Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: M.Acorn on October 05, 2009, 06:58:10 pm

Title: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: M.Acorn on October 05, 2009, 06:58:10 pm
Some of you may be dissapointed,as you have said you enjoy my tails of woe  >:(
Drove it 20 odd miles this eve to go do a quote,parked up outside to see water peeing out from a core plug on the front of the engine.Managed to coax it home just !
I may be a glutton for punishment as i am going to go for another astravan,prob 02 or 03 reg.depens what i see really,been trawling the net and there are a few worth going to check out,there is also a lot of crap out there too.Don`t think i will get much more than scrap value for mine.don`t really need to go bigger,can get all my kit in with room to spare.
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: Andrew Briscoe on October 05, 2009, 07:13:50 pm
So it wont be brand new then, just new to you !!!
Hope you have better look Mark.

Andrew
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: Neil Williams on October 05, 2009, 07:21:26 pm
there is also a lot of crap out there too
You're not wrong  ;D possibly within your eyesight if I'm not wrong ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: M.Acorn on October 05, 2009, 07:22:31 pm
No can`t afford brand new,lose so much on them just driving out the showroom.anything has got to be better than the current one
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: Paul_Ashworth on October 05, 2009, 07:22:49 pm
Mark,
You could have saved a fortune if you'd have done that 6 months ago.

Im glad for you and think its the right thing to do, It might be worth looking at new and then at least you will get 2k scrappage for yours

Paul
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: M.Acorn on October 05, 2009, 07:23:47 pm
Yeah,i know what to look for now though,having owned one for a while,will be from a dealer with some warranty at least.
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: derek west on October 05, 2009, 07:31:33 pm
go on treat ya self. ;)

you'll look the dogs doo dahs.

http://www.arnoldclark.com/used-cars/vauxhall/astravan/1.7cdti-club/09/ref/blk_pfm1sffknaxq20sx/

derek
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: Paul_Ashworth on October 05, 2009, 07:36:02 pm
Derek
It 0cc mark wont get very far  ;D ;D ;D

Paul
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: Mike Halliday on October 05, 2009, 07:50:31 pm
buy a brand new one and stop messing about with bangers, change it every 3 yrs and you'll have your motors cost known right from the start.

from now on I will never have a van older than 3 yrs old, looks good and 100% relaible plus I know it will cost £110 a week, no breakdown or unforseen bills.

Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: M.Acorn on October 05, 2009, 07:51:12 pm
Page won`t load ?
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: derek west on October 05, 2009, 07:53:57 pm
fk me he needs a new computer now ;D

only jokin mark me young.

derek
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: M.Acorn on October 05, 2009, 07:57:44 pm
Flipping network keeps going down,have to turn the modem and router off and on again  ;D Not really with it today had a bit of a large weekend in London
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: clinton on October 05, 2009, 09:01:57 pm
Mark

Try and go for new mate and never mind with all this loosing money when it comes out of the showroom stuff mate ;D

It will look top notch when you pull up on a clients drive and get you noticed with some good signing on..

Got at least 5 jobs from people seeing my new van in the last month already :)

Treat youself ;D
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: Paul_Ashworth on October 05, 2009, 09:10:09 pm
Clinton,
Even if its only 5 jobs a month at £100 per job thats £500.00 vans paying for itself, Infact its a better return than YP  ;D ;D

Paul
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: clinton on October 05, 2009, 09:14:50 pm
Hi paul

Well might not be every month lol.

Anything is better than y pages mind you  ;D

Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: GWCS on October 05, 2009, 09:58:40 pm
Some of you may be dissapointed,as you have said you enjoy my tails of woe  >:(
Drove it 20 odd miles this eve to go do a quote,parked up outside to see water peeing out from a core plug on the front of the engine.Managed to coax it home just !
I may be a glutton for punishment as i am going to go for another astravan,prob 02 or 03 reg.depens what i see really,been trawling the net and there are a few worth going to check out,there is also a lot of crap out there too.Don`t think i will get much more than scrap value for mine.don`t really need to go bigger,can get all my kit in with room to spare.

Ive read a few threads about you an your van, i had over heating issues with my escort van - guys in garage thought it was leaking core plug - nope, gasket gone

£800 to put right..

MOT till feb, so will be running that once fixed and getting a brand new top of the range traffic lease van for £90 a week.

As said already in this thread, keep it for 3 years and get another..

Look the pro not the cowboy  - just look at Clintons new van - i bet a clean looking professional van gets much more looks and enquiries than someone working from a dodgy (sorry Mrs ? cant make it today - vans broken down) unreliable heap..  trust me i had enough of telling this damn line over the past month.. makes you look a right cowboy..
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: jasonl on October 05, 2009, 10:05:21 pm
I would go for the cleanest you can  buy for cash, 3k will get you something nice and reliable from the auctions. 

The most wealthy carpet cleaner in the land right now started like that ,,, old vans double shifted, keep it clean, service it and make money ,dont give it to a leasing co.
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: Tony Gill Carpet Smart on October 05, 2009, 10:41:22 pm
Buy 2nd hand 12 months to 2year old low miles with service records some really goooooooooood deals save thousands. Then keep it well serviced.

Cheers Tony
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: Mike Osbourne on October 05, 2009, 10:52:09 pm
I agree with Tony.

Let someone else take the initial hit if you can't afford new, but beyond 3-5 years you really need to make sure you are getting a goodon otherwise you will shell out loads for the van and loads for repairs!

Having said that at least you've realised you were flogging a dead horse LOL
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: M.Acorn on October 06, 2009, 11:29:26 am
Going to see a nice tidy vw caddy van on friday,he will take mine as a trade in if i can get it there ! will have 12 months ticket,and a warranty too,has 1 owner from new ,full service history,and was owned by an ex vw mechanic,being vw i also know my way around if anything does happen to go wrong,fingers crossed it won`t.
How my van looks is not really that much of an issue,as the majority of my work comes from estate agy and letting agy,don`t even get to meet the custy on most of those jobs.
It`s also 5 years younger than the current one,so moving up slowly !
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: carpetworx on October 06, 2009, 12:34:07 pm
How can you run a cc business from a wagon. ??? ??? :-
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: Darren O on October 06, 2009, 01:43:45 pm
Dont belive all the guff they tell you owned by a ex  VW mechanic aye right.
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: M.Acorn on October 06, 2009, 03:59:15 pm
I don`t run it from a wagen,i run my business from home and will go to the job in the wagen,i get bookings based on the quality of my work ,and a lot of referalls,not on how new and shiny my vehicle is that i turn up in ;D

Will also be taking a mate along,who happens to be a mechanic,that does vw conversions

When i first started out 5 years ago iwas using a fecked old sieara estate,and used to put my machine on the back seat ! So the van was much better,didn`t have any effect on the work i got,would not be running still if i was crap !
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: clinton on October 06, 2009, 04:03:57 pm
Wagon ;D

Mark they are advertising brand new caddys at around 50 pound a week with free servicing might be worth a look ..
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: M.Acorn on October 06, 2009, 04:16:52 pm
There is a main dealers at the bottom of my road,will go and check it out in the morning  ;D
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: Tony Gill Carpet Smart on October 06, 2009, 05:24:32 pm
I think caddys are pickups where he is AUSTRALIA  I think you are reading more into it m8 don't think he was having a go


 Cheers Tony
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: clinton on October 06, 2009, 05:32:07 pm
Ye your right tony there like a flat bed vehicle i guess like the old p100 i saw the other day with a quad on the back :)
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: Mike Osbourne on October 06, 2009, 05:43:37 pm
Yutes?
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: M.Acorn on October 06, 2009, 05:56:06 pm
Sorry if i was a tad snippy then ! No it`s not a yute,it`s a van

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v452/delk/Vancaddy-1.jpg)

Here
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: Tony Gill Carpet Smart on October 06, 2009, 07:00:40 pm
Yute as in utility vehicle  ;) ;) ;) smart arse EH! ::) ::) ::)

Cheers Tony
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: Tony Gill Carpet Smart on October 06, 2009, 07:14:36 pm
 8)
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: Mike Osbourne on October 06, 2009, 07:25:37 pm
Yeah they were on a top gear a few weeks back.Small Vans from europe but they don't like 'em cos you can't get many sheep in them.
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: Joe H on October 06, 2009, 07:36:33 pm
That looks the business Tony.
Have they tweaked the engine a bit as well, do you know?
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: Tony Gill Carpet Smart on October 06, 2009, 10:40:27 pm
Hi Joe Got my package thanks m8 Nick say thanks also.

Yeh well tweaked  ;)

Cheers Tony
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: carpetworx on October 07, 2009, 12:39:10 pm
A wagon here is like an estate over there.
mark, the guys are being nice to you and trying to give you some good advice, but it doesn't seem to be sinking in.
If you want to get serious about your cc business, then buy a decent van, no smaller than a Renualt trafic,work on getting a truckmount machine and acessories.5 years is long enough, get with it mate or bugger off and stop winging about you frigin van.
Sorry for being blunt, but someone had to say it.
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: jasonl on October 07, 2009, 01:19:53 pm
Plenty of nice vauxhall combos about at 2-3k , ,new shape  perfectly good vans ,, I used to run them as a CD franchise, turned over plenty , nd good profits ,, who needs a big van to be serious?
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: M.Acorn on October 07, 2009, 02:16:52 pm
I have had my fingers burned by vauxhall  >:(  And so has my wife,her h/gasket has gone on her 03 corsa,just been quoted £750 to fix it !
I don`t need a big van,a lot of the jobs i do i would not get anywhere near with a t/m,Mr c worx i don`t suppose you have ever tried driving around some of the very narrow streets where i live.
I have no plans to go t/m as yet,earning plenty of ££ with my porty.

When the time comes to go t/m then i will get a bigger van to accomadate it ! But my plans at the moment are to save up a deposit for a house,my wife also has another year left at uni,so i am subsidising her income too at the moment,hence not taking on any extra debt.

Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: Ricky M on October 07, 2009, 02:34:48 pm
Mark you could just roll a J and think about the van Tomor or some other time  8)
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: M.Acorn on October 07, 2009, 02:59:31 pm
I have got £400. worth of work booked in tomorrow,so i will be thinking about the bloody thing all day until i get home tomorrow eve.did a 60 mile round trip yesterday and it coped just,been told to whip out the thermostat,which will help a bit.then it`s got to get me to Northampton on Fri ,so i can trade it in against the other one.

You fancy roling then Ability ?
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: clinton on October 07, 2009, 03:16:34 pm
Good luck with it mark and guna miss your breakdown stories mate ;D

Get some cover when you buy it mate just in case.
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: M.Acorn on October 07, 2009, 03:23:43 pm
Yeah will be getting some warranty with it Clinton !

Let`s just hope that`s the end of my breakdown stories,i will say though it has never left me stranded,in the 3 odd years of owning it,i have always managed to get out and back again,all be it slower than normal,even when the seals went on the turbo,and the time the accelerator cable snapped off the cup thingy  ;D Can always whip the engine out the roc,and bung that in if this one goes,would be fun in a van
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: clinton on October 07, 2009, 03:42:54 pm
Ye get some good signing done on it and it will get you noticed mate..

Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: M.Acorn on October 07, 2009, 03:49:50 pm
Yes ,reduced my yellow pages adds today,going back down to a 45 mm box,but have added another area to yell.com,checked my stats from the book 16 calls since it was published,most of them were people trying to sell me stuff !
So will have money to get decent signs on the van.More good news is that the caddy vans are galvenised,so it won`t rust !
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: M.Acorn on October 09, 2009, 06:26:02 pm
Well i am now the owner of a shiny blue caddy van  ;D All new to me this abs ,leccy windows,stereo,sat nav full 12 months mot,he put 6 months tax on for me,back is all ply lined out.Managed to get £200 trade for the heap,glad to see the back of it,it overheated on the way there,as it`s last ditch attempt to f@/k me off !
Let`s hope it lasts 3 years would be nice,then i will trade it in against a newer one !
Time to see about some sign writing
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: Mike Osbourne on October 09, 2009, 06:29:21 pm
Mark

Small price to pay for all the time and worry you had with the banger. Great move.
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: Tony Gill Carpet Smart on October 09, 2009, 06:30:14 pm
NICE ONE ;)
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: derek west on October 09, 2009, 06:56:38 pm
"TO BE CONTINUED" ;D


all though i hope not, good luck mark. :)

derek
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: M.Acorn on October 09, 2009, 07:02:48 pm
Yeah i am crossing everything to be honest,although it does have warranty on it .will take a bit of getting used too,was with it as it was being mot`ed so got the chance to have a real good look around it,it`s nice and tidy,the engine has a big plastic cover over it,so will be leaving that well alone !
Think my customers will appreciate it too,not having my old heap parked up outside their houses !
Chjeers Guy`s
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: clinton on October 09, 2009, 07:39:14 pm
Nice one mark the clients will like it too compared to your old banger ;D

Am sure you wont let us down with telling us with some more of your adventures :)
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: Ricky M on October 09, 2009, 08:02:09 pm


You fancy roling then Ability ?

its Friday , Im on it

Congrats on the new van .
at last , now you need a tm mate 
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: M.Acorn on October 09, 2009, 08:12:32 pm
Ha Ha quality !
Going to be spending some time tomorrow giving it a good wax,and trying to sort out how all my gear is going to fit in ! Not as long as the astravan,but more headroom
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: peter maybury on October 09, 2009, 10:13:47 pm
If you had a nice tidy van then yiu would realise how important it was and how much work you will get from it. You have said it all most of my work comes from estate agents. If you were driving a good van well sign written then you would get a lot of work of that.
I get load of work off my van and are very often answering the phone to people that are behind, me alongside me, just passed me, etc.
Peoples perception of you is so important to the quality and amount of work you will get. It is ok to say you don't want it or dont need it but you do not know what you are missing out on.

Peter
www.carpetcleaningcardif.biz (http://www.carpetcleaningcardif.biz)
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: carpetworx on October 11, 2009, 08:53:08 am
All the very best of british to you mark.
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: M.Acorn on October 11, 2009, 09:01:49 am
Cheers ! I hope it`s the very best of German to be honest ! Will be putting up some pics later after a give it a good waxing,well that`s if this greyness sheeite British weaher gets a bit less grey and gloomy !
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: M.Acorn on October 11, 2009, 02:51:09 pm
Here it is after a wash and polish,o/s wing could do with touching up,as does the bonnet.
The soup was in tesco,the weird insect in a custy`s house,anyone know what the f it is ?


(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v452/delk/Picture138.jpg)


(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v452/delk/Picture137.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v452/delk/Picture136.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v452/delk/Picture135.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v452/delk/Picture132.jpg)
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: derek west on October 11, 2009, 02:57:13 pm
looks like a bug humping a daddy long legs, shouting them immortal words, "who's the daddy now" ;D

nice van by the way, look after it.

derek
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: M.Acorn on October 11, 2009, 02:59:50 pm
Thanks,going to be giving it a big service over the next month or so inc cambelt,just so i know it`s done.Will also be getting the chips in the paint sorted before they progress.
Then decide what i want written on it
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: suffolkclean on October 11, 2009, 03:44:43 pm
Looks nice Mark cos its coloured would look nice with silver text on there it stands out really well would look great on the dark blue
Title: Re: Buying a new van tomorrow
Post by: Joe H on October 11, 2009, 04:03:37 pm
Offer a GOLD service with gold text, look good on dark blue Mark.