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Vehicle/van for outdoors

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Chris-pespr

Original Poster:

7 posts

65 months

[report]
[news]
Tuesday 28th May
quotequote all
Morning,
Looking for a vehicle to:
Commute 5 miles each way 3 times a week
Able to transport two adults and a child
Transport bikes, SUP, climbing/walking gear, possibly kayak in the future
Not precious where I park it
Ideally some all terrain ability but not essential

Would be good to cover tip runs, to be able to change inside if raining but could manage if this was too big an ask.

Budget £12k

I go round the houses of van (which one), crew cab (Hilux or similar), 4wd estate, jap Delicia thing.

Anybody tried to solve the same issue?

Cheers, Chris

ED209

5,851 posts

251 months

[report]
[news]
Tuesday 28th May
quotequote all
A Vito dualiner.

LowTread

4,455 posts

231 months

[report]
[news]
Tuesday 28th May
quotequote all
Not 4wd, but the Vauxhall combo van in crew-cab form is very good.

Big enough in the rear to put bikes in with all wheels on, and spacious in the back for kids. And the seats aren't just benches and have head restraints, etc, so are safer for kids.

Downside is it's classed as a van so insurance is steep.

I ran one as a daily for a while.

Vito crew cab probably better, though will cost more.


Chris-pespr

Original Poster:

7 posts

65 months

[report]
[news]
Tuesday 28th May
quotequote all
Thanks both.

How does the insurance thing work for van and van-based vehicles?

From what I can see
9 seats plus (VW shuttle etc) is classed as minibus and so more expensive
Some vans have solid bulkhead. Does this increase insurance as classed as a van?

What style van/seat layout am I best looking at from an Insurance perspective?

Cheers

macron

10,730 posts

173 months

[report]
[news]
Tuesday 28th May
quotequote all
WHy is everyone after one of these right now?!? Several recent threads, although this may have a higher budget than yours.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Davie

4,986 posts

222 months

[report]
[news]
Tuesday 28th May
quotequote all
Chris-pespr said:
From what I can see
9 seats plus (VW shuttle etc) is classed as minibus and so more expensive

What style van/seat layout am I best looking at from an Insurance perspective?
I had a similar predicament... started to put grow a P3 XC70 so when it had some significant bills looming, I bailed out and having procrastinated for months, set out to look at a medium sized / van derived child carrier / lifestyle tt machine.

I didn't really want something basic and that was just a van at the back, though yes you can line them and trim them and add seats, windows and do on but not only are said parts potentially quite dear, but it also involved time I don't really have. I was also keen to avoid the van speed limits and also had insurance worries - more so for home brew builds.

Ultimately I end up with a LWB Transporter Shuttle. All 9 seats worth however it's a bit ambiguous and from what I can gather, not all are created equal. Mine is classed as an MPV on the log book, it's recorded as 9 seats but M1 class is "8 passenger seats in addition to the driver" so officially, mine isn't a commercial vehicle nor is it a mini bus.

Granted some high street insurers weren't so eager to agree with many declining to quote. That's when I started sweating as I'd already commited to buying it! However, a few were fine... I went with Adrian Flux, they were, credit where it's due, excellent and had no issues with it being just an unnecessarily large estate car... ie, no usage other then personal. I paid just under £500 F/C which doesn't seem bad, more so when some Kombi's were three times that. It's only £150 more than my outgoing Volvo and is newer and worth five times as much so I'm happy either that.

I've removed the third row of seats. Gave myself a hernia in the process and have removed the outer tilting seat in the middle row so kids are centre and OS and love bring able to walk round into the back, which is now enormous. It's got a double passenger seat - I'd prefer a single so on the hunt but they're ridiculously priced. My massive eMTB goes straight in the back, no where removal or jaunty angle needed so that's a huge win. It's had 6 bikes in the back, with seating for six.

Spec wise it's a bit odd. It was a special order from new do has cruise, nav, electric sunroof, parking sensors, alloys, spoiler, fog lights, factory tints and most crucially, aircon throughout. Fully trimmed from factory do it's much more civilised than a mates van. It came on commercial rated tyres - they were nasty so now has "normal' tyres and is do much better for it. Still feels a big over sprung... probably is as the springs will be rated to desk with 9 salad dodgers so now it's empty, they could do with being a slightly softer rate.

I absolutely love it, though fully accept it's not perfect. It's a van ultimately so isn't exactly refined nor mega relaxing to drive and it's not fast and doesn't corner like an Elise - but has the least problematic engine with the 6spd box which is easily capable of holding its own. You just adjust your driving style to suit. Size wise, it's vast... I can sleep in the "boot" and we've done that, wasn't terrible surprisingly. However, it's not actually much longer / wider than your average large SUV or saloon. My wife, who started in a VW Up! was a bit dubious a first, her prerequisite was "It MUST be a SWB" but a month in, she doesn't have any issues driving it and loves it. Her new favourite thing is picnics in the back, travel rug and fold out table included.

So to bring my gushing to an end, wish I'd bought one doo er and a Caravelle / Shuttle is the way to go if you want the best of both worlds as far as space Vs comfort (ish) goes but just watch as not all are MPV / M1. I'm not sure if the T28 / T30 / T32 has a bearing on that, but for reference mine is a T5.1 / T30 and is definitely a big car as far as DVLA, MOT, tax and insurance are concerned.

Cheers


Chris-pespr

Original Poster:

7 posts

65 months

[report]
[news]
Wednesday 29th May
quotequote all
macron said:
WHy is everyone after one of these right now?!? Several recent threads, although this may have a higher budget than yours.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Yeah - not sure.

For me, it was a process of elimination. Wanting something that can take a range of outdoorsy stuff mainly, without the need to pack it perfectly.

As mentioned I am open to other options including an estate. Certainly considered Skoda Scout and Superb 4x4.

Was climbing/ walking in Snowdonia at the weekend and stuff kept being packed/unpacked to get at kit. Friends in van had no such issues

Chris-pespr

Original Poster:

7 posts

65 months

[report]
[news]
Wednesday 29th May
quotequote all
Davie said:
Chris-pespr said:
From what I can see
9 seats plus (VW shuttle etc) is classed as minibus and so more expensive

What style van/seat layout am I best looking at from an Insurance perspective?
I had a similar predicament... started to put grow a P3 XC70 so when it had some significant bills looming, I bailed out and having procrastinated for months, set out to look at a medium sized / van derived child carrier / lifestyle tt machine.

I didn't really want something basic and that was just a van at the back, though yes you can line them and trim them and add seats, windows and do on but not only are said parts potentially quite dear, but it also involved time I don't really have. I was also keen to avoid the van speed limits and also had insurance worries - more so for home brew builds.

Ultimately I end up with a LWB Transporter Shuttle. All 9 seats worth however it's a bit ambiguous and from what I can gather, not all are created equal. Mine is classed as an MPV on the log book, it's recorded as 9 seats but M1 class is "8 passenger seats in addition to the driver" so officially, mine isn't a commercial vehicle nor is it a mini bus.

Granted some high street insurers weren't so eager to agree with many declining to quote. That's when I started sweating as I'd already commited to buying it! However, a few were fine... I went with Adrian Flux, they were, credit where it's due, excellent and had no issues with it being just an unnecessarily large estate car... ie, no usage other then personal. I paid just under £500 F/C which doesn't seem bad, more so when some Kombi's were three times that. It's only £150 more than my outgoing Volvo and is newer and worth five times as much so I'm happy either that.

I've removed the third row of seats. Gave myself a hernia in the process and have removed the outer tilting seat in the middle row so kids are centre and OS and love bring able to walk round into the back, which is now enormous. It's got a double passenger seat - I'd prefer a single so on the hunt but they're ridiculously priced. My massive eMTB goes straight in the back, no where removal or jaunty angle needed so that's a huge win. It's had 6 bikes in the back, with seating for six.

Spec wise it's a bit odd. It was a special order from new do has cruise, nav, electric sunroof, parking sensors, alloys, spoiler, fog lights, factory tints and most crucially, aircon throughout. Fully trimmed from factory do it's much more civilised than a mates van. It came on commercial rated tyres - they were nasty so now has "normal' tyres and is do much better for it. Still feels a big over sprung... probably is as the springs will be rated to desk with 9 salad dodgers so now it's empty, they could do with being a slightly softer rate.

I absolutely love it, though fully accept it's not perfect. It's a van ultimately so isn't exactly refined nor mega relaxing to drive and it's not fast and doesn't corner like an Elise - but has the least problematic engine with the 6spd box which is easily capable of holding its own. You just adjust your driving style to suit. Size wise, it's vast... I can sleep in the "boot" and we've done that, wasn't terrible surprisingly. However, it's not actually much longer / wider than your average large SUV or saloon. My wife, who started in a VW Up! was a bit dubious a first, her prerequisite was "It MUST be a SWB" but a month in, she doesn't have any issues driving it and loves it. Her new favourite thing is picnics in the back, travel rug and fold out table included.

So to bring my gushing to an end, wish I'd bought one doo er and a Caravelle / Shuttle is the way to go if you want the best of both worlds as far as space Vs comfort (ish) goes but just watch as not all are MPV / M1. I'm not sure if the T28 / T30 / T32 has a bearing on that, but for reference mine is a T5.1 / T30 and is definitely a big car as far as DVLA, MOT, tax and insurance are concerned.

Cheers
Great write up - thank you.

Fear that my budget won’t get so much VW but realise it will also hold more value

markymarkthree

2,538 posts

178 months

[report]
[news]
Wednesday 29th May
quotequote all
Chris-pespr said:
Morning,
Looking for a vehicle to:
Commute 5 miles each way 3 times a week
Able to transport two adults and a child
Transport bikes, SUP, climbing/walking gear, possibly kayak in the future
Not precious where I park it
Ideally some all terrain ability but not essential

Would be good to cover tip runs, to be able to change inside if raining but could manage if this was too big an ask.

Budget £12k

I go round the houses of van (which one), crew cab (Hilux or similar), 4wd estate, jap Delicia thing.

Anybody tried to solve the same issue?

Cheers, Chris
My 08 plate VW Caravelle (£12500) 7 seater ticks all those boxes.
Most of the time i run it with only 5 seats but when i need to, it only takes 5 mins to slide in the 2 singles.
Tip run, no probs.

Jimjimhim

1,499 posts

7 months

[report]
[news]
Wednesday 29th May
quotequote all
Something to be careful of is I think, but could be wrong, that some vans have different speed limits on some roads?
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