big van or little van???

[Dave_]

Taking the plunge in a few weeks and working for myself, and im not 100% sure whether i'm going to buy a big van (got my eye on a VW T4 2.5 TDi they pull like a train) or a little van (VW caddy TDi, yes im generally a VW/Audi nut).

I had a Berlingo for 5 years with my ex employer and it was nippy, so great round town (like a car) but the downside was it was a bit small for storing kit and i found it was hard to keep tidy as there was never room (must admit tho wasn't allowed to put any shelving in, boss was adamant for some reason). Also a bit dodgy to drive with a big cable drum in the back.

I've kind of got my heart set on the bigger T4 transporter but i'm a little worried i may regret it. I'll be working in London a lot. But if i get a small van i think i'll be pushed for space.

Does anybody have trackers installed in their vans?? or dont bother as people thieve your tools and not the van?? any additional locks alarms etc? tools taken indoors overnight?? van vaults etc??

What do you drive? small van or big van and why??

Thanks everybody!

Dave

 

[Dave_]

Dave_

I paid 6k for an 06 T5 (standard, white, lined , but grubby) in 2008....so it was jusy out of the 3 year warranty.

I sold it 6 months ago for 6k. But it had been relined, new bits here and there, it was tidy and serviced to death since I owned it.

I think you could get a t5 for 3 or 4 k

I found one t5 for £3900 with 197k on the clock. I'd say around 5k for a decent one. I cant really spend much more than 3k (havent even earnt the money yet, planning to buy in a few months) and for that i'd rather a tidy t4 with less than 100k on the clock. There are some really nice ones out there. Just gotta find em!!

 

[GLENNSPARK]

see no mention here of the LDV pilot.....ex postal....so always carried light loads...1.9 diesel...so cheap to run and cheaper to insure than a transit.....plenty of em cheap as owt on ebay...and they dont seem to rust like a transit either....only thing with em is i dont think they came as a hightop.....so its a roofrack with em i`m afraid.....but look like a good starter van to me.....

 

[prospark]

only one option for me, the Transporter, i drive a T28 swb 1.9tdi on 08 plate,won't even consider anything else these days, last van i drove apart from VW was Bedford rascal van as apprentice(scary stuff).Only word of caution,don,t fall for the 84PS models,fine on test drive but when loaded you could walk quicker!

 

[jase]

just a thought, if you are going to be working in london quite a lot then what size van can you go upto without paying for the emission zone thing? as that is £100 a day isnt it? on top of £10 a day congestion charge

 

[Guest123]

VW for me too.

My newbie is coming in March.:icon10:

 

[Mark_Burgess]

My T4 2.5 TDI (blue I 88BHP) is great, EGR blanked, Cat removed, fitting an intercooler on friday, and when I get some V70 TDI injectors and a custom remap from a guy in Liverpool it'll be near 150BHP.

As mine is the multivan there is no bulkhead.

 

[Rauer]

With a little van it's great if ur just carrying tools, big van you just carry more crap! Im in a lwb transit connect and I hate it 360 miles out of a full tank , front tyres every 12k rears every 25k , just can't keep it tidy!

 

[Mark_Burgess]

front tyres every 12k rears every 25k , just can't keep it tidy!

I get lest than that with mine, but I do drive it like I stole it!

 

[Guest123]

With a little van it's great if ur just carrying tools, big van you just carry more crap! Im in a lwb transit connect and I hate it 360 miles out of a full tank , front tyres every 12k rears every 25k , just can't keep it tidy!

Tyre wise the caddy TDI is about the same. Fuel wise I get around 500 miles out of a tankful (£80) and the van is rammed.

Getting another transporter in March though, caddy is just too small now.

 

[bugsy]

My T4 2.5 TDI (blue I 88BHP) is great, EGR blanked, Cat removed, fitting an intercooler on friday, and when I get some V70 TDI injectors and a custom remap from a guy in Liverpool it'll be near 150BHP.

As mine is the multivan there is no bulkhead.

You won't be driving into London then!

 

[Ponty Massive]

I had a connect up until about 2 months ago. Part ex'd her for a Renault trafic. Racked it out myself. Would recommend both vans !!!!

 

[Mark_Burgess]

You won't be driving into London then!

You are right there, with these new stupid laws even standard it don't qualify, I think.

 

[Dave_]

just a thought, if you are going to be working in london quite a lot then what size van can you go upto without paying for the emission zone thing? as that is £100 a day isnt it? on top of £10 a day congestion charge

as long as i buy a van thats post 2002 i should be fine and not have to pay (although will check before i buy!)

i feel sorry for a lot of people with older vans.

although if your van is less than 1205kgs its fine.... or registered after jan 2002 (or maybe oct 2001 not sure)

 

[highspark]

For a young self employed spark looking for a cheap economical van you cannot get better than a Renault Kangoo 660p. 1.2 engine runs on LPG aswell. Only thing is they are rare! Not many in good condition on the market! They where made from 1998-2002. I think there is a newer version on the market though.As for vans the Trafic, Vivaro and Primestar seems to be the best. I'd say you need a small van mate. Either a kangoo or Connect