Using an estate car for work

[Vortigern]

Funnily enough I have sold my Mercedes vito high top and gone over to Vauxhall Zafira estateish car. Works well for me. Seats slide easily forward. I do miss the van though. The Zafira serves for the family (6) as a seven seater on occasions which the van could not. As I am semi-retired and mostly do second fix, I&T I don't carry much. All the grunt work is done by the builders with the big tools. So I can travel light now and It is over all better. Roof rack for ladders on occasion. It does make sense for me. I had been looking for a seven seater for a couple of years. I plumped for the Zafira because you can get them pretty cheap. They are a German make car. 2.5k for 13 reg! I personally don't go for anything but German or Asian make cars as they are by renown reliable as far as cars can be, and you don't (usually) see car dealers driving anything else.

 

[swaRRR]

I honestly never had an issue doing private work from my old Mondeo

Depends what sort of business you're running ie one man band vs something you're gonna want logo'd up etc. Just my opinion.

I had a MK3 Mondeo estate that i worked out of for years too, best car i've ever had. 2.0 litre turbo diesel doing 600 miles a tank. Lovely car, was gutted to see it go.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Depends what sort of business you're running ie one man band vs something you're gonna want logo'd up etc. Just my opinion.

I had a MK3 Mondeo estate that i worked out of for years too, best car i've ever had. 2.0 litre turbo diesel doing 600 miles a tank. Lovely car, was gutted to see it go.

The Mondeo was great car , I did over 120,000 miles in mine and it never missed a beat. I didn't spend a penny on it other than the usual stuff like tyres and brake pads etc.
Only sold it when my dad retired and he gave me his van

 

[UNG]

Depends what sort of business you're running ie one man band vs something you're gonna want logo'd up etc. Just my opinion.

I changed my mind on signwritten vehicles back in the mid 80's when I picked up some work and the customer insisted we used hire vehicles so as not to disclose what we were doing, it came at a time when as a fairly new company we had paid to have the new van we had just purchased signwritten we cancelled the order and never had any of our vehicles signwritten in 25 years of trading

Vans IMO are a magnet for theft either the whole vehicle or it's contents and how do you replace some of those tools that you have had for 40 or more years

 

[Lister1987]

I changed my mind on signwritten vehicles back in the mid 80's when I picked up some work and the customer insisted we used hire vehicles so as not to disclose what we were doing, it came at a time when as a fairly new company we had paid to have the new van we had just purchased signwritten we cancelled the order and never had any of our vehicles signwritten in 25 years of trading

Vans IMO are a magnet for theft either the whole vehicle or it's contents and how do you replace some of those tools that you have had for 40 or more years

While a tradie getting out of a car vs a van can give a perceived negative effect on thier ability (I'm guilty of this when the house EICR was due and the guy came in a car and my instant reaction was defensive, I was right but still), if they turn up in a well presented uniform, take the time to educate the client and tidy up after themselves, that will leave a more lasting impression than a sign written vehicle.

While it can be an instant red flag; those that are good will often take the time to put thr customer at ease and address the lack of van

 

[UNG]

While a tradie getting out of a car vs a van can give a perceived negative effect on thier ability

Why what is the negative

(I'm guilty of this when the house EICR was due and the guy came in a car and my instant reaction was defensive, I was right but still),

If you are in a rental what do you expect from a landlord EICR

if they turn up in a well presented uniform, take the time to educate the client and tidy up after themselves, that will leave a more lasting impression than a sign written vehicle.

I don't go in for the fashion parade with all the generally meaningless badges that give the perception they know what they are doing while all the while the rip off badge is hidden
When I turn up to a job I'm there as an electrician not a teacher I will explain what is wrong and what is needed to correct it if you need to educate the customer then do you have to make them aware what their education is costing in terms of time spent

While it can be an instant red flag; those that are good will often take the time to put thr customer at ease and address the lack of van

What does it really matter whether you turn up in a van, a car, a taxi, a bus or on a push bike I find the quickest way to put the customer at ease is find the fault or do the job you have been asked to do and not to explain my mode of transport

 

[LukeD]

Remember as a client you are paying extra for the van lease etc ! Also most will keep all their tools in it etc, even if not needed .One quick visit from the Irish Nomads and the lots gone .

 

[swaRRR]

Remember as a client you are paying extra for the van lease etc ! Also most will keep all their tools in it etc, even if not needed .One quick visit from the Irish Nomads and the lots gone .

Doesn't have to be new. I've got a 15 plate tranny, looks the part and only cost me 6 grand.

 

[brianmoooore]

Vans IMO are a magnet for theft either the whole vehicle or it's contents and how do you replace some of those tools that you have had for 40 or more years

Never owned a van in my life.
Spent a night in a Premier Inn type hotel near London City Airport a few years ago. When I left in the morning, every single van in the car park had been broken into, and all the cars, including mine, untouched (apart from a scratch from flying van glass).