Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: lee_dewing on December 28, 2017, 05:56:16 pm
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Hi everyone, due to my recent post 23/12 would you buy this van.
Looks like I've got a van.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201712081926872?advertising-location=at_vans&search-target=usedvans&supplied-price-from=3000&supplied-price-to=5000&advertising-location=at_vans&postcode=en93na&model=DOBLO&sort=atcustomsup&page=1&radius=30&make=FIAT&version=b
Managed to haggle £200 off. (which is price of RAC check) 😐
RAC check being done Tuesday, 2/1/18, Hopefully all good.
Done HPI; all clear.👍
Buying from an AA approved dealership.
Any advice on what to do if RAC find any problems, minor I hope if any😌
As in, what are the dealership liable to put right.
I left £100 holding fee.
Van had 1 owner enterprise van rentals.
(but maybe many drivers😖).
Mot'd.. til October 2018
Mileage just under 32,000.
Body work almost immaculate, 1 fine scratch and one finger nail sized bit of filler.
Unfortunately I'm clueless with mechanics.
Thanks lee
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Very nice too !
Thats what i should have got really instead of the Fiorino .
Good engine , as long as you keep up the oil changes .
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Stick £100 of it on your credit card, you are then covered by the credit card if anything goes wrong
https://www.moneysupermarket.com/credit-cards/guide-to-credit-card-protection/
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Good advice. Thanks Fella's
Happy new year too you 💃
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IMO the 1.3 multijet is one of the best engines ever produced!👍
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Thanks PW :)
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your brave buying a ex hire van, it will have had a very hard life, the maxi with 1000kg payload and twin side doors is a excellent van, you have paid a lot too I remember seeing these brand new pre registered for just over 7k
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your brave buying a ex hire van, it will have had a very hard life,
My doblo was almost exactly the same as Lee's- just over 3 years old with 30 oddk on the clock and ex-lease/hire van. It turned out to be the best van I've had! Never missed a beat and didn't cost me a penny in the 5 years I owned it. Sold it for £1250 less than I paid for it..after 5 years, beat that. ;D
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Good choice they get great reviews, hopefully it all checks out for you. I recently purchased the new 1.6 tecnico lwb version, hopefully will receive it at the end of Jan (looking forward to that more than i was christmas ;D)
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Nice one mate.
I bought a ex enterprise hire van thru van monster 3 months ago, mine was a partner with 43k for £4400 plus vat
so far spot on, love having a fairly new van, just get in and it starts and off i go!
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It does look like it could be a decent van, although the dealer wants top dollar for it.
I would estimate it's only really worth 4-5k inc. vat.
Ask to see any relevant service history (even though reputable rental companies usually do keep their vehicles serviced up to date).
The government MOT website says the current MOT expires in June 2018 so you might want to query that with the information you have Lee (October 2018)?
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Good one fella.
It's always a relief isnt it getting things like that sorted.
Hope you have a cracking year bud
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these are very good no fuel but they have a timing chain and there are prone to snapping so ive hurd
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They only snap if you are unlucky or never change the oil , keep an eye on the level of oil as starvation is what causes the chain to fail , they have a very small sump so it must be kept at max for long life .
I have done my homework on this engine as mine had double your miles at time of purchase !
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looks like a nice little van that lee.just in time for the new year!
good luck with it and all the best for a prosperous and happy 2018. ;D
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Hi lee ,your van looks good to me for that price,
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Peavey. Hope I have your Luck with my fiat doblo. :)
P1w1 and Adam: All the best with your vans👍
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The government MOT website says the current MOT expires in June 2018 so you might want to query that with the information you have Lee (October 2018)?
Thanks for that Andy M, salesman will just deny that one😐
As to price I did hunt around on web and thought price was about average but I was only looking mainly at dealerships.
Did come across another 2 that were cheaper around almost £1000 same year but nearly double the mileage.
Maybe private sale would have achieved better deal as forecourt sales are always on top price wise.
Maybe it's a false sense of security but feel a bit safer with dealer😒
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They only snap if you are unlucky or never change the oil , keep an eye on the level of oil as starvation is what causes the chain to fail , they have a very small sump so it must be kept at max for long life .
I have done my homework on this engine as mine had double your miles at time of purchase !
P@F: Thanks very much for the information, having suffered a snapped cam belt and knackered engine on old escort can do without this!
My old van was 16 yrs old ford escort and worth £200.
Having a newish van do this would be heart breaking😢
P@F so fiat doblo has no cam belt?
But if timing chain snaps same result? Engine destroyed 😖
Do you know how many miles before a new timing chain is needed?
Thanks lee
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Daz Marc Colin.
Thanks 😊
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The government MOT website says the current MOT expires in June 2018 so you might want to query that with the information you have Lee (October 2018)?
Thanks for that Andy M, salesman will just deny that one😐
As to price I did hunt around on web and thought price was about average but I was only looking mainly at dealerships.
Did come across another 2 that were cheaper around almost £1000 same year but nearly double the mileage.
Maybe private sale would have achieved better deal as forecourt sales are always on top price wise.
Maybe it's a false sense of security but feel a bit safer with dealer😒
With a dealer, they have a duty of care to their customers, if anything goes wrong, you have more comeback than you would with a ,private seller
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With a dealer, they have a duty of care to their customers, if anything goes wrong, you have more comeback than you would with a ,private seller
Thanks Rich.
I've paid £5822 total incl. vat that's with roof bars fitted also.
All subject to RAC report of course 😌
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They only snap if you are unlucky or never change the oil , keep an eye on the level of oil as starvation is what causes the chain to fail , they have a very small sump so it must be kept at max for long life .
I have done my homework on this engine as mine had double your miles at time of purchase !
P@F: Thanks very much for the information, having suffered a snapped cam belt and knackered engine on old escort can do without this!
My old van was 16 yrs old ford escort and worth £200.
Having a newish van do this would be heart breaking😢
P@F so fiat doblo has no cam belt?
But if timing chain snaps same result? Engine destroyed 😖
Do you know how many miles before a new timing chain is needed?
Thanks lee
Yes , its just a chain instead of a belt , but as you say its the same result if it snaps , damage will vary on the driving condition at the time , it could totally wreck , or you might get very lucky and just need valves and rockers , either way it goes , unless you can strip it yourself you will be paying high labour costs just to find out , and thats why people go down the scrap it route !
Back in the day lots of engines will have been chain , then the move over to belt revolution happened , today lots are going back to chain by the look of it .
I think that Fiat recomend 100k as the renew date , but it could outlast the van and it could go at 50k , just one of those things !
Lots of filter and oil changes are the best attack , i now do mine every 6 months as i sort of got lazy and left it 18 months when i got the van , low milage was my thinking , but its a lot of stop/start in our game .
I think you have done ok on price , I got my Fiorino at 3 years old with 65k on it for 4800 all in .
But i was in a hurry as my T4 clutch was about to give up after 10 years of abuse ;D
And at £1200 to sort out a newer van was the better option , I do miss her though !
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Had the same engine in another van.
chain snapped at 66,666 miles lol!!!!
The give away is the noise! it was full service history but what i didn't know was the van was a field van so it was left ticking over all day!!
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P@F: Thanks for all the knowledge, try to get mot and services spaced 6 months apart with oil and filter change.
Found an mot tester through a mate, who's fair😊
Take it your Old van was transporter?
How do you get on with florina?
I had ford courier for a week and found it abit tight.
But to be fair if I had bought it, I would have made it work!
I use barrels, 10 x 25 litre a day: Because my ro system is at my parents.
Unfortunately they don't have off street parking😞
Even more unfortunate I live in a back to back house 🏠 no garden😁
The ford courier was lovely to drive but as a stop gap; it was like one of those cupboards where everytime I open the doors stuff fell out😁
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Sorry to hear that clever forum name.
I know my old escort was 16 years old but if I had not got lazy with the service schedule it would probably be still going.
Hadn't had it serviced for nearly 2 years😖 begrudged spending money on it as list of problems was getting longer😁
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Lee,
I think this ones probably meant for you - look at the reg! Lee Windowcleaner Dewing!
Joking aside. Looks like a decent van that should last you a good few years ....
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;D well spotted cookie 😁
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That is a lovely looking van Lee.
I have never owned a Fiat, are spares as readily available as for a Ford?
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That is a lovely looking van Lee.
I have never owned a Fiat, are spares as readily available as for a Ford?
If you are talking second hand spares , then ford is probably easier , but i have had no problem finding parts brand new at good prices , even Fiat main dealer are not stupid money .
So far i have done ....Injector seals £2 each at GSF
Glow plugs £16 each at Europarts
Clutch kit £90 at Europarts
I need to do the suspension tops next (common fault , design flaw at Fiat) upgraded ones from Fiat are £35 each , so no big deal
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P@F.
Do you do your own mechanics?
Also do you have any experience of warranties?
I mean buying a warranty for peace of mind, to try and avoid costly problems.
Thanks lee
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Thanks Brian :)
Fingers and toes crossed
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P@F.
Do you do your own mechanics?
Also do you have any experience of warranties?
I mean buying a warranty for peace of mind, to try and avoid costly problems.
Thanks lee
I'm a bit of a jack of all trades but a master of none kind of chap , I will tackle any job after a bit of homework or fooltube watching , I have done pretty much all you can to cars and vans , head gaskets , clutches , resprays , the list goes on , BUT , the only thing i would not do is a cambelt or chain , that I would pay for as one tooth out and its game over !
My experience of the warranty world is varied , I have had to call on a warranty twice in my life , once on a Clio that decided after 2 weeks that it didnt want to keep its oil in the gearbox , I called the forecourt and reported the problem , I was told that as it was a moving part it was NOT covered , WTF !
It was even written in the smallprint on warranty book , so that warranty was not worth the paper , they did however put it right after a few calls and a little visit to them , they said it was a goodwill gesture , more like as it turned out to only be a driveshaft seal , better to just do it to get rid of me !
The other time was with my T4 , after 1 month the power steering went proper stiff , that too had dumped all its power steering fluid onto the road , after a crawl under the van I found that the pump shaft had gone through the side of the pump , I also noticed fresh silicone all around the engine sump so it had only just had a repair prior to me buying it , then I noticed that the crankshaft pulley had been put on backwards :o , no wonder the shaft went adrift with a misalined belt !
That one was a recovery and no questions repair job !
So what I am saying is ,, There are good warranties and bad warranties too , which will you get ;D
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Thanks P@F
Sounds like you had your fair share of bad luck :(
It's great that your confident enough to tackle mechanics, I'm not ;D
Sounds like you would give most mechanics a run for their money from the list of jobs you've done their.
Very impressive :) I tip my hat to you!
Who would be best for doing a timing belt, would you just goto a fiat dealership?
That would probably be my thinking.
Over the local small garage.
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Normally I use a local trusted garage for my belts/chains , but its always worth getting a price off the main dealer , certain jobs can be very close in pricing up .
I think that some small garages dont want the job at times so over inflate the price ( as we do ;D )
And i think that our chains could be one of them jobs , I looked on youtube and I wouldnt fancy it myself if I was more confident !
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I would personally recommend Warranty Direct if you want some peace of mind. I am one of the most sceptical people on the earth with things like this but I was recommended them and my gearbox lost 5th gear- couldn't have been easier or more pleasant to deal with. No quibble repair, remanufactured box fitted with full parts and labour covered. The level of cover is so good your natural reaction is it's too good to be true but my experience and their reviews back it up.👍
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I think that some small garages dont want the job at times so over inflate the price ( as we do ;D )
And i think that our chains could be one of them jobs , I looked on youtube and I wouldnt fancy it myself if I was more confident !
😁 mate of mine use to be a mechanic, he said if he could, he would of just mot'd and done services all day😁
Thanks P@F
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I would personally recommend Warranty Direct if you want some peace of mind. I am one of the most sceptical people on the earth with things like this but I was recommended them and my gearbox lost 5th gear- couldn't have been easier or more pleasant to deal with. No quibble repair, remanufactured box fitted with full parts and labour covered. The level of cover is so good your natural reaction is it's too good to be true but my experience and their reviews back it up.👍
Thanks PW that's good to know!
I use to get the which magazine and remember that some of the warranties were worth having.
I remember an AA guy saying put away £400 a year for a second vehicle.
But gearboxes, clutches and of course the dreaded timing/cam belt can really be crippling or even fatal to our trusted workhorses'
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I would personally recommend Warranty Direct if you want some peace of mind. I am one of the most sceptical people on the earth with things like this but I was recommended them and my gearbox lost 5th gear- couldn't have been easier or more pleasant to deal with. No quibble repair, remanufactured box fitted with full parts and labour covered. The level of cover is so good your natural reaction is it's too good to be true but my experience and their reviews back it up.👍
Thanks PW that's good to know!
I use to get the which magazine and remember that some of the warranties were worth having.
I remember an AA guy saying put away £400 a year for a second vehicle.
But gearboxes, clutches and of course the dreaded timing/cam belt can really be crippling or even fatal to our trusted workhorses'
If your timing belt/chain was to fail, providing your vehicle has been serviced as per manufacturer's schedule then all the damage would be fully covered. If your turbo failed then not only the turbo but everything else that failure caused would also be covered. 👍
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That's good to know.
I suppose there gets to a point where the warranty is too dear.
Some one said to me once, buy a vehicle at 2 years old and sell by 5 yrs old.
1st two years of a vehicles life is the sharpest depreciation and by year 5 gonna have to start forking out for repairs.
Never been able to afford to do that 😁
Thanks again PW ;)
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:'( unfortunately I wasn't happy with the RAC report so won't be going ahead.
Apparently lot of filler down left hand side.
Been told probably not road accident but hit bollard most likely.
Oil leak but pan would need.removing.
Whistling coming from turbo on test drive.
Central locking not working on rear doors.
Left mirror indicator has condensation in.
Only 1 service stamp in book, vehicle reg June 2014.
RAC guy said there could possibly be over a £1000 worth of repairs.
Basically said if it had been serviced regularly things would maybe be ok.
Not gonna spend £6000 on a maybe😞
Back to the drawing board.
2nd hand £6000
Hp new
Lease
Decisions decisions 😐
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:'( unfortunately I wasn't happy with the RAC report so won't be going ahead.
Apparently lot of filler down left hand side.
Been told probably not road accident but hit bollard most likely.
Oil leak but pan would need.removing.
Whistling coming from turbo on test drive.
Central locking not working on rear doors.
Left mirror indicator has condensation in.
Only 1 service stamp in book, vehicle reg June 2014.
RAC guy said there could possibly be over a £1000 worth of repairs.
Basically said if it had been serviced regularly things would maybe be ok.
Not gonna spend £6000 on a maybe😞
Back to the drawing board.
2nd hand £6000
Hp new
Lease
Decisions decisions 😐
sorry to hear that but better now than later.
Bet that van get sent off to auction for another unwary buyer to have the issues.
Some take a small magnet with them to check for body damage.
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Personally I would be looking to buy private and vat free. Get RAC to check any potential purchase out and consider warranty direct for your peace of mind- particularly for the first year.
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sorry to hear that but better now than later.
Bet that van get sent off to auction for another unwary buyer to have the issues.
Some take a small magnet with them to check for body damage.
Yep no doubt a poor unsuspecting punter will end up with that vehicle at a later date.
Look on the bright side Lee, you dodged a bullet with that one by getting a report done!
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https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F182994847120
Seems ok. It should last you a good 4 years. Get a quote from warranty direct to weigh it up. Any purchase carries risk, whether private or trade. An engine, if serviced correctly should outlast many other parts of the van itself, in 4 years you would still get 1 to 1.5k resale.
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Sounds like the cost of the RAC report has been money well spent and has probably saved you some grief. Although a 3 1/2 year old van with 31 000 miles on the clock and only 1 service stamp would have concerned me right away.
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If you don't mind travelling, there is one on Gumtree, 2015, 16 000 miles, £5700 no VAT, if it's still for sale you will prob get it for £5300 ish, a real snip.....it's in the Highlands tho, so planes, trains and automobiles ;D........Oh and the bonus is, it has a roofrack ;) I have travelled the length and breadth of the country for my vans and cars, Liverpool, Coventry, Derby and Selby spring to mind and I am based in Scotland. Distance is no object for me, to get the right motor at the right price.
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sod it lee just buy a brand new one.your gonna need a van for the next 10-15 years anyway so why not just buy one that ll last you and that you can take care of from the off.
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Thanks everyone for your advice much appreciated, from an indecisive worry guts ;D
Seen this one higher than average mileage but full service history allegedly!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201710049945144?advertising-location=at_vans&search-target=usedvans&supplied-price-from=4000&supplied-price-to=5000&advertising-location=at_vans&postcode=en93na&model=DOBLO&sort=atcustomsup&page=1&radius=15&make=FIAT&version=b
Daz are you happy with leasing? I believe you are!
Are there alot of hidden extras like gap insurance?
Vanarama quoted me £200 a month 5 years on citoren berlingo with tlc package.
Everything covered servicing, tyres etc.
Just diesel and insurance.
Still not sure on leasing though ???
Thanks everyone, great advice on warranties👍
I remember the magnet tip now, Spruce .
When I bought my other van a friend of the family came with me, he was an accident assessor and worked in the motor trade all his life.
Unfortunately he passed away to cancer a year after he had helped me 😡
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if your in no rush and happy to go van hunting up north then you will get a better deal we picked up a transit (mk7) 62 plate in Dundee one owner with 71 k on the clock for 4400 plus the vat on xmas eve van as full history and mint being a 330 fwd swb its the biggest wight carrier of them all straight out of the AA
we have two other ex AA transits that when we got them had the same amount of milesish both 11 regs
these have now both got over 150k on the clock and we have spent nothing on them apart from the normal wear and tear bits these are going the to the auctions next week where a should get around 40%-50% of my money back from them because i am sending them to a south east auction where they will do much better money
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at the end of the day lee its your decision.im happy leasing but its not for everyone.
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Thanks everyone for your advice much appreciated, from an indecisive worry guts ;D
Seen this one higher than average mileage but full service history allegedly!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201710049945144?advertising-location=at_vans&search-target=usedvans&supplied-price-from=4000&supplied-price-to=5000&advertising-location=at_vans&postcode=en93na&model=DOBLO&sort=atcustomsup&page=1&radius=15&make=FIAT&version=b
Daz are you happy with leasing? I believe you are!
Are there alot of hidden extras like gap insurance?
Vanarama quoted me £200 a month 5 years on citoren berlingo with tlc package.
Everything covered servicing, tyres etc.
Just diesel and insurance.
Still not sure on leasing though ???
Thanks everyone, great advice on warranties👍
I remember the magnet tip now, Spruce .
When I bought my other van a friend of the family came with me, he was an accident assessor and worked in the motor trade all his life.
Unfortunately he passed away to cancer a year after he had helped me 😡
most of these white fiat things your looking at come from the same type of place , either eurovan or north gate van hire (same group of companys as van monster ) all poverty speck vans with no toys in as they are cheaper to least , the cheaper the model the cheaper the lease most have had there head kicked in buy van drivers and dont care because its just a hire van
we had a daf truck on lease the because it had aic con ,we payed 14 pounds a week more on the lease ! just for that !
van monster keep there best stuff in there own yards and send the rest out to the sales , so all your buying is the same van you can go and buy yourself from the sales , however this is not for everybody as you need to do your sums before going and know what things are worth , also if these van stick in there yards they get dropped in price once then off to the sale after that , (so if i was you i would be going in to van monster evrey week and keep bidding them down these guys still have targets to meet )
anything nicer in the range of vans your looking at that have the toys and silver paint ect will be more £ because the the lease company paid more from them at the first point of sale which is a bit unfair as they have already charged more for to to be leased out this doesnt mean there any better of a van because the same drivers still beat them to death because there just hire vans
so you either want , ex bt,AA , gas vans because these drives keep there vans from day one until there out of least because they carry there own tools
these companys also like the drivers to keep the same van as it cuts out alot of bad driving and damage that cant get blamed on the the " last driver " which in turn make the driver look after his work van more because its his living/working space 12 hours aday (in most cases) so the driver/worker treats it like his own van
also all these companys run telamatic trackers where every mile of the drivers drive is looked at , including ticking over in laybys , hard stopping and harsh reving up the gears also all these companys limit there van to 70mph so again there not beaten to death meaning you have a better van to buy second hand which saves you £ over the long run hope this makes seance
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what about this i would rather have this and been on the phone offering 4200 + vat much better then a fix it again tomorrow
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2011-VW-Volkswagen-Caddy-Maxi-Van-LWB-1-6-TDI-102PS-C20-Maxi-ParkingSensors-58k/182994093567?hash=item2a9b4c45ff:g:tYYAAOSwYeRaGr6P
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Wow :o thanks for the posts Susan.
You clearly know your stuff.
Short term I can rent a van but it's a fools economy.
But obviously don't want to get my pants pulled down by second hand car dealer :D
Do quite like doblo seems biggest in the small van range, good payload 740 kg minimum.
Maybe wrong but are VW as good as they think they are?
Heard Japanese vans were the most reliable but I think that's even changed!
it's a case of spot a van online advertising full service history, for my budget lowest mileage I can get.
Haggle, get an inspection look out for oil leaks and hidden disguised previous body work damage.
Hpi and then, if buying use warranties direct.
Thanks everyone.
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Hi Lee
I’ve used this guy before - really good chap and great vans.
http://www.t-vans.co.uk
All the best - it is nerve wracking!
Matt