Van advice wanted

[shoestring7]

Hello there Commercial Breakers

I would appreciate some advice on vans. I'm working on an old 911 restoration project. A major constraint is the tiny single garage I have, which is currently stuffed with bits and tools - and that's before the bodyshell comes back from the paintshop.

My wheeze is to get a panel van (swb Transit size), which I can stick on the drive and use as an overflow parts store. It will also be handy for moving parts around, taking the mountain bikes out to the downs etc.

The budget is around £4k, but purchase price is less important than being able to sell it easily in 12 months or so, and having something that doesn't turn into a project in its own right! I'm sort of biased towards something German - VW or Mercedes.

Any suggestions welcome, how much can an old bloke in the provinces with a decent record expect to pay for insurance, what's VED on vans, is this a stupid idea etc...

thanks

SS7

[magooagain]

You will get a decent van for that budget. LWB high top ford transit. Small transits are small.
Once you own a van you will wonder how you ever have managed without one.

[pad58]

magooagain said:

You will get a decent van for that budget. LWB high top ford transit. Small transits are small.
Once you own a van you will wonder how you ever have managed without one.

This is true,I can't do without mine,I rather sell my car to keep my caddy.
My insurance for a 55 yr old is £125 per year and same for tax.
HTH.

[xstian]

Buy a Toyota Hiace. You can get one well under your budget and if you buy right, it won't cost you any thing to maintain. They go forever. These thing where built to do 500k. They don't rust like a Transit and they don't have gearbox problems like the Trafic's. The only thing a Transporter has over a Hiace is the interior is more modern, but the Hiace is half the price because you are not buying into the image thing.

Edited by xstian on Thursday 9th May 07:22

[Johnnytheboy]

My kneejerk reaction is you'd pay a heft premium for something german at that size as surfy types seem to like them.

[shoestring7]

Thanks.

What's a reasonable mileage for a van?

SS7

[Plastic chicken]

Think of a number! Depends entirely on what the van is used for. A local joiner's van might only do 10k a year; a courier could knock up four or five times that. A good service history is your major consideration. Vans owned by councils/NHS etc. tend to be maintained pretty well.

Why not consider an old caravan? Dirt cheap, no need to tax/insure, & you could gut out the inside to use for storage.

[Humper]

Wouldnt botther with VWs, they hold their money too well, 4k would buy a decent Tranny, Trafic etc. Most vans are in the £220 a year( or did it go up, AGAIN ) category for tax. I bought my wee Hijet when we bought the house, primarily for handyness when we were doing it up. House done. Sold the van. Bought a better one cos as has been said, once you have one you wonder how on earth you managed before.( though to be fair I can get fk all in the SLK so that is a major factor.. )

[Johnnytheboy]

Condition is a better indicator than mileage on a van IMHO.

Most of ours do tiny (<10k a year) mileages and are well looked after, I like to think that some auction buyers get a nice little runabout when ours go back.