Printable Version | Subscribe | Add to Favourites
New Topic New Poll New Reply
Author: Subject: buying a van
hughpinder

posted on 17/5/11 at 07:25 AM Reply With Quote
buying a van

I'm thinking of getting a van as my next car, because I trade as a limited company, and its much cheaper tax wise.
Its only for getting to and from work, as my mrs has a nice company car we use for everything else.
Its got to be able to tow 900+kg, and basically be as car like as possible to be in and reasonable on fuel(I do about 16Kpa). Our daughter is coming up for 17, so she'll probably learn it it.
Whats the best one to get?
Astra van, Escort or fiesta van, peugeot etc. Anything escecially well known to break or good or bad fuel econony?

Thanks for any information
Regards
Hugh

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
Jon Ison

posted on 17/5/11 at 07:43 AM Reply With Quote
Probably to big,

I am soon to swap my Renault traffic, well know for gearbox problems after 80k miles, mine as a recon fitted 8k miles ago, the good bit, its petrol/lpg, if anyone in the London area is after a van this will be perfect especially if you need to drive inside the "smog zone"

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
britishtrident

posted on 17/5/11 at 08:05 AM Reply With Quote
Ford & Vauxhall both have had factory dual fuel Petrol-LGP vans on the market although the running costs are low these are best avoided as they were very poorly supported by the manufacturer and very few people know how to service these factory fit LPG system.

Aftermarket LPG systems are a different issue.

[Edited on 17/5/11 by britishtrident]

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
TimC

posted on 17/5/11 at 08:06 AM Reply With Quote
VW Caddy Sportline would have to be my choice if money were not a major concern.






View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
owelly

posted on 17/5/11 at 08:13 AM Reply With Quote
I have a transit connect for sale. Its an excellent little van and very car-like. Does 62mpg when driven sensibly, but never does less than 48mpg. Its a 07 model and the cheaper to insure 1.8tdci. Best offer over £4k gets it! U2U me if you're intetested, even if you just want to have a look to see if s Connect would suit your needs.
View User's Profile E-Mail User Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
woolly

posted on 17/5/11 at 08:59 AM Reply With Quote
think you will have to have a good look at towing weights, smaller vans i don't think will cut it.
View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
thunderace

posted on 17/5/11 at 09:14 AM Reply With Quote
i have a transit 2L swb tcdi 100ps fwd i get 35 mpg (my van is always empty and i drive it slow),i would say you wont get more than 38mpg from any full size van and if drive fast it will go down to 25mpg or less,i stick with ford as they are cheep for parts and there are loads of secondhand parts on ebay ans scrapyards.
View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
martylemoo

posted on 17/5/11 at 09:22 AM Reply With Quote
VW Caddy

Its towing capacity is much greater than anything else in its class.

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
macc man

posted on 17/5/11 at 11:21 AM Reply With Quote
I had renault Kangoo for years great on fuel nice to drive. Not the simplest to work on but ok. Changed to transit connect.
Far more room but not as good on fuel. Might be on the limit towing wise.






View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
imp paul

posted on 17/5/11 at 11:46 AM Reply With Quote
i have a 03 kangoo 1.5 td very good all round van now running more boost lol goes ok also tows me imp all over no worry s
View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
britishtrident

posted on 17/5/11 at 12:53 PM Reply With Quote
Service history is vital with Renault diesels, must show regular oil changes preferably at shorter intervals than Renault specify and using fully synthertic oil. If run with anything other than fully synth in the sump they are very prone to turbo blow ups destroying the engine. The 1.5 Dci is significantly less prone to death by turbo than the bigger Renault-Nissan Tdi engines.

[Edited on 17/5/11 by britishtrident]





[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
morcus

posted on 18/5/11 at 02:48 AM Reply With Quote
If I get you right and you essentially want a car with no back windows then the Astra van is probably you best bet as it's the most car like. A mate had one and said it was pretty much the same as his Astra Estate drive wise, and I think the look nice aswell. Plenty of spares around aswell because It's an astra and it's so popular.





In a White Room, With Black Curtains, By the Station.

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
hughpinder

posted on 18/5/11 at 06:15 AM Reply With Quote
Thanks for all the replies guys. I'll probably get a new one through the company and run it as my company vehicle for a few years then sell it to myself. I've got a test drive booked in the astra today and will try the vw caddy before I decide.
Cheers
Hugh

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
Ninehigh

posted on 18/5/11 at 07:27 AM Reply With Quote
Just out of interest, when you say "less tax" do you mean the Road Fund Licence tax or some other one?






View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
Guinness

posted on 18/5/11 at 07:46 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Ninehigh
Just out of interest, when you say "less tax" do you mean the Road Fund Licence tax or some other one?


Benefit in Kind. Company cars are taxed at a % of new cost dependant on emissions / engine size / fuel type etc, and then you get taxed on private fuel.

Company vans are taxed at a flat rate.

(Check with an accountant before making any decisions based on this advice!)

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
coozer

posted on 18/5/11 at 11:06 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by owelly
I have a transit connect for sale. Its an excellent little van and very car-like. Does 62mpg when driven sensibly, but never does less than 48mpg. Its a 07 model and the cheaper to insure 1.8tdci. Best offer over £4k gets it! U2U me if you're intetested, even if you just want to have a look to see if s Connect would suit your needs.


Any pics mate? I quite fancy one as a replacement for the Shogun.. fancy a trade??

Steve





1972 V8 Jago

1980 Z750

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member

New Topic New Poll New Reply


go to top






Website design and SEO by Studio Montage

All content © 2001-16 LocostBuilders. Reproduction prohibited
Opinions expressed in public posts are those of the author and do not necessarily represent
the views of other users or any member of the LocostBuilders team.
Running XMB 1.8 Partagium [© 2002 XMB Group] on Apache under CentOS Linux
Founded, built and operated by ChrisW.