What van to buy as a newbie

[Dan Carroll]

Hi guys
I'm new to all this and starting my 2365 soon, but in the mean time and to help fund the course I'm selling my car. So I might as well replace it with a van.

Thing is this won't just be a work van. I still need to be able to carry my two kids around. So is need a crew cab/kombi. And I'd prefer isofix in the back.

Feel free to call me an idiot, but I'm tempted to get a camper and then fettle it a bit. Put the rock and roll bed on rails so it can be either at the front or back and make more space inside. Then it can be used as a work van or a family day van.

Do any of you drive a van that you use for every day family life?

Any advice welcome

 

[Bellendian]

Transit custom with crew seats in back....hope you've got a nice car....vans aren't cheap

Love transits, had mine 11yrs, still going strong, will be replacing with another when it finally dies!

 

[littlespark]

Re #11. Why did the bad guys think that locking the A-Team in a wooden shed with nothing but an old bulldozer, some metal pipes, fireworks and a welder would keep them from stopping their diabolical schemes?

 

[Baddegg]

these are great little run round ,you will be able to get you kids no problem and your extended family plus all to tools you can carry ,petrol's not bad neither .

That f£&kin killed me buzz ha ha ha

 

[Baddegg]

these are great little run round ,you will be able to get you kids no problem and your extended family plus all to tools you can carry ,petrol's not bad neither .

That f£&kin killed me buzz ha ha ha

 

[Baddegg]

Dan, buy the newest/best you can afford as a van that don’t start everytime is gonna lose you work...

 

[telectrix]

buy a used toyota hiace. fit a bench seat behind bulkhead facing rearwards. still loads of room for tools etc. don't buy the pro-ace though, it's a froggy puggot in disguise. my hiace is a '04.196k on clock and i've spent 0, nowt,zilch, on repairs in the 3 years i've had it.

 

[Adam W]

I drive a Citroen Relay. It's alright, but if I was buying one myself I'd get one with air con. I wouldn't buy a Citroen car though. I have a Focus. It's good. I'm not keen on the Transit though, there I said it.
Mercedes might make enviable cars but their vans are rustbuckets.

Whatever you decide on get unglazed rear doors and deadlocks.

 

[Octopus]

Hi guys
I'm new to all this and starting my 2365 soon, but in the mean time and to help fund the course I'm selling my car. So I might as well replace it with a van.

Thing is this won't just be a work van. I still need to be able to carry my two kids around. So is need a crew cab/kombi. And I'd prefer isofix in the back.

Feel free to call me an idiot, but I'm tempted to get a camper and then fettle it a bit. Put the rock and roll bed on rails so it can be either at the front or back and make more space inside. Then it can be used as a work van or a family day van.

Do any of you drive a van that you use for every day family life?

Any advice welcome

Going to give us any clue as to how much you want to spend ?

 

[Dan Carroll]

My budget is 10k really.
I like Ford's but the interior is just a bit dull.

Might sound stupid but can you feasibly use a pick up with a top box and have access to all the gear with out it being a mess?

 

[MDJ]

My budget is 10k really.
I like Ford's but the interior is just a bit dull.

Might sound stupid but can you feasibly use a pick up with a top box and have access to all the gear with out it being a mess?

Not many Vans are attractive inside, but at 10K you are looking at an older van, it will have a few miles on the clock, still best of luck.

 

[Octopus]

PCP ?

 

[Octopus]

My budget is 10k really.

So that makes your budget £14k ....

It’s a business expense so you will pay less tax.

This year I bought a new van in January, and got the tax element sorted by July ....

You need to consider how you save for your tax bills and how best to fund a van .... not easy

 

[MDJ]

PCP ?

Thats a mistake, with PCP you are limited on mileage, anything over the agreed amount will cost a fortune, also Vans get scratched and damaged, another problem, when it is handed back the damage has to be paid for, cars and PCP, I can see that, but working mens Vans, no not in my view.

 

[Timbo]

Try Vauxhall Vivaro, I 've had mine for 3 years, taken it from 28k to 79k miles, only cost me for brakes and tyres, runs around fully loaded all the time.
2014 | 14 Vauxhall Vivaro 2.0 CDTi 115 2900 L2 H1 - http://www.northstarsussex.co.uk/used-van-vauxhall-vivaro-20-cdti-115-2900-l2-h1-918683

 

[Adam W]

£10k is a lot. If I were in your situation I'd be looking at spending up to about £2k for something small to get you and your tools/kids from A to B.

I've never bought a van, I've either commuted in my car or used a company van which is the best kind of van - unlimited business mileage, zero tax and insurance, free fuel and free servicing with a free loan vehicle when it's in the workshop.