How bad really is an ex-fleet van?
Discussion
Looking at buying a 2016 ex-DPD Sprinter with about 125k miles on it. I know everyone recommends against these because they have been ragged with city driving 12 hours/100 stops a day and maybe not even maintained well.
But if they have lasted to 125k miles and have good MOTs, what's the real risk? Maybe transmission/clutch will need doing in next 5 years?
How much of a mistake is buying one of these? And how many vans of this age weren't ever fleet vans in their early life anyway?
But if they have lasted to 125k miles and have good MOTs, what's the real risk? Maybe transmission/clutch will need doing in next 5 years?
How much of a mistake is buying one of these? And how many vans of this age weren't ever fleet vans in their early life anyway?
That's an average of 15600 per annum so not great miles, but if all city driving could be clutch problems to come.
You need to see and drive the van, but also consider what you are going to do with it in your ownership and what it's current condition is
If you can get service records great you might find the clutch and brakes have been replaced recently
You need to see and drive the van, but also consider what you are going to do with it in your ownership and what it's current condition is
If you can get service records great you might find the clutch and brakes have been replaced recently
It all depends on the previous driver.
My previous employer had a fleet of 80 vans and the difference between the condition of them was solely down to the nut behind the wheel, some were immaculate and drove like brand new, others were knackered at 60k.
Vans that weren't 'owned' by the employee and were shared between multiple drivers were always the worst by a long way.
My previous employer had a fleet of 80 vans and the difference between the condition of them was solely down to the nut behind the wheel, some were immaculate and drove like brand new, others were knackered at 60k.
Vans that weren't 'owned' by the employee and were shared between multiple drivers were always the worst by a long way.
Thanks both. I plan to keep it for 5-10 years. Considering what sort of extra maintenance might be required, what sort of discount do you think it should have compared to a non-DPD van?
Is it the case that I need to factor in an extra £1k every couple of years due to the way it's been driven?
Or is it more like there's a 50% chance it's a complete lemon and will cost me a big £10k plus bill before 2030?
Is it the case that I need to factor in an extra £1k every couple of years due to the way it's been driven?
Or is it more like there's a 50% chance it's a complete lemon and will cost me a big £10k plus bill before 2030?
Jazoli said:
It all depends on the previous driver.
My previous employer had a fleet of 80 vans and the difference between the condition of them was solely down to the nut behind the wheel, some were immaculate and drove like brand new, others were knackered at 60k.
Vans that weren't 'owned' by the employee and were shared between multiple drivers were always the worst by a long way.
Yeah agreed. My previous employer had a fleet of 80 vans and the difference between the condition of them was solely down to the nut behind the wheel, some were immaculate and drove like brand new, others were knackered at 60k.
Vans that weren't 'owned' by the employee and were shared between multiple drivers were always the worst by a long way.
Also those doing 2,500 miles a week shuttling the motorway network were in better overall condition than those doing 500 miles a week multi drop city centre work.
Complete gamble altho the sprinters of that era were generally decent.
You've no idea if it was regularly serviced or bunged onto a 20k mile service plan all part of the lease.
If it's anything like parcel force or royal mail who do collections form us they vans are battered from the first day they are used. They regularly drive with bits broken and falling apart waiting for space in the workshop.
Personally I'd avoid any such vans due to the wear and tear on the drive train from start stop on off driving.
You've no idea if it was regularly serviced or bunged onto a 20k mile service plan all part of the lease.
If it's anything like parcel force or royal mail who do collections form us they vans are battered from the first day they are used. They regularly drive with bits broken and falling apart waiting for space in the workshop.
Personally I'd avoid any such vans due to the wear and tear on the drive train from start stop on off driving.
I'm pretty sure "pre-denting" one of the load compartment doors came as a factory option on DPD Sprinters.
If the bodywork is in good condition it possibly means it's been used for longer distance shuttling, rather than reversing into someone's gatepost in Acacia Close. So theoretically less wear and tear/abuse of the clutch, etc.
If the bodywork is in good condition it possibly means it's been used for longer distance shuttling, rather than reversing into someone's gatepost in Acacia Close. So theoretically less wear and tear/abuse of the clutch, etc.
66HFM said:
How much is the van you're looking at price wise how does it compare with similar ones?
Do DPD keep their vans for 7+ years or has someone else owned it?
Presumably all branding has / will be removed?
So it's about 7.5% below market rate from my judgement. I'd be hoping for closer to 15% ideally.Do DPD keep their vans for 7+ years or has someone else owned it?
Presumably all branding has / will be removed?
Current guy has had it for a year or two and done less than 10k miles. There's two owners previous to that so either DPD owner-driver or lease and one more who I have no info on. I was surprised as I imagine DPD got rid of it after only about 5 years.
All branding was removed and it's also currently wrapped.
The other issue is rust. Dunno how bad this is for a vehicle of this age: https://imgur.com/a/y0Z3vnB
cinereus said:
66HFM said:
How much is the van you're looking at price wise how does it compare with similar ones?
Do DPD keep their vans for 7+ years or has someone else owned it?
Presumably all branding has / will be removed?
So it's about 7.5% below market rate from my judgement. I'd be hoping for closer to 15% ideally.Do DPD keep their vans for 7+ years or has someone else owned it?
Presumably all branding has / will be removed?
Current guy has had it for a year or two and done less than 10k miles. There's two owners previous to that so either DPD owner-driver or lease and one more who I have no info on. I was surprised as I imagine DPD got rid of it after only about 5 years.
All branding was removed and it's also currently wrapped.
The other issue is rust. Dunno how bad this is for a vehicle of this age: https://imgur.com/a/y0Z3vnB
cinereus said:
The other issue is rust. Dunno how bad this is for a vehicle of this age: https://imgur.com/a/y0Z3vnB
Looks OK for an 8 year old van.Been running a courier company for 30 years
Our vans only do long distance but high miles they are OK as they sit on the Mway all day doing 65
The multi drop vans have done a stop /start around 100 times a day for 5 days a week and the clutch and gears have been up down in and out for many times a minute 5 days a week 10 hours a day
I would not touch them
Our vans only do long distance but high miles they are OK as they sit on the Mway all day doing 65
The multi drop vans have done a stop /start around 100 times a day for 5 days a week and the clutch and gears have been up down in and out for many times a minute 5 days a week 10 hours a day
I would not touch them
jeremyh1 said:
Been running a courier company for 30 years
Our vans only do long distance but high miles they are OK as they sit on the Mway all day doing 65
The multi drop vans have done a stop /start around 100 times a day for 5 days a week and the clutch and gears have been up down in and out for many times a minute 5 days a week 10 hours a day
I would not touch them
If it's just the clutch and gears is that the end of the world? Just replace the clutch and transmission? Our vans only do long distance but high miles they are OK as they sit on the Mway all day doing 65
The multi drop vans have done a stop /start around 100 times a day for 5 days a week and the clutch and gears have been up down in and out for many times a minute 5 days a week 10 hours a day
I would not touch them
oilslick said:
cinereus said:
If it's just the clutch and gears is that the end of the world? Just replace the clutch and transmission?
Then think of all the kerbs it's been bounced up and down, now you're looking at suspension too...Simon_GH said:
Just out of interest I did a MoT check on a 2012 DPD van on our street - it was on 400k but I how much life was left!
If it lasts another 300k I would be happy! Edited by cinereus on Sunday 20th October 04:27
A lot of DPD vans are owned by small companies that rent them to drivers or provide them as part of their employment as there are not many actual owner drivers anymore.
They are often having big repairs within 2 years of ownership and the seat bases often look like a van that’s done 5x the miles.
The trouble is there are lots of other users that treat vans the same (I would actually say groundwork forms are the worst) so you can only buy on condition.
They are often having big repairs within 2 years of ownership and the seat bases often look like a van that’s done 5x the miles.
The trouble is there are lots of other users that treat vans the same (I would actually say groundwork forms are the worst) so you can only buy on condition.
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