Something cheap, reliable but not quite to theft prone?

Something cheap, reliable but not quite to theft prone?

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ChemicalChaos

Original Poster:

10,524 posts

167 months

Monday 30th January 2023
quotequote all
Morning all,

For the second time in 4 years, a friend has just had an 06-13 shape Transit stolen overnight from outside his house - that's despite this one having an immobiliser.

He's now consequently looking for some new wheels, and although he's had about 6 Transits now I have suggested to him that he looks at alternatives as I know that older Transits are one of the most theft-prone vans.
Looking at the stats, it seems that the similarly-aged Ducato/Relay/Boxer has a much much lower theft rate, but a Sprinter is similarly high?

He is a plumber by trade but collects and restores aircraft parts, tows a lot of things on big trailers and transports display stands at shows - he therefore needs a Hi-Top M or LWB van for bulky items with a good towing capacity and the ability to be comfortable over very long distances.

Can anyone suggest a good alternative? Obviously, reliability is central as he can't afford constant expensive issues. He also wants something under 100k miles that's got some life left in it. Age is not too important within reason.
I suspect budget would be in the region of what his 13 plate moon mileage Transit was worth, so probably £5k tops.

Has anyone please got any suggestions of good vans to look out for or ones to avoid with a bargepole?

Thanks in advance,
Matt

PS. I have also suggested he invests in a physical pedal/wheel lock as well!

Djtemeka

1,873 posts

199 months

Monday 30th January 2023
quotequote all
You won’t get anything decent for 5k.

My vivaro 2015 model was priced at 5k in 2019.

I didn’t take the “deal” and kept it.

It’s now worth 12k in 2023

ChemicalChaos

Original Poster:

10,524 posts

167 months

Monday 30th January 2023
quotequote all
I did fear that was the case given the current market.... though hopefully his insurance should give a market figure so fingers crossed.

What would you say needs to be spent to get what's in the OP?


reddiesel

2,473 posts

54 months

Monday 30th January 2023
quotequote all
The only van worth buying in my opinion is a Sprinter and to date I have owned around 40 of them for my Business . This is the sort of thing your friend should be looking at . He can fit a Steering Wheel Disc Lock as well as a Pedal Lock and Tracker Subscriptions can now be had very cheaply some as low as £60 per year . As regards Sprinters this earlier Model is a far better prospect than the later one

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/van-details/202301213...

Edited by reddiesel on Monday 30th January 20:04