Wanted....... A small van that looks/acts like a car.

[Alex321]

But the caddy isn't a car derived van unless it's a 'Life' model, so you've got to be careful. My Vivaro is classed as a car, causes so much confusion at the recycling centre until I pop the doors.

You do have to be careful, and you are right about the caddy, of course.

The government interpretation is here https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...es/car-derived-vans-and-dual-purpose-vehicles

The Caddy is a bit of an oddity, because although it is very much the right size & weight, it just isn't based on a model of car.

 

[fossyant]

A caddy currently on Autotrader in Manchester

 

[fossyant]

Yet my bigger van, which is actually a van derived 'car'

 

[fossyant]

I'm yet to test the classification on a toll road etc..

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Drove a couple of nearly new small vans where I used to work. A poverty spec 2019 Berlingo that I really didn't like, and a well specced 2017 Transit Connect. The Connect was quicker, handled better, better built, looked better, and the main thing it drove more or less like a car. Drove a lot of miles in it and thought it was a fantastic vehicle. It was a diesel and was no slouch at all. How reliable they are, wouldn't have a clue. The Berlingo was really van like and had a crap gear change and was slow. Think it was a run-out model or something, before they had an update. Would imagine a Connect costs more because of the reasons listed. Think the Connect had been chipped and was the most powerful one though.

 

[fossyant]

The latest Pug/Citroen Rifter/Berlingo 'car' vans are getting into the sub £8k

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-de...ter&postcode=sk6%201de&sort=price-asc&flrfc=1

 

[CXRAndy]

Hope he's got a place to store his tools each night. Vans are theft magnets

 

[fossyant]

This is whare a small/mid sized estate may be a better option - less theft magnet and most have a boot cover. Even a standard 'hatchback' or saloon car might be big enough as some have huge boots.

 

[wafter]

Hope he's got a place to store his tools each night. Vans are theft magnets

Yeah, I wondered if an estate with a load cover might be less conspicuous.

 

[fossyant]

Small estate in budget (son has the hatch)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-de...rom=6500&price-to=8000&sort=relevance&flrfc=1

 

[vickster]

I had a Fabia estate for years.
Alternatively an Octavia estate if needing bigger and leave parcel shelf closed overnight. Or even a Focus or similar estate

 

[figbat]

All the cool dudes are in VW Transporters, but because of that prices have rocketed.

How about a Škoda Yeti? Great cars and with the rear seats out (the three seats in the back come out individually in about 2 minutes without tools), voluminous carriers.

 

[fossyant]

All the cool dudes are in VW Transporters, but because of that prices have rocketed.

How about a Škoda Yeti? Great cars and with the rear seats out (the three seats in the back come out individually in about 2 minutes without tools), voluminous carriers.

Nah, the cool dudes drive a Vivaro

 

[Dave7]

Vans are the best
Tools during the week
Mattress at weekend
I miss my van

Now that would appeal to him. He likes to throw a sleeping bag in his car and disappear for 3-4 days.

 

[fossyant]

Now that would appeal to him. He likes to throw a sleeping bag in his car and disappear for 3-4 days.

Van it is then ! Best thing for the job. And make up a DIY bed system (or buy one). Smaller vans do drive very much like cars and have similar economy - that said my bigger van drives like a car and returns better fuel efficiency than my previous petrol car.