[Paul Coleman]

Cheers guys, you've been really helpful.

I'll have a look at a Fiat Scudo.

What sort of mileage should I be looking at, realistically, with a budget of £5K (though I can go to £6K at a push, but would rather not)?

70,000 miles max?  Or doesn't mileage matter that much?  I see some fairly new vans with really quite high mileage, so I guess most of these would be motorway miles, so is mileage a big factor?

Are you moving on from the backpack then Tosh and going van mounted?
It makes life a fair bit easier.

[Paul Coleman]

I think I'll phone these tomorrow for this vehicle:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250724265493&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_1408wt_1139

It's £4K.  Do you think I'd be able to get a further reduction in price?  I've cash waiting.

And do you change the timing belt straight away?

(Just consider me to have the knowledge of a woman when it comes to vans  ).

And where's the best place to get a roof rack from?  

I don't have good mechanical knowledge but it's generally a good idea to get the belt changed on a vehicle that's reached the mileage (or close to) where it needs doing.  This is unless you have specific proof that it's recently been done.  Something else to be aware of is that sometimes the belts get changed without changing tensioners.  I got very lucky with this one.
I once bought a 2nd hand Escort.  When it was due for service, I decided to have the second cambelt change done as well - just in case.  The belt was fine but they changed it anyway.  The guy changed the tensioners too.  One was on its last knockings.  Very lucky.  He showed me my one and a new one side by side.  Mine had a crack in it.
I think most makers supply a cambelt kit these days to make it easier to change all the bits over in one go.

[Spruce]

I think I'll phone these tomorrow for this vehicle:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250724265493&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_1408wt_1139

It's £4K.  Do you think I'd be able to get a further reduction in price?  I've cash waiting.

And do you change the timing belt straight away?

(Just consider me to have the knowledge of a woman when it comes to vans  ).

And where's the best place to get a roof rack from?  

I don't have good mechanical knowledge but it's generally a good idea to get the belt changed on a vehicle that's reached the mileage (or close to) where it needs doing.  This is unless you have specific proof that it's recently been done.  Something else to be aware of is that sometimes the belts get changed without changing tensioners.  I got very lucky with this one.
I once bought a 2nd hand Escort.  When it was due for service, I decided to have the second cambelt change done as well - just in case.  The belt was fine but they changed it anyway.  The guy changed the tensioners too.  One was on its last knockings.  Very lucky.  He showed me my one and a new one side by side.  Mine had a crack in it.
I think most makers supply a cambelt kit these days to make it easier to change all the bits over in one go.

Hi Paul
This is good advice. Do the lot.
To add to this, the water pump is also driven by the cambelt on the Hdi engines (nor sure about the 1.9d but I think it is as well) so my advice would be to get that changed as well, although most garages don't bother.
Spruce

[Tom White]

After much hand-wringing, I've decided to go with this one, I've viewed it, test drove it, checked it over
 and stuck a deposit down on it:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390300892897&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm570%26_nkw%3D390300892897%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1#ht_1187wt_1139

It's getting serviced, it's cam belt has been changed, and there's a years MOT on it.  It also comes with a
 roof rack and the garage are removing the wooden floor for me.  For £3K with no added VAT (though I
know it's in the price), and there's 76K on the clock.

I could've got the smarter, more lower mileage at £4K, but this way I should still have a couple of £K left
over; and I may spend some of that on getting some more business.  

Anyway, I should be picking it up on Saturday; fingers crossed; and then I've just got to get the stuff put
 together, which I've started ordering.

Exciting eh?

Thanks for the advice guys.

[rz]

do i get a finders fee??

[Tom White]

do i get a finders fee??

Do you want to be paid in kind? 

[rz]

do i get a finders fee??

Do you want to be paid in kind? 

now i,ve met you and you made me coffee i,ll consider myself paid. thanks

[Blue Frog Systems]

Tosh... havent read all of this but wanted to say my piece.

I have the peugeout expert 1.9 TD - great van and still going 187k on the clock

[Tom White]

Cheers, Blue Frog, but it's a 2005 CITROEN DISPATCH 815 D Enterprise; but I've been told they're pretty
much the same as the peugeout expert.  There was a peugoet expert there actually, but it had just over
200K on the clock.

I've heard these vehicles described as 'work horses', so I hope that's true.  

I got to inspect the van prior to it being valeted, and I couldn't see any visible oil leaks from anywhere
under the bonnet or under the van; it all looked quite tidy and that was - as I say - prior to the van
being 'polished up'.

It also comes with 6 months worth of warranty where they'll pay upto £500 for anything that goes pear-
shaped (but I know many warranties are rubbish).  

I can't wait to get my hands on it and get it set up.

[bad trippy]

Thats my mates old van Tosh, he sold it through auction just after christmas coz it was a pile of crap!

[Tom White]

Thats my mates old van Tosh, he sold it through auction just after christmas coz it was a pile of crap!

I no you iz lyin cuz yoo aint got any mates!
 

[Griffus]

Massive post so not read it through (I'd be here all day).

We bought a 55 plate Dispatch last January for £3400 + VAT. Just the basic Model but low mileage and one owner.

The HDI will def have more grunt and from memory can has a 900 Kg payload as opposed to the 815 Kg of ours.

I would be looking to pay around £3400 for the standard and £4000 for the HDI (both + VAT) if I were buying a 55 plate about now.

Good van, even with the basic model.

[Pureclean Essex Services]

I just bought a fiat scudo 2.0 JTD dynamic, 900 payload, 06 plate, taxed & mot'd, full service history, 1 owner, very clean,has air con, electric windows & remote central locking, cd player, now the milage is motorway mileage @ 180,000, runs & sounds like new, serviced every 20,000 from new, bargain price of £2,200  

Brian.

[bad trippy]

Thats my mates old van Tosh, he sold it through auction just after christmas coz it was a pile of crap!

I no you iz lyin cuz yoo aint got any mates!
 

I ave, i got Frank 

[Frankybadboy]

Thats my mates old van Tosh, he sold it through auction just after christmas coz it was a pile of crap!

I no you iz lyin cuz yoo aint got any mates!
 

I ave, i got Frank 

dont call me a mate.

[elite mike]

Thats my mates old van Tosh, he sold it through auction just after christmas coz it was a pile of crap!

I no you iz lyin cuz yoo aint got any mates!
 

I ave, i got Frank 

dont call me a mate.

lmao

[Tom White]

 

[AuRavelling79]

Well done Tosh. And don't forget to insulate that tank. Winter's a comin'.