most of the small space and there are no dead spaces with the extra side door not easy to come across but they are out there.

 

[lame plumber]

for your money go for an ex fleet BG van, I had a kangoo as a first one all racked out, low mileage and served me ok until the missus drowned it at Xmas. Loads of auctions or garages to find one, seems they like vw or fords now.

 

[Wet dream]

I'd look out for a VW Caddy, Ford Connect and if you're desperate the Peugeot - in that order. I'd normally just say stay away from anything French, particularly Citroen.

Ok thanks.

 

[Wet dream]

Have you considered a Vauxhall Combo? I've got one and it's a solid, reliable workhorse (so far!!!)

No but I will have a look at them now thanks. How long you had it and what year and engine.

 

[Wet dream]

View attachment 13479
This is my vw caddy and I love it. My first van and there's plenty if room for kit. I'd get a toilet and basin if I needed to. New ones have a side door and look more like a van than mine. But I'd recommend it all day long. Heard bad things about combos and kangoos etc

Looks a nice clean van that bud. If you don't mind what you pay for it and what year and engine is it.

 

[Wet dream]

Ford transit connects with two side loading doors are nice. you can rack them out to make the most of the small space and there are no dead spaces with the extra side door not easy to come across but they are out there.

Ok will be sure to look out for one

 

[Wet dream]

for your money go for an ex fleet BG van, I had a kangoo as a first one all racked out, low mileage and served me ok until the missus drowned it at Xmas. Loads of auctions or garages to find one, seems they like vw or fords now.

Can you recommend any auctions

 

[Kyle87]

Looks a nice clean van that bud. If you don't mind what you pay for it and what year and engine is it.

It's 10 years old. It's a 1.9 I think. And I payed £1650

 

[Wet dream]

It's 10 years old. It's a 1.9 I think. And I payed £1650

Ok thanks

 

[mjheat]

Ive had both a Connect and Caddy Maxi!! I loved the Caddy, looked the business and was bigger than the Connect in the back!! TBH both where over £ 4000. I then went on the books with a large firm before being made redundant!! I ve now got a 10 year Connect for £1650 and wouldnt change it for the world!!! Hope it helps a little

 

[Plum Bob 66]

I'd look out for a VW Caddy, Ford Connect and if you're desperate the Peugeot - in that order. I'd normally just say stay away from anything French, particularly Citroen.

It's funny you should say that, I bought my berlingo lx 1.6 diesel brand new on a 59 plate and it hasn't missed a beat!

Plenty of room in the back, 43plus to the gallon. That said I would have to agree
that French motors generally are a sack of **** ?

My family car is a Vw passat cc and it blows away the pile of poo Megane I had previously.

 

[Plum Bob 66]

It's 10 years old. It's a 1.9 I think. And I payed £1650

Nice condition that Kyle !

 

[Kyle87]

Nice condition that Kyle !

Thanks. I'm well chuffed with it. But it's my first van so I'd be chuffed even if it was a tuc tuc.
It was owned by a bloke then by his son. Well looked after

 

[CXR100]

i bought a 2006 connect td220 swith a side door and has 125000 on the clock , payed 2000 for it, best van ive had so far!

 

[Kyle87]

That's my vans drawback. Side door. The newer caddy a have them. But mine is a golf with a box on the back.

I have to leave the middle clear as a walkway so I can access everything

 

[CXR100]

i had a astra van , same problem , but there was no full bulkhead, only half , so i could acsess somethings from the front seats, it did a mes when u put ur knee on the seat to get to the back after doing something on your knees on concerete! fantastic little van, fit 3m tubes from dash to rear tailgate and everything!!!

 

[Kyle87]

I could have got an Astra van fairly cheap but I drive an Astra car and didn't want to look like a bloody vauxhall rep.

 

[tomplumb83]

For anybody interested, BG Caddy for sale at Measham tomorrow. Veiwed it last week but now bought a van.
Its a 08 with 79k. Couple of Caddy Sportlines for sale too and in very good nick

 

[MattWeth]

I've got an 07 caddy SDi - cracking van. Spends its life full of oil boiler parts and tools and does 45mpg day in day out. Not the fastest but gets there and is a nice quiet, car like drive. I'd have another with no hesitation.

 

[kozak1968]

What ever van you choose get decent locks fitted, alarm, full bulkhead and no glass in the rear.

 

[dontknowitall]

I had a Connect and was well 'appy with it. I've known some with a Berlingo who've been well 'appy. Loads of people with Pugs and well 'appy. Etc, etc, etc.

Loads of stories around about how crumby the connect is. Loads about how useless the Berlingo is. Loads ...

You get the drift!!

To be honest, (now I've been around a little while), I think most small vans are fine.

Two things to look for. 1 - Open the bonnet. If sparkling clean, walk away. If quite clean, excellent.
2. Open back doors. Loads of scuff marks and the odd dent and one or two "Oh yuck!" marks. Yeah, fine! Vans get used - honest they do!
3. Open cabin. Clean in there? No ciggy marks? Clean dashboard? All the electrics work? Looks good? Obviously looked after then :smile:
Buy it

Anything else, walk.

Oh - I didn't know this when I started but dealers will drop their price just like when you buy a car!!! I had 10% knocked off without even asking!

I feel once you're down to the £4k mark the better vans will still be on the road.

 

[deandive]

Ive got an 06 connect with 116k on the clock, the steering wheels go to the dogs pretty quickly when driven with dirty hands mine looks like its done 250k, common faults include crank shaft oil seals going, which is pretty much a dealer job and exhausts rot at the back box. the paint scratches really easily, but it is a van at the end of the day and the bonnet shape lends itself to stone chips........ and red ones make you look like postman pat

 

[helpsy]

I got a Vauxhall Vivaro 08 swb, got it in 09 with 18 months warranty left started with 14k on the clock now got 48k. I had the pas pump replaced(warranty) noisy on lock. Also had an injector go down 2 weeks out of warranty, Vauxhall paid 3/4 of the bill. I find whatever size van you get you will fill up and wish you had bigger! I would have another Vivaro no problem. I know this post is about small vans, but thought I would post my insight.
Good luck.