Finding a van...

Tesla

Tesla

Tesla

Soldato
Joined
19 Jan 2003
Posts
17,599
Location
Bristol, UK
Where would you recommend to look for a van.

I am being quite specific with spec. and condition but there are so many vans for sale I think it's just a case of finding the one I want.

I have exhausted ebay, pistonheads and autotrader?

Any other popular places to sale/advertise a van?
 
Tesla said:
Where would you recommend to look for a van.

I am being quite specific with spec. and condition but there are so many vans for sale I think it's just a case of finding the one I want.

I have exhausted ebay, pistonheads and autotrader?

Any other popular places to sale/advertise a van?
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Local auction house? They will have commercial sales, I think they were weekly at BCA in Brighouse. That way, you'd be able to mooch around the van before bidding, though you won't get to drive it.
 
Thanks, I am having trouble finding what I am after.

I'll list my spec so please fire away:

Small van, SWB.

Solid rear doors.

Full bulkhead (pref steel).

Side loading door.

Fair spec. so electric windows.

Must be in excellent condition, with vans I am finding condition is heavily mileage based althogh mileage is not an overly important issue.

The sort of things I have been looking at are Transit Connects (decent one may be out of budget), VX Combo and Fiat Doblo.

The latter I never considered before but they are pretty well spec'd from factory and an SX model ticks all of my boxes. There are just not too many around.

I am looking to buy before the end of the week which I think is realistic as I am prepared to travel. So if any of you lot like finding vehicles feel free!

Any recomendations or advice much appreciated too.

Budget, £5k inc VAT... my haggling skills are not so bad, I think now is a good time to buy as sellers are struggling a little?
 
I'd add the VW Transporter to that list. My mate has an old N reg one and it's been bombproof. Unlike the Transits they don't seem to suffer from rust although they are more expensive and you'd probably have to slum it with one a couple of years older.
 
I was looking at something a bit smaller, Caddy sized but a decent Caddy is over £5k so not looking at those.
 
You may have considered these already but is a Berlingo or Peugeot Partner worth a look? I've seen photos of newer ones with side doors.

Just thinking these are more commonly privately owned and/or owned by people who don't really need vans and are therefore more likely to turn up in the condition you want.
 
At 6'2" I found it impossible to drive works Vauxhall combo van! Couldn't get my legs under the steering wheel. Not sure if that's an issue for the OP though!

Works new Berlingo van is reasonably comfy to drive.
 
Thanks chaps.

I am a short-ass at 5'7"! Never even considered height, perhaps reaching up to the roof level? Always tricky when washing larger cars!

In general the Berlingo and Partner are pretty poorly spec'd and I find almost all of them have rear windows, no bulk head and no side doors. The local citroen place has new ones for £5695+VAT at the moment! (Obviously basic spec all round).

I will not dismiss them, just haven't really seen any in the spec. I am after.
 
I would avoid the pugs and renaults, my experiance is there great at first but after the warranty has expired there an endless money pit. Ive just had new injectors and a new heater on one traffic and then a new gearbox on another.

Transits run for ever .....
 
A Combo is Corsa based, and given how awful a Corsa C is I cannot even begin to imagine how horrible a van based on one would be. Transit Connect is supposed to be pretty decent?
 
What i would say chris (this has come up with friends who have bought vans) is that having a bench seat is very very useful.

For this reason (and because they are very reliable, cheap, and quite small, yet with a bench) i will recommend a Citroen Dispatch or Peugeot/Fiat equivalent (shared design).

Autotrader is great for vans, unlike cars there isnt really anything to be saved at auction ime.
 
Thanks guys all taken on board so far.

If there is no saving to be had at auction then ideally I would pefer to buy from a private seller who has owned the vehicle from new. I just have this idea that ex-lease = ragged/mis-treated?
 
Tesla said:
Thanks guys all taken on board so far.

If there is no saving to be had at auction then ideally I would pefer to buy from a private seller who has owned the vehicle from new. I just have this idea that ex-lease = ragged/mis-treated?
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Tbh, van=ragged and mis-treated in general as things go. Very few people drive their own vans so the vast majority are either work vans ore are ragged bagged and shagged.
 
Our Berlingos are very reliable. Apart from the common problems (Comms, washer motor, exhaust blowing from cat) then they are canny bulletproof!
 
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