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.

 

[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.