Van HELL!!! Any advice very welcome - going to buy a new one.

[Dannypipe]

Well my van won't start. The AA are on the way....but I've had it with the van anyway. It's too small by a long way. (Vauxhall Combo).

So anyone who's recently bought a new or nearly new van, who has any advice on lease hire, or hp or anything at all. Please let me know.

I bought my last two vans at auction. The one before that off a mate....so don't have much to go on with regards to leasing.

I want something pretty big, LWB transit size ideally.

I'm now going to start shopping.

Oh and have about £3000.00 deposit. So not much.

 

[tonto33]

i looked at these for new vivaro sportage lwb but still deciding.* UK main dealer supplied * Free Delivery * Hire Purchase * Finance Lease * Full 3 year Warranty * | Save Money On Vans

 

[Dannypipe]

Bought my new van (YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY)

But can't pick it up until tomorrow (BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO).

Got an 09 plate VW Transporter, a 130, SWB with air con, electric windows/mirrors, parking sensors. Very clean, one small dent on the wheel arch. Its done 66K miles and that is warranted milage so def' not clocked. It's in silver.

Paid 10K for it all in from the auctions. That includes VAT and fees.

Sad thing is, I paid the deposit. Then went to pay the outstanding amount. Wouldn't authorise. Loan hadn't cleared.

Phoned bank, they said it could clear anytime today. So I hung around. Reluctantly left at 4.30 as it's a long drive. Got home just now, and the money is in the account. So now I have to take tomorrow off to go back there and pick it up.

To make matters worse. Just had an emergency call out come in. Which I've had to turn away. Turned so much work away this week, it's painful.

 

[dancinplumba]

Bought my new van (YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY)

But can't pick it up until tomorrow (BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO).

Got an 09 plate VW Transporter, a 130, SWB with air con, electric windows/mirrors, parking sensors. Very clean, one small dent on the wheel arch. Its done 66K miles and that is warranted milage so def' not clocked. It's in silver.

Paid 10K for it all in from the auctions. That includes VAT and fees.

Sad thing is, I paid the deposit. Then went to pay the outstanding amount. Wouldn't authorise. Loan hadn't cleared.

Phoned bank, they said it could clear anytime today. So I hung around. Reluctantly left at 4.30 as it's a long drive. Got home just now, and the money is in the account. So now I have to take tomorrow off to go back there and pick it up.

To make matters worse. Just had an emergency call out come in. Which I've had to turn away. Turned so much work away this week, it's painful.

proper van tho danny, i like, am looking for lwb one

 

[Whl4852]

Bought my new van (YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY)

But can't pick it up until tomorrow (BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO).

Got an 09 plate VW Transporter, a 130, SWB with air con, electric windows/mirrors, parking sensors. Very clean, one small dent on the wheel arch. Its done 66K miles and that is warranted milage so def' not clocked. It's in silver.

Paid 10K for it all in from the auctions. That includes VAT and fees.

Sad thing is, I paid the deposit. Then went to pay the outstanding amount. Wouldn't authorise. Loan hadn't cleared.

Phoned bank, they said it could clear anytime today. So I hung around. Reluctantly left at 4.30 as it's a long drive. Got home just now, and the money is in the account. So now I have to take tomorrow off to go back there and pick it up.

To make matters worse. Just had an emergency call out come in. Which I've had to turn away. Turned so much work away this week, it's painful.

Nice piece of kit, put some photos up when you get the time, you can get some smart racking kits for these vans, ex aa racking is quite good stuff!

 

[Dannypipe]

The really great thing is, my mate Colin the chippy also bought the same make, year and model van. So I've asked him nicely if he'll help me rack it out...when he does his.

I'm crap at anything like that.

I'm like a kid at Christmas, can't wait to go pick her up in the morning. Thanks for the heads up about the AA racking. I'm gonna take a look tonight. Infact I'm going to do nothing but kit out the new toy for the next few weeks.

My mates is the 85PS version, and he says his drives really nice. So the 130 should be pretty good. There was a 200 Merc Sportliner there today. Went for silly money. As in silly high. The auctions are MENTAL some things go for a song, others go through the roof. There's no pattern.

I bidded like a madman on mine. I was trying to look cool, like a car dealer, but when push came to shove, I was waving my hand around like a total fool, bidding against myself, and looking totally amatuer!

 

[Destroyer2813]

See any vivaros what they go 4 ?

 

[hydrotherm]

What auction did you go to Danny?

 

[Dannypipe]

I went to the one at Black Bushe, a big auction too. They sold over 400 vans today in just over 2 hours.

Lots of Vivaros. Most of them on an 08 plate and about 75K on the clock. This is warranted mileage so you know its genuine. They went for about 4500 plus VAT and fees. So I guess that's about 6K all in.

Some went cheaper, but they tended to either be a bit tatty or high mileage or non warranted mileage.

You get the occasional bargain.

Right at the end, a 08 Vivaro with a bit of damage to the rear bumper and no warranted milage went for £3200 plus vat and fees. Which is a bloody cheap van.

I saw a Movano I wanted which was an 08 plate, and 55K miles go for 6K plus VAT & fees. Which is proper cheap (but I had bought by then and was killing time while my money cleared - or didn't!!).

Like I say, you see some stuff go so cheap, you want to bid on it really badly. Then something you think will go cheap goes for a lot more than you think.

If you've never been to one of these big auctions, then I suggest you go just for the experience. It's amazing. A buzz when you're bidding too.

I loved it.

 

[Whl4852]

I went to the one at Black Bushe, a big auction too. They sold over 400 vans today in just over 2 hours.

Lots of Vivaros. Most of them on an 08 plate and about 75K on the clock. This is warranted mileage so you know its genuine. They went for about 4500 plus VAT and fees. So I guess that's about 6K all in.

Some went cheaper, but they tended to either be a bit tatty or high mileage or non warranted mileage.

You get the occasional bargain.

Right at the end, a 08 Vivaro with a bit of damage to the rear bumper and no warranted milage went for £3200 plus vat and fees. Which is a bloody cheap van.

I saw a Movano I wanted which was an 08 plate, and 55K miles go for 6K plus VAT & fees. Which is proper cheap (but I had bought by then and was killing time while my money cleared - or didn't!!).

Like I say, you see some stuff go so cheap, you want to bid on it really badly. Then something you think will go cheap goes for a lot more than you think.

If you've never been to one of these big auctions, then I suggest you go just for the experience. It's amazing. A buzz when you're bidding too.

I loved it.

I love them, I feel like del boy! Can't look anybody in the eye though. Last time took my mate ( a debt collector ) he taught me how to phyc out my opponent. Some serious stuff. The best I've been to is Merthyr motor auctions, one of the biggest in the country

 

[Dannypipe]

I was wearing my sheepskin jacket today....in order to try and look the part.

I totally love it. If I ever can't stand plumbing any more, I'm totally going to become a del boy, wheeler dealer!!

It's organised chaos. Vans rolling in every couple of minutes, on two selling halls. Loads of people mingling around, opening the sliding doors, and sniffing round the vans. Good fun.

 

[Destroyer2813]

I went to the one at Black Bushe, a big auction too. They sold over 400 vans today in just over 2 hours.

Lots of Vivaros. Most of them on an 08 plate and about 75K on the clock. This is warranted mileage so you know its genuine. They went for about 4500 plus VAT and fees. So I guess that's about 6K all in.

Some went cheaper, but they tended to either be a bit tatty or high mileage or non warranted mileage.

You get the occasional bargain.

Right at the end, a 08 Vivaro with a bit of damage to the rear bumper and no warranted milage went for £3200 plus vat and fees. Which is a bloody cheap van.

I saw a Movano I wanted which was an 08 plate, and 55K miles go for 6K plus VAT & fees. Which is proper cheap (but I had bought by then and was killing time while my money cleared - or didn't!!).

Like I say, you see some stuff go so cheap, you want to bid on it really badly. Then something you think will go cheap goes for a lot more than you think.

If you've never been to one of these big auctions, then I suggest you go just for the experience. It's amazing. A buzz when you're bidding too.

I loved it.

Cheers pal gives me some negotiating ammo

 

[Dannypipe]

No worries mate. What did it drive like then?

 

[Destroyer2813]

Going saturday morning, gonna see what I can knock em down too if I take it I know they've had it at least a month and moved it to a different dealer so see how keen the bloke is 4 a sale

 

[iain85]

Funny enough I've just read this thread and can relate to the combos lack of space. Only thing is it owes me nothing and is so good on fuel I'm reluctant to part with it.

 

[Dannypipe]

Funny enough I've just read this thread and can relate to the combos lack of space. Only thing is it owes me nothing and is so good on fuel I'm reluctant to part with it.

I was the same, now I owe 10K on the van and I still have to rack it, and sign write it. But it's tax deductable, and I won't have to put up with this anymore: These were taken a couple of years back, and in fairness I have become more careful about what I carry, and it is now better than this....but still it's hard not having enough room. It stresses you out and slows you down.

I ideally wanted a big VW Crafter, but the Tranporter was just too nice to let slip. 8K plus VAT and fees. So ten in total. It's worth that in the hassle it will save me every single working day!!

 

[GasmanxxxR1]

Cant wait to see the pics of the new van

I may need a new van soon but ive never been to an auction before. Is their any tips or dos and donts that you could share with us

Cheers

 

[Destroyer2813]

Come on Danny pics , drove the transit this morning nice and smooth drive bit weird when first got in.seating position higher than.my vivaro

 

[mfgs]

The transporter is a good choice. You will love driving it, I have the 130 and the extra power just makes them much nicer to drive. No more struggling up hills.

 

[PlumbersMate]

So jealous Danny, Transporter is my dream van

 

[Dannypipe]

Thanks for the info lads.

Its a treat to drive. So bloody quick!! I'll take a couple of snaps tomorrow. Can't wait to get her sign written and racked out.

I've been looking up kits on the internet that look really good. A couple of hundred quid but all the shelving is purpose cut on a CSC machine. SO it fits perfectly.

I'm putting it in for a service with a VW specialist on Monday. That's gonna set me back over 300 notes.

Very annoying, I spent 400 on the Combo in December having that serviced!

 

[tamz]

I'm putting it in for a service with a VW specialist on Monday. That's gonna set me back over 300 notes.

A bit like phoning Worcester to service your boiler Danny.
A good independent will do every bit as good a job at a fraction of the cost but everyone to their own.

 

[PlumbersMate]

How you find the Relay Tamz? My pal has got one huge amounts of space in it!

 

[Dannypipe]

A bit like phoning Worcester to service your boiler Danny.
A good independent will do every bit as good a job at a fraction of the cost but everyone to their own.

Its an independant VW/Audi specialist Tamz. So they charge £58 +VAT an hour as opposed to VW who probably charge twice that.

John Bowles they're called. All they do is Audi and VW's. Reccomended from my father who takes his Audi there.

Wouldn't go straight to VW, I don't have deep enough pockets.

 

[Phil]

Anyone else getting van adds when on You Tube? Ha Ha Those Transit connects are very expensive, you seem to get more van for your money with a regular Transit.

 

[Helpfulplumber]

Just bought a 08 expert, cheap as chips and as good as my old 05 caddy. Transporters are vanity over priced due to there following on the surfing community. Used to have a lease one, no better than the French stuff, better resale though. Fuel consumption is king in my business and my expert is loads better than my transporter ever was.

 

[dave1]

I used to have a 04 fiat Scudo. That was a good van for me, preferred that to combo and connect.

 

[Dannypipe]

Just bought a 08 expert, cheap as chips and as good as my old 05 caddy. Transporters are vanity over priced due to there following on the surfing community. Used to have a lease one, no better than the French stuff, better resale though. Fuel consumption is king in my business and my expert is loads better than my transporter ever was.

Probably true.....but I like having something with a bit off go, and the new van has that in spades. I'm not vain at all by what van I drive. It just needs to look presentable as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Helpfulplumber]

I hear that, I like transporters but the motocarvan conversion people have made them to expensive, that said my pals is a nice thing to go on holiday in. 180hp is cool just not really that useful when tap fitting.

 

[theanalyst]

My last van was a VW transporter. A T4 (older) model which is a fair bit older than yours. It was a superb van and the only thing I had to do was rebuild the cylinder head after the cambelt slipped. Which was a known weak point on the old ones. It was super reliable in general and cost me very little to maintain.
By comparison I currently have a transit and hate it! Its an 04 plate and rust is coming through all the way round the bottom edges. Utterly crap build quality but a good work horse.
Im also thinking about a new van after seeing this thread lol.

 

[Dannypipe]

Well the van went in for the service, and I wanted the noise looked at on the steering. Both sides could do with new bearings and bushes.

End result - £500 fitted. So with the service - just over £800.

That's the risk you take buying at auction. The van is only 3 and a bit years old.

I'm driving it to Milton Keynes on Saturday morning to have a load of racking fitted. Another £300 plus fuel.

Oh well that's life. I'll take some photos once the racking is installed at the weekend.

I'm back in the Combo tomorrow. I'll probably use it all this week and swap all my gear over at the weekend.