Spec me a Van?

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27 Jul 2004
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Just managed to write off my Pug 306 today. :S Went into the back of a Lexus RX300.

I only used the car on the weekends to take my + mate's mountain bikes to the trails and back (local ones weekly, Wales from London every other month, and a yearly trip to the Alps), or again on the weekends, to go to my gliding club's airfield 50 miles away. The car was also used to occasionally tow our club's glider trailers (9 meters long, 700ish kg.).

Would a van make any sense? What would be a good one to go for? How are running costs/insurance etc compared to a car? My budget could stretch to around £6000.
 
You might find you will be better off with an Estate car. Convincing an insurer to insure a van for domestic use only can be hassle.
 
Don't know if you have looked at them or prices more local to you but what about the mitsubishi animal/warrior pick ups.

My cousin has one of these (a twin cab animal) and it is perfect for chucking 4 bikes and 4 people into.

Would be a lot more comfortable and civilised for longer journeys as well.

Just a thought.
 
Good replies. And quick! :D

Estate makes sense, but can be a pain with the bikes, esp during the winters, when they get filthy. I wouldn't mind (as much) stacking dirty bikes in a van.

Didn't consider the Mitsubishi Warrior. I will have a look into how much they are.
 
I borrowed a 53 plate Merc Sprinter with 167k on the clock from my uncle, it was picked up for £2000 in pretty good nick a couple of weeks before, it has some rust spots from stone chips etc but nothing serious its getting a full respray in the compnay colours anyway. One thing that shocked me was the pace this thing had when empty I hit 100 going up a slip road I was rather surprised when I looked at the speedo (It was faster than 07 plate 115bhp TDCI transit I had when moving house). The interior was still in cracking nick as it had a seat covers never looked like it had almost 170k on the clock although it wasn't very clean. Not sure on the insurance front as its under a company policy. Could easily get 8 bikes in there, my friend had a old transit for his quad bikes he had no trouble getting insurance for it.
 
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Just 3 points;

1) High ish insurance as companies don't believe you when you say only for pleasure

2) Transits rust as if they live in the sea

3) Make money on the side renting it to mates to move house etc!
 
Dangerous Dave said:
I borrowed a 53 plate Merc Sprinter with 167k on the clock from my uncle, it was picked up for £2000 in pretty good nick a couple of weeks before, it has some rust spots from stone chips etc but nothing serious its getting a full respray in the compnay colours anyway. One thing that shocked me was the pace this thing had when empty I hit 100 going up a slip road I was rather surprised when I looked at the speedo (It was faster than 07 plate 115bhp TDCI transit I had when moving house). The interior was still in cracking nick as it had a seat covers never looked like it had almost 170k on the clock although it wasn't very clean. Not sure on the insurance front as its under a company policy. Could easily get 8 bikes in there, my friend had a old transit for his quad bikes he had no trouble getting insurance for it.
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Sprinters will run to insane mileages and take them very well.

The thinking mans Transit.

Got pulled for doing 100+ in a 312 Sprinter with a Luton body on it a few years back! :o - You'd struggle to get 80 out of a similar tranny.
 
R124/LA420 said:
Sprinters will run to insane mileages and take them very well.

The thinking mans Transit.

Got pulled for doing 100+ in a 312 Sprinter with a Luton body on it a few years back! :o - You'd struggle to get 80 out of a similar tranny.
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Yeah my dad drives a 310 long wheelbase Sprinter and its got just under 200,000 on the clock and still going strong. The door handles and hinges are the weak points of these vans though. They have gone on all the sprinters hes owned. Plus the side lock can be opened in 5 seconds with a screwdriver :eek:.
 
Mark A said:
Yeah my dad drives a 310 long wheelbase Sprinter and its got just under 200,000 on the clock and still going strong. The door handles and hinges are the weak points of these vans though. They have gone on all the sprinters hes owned. Plus the side lock can be opened in 5 seconds with a screwdriver :eek:.
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LOL, the same can be said of 1,000,000+ KM Merc trucks!

Superb vehicles,much underrated imo, if Merc cars had the durability of the commercials, BMW would stand no chance.

If only.......
 
Not sold on the Berlingo idea. Don't know if I could bring myself to spend money on one of them. :)

VW Transporter sounds good. Anyone know anything about Merc Vitos?

How do running costs work out in general? I would assume that vans would be reasonably rugged, as they are meant to be workhorses?
 
My mate has a vito..been nothing but trouble...eats driveshafts and wheel bearings . Gearbox and clutch are weak and does not seem upto the quality of the sprinter .

I used to MB every weekend and used a luton body transit ...Bit ott but worked fine .. Would probably suggest a 4x4 type pickup if i was doing it again

Persil
 
[TW]Fox;10099037 said:
You might find you will be better off with an Estate car. Convincing an insurer to insure a van for domestic use only can be hassle.
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not always true, go with e-van insurance my brothers 22 and he pays 281 a year for his van private use.
 
R124/LA420 said:
Sprinters will run to insane mileages and take them very well.

The thinking mans Transit.

Got pulled for doing 100+ in a 312 Sprinter with a Luton body on it a few years back! :o - You'd struggle to get 80 out of a similar tranny.
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...............

Thats interesting i owned two 311's and they were the worst vans i ever had, being both gutless, uneconomical, slow and not particularly reliable.
As well as being poorly equipped and uncomfortable.

I've driven a 313 luton while my 311 was in the garage (again) the only way that was going to do 100mph was if you threw it off a cliff.
 
Thanks for the replies. Will have a look into a Transporter or equivalent.

Not quite a van, but does any one have any experience of/know anything about Nissan Navaras or Mitsubishi L200s? I figure one of them may be suitable...
 
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