'Best Van'

« **on:** October 09, 2007, 10:33:06 pm »

To all the wfp guys & gals here,

What do you think is 'the best van' to use for wfp

« **Reply #1 on:** October 09, 2007, 10:34:41 pm »

Now you've opened a can of worms. I'm going to bed before this debate begins lol

« **Reply #2 on:** October 09, 2007, 10:35:19 pm »

Quote from: colley614 on October 09, 2007, 10:34:41 pm

Now you've opened a can of worms. I'm going to bed before this debate begins lol

haha, i just need help deciding what to buy, i cant make my mind up $:-\$

« **Reply #3 on:** October 09, 2007, 10:37:20 pm »

I would buy a transit sized van that can hold an Ibc sized tank myself. But check the pay load of vans before buying as some carry a lot more than others.

« **Reply #4 on:** October 09, 2007, 10:37:28 pm »

go for the fiat ducato swb 120 engine

They are about the cheapest big van you will find

« **Reply #5 on:** October 09, 2007, 10:38:29 pm »

So no1 thinks a transit connect is a good choice?

« **Reply #6 on:** October 09, 2007, 10:41:57 pm »

Quote

go for the fiat ducato swb 120 engine

They are about the cheapest big van you will find

Yeah, but it's a Fiat! :

Andy

« **Reply #7 on:** October 09, 2007, 10:42:46 pm »

If I had the money to buy a new van I'd look at the transit but thats my professional opinion. Everyone else could have another opinion.

« **Reply #8 on:** October 09, 2007, 10:44:11 pm »

Quote from: Andy @ SCS on October 09, 2007, 10:41:57 pm

Quote
go for the fiat ducato swb 120 engine

They are about the cheapest big van you will find

Yeah, but it's a Fiat! :

Andy

Lol yeah I bought a Fiat earlier this year. Used it once and the gearbox went. Then it was sat outside my house for a month and then went the scrappy!

« **Reply #9 on:** October 09, 2007, 10:44:53 pm »

Quote from: Andy @ SCS on October 09, 2007, 10:41:57 pm

Quote
go for the fiat ducato swb 120 engine

They are about the cheapest big van you will find

Yeah, but it's a Fiat! :

Andy

Well said, steer clear. $:-\$

I've got a Renault Trafic, which is also a Vauxhall Vivaro.
Can't go far wrong.
Superb drive, quiet, powerful.
Most popular van on the road for a reason.
Arguably the best looking van too, which matters.

New Transit is supposed to be a good alternative.
Ain't pretty though.

« **Reply #10 on:** October 09, 2007, 10:47:23 pm »

To be far the Transits my old firm used were good little motors. We used to clean the trolley bays in tesco with a jet wash and one on the guys used to drive round with this door open jet washing the trolley bays. Soon stopped after he hit the door on a bollard at about 20 miles an hour!

« **Reply #11 on:** October 09, 2007, 10:54:20 pm »

Quote

If I had the money to buy a new van I'd look at the transit but thats my professional opinion. Everyone else could have another opinion.

The thing is... All older Transits rust more than any other van, whats to say the current models won't start to do the same in a few years?

If I had the money I would go for a VW, Nisaan or Toyota.

Andy

« **Reply #12 on:** October 09, 2007, 11:00:49 pm »

I don`t care how good that new transit is,it`s the uglyist van i`ve seen bar none.

« **Reply #13 on:** October 09, 2007, 11:02:08 pm »

I have a Movano and cant fault it!

Andy

« **Reply #14 on:** October 09, 2007, 11:03:00 pm »

I have a relay swb and also has more insulation than my house now

« **Reply #15 on:** October 09, 2007, 11:04:57 pm »

ex bt transits, eberspacher heater for cold mornings and frozen pipes, hot water and sink for clean hands through the day, payload is good enough for a 1000 litre tank, safe in the centre of the seats for your cash, and a flashing pelican for hazardous roads, get them from the depots when they come of service, low milers, serviced properly and well maintained, racking in the back for storage, roofrack, step and bars for the roof rack, the only thing is they are slower than the vivaro and trafics but there good on fuel....i would recomend them for our job (WFP) all day long!, pick a good one up for around 5k

« **Reply #16 on:** October 09, 2007, 11:48:23 pm »

Renault Traffic/ Nissan Primastar & Vauxhall Vivaro.

I have just boughyt a nearly new Primastar and looked at all 3 in great detail before my decision. It has to be based on spec, price, maintenance and service costs. In my opinion the Primastar beat the vivaro easily and although similar spec to traffic (only difference was I got reversing bleepers) the servicing costs on the Renault are exhorbitant.

Howwever that is my opinion.

« **Reply #17 on:** October 10, 2007, 12:12:45 am »

With the weight you will be carrying nothing under a 2.3, and you can't go wrong with a nissan engine. Looks are great but in this game reliability is more important (& payload)

« **Reply #18 on:** October 10, 2007, 12:20:24 am »

depends on what size tank you want to carry, don't get drawn into the whole bigger is better nonesense. the connect is a good van for a 400ltr set up.

tony

« **Reply #19 on:** October 10, 2007, 12:31:34 am »

Quote from: macmac on October 10, 2007, 12:20:24 am

depends on what size tank you want to carry, don't get drawn into the whole bigger is better nonesense. the connect is a good van for a 400ltr set up.

tony

bigger is better for expanding and thats not nonesence it is a fact, connect are fine as macmac says max 400l set up

« **Reply #20 on:** October 10, 2007, 12:50:03 am »

relay swb myself used to have ldv 400lwb high loader not a good place to start i know so anything was an improvement
relay swb not a bad van old 06 reg so not latest but still not a monster to look at though good van alround
imo

« **Reply #21 on:** October 10, 2007, 08:44:44 am »

I have been looking at the VW Transporter SWB T32 payload 1400kg, 102PS 1.9 TD.(most economical)

Great van, you can spec it with an uprated alternator, second battery. Online you can get them for about £14000. Seems a good deal.

« **Reply #22 on:** October 10, 2007, 08:46:20 am »

Quote from: Alex Gardiner on October 10, 2007, 08:44:44 am

I have been looking at the VW Transporter SWB T32 payload 1400kg, 102PS 1.9 TD.(most economical)

Great van, you can spec it with an uprated alternator, second battery. Online you can get them for about £14000. Seems a good deal.

Is that including vat though?

« **Reply #23 on:** October 10, 2007, 09:01:20 am »

Alex

which sites have you looked at , i have been looking for transporters and cant find anything other than the basic model for less than £14k + vat

I would defo go for the 2.5l so much more power, the t32 also has a differnet suspension set up on the rear.

Dave

« **Reply #24 on:** October 10, 2007, 12:47:06 pm »

Quote from: windowwashers on October 10, 2007, 12:31:34 am

Quote from: macmac on October 10, 2007, 12:20:24 am
depends on what size tank you want to carry, don't get drawn into the whole bigger is better nonesense. the connect is a good van for a 400ltr set up.

tony
bigger is better for expanding and thats not nonesence it is a fact, connect are fine as macmac says max 400l set up

The bigger the van the more expensive to buy/run/insure etc.
So, what shal we do?
Spend 14k & then hope to god that we do indeed expand at the unrealistic rate at which is bantered around here? :

Or, spend 7k & ease ourself into wfp with a more realistic & managable option, then, when/if indeed we do start to expand THEN (with the extra funds now available) we can plan an upgrade.

Running before walking & all that :

ask squeeky

We work to earn money, not dream.

tony

« **Reply #25 on:** October 10, 2007, 12:52:22 pm »

i might ba getting a connect today ...

« **Reply #26 on:** October 10, 2007, 01:38:06 pm »

watch out for the Transporters. They are renowned for having huge issues around the 60k mark. A top quality van I agree but that put me off. Can't remember what the problem is but I know a few people who have had serious issues around that mileage.

« **Reply #27 on:** October 10, 2007, 03:22:23 pm »

Citroen Dispatch 2.0 Turbo Diesel

Thats what i got today, nice van 04... Not to big and not to small, just need to get the wfp system in the back now

I feel like a kid with a new toy

Neil

« **Reply #28 on:** October 10, 2007, 03:27:42 pm »

good choice, good van

tony

« **Reply #29 on:** October 10, 2007, 03:29:45 pm »

Quote from: macmac on October 10, 2007, 03:27:42 pm

good choice, good van

tony

Thanks Tony

I know someone from this site that said he can fit all the gear in the back for me for a price.. but i cant get hold of him

would anyone eolse be intrested... I would like to have it all done b4 xmas

Neil

« **Reply #30 on:** October 10, 2007, 03:53:07 pm »

i like the toyota hiace, good payload & excellent drive , you can get one for £10k + vat from autotrader.

Just need to drill haole & put gromit where sliding door is as it sits on runners.

Mine is 4 1/2 years old & only had new tyres, expect to run on & on.

Gary

« **Reply #31 on:** October 10, 2007, 04:01:03 pm »

Vw transporters are good vans but there far to much money for the spec you get as standard,if i went for one of Them i`d have to go for the 174bhp version.

« **Reply #32 on:** October 10, 2007, 05:02:11 pm »

vauxhall movano mwb,always had transits before but prefer the movano.

think the body work will last a lot longer on the vauxhall,but i have to admit the transit engine takes some beating for reliabilty

« **Reply #33 on:** October 10, 2007, 05:49:39 pm »

Quote from: Andy @ SCS on October 09, 2007, 10:41:57 pm

Quote
go for the fiat ducato swb 120 engine

They are about the cheapest big van you will find

Yeah, but it's a Fiat! :

Andy

So?

(2004 Ducato SWB - 35kmiles - bought June 2006 £6K)

« **Reply #34 on:** October 10, 2007, 06:07:42 pm »

That's not including VAT though (not that the VAT should bother you David

).

I will check up which site it was, I was just casually browsing for a Demo system van for the firm.

« **Reply #35 on:** October 10, 2007, 06:18:48 pm »

Quote from: NWH on October 10, 2007, 04:01:03 pm

Vw transporters are good vans but there far to much money for the spec you get as standard

they do hold the value VERY well though

hey mine is over 30 years old and still worth more than 12 K

« **Reply #36 on:** October 10, 2007, 09:03:42 pm »

Mercedes have the highest residual values after 3 years 48 % followed by vw with 46% , fiat have about 20%.

Alex

vat matters if you are on flat rate scheme

« **Reply #37 on:** October 10, 2007, 09:30:47 pm »

VW transporters used to drop a valve at around seventy thousand miles, thats on the old air cooled ones Mat must know about them. I had an air cooled one X reg and one garage mechanic laughed when I took it in. He reckoned they used to mark them with tipex and have a bet on to see if it could get past it's first service! One model was diabolical. New vans are a different kettle of fish now.