Buying a used van

[Drago]

They always have been, but Ford make a very careful calculation - they know that by the time the typical transit is showing structural rust, I will habe gone round the clock at least twice, at max revs, thrashed from stone cold every morning, and been service barely half as often as it should habe been. By that the time the body needs welding the mechanical are usually fit for scrap themselves, so why spend more on rustproofing? And who sells more vans than anyone in Europe, by some considerable margin? Ford do, so commercially they're right on the button.

 

[Profpointy]

Semi related , I recall reading somewhere about the high price of camper vans of considerable age. The writer commented that the base van was built to do 2 or 300,000 miles in five years and be scrapped - not be left idle for months and do 50000 miles over 15 years and likely be a load of grief with that usage pattern

 

[screenman]

Watch out for upselling as that is where they make the margins up.

 

[Drago]

Anyone fitted a towbar on a C1 aygo ect ?

It has been done. However, the triplets never received EU type approval for towing, so youre on dodgy legal grounding it goes South for some reason.

 

[Levo-Lon]

It has been done. However, the triplets never received EU type approval for towing, so youre on dodgy legal grounding it goes South for some reason.

Thinking bike rack? That should be ok

 

[Drago]

Thwt would do nicely Sir.

 

[the_mikey]

I'm going to test drive a Transit Custom tomorrow, it's 15 months old with 27k miles on the clock from a main dealer so is still covered by the three year Ford warranty. It's the spec we want with the latest euro 6 engine and the price seems good (but not too good) compared to what else is around (lots).
Apart from the obvious general condition and service history (if it's not had a recent one I'll ask they do one as part of the deal) is there anything else I should be asking/looking out for?

I can only report that the long wheelbase version is a pain in the arse as it fails to make it around anything slightly greater than a 90 degree turn.

 

[perplexed]

My vans gearbox has just gone again, this time the gear linkage has failed.
thank heavens for warranties.
13700 miles one rebuild and this may also be a strip and rebuild, the original 5k fault still happens.
i think ill get shut of this and get a small car.

Anyone fitted a towbar on a C1 aygo ect ?

What, on the front or the back?

Actually a question for anyone who has/had a van - how does one get on for insurance? I ask, because I have considered a van/small pick-up in the not too distant past, so did a few 'ghost' quotes on t' internet. It seems that insuring one for private use (social, domestic and pleasure etc) wasn't an issue, but the odd thing appeared to be that commuting was excluded?! How do the collective get round this problem?

Thanks x

 

[Heltor Chasca]

What, on the front or the back?

Actually a question for anyone who has/had a van - how does one get on for insurance? I ask, because I have considered a van/small pick-up in the not too distant past, so did a few 'ghost' quotes on t' internet. It seems that insuring one for private use (social, domestic and pleasure etc) wasn't an issue, but the odd thing appeared to be that commuting was excluded?! How do the collective get round this problem?

Thanks x

Retire my friend.

 

[Levo-Lon]

What, on the front or the back?

Actually a question for anyone who has/had a van - how does one get on for insurance? I ask, because I have considered a van/small pick-up in the not too distant past, so did a few 'ghost' quotes on t' internet. It seems that insuring one for private use (social, domestic and pleasure etc) wasn't an issue, but the odd thing appeared to be that commuting was excluded?! How do the collective get round this problem?

Thanks x

No idea..I just have it as a car ,I don't have a business anymore and work as a maintenance man at a care home.

I'm sure they would hold payment for something tho, maybe I'll join the uninsured masses....maybe I already have and don't know it yet??

 

[MontyVeda]

25 posts and no one's told you to kick the tyre?! Nearside front, if i remember correctly.

 

[Piemaster]

What, on the front or the back?

Actually a question for anyone who has/had a van - how does one get on for insurance? I ask, because I have considered a van/small pick-up in the not too distant past, so did a few 'ghost' quotes on t' internet. It seems that insuring one for private use (social, domestic and pleasure etc) wasn't an issue, but the odd thing appeared to be that commuting was excluded?! How do the collective get round this problem?

Thanks x

Something I looked at recently too. Even one commute becomes business use, the social/pleasure side may be as some use vans as a 'surf bus' - what I was looking at. Vans also aren't allowed at local Council tip without a commercial permit - deal breaker for me.
Only way I could see round it is having a camper conversion (I would have needed occasional extra seats anyway).You can then change its DVLA status, which will drop insurance. There are some criteria to fill though unfortunately think its mostly rear windows, a foldy up bed affair and running water, but there may be other stuff too.

 

[Profpointy]

admittedly it was over 30 years back, but I had a van in place of a car for everyday use and commuting to work was included but any and all “business use” was specifically excluded - so I had to hire a car or take the train if going to a client site say. Most car policies cover this at little or no extra cost.

presumably this kind of cover is still available if you shop around

 

[Dave Davenport]

Didn't go for it as it had been very well used and missed a service, the salesman was a bit vague too, wasn't that impressed with the drive either really so am going to test a Toyota Proace, they're a bit smaller but are about the most economical medium van you can get and come with a 5 year warranty and there seem to be some good deals on new ones.

 

[Dave Davenport]

[QUOTE 5427382, member: 9609"]I had a toyota van for a while - to get from 3 or 4th gear back into 1st or 2nd you had to stop, get out, go under the front and push a lever up. Do your nut it on a wet day, wouldn't fancy another.[/QUOTE]
I think they might have moved on a smidge by now, plus I expect your's was a bit knackered after driving thousands of miles through south east Asian jungle in 1943.