Recommend me a van

[MartinM]

Hi all
Wondering if anyone could help. I'm looking at buying a small van. I'm a self-employed musican (drummer) and tutor.
My main requirements are:
. Budget - c.£10k
. 3 seats up front - O/H has a car which we'll use as a family but may still need to take her and our 4 year old in the van sometimes.
. Bulkhead.
. Enough load capacity for drums and other musical equipment - Shouldn't be more than
3-400kgs in total

Additionally, although less importantly, I'd like the van to handle well and have a carpeted load space!

Cheers
Martin

[LouD86]

Hi Martin,

In regards to the carpet, this may be something you will need to do yourself. Have a look at Peugeot Partner/Citroen Berlingos. You'll find plenty in your budget, 3 seats, normally a decent spec with AC etc, good on the fuel, and cheap to run.

They are a good van, I sell plenty of the buggers!

[MartinM]

Thanks Lou. I will have a look at those.
Do you have much experience with the new Transit Connects? I was also considering them.

[bigwheel]

LouD86 said:

Hi Martin,

In regards to the carpet, this may be something you will need to do yourself. Have a look at Peugeot Partner/Citroen Berlingos. You'll find plenty in your budget, 3 seats, normally a decent spec with AC etc, good on the fuel, and cheap to run.

They are a good van, I sell plenty of the buggers!

Try before you buy.
I don't know about older Berlingos but IMO the latest ones have a hateful driving position, my left leg is cramped up because the left footrest is too close to the driver with no-where else for your foot to rest because the clutch pedal is in the way! Irony!

And some ridiculous tiny storage pockets scattered on the door-card and central gear shift area. Cup-holders, too shallow and on the floor, WTF.

Electric window switches in front of gearstick, awkward.

Non-adjustable road-speed controlled intermittent wipers, useless.

[LouD86]

MartinM said:

Thanks Lou. I will have a look at those.
Do you have much experience with the new Transit Connects? I was also considering them.

New Transit Connect's are superb, and very popular. The 3rd seat really is an occasional one, similar in Size to the Berlingo/Partner.

The specification, comfort, and drive however is world apart. The 95 and 115 engine are the only two to consider, and you will need to look at Trend and Limited specifications to get the triple seat. Trend is a nice spec when with AC, and the Limited has everything you can imagine, Climate Control ffs!!

They are popular, holding money quite well aswell, the L2 holds it even better. Folding front seats, with an opening bulkhead helps with the longer loads too. Feel free to PM me if you want to call, ill send you my number and advise on anything I can for you.

[wack]

If you're not VAT registered look out for vans with no VAT

When they're traded in if the seller isn't VAT registered the dealer can sell it on without VAT , I bought a Fiat Doblo XL from a dealer with no VAT

When you're spending 10k it's a big difference

The Doblo 1.6 has been very good, I put 50k on it in a year , still running fine

The XL has the longer wheelbase and a high roof as well as 2 sliding doors either side, both roof and doors are handy as you can almost stand up in it.

Don't know. If it comes with a 3 seat option but 10k would get you the choice of every used one in the country

Same as this but mine has A/C in it

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/fiat-doblo-cargo-xl-very...

[renorti]

don't buy any van with the dv6 1.6psa diesel engine.
not much power,and the most unreliable modern engine out there,trouble is it's fitted to the doblo{newer shape},2007 on scudo, peugeot berlingo,expert,despatch.