Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Scottish Cleaning Service on July 28, 2024, 09:36:10 am

Title: New VW Crafter
Post by: Scottish Cleaning Service on July 28, 2024, 09:36:10 am
There's a new Crafter coming out now. I was just looking at the price of the one I would go for. Cash price £56k or £680 a month to lease it. There is plenty of old type with delivery mileage at £40k. Looks like I will be focusing on one of these. Looks like our van is our biggest outlay and I was wondering how much this equates to each week. Fuel, Insurance, cost of depreciation, Road Tax and anything else that pushes the cost up. If anyone has just bought a new van it would be interesting to hear their costs. TIA
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: Jay Le Huray on July 28, 2024, 02:00:31 pm
There's a new Crafter coming out now. I was just looking at the price of the one I would go for. Cash price £56k or £680 a month to lease it. There is plenty of old type with delivery mileage at £40k. Looks like I will be focusing on one of these. Looks like our van is our biggest outlay and I was wondering how much this equates to each week. Fuel, Insurance, cost of depreciation, Road Tax and anything else that pushes the cost up. If anyone has just bought a new van it would be interesting to hear their costs. TIA

I for one would never pay £56K for a van new or old
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: NBwcs on July 28, 2024, 02:27:20 pm
There's a new Crafter coming out now. I was just looking at the price of the one I would go for. Cash price £56k or £680 a month to lease it. There is plenty of old type with delivery mileage at £40k. Looks like I will be focusing on one of these. Looks like our van is our biggest outlay and I was wondering how much this equates to each week. Fuel, Insurance, cost of depreciation, Road Tax and anything else that pushes the cost up. If anyone has just bought a new van it would be interesting to hear their costs. TIA



I for one would never pay £56K for a van new or old

Or pay out £680 a month for leasing either. Each to their own
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: Splash and dash on July 28, 2024, 02:29:46 pm
There's a new Crafter coming out now. I was just looking at the price of the one I would go for. Cash price £56k or £680 a month to lease it. There is plenty of old type with delivery mileage at £40k. Looks like I will be focusing on one of these. Looks like our van is our biggest outlay and I was wondering how much this equates to each week. Fuel, Insurance, cost of depreciation, Road Tax and anything else that pushes the cost up. If anyone has just bought a new van it would be interesting to hear their costs. TIA

I for one would never pay £56K for a van new or old

Think it all depends on the size of your business and what you are earning  nothing is worth what it costs theses days but most 3:5 ton  vans  are around that sort of price range , we need to factor in theses sort of expenses in our pricing of jobs to keep up with this it’s an ongoing  situation.
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: Scottish Cleaning Service on July 28, 2024, 04:06:56 pm
Say a tenner a day would be £50 for 5 days. I was thinking £30 a day meaning £150 for the 5 days. That would turn out to be £7200 for 48 weeks. The way things are going we might need to factor in £40 a day just to turn out our van if one had bought a £40k one. I remember they were advertising a new Crafter to lease for £250 a month plus vat so £300. It looks like things have doubled in price bar our pricing. Not afraid now to quote a tenner for a council house but the trad guy does them for £7. He doesn't have a van nor cleans the doors so its all profit.
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: AuRavelling79 on July 28, 2024, 05:42:46 pm
Say a tenner a day would be £50 for 5 days. I was thinking £30 a day meaning £150 for the 5 days. That would turn out to be £7200 for 48 weeks. The way things are going we might need to factor in £40 a day just to turn out our van if one had bought a £40k one. I remember they were advertising a new Crafter to lease for £250 a month plus vat so £300. It looks like things have doubled in price bar our pricing. Not afraid now to quote a tenner for a council house but the trad guy does them for £7. He doesn't have a van nor cleans the doors so its all profit.

What does the trad guy drive? Why do you need a new van? What is your turnover on window cleaning compared with other self employed activity? How much do you need from self employed activity each month?
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: dd on July 28, 2024, 06:55:44 pm
I have had my van for over 18 years.  If your current Crafter is still in good shape why not keep it? VWs are supposed to be built to last.
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: AuRavelling79 on July 28, 2024, 07:26:25 pm
I have had my van for over 18 years.  If your current Crafter is still in good shape why not keep it? VWs are supposed to be built to last.

Absolutely/ My van is over 12 years old, been written off last year and resurrected.

Reliability and mileage might be a factor.

And be ruthless with yourself in saving for another (or at least a tidy deposit).
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: DJW on July 28, 2024, 09:02:25 pm
How many free cleans would you need to do to pay for that?
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: windowswashed on July 28, 2024, 09:59:22 pm
Would never dream of buying a new van for work, first three years depreciates too much.
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: EandM on July 28, 2024, 10:58:58 pm
My Ranger is 22 and cost me £2,500, 12 years ago!

It just keeps going and now on 185k miles.
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: Smudger on July 28, 2024, 11:34:16 pm
Citroen Relay - 5 YO - brought new @17K
Maxus - 3 YO brought new @16K
Boxer H2L2 - 3 YO brought on its second birthday 20K ( last year )

only vanity would drive you to splash out 56k - especially when your turn over is about 20K a year (judging from your posts)
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: tlwcs on July 29, 2024, 05:58:05 am
How many free cleans would you need to do to pay for that?

57000?
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: Always shining on July 29, 2024, 07:09:43 am
£10 for a council house that are usually 3 bed semis. No wonder you can afford to spend so much on a new van 😃
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: simon w on July 29, 2024, 02:35:25 pm
56K over 5-10 years of mostly trouble free driving plus some nice income tax relief first year of purchase, is it really that bad? Looked after it's going to have a resale value along with a regular bit of money put aside as a deposit for your next van is it really that bad? I bought a brand new Custom Limited two years ago and at the time it made no sense to buy second hand with three year old vans with 100K on the clock at silly prices.
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: Scottish Cleaning Service on July 29, 2024, 04:42:19 pm
What does the trad guy drive? Why do you need a new van? What is your turnover on window cleaning compared with other self employed activity? How much do you need from self employed activity each month?

He doesn't drive. He decided to sell his run and start with a construction company. His run got sold a few times and the last guy is at hmp at the moment so the original seller is back building his round on a PT basis.
I keep vehicles for 10 years because I take care of them. My van has just turned 100k and is a 57 plate, I bought it from a vw dealer when vat was 15% and it was 18 months old and 23k on the clock. I'm getting busier all the time and do £2k a month on windows alone. Just got offered a £2k job to lift and replace slabs for a customer. Nothing wrong with my van bar the rust. Big obstacle is moving system over to another van but I could always get Grippa to do it. Will see how it goes but just bought a flywheel and clutch for it. 
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: Scottish Cleaning Service on July 29, 2024, 04:43:31 pm
I have had my van for over 18 years.  If your current Crafter is still in good shape why not keep it? VWs are supposed to be built to last.

You are correct but it has alot of rust coming through now.
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: Ggh on July 29, 2024, 06:00:19 pm
Citroen Relay - 5 YO - brought new @17K
Maxus - 3 YO brought new @16K
Boxer H2L2 - 3 YO brought on its second birthday 20K ( last year )

only vanity would drive you to splash out 56k - especially when your turn over is about 20K a year (judging from your posts)

These vans seem pretty cheap, where
‘d  you get them from?
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: dazmond on July 29, 2024, 06:24:16 pm
Citroen Relay - 5 YO - brought new @17K
Maxus - 3 YO brought new @16K
Boxer H2L2 - 3 YO brought on its second birthday 20K ( last year )

only vanity would drive you to splash out 56k - especially when your turn over is about 20K a year (judging from your posts)

It's bought not brought!

Why the hell do people say this instead of the proper word?

Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: dd on July 29, 2024, 07:08:58 pm
I have had my van for over 18 years.  If your current Crafter is still in good shape why not keep it? VWs are supposed to be built to last.

You are correct but it has a lot of rust coming through now.

If it has a lot of rust that would put me of buying another.

My van has done a bit over 150k miles. Always have it  regularly serviced etc and has been extremely reliable.

I seem to remember you posting you are planning to retire in a few years. If you do not think your Crafter will last you 4 or 5 more years, it really is not a good recommendation for buying another one.
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: Smudger on July 29, 2024, 07:56:10 pm
All 3 at main dealers - at the time relays were on offer

Maxus still a cheap option

Boxer I got because we needed a large van quick - less than 20k on the clock
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: Bungle on July 29, 2024, 08:07:20 pm
Citroen Relay - 5 YO - brought new @17K
Maxus - 3 YO brought new @16K
Boxer H2L2 - 3 YO brought on its second birthday 20K ( last year )

only vanity would drive you to splash out 56k - especially when your turn over is about 20K a year (judging from your posts)

It's bought not brought!

Why the hell do people say this instead of the proper word?

My pet hate is your instead of you're. You can't educate the uneducated Daz 😜
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: DJW on July 29, 2024, 08:26:14 pm
Citroen Relay - 5 YO - brought new @17K
Maxus - 3 YO brought new @16K
Boxer H2L2 - 3 YO brought on its second birthday 20K ( last year )

only vanity would drive you to splash out 56k - especially when your turn over is about 20K a year (judging from your posts)

It's bought not brought!

Why the hell do people say this instead of the proper word?

🤷‍♂️ no idear.
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: Stoots on July 29, 2024, 09:22:20 pm
Yeh i kind of regret buying a new one

I paid just shy of 29k inc vat and its now worth 13.5k at trade in price maybe 15/16k private...

2 years old with 13k miles 

Financially an old van will alway win




Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: CleanClear on August 03, 2024, 07:47:55 pm
Yeh i kind of regret buying a new one

I paid just shy of 29k inc vat and its now worth 13.5k at trade in price maybe 15/16k private...

2 years old with 13k miles 

Financially an old van will alway win

And thats exactly why just about every large and succesfull company and blue chips all buy used vans instead of new ones.
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: Splash and dash on August 03, 2024, 08:37:23 pm
Yeh i kind of regret buying a new one

I paid just shy of 29k inc vat and its now worth 13.5k at trade in price maybe 15/16k private...

2 years old with 13k miles 

Financially an old van will alway win

And thats exactly why just about every large and succesfull company and blue chips all buy used vans instead of new ones.


What a load of rubbish it’s totally the opposite they buy new vans for tax reasons look at all the big firms they don’t get second hand vans , Amazon , BT , water companies , local authorities, DHL, DPD  and so the list goes on .
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: Scottish Cleaning Service on August 03, 2024, 08:56:41 pm
They don't buy new vans because they lease new vans and lucky if they keep them for 3 years, as you say its all about tax. Even when they pay Vat they are allowed to claim the Vat back. Big companies need reliability above all else or they lose the contract, customers and worse of all their credibility. Once they lose that then they enter a downward spiral, take a look at Intel. Once the biggest chip maker in the world till 2020 and now they could be heading for bankruptcy.
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: KS Cleaning on August 03, 2024, 11:08:58 pm
They don't buy new vans because they lease new vans and lucky if they keep them for 3 years, as you say its all about tax. Even when they pay Vat they are allowed to claim the Vat back. Big companies need reliability above all else or they lose the contract, customers and worse of all their credibility. Once they lose that then they enter a downward spiral, take a look at Intel. Once the biggest chip maker in the world till 2020 and now they could be heading for bankruptcy.
I don’t think Intel are facing bankruptcy over their van choice!
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: Scottish Cleaning Service on August 04, 2024, 03:52:28 pm
I don’t think Intel are facing bankruptcy over their van choice!

Yes, wasn't their van choice but their chip choice, they focus on the wrong AI one. My mechanic mate has his own garage, he knows what vans are good and what ones are bad. There is a big problem with the new shape Sprinters. They have a plastic manifold and seem to go around 5 years old. They could change it to metal but it is a 2 day job and brings in plenty of work. That's the only reason I'm sticking with a Crafter in the future.
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: CleanClear on August 04, 2024, 04:29:47 pm
Yeh i kind of regret buying a new one

I paid just shy of 29k inc vat and its now worth 13.5k at trade in price maybe 15/16k private...

2 years old with 13k miles 

Financially an old van will alway win

And thats exactly why just about every large and succesfull company and blue chips all buy used vans instead of new ones.


What a load of rubbish it’s totally the opposite they buy new vans for tax reasons look at all the big firms they don’t get second hand vans , Amazon , BT , water companies , local authorities, DHL, DPD  and so the list goes on .

Don't do sarcasm do ya ?
Title: Re: New VW Crafter
Post by: robbo333 on August 04, 2024, 05:02:35 pm
I would ruin a new van, or even a modern van!
My furthest round is only 15 mins away from me (my other rounds, normally only about 10 mins away, or literally just round the corner), the van has hardly had any chance to even warm up before I start cleaning.
And then for the rest of the day, I am only ever one minute away from my next job, or collection of jobs.
My poor old van never really gets a good run, unless I actually remember and take her out early on a Sunday morning. I absolutely love my van; 2006 Hiace, I wouldn't swap her for anything.