Small van (vw caddy style) instead of a car?

413x

413x

413x

Caporegime
Joined
13 Jan 2010
Posts
33,493
Location
Llaneirwg
Our car is coming to end of life. It's a 58 plate and the issues are starting to mount up.

We both think a small van would be better than a car.

Has anyone gone down this route? And if so, any recommendations?

Planning to get a transit custom too but that will be for actual longer trips away. Ideally would get the transit first. But not sure how much life is in the old 58 plate.
 
Not quite small van, but as you mention the transit, I'll throw a VW T6 in the ring that might fulfil both needs - you don't need to treat it like a van whilst you're driving about, the same can't be said so much for a Transit Custom.
Only downside I can think of would be car park height restrictions.

Everybody I know that's had a modern Transit has had major £xxxx repair bills and the ones with warranty have ended up with no van or courtesy vehicle for weeks on end.
 
On Holiday said:
Not quite small van, but as you mention the transit, I'll throw a VW T6 in the ring that might fulfil both needs - you don't need to treat it like a van whilst you're driving about, the same can't be said so much for a Transit Custom.
Only downside I can think of would be car park height restrictions.

Everybody I know that's had a modern Transit has had major £xxxx repair bills and the ones with warranty have ended up with no van or courtesy vehicle for weeks on end.
Click to expand...

So to clarify.
I want to get a big camper van for weeks at a time away. And was considering a transit custom as vw are just so expensive.

The smaller van would be something like a transit courier size. Not necessarily that. But something basically as easy to drive around as a car.
 
You will get speed restrictions for some commercial vehicles (60 on dual carriageway) and I think they might be taxed differently too. Things to check. You can also get charged for going into clean air zones.
 
Something I've mentioned before: you may also find some places ban "commercial vehicles" from parking i.e. some tourist attractions and recycling centres often require you to apply for a permit before using (usually free).

Obviously if classed as a light commercial vehicle it will be taxed differently as well.

On the Ford Transit from another post I made:

"depends a bit on the model but we had quite a few issues with them at work - they (4th gen) have the appearance of being narrower than they are due to the style combined with big sticking out wing mirrors - resulting in them getting hit constantly, especially the wing mirrors being clipped but also the van itself, compared to the Crafters and Sprinters which rarely had the same happening.

Also a common failure with a coolant hose rubbing and splitting, turbo issues, fuel pump failures, a subset of them had issue with regularly chewing up the aux belt - not an issue with all of them but some of them do it and there doesn't seem to be an easy fix for it." (These are used and abused by people who don't own the vans so likely exacerbates these issues).
 
Last edited:
I used to have access to a van at work which was a Nissan NV200 then latterly a VW Caddy so the small type of van.

I found it SUPER useful even compared to my quite big Toyota Avensis estate car.

I really really miss not being able to use one anymore since they got rid of our works pool vans :( so much so i'm seriously contemplating getting an E-NV200 as a spare 3rd vehicle but the tax can be expensive as its a commercial vehicle which is a bit of a pain.

I found them much less of a compromise to drive day to day compared to the bigger vans even like a SWB low top transit, they just feel like a car mostly, can go into a drive through without thinking about it etc, so if you can fit all you need in them i'm a big fan. Only thing i found limiting was they're not quite long enough to fit in standard size sheets of ply or lengths of wood/steel, the Nissan we had was 2.1m long in the bed so couldn't quite fit in a 2.4m length of timber. But as im into my stationary engines and miniature trains they're a perfect size for moving those kinds of things around.
 
Last edited:
413x said:
So to clarify.
I want to get a big camper van for weeks at a time away. And was considering a transit custom as vw are just so expensive.

The smaller van would be something like a transit courier size. Not necessarily that. But something basically as easy to drive around as a car.
Click to expand...

If you wanted a single vehicle to perform both roles, then fair enough; I'd be looking at something VW transporter/Vivaro/etc. sized, but not sure why you'd want a van to use as a car if you're planning on getting a bigger van anyway?

It's going to be compromised as both a van (smaller than a "proper" van) and a car (drives like a van, potential parking/toll/speed restrictions).

===

We're having similar thoughts about when we replace the Niro, could really do with something a bit bigger for camping trips etc., and are torn between EV van (e.g. ID.Buzz/Kia PV5), or cheapish EV car for day-to-day use plus ICE van for long journeys. We certainly wouldn't get 2 vans!
 
Last edited:
radderfire said:
Why?
Click to expand...
Because we don't use the back seats.
If I need to transport my bike or kayak on a day trip I have to force it in the back or have it exposed to theft.

Dog has bad hips and lifting him in and out of the car is a pain.

I see no real use case for a car I suppose. The back seats are just an annoyance.
 
Last edited:
413x said:
Because we don't use the back seats.
If I need to transport my bike or kayak on a day trip I have to force it in the back or have it exposed to theft.

Dog has bad hips and lifting him in and out of the car is a pain.

I see no real use case for a car I suppose. The back seats are just an annoyance.
Click to expand...
I'm guessing you'll either get one without any rear windows, or have them tinted if so?
Have you driven a van before? Some people really dislike not having the ability to see out the back and relying on the mirrors. Not trolling, but you both might want to try it out and see how you get on before committing to a van.
 
Haggisman said:
If you wanted a single vehicle to perform both roles, then fair enough; I'd be looking at something VW transporter/Vivaro/etc. sized, but not sure why you'd want a van to use as a car if you're planning on getting a bigger van anyway?

It's going to be compromised as both a van (smaller than a "proper" van) and a car (drives like a van, potential parking/toll/speed restrictions).

===

We're having similar thoughts about when we replace the Niro, could really do with something a bit bigger for camping trips etc., and are torn between EV van (e.g. ID.Buzz/Kia PV5), or cheapish EV car for day-to-day use plus ICE van for long journeys. We certainly wouldn't get 2 vans!
Click to expand...

A big van only would be an annoyance (and probably impossible) to get into town or go to gym etc. A small van size of a car has more boot space.

There are days I like to take my kayak/mountian bike out. I wouldn't need a big camper for this. But a van would mean I could throw my mountain bike in and my kayak and it's safe. On car it's either on back or on roof. I don't like leaving it as its a theft magnet. In back of a van it would be safe and hidden.
 
deviation said:
I'm guessing you'll either get one without any rear windows, or have them tinted if so?
Have you driven a van before? Some people really dislike not having the ability to see out the back and relying on the mirrors. Not trolling, but you both might want to try it out and see how you get on before committing to a van.
Click to expand...

I don't really use the rear view mirror. Often the car is stuffed full of stuff for camping that there's no visibility anyway.
 
throwaway4372 said:
Lol another van thread, was this your idea or hers?
Click to expand...

Definitely want a van. But not to live in. I've wanted a van for a while. And on my own I think i could live in it.
I want to explore more of Europe. Especially when my work contract ends. So. Definitely want a big van. That's a given. Just don't think it's livable full time. Definitely not with 2 people.
 
413x said:
A big van only would be an annoyance (and probably impossible) to get into town or go to gym etc. A small van size of a car has more boot space.

There are days I like to take my kayak/mountian bike out. I wouldn't need a big camper for this. But a van would mean I could throw my mountain bike in and my kayak and it's safe. On car it's either on back or on roof. I don't like leaving it as its a theft magnet. In back of a van it would be safe and hidden.
Click to expand...

You'll be wanting something with a bulkhead then, so it will definitely be classed as a commercial vehicle, in which case you're still likely to find yourself with restrictions (albeit fewer than with a bigger van).

Is the dog going to be OK isolated in the back away from the main cabin?
 
deviation said:
Ah that's good then, you won't miss it then :) Does your wife feel the same? If so, win win then :)
Click to expand...

I do 95 percent of the driving anyway. She'd have to get used it. But I think a small van would be no issue as it's no wider than a car really.
 
Haggisman said:
You'll be wanting something with a bulkhead then, so it will definitely be classed as a commercial vehicle, in which case you're still likely to find yourself with restrictions (albeit fewer than with a bigger van).

Is the dog going to be OK isolated in the back away from the main cabin?
Click to expand...

Dog is fine on his own. He's a good boy really. Super placid and calm. Would obviously have to build him a little Space in back.
 
413x said:
I do 95 percent of the driving anyway. She'd have to get used it. But I think a small van would be no issue as it's no wider than a car really.
Click to expand...
Nice, yeah it sounds like that'd be the ideal go between then.
I've driven a fair few vans, but one did catch me out once, a Transit connect (IIRC) stumpy little hatchback van, it was surprisingly wide and awkward to reverse, which made no sense considering I was very confident with LWB stuff? Weird right :P But yeah, it was a **** to back into what should have been more than enough room :cry:
I don't know why I shared that, but I have so I hope it made you laugh at least :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom