[drive surgeon]

hi i need to get a bigger van, i have a small van but need to upgrade to a transit sized van to hola a 1000ltrtank of water so i have on board supply where there is no tap.  what van should i go for and should i buy or lease contract hire?  i will only get around 3 grand for my small van so buying a van for around 15 grand is going to put me under the cosh for years and when you come to sell it it has lost value dramatically.  also with leaseing a van its gonna cost around 280 quid a month for as long as i use it.  its not easy.  its all money.

[Roger Oakley]

Why not look at getting a trailer for the tank, machine etc.
You'll need to work out what weight your van can pull, as to what you can put in the trailer etc. Might be a cheaper option for you.

[drive surgeon]

the only prob is i would need to unhook the trailer to get into the back of my van!  this might be a pain. i have looked down that avenue.

[venom]

looked at this two years ago and its the same price in the end to buy

[Cleaning Resource]

lease, lease, lease..... if you buy a van on credit by the time you paid for it, it aint worth $hit and your stuck with it, lease you get a nice new van every couple of years, perfect.

[drive surgeon]

thats what i thought, im looking for a cheap quote on either a vivarro, traffic, or transit, anyone else use these with a 1000 ltr tank in?

[drive surgeon]

i got a quote for around 280 a month for a van but they wanted 500 quid payment upfront, what is this for?  do you get this back?

[Karl Wheeler]

When you lease a van you normally have to pay 3 months payments up front and this is taken off the length of the lease ie, 36 months lease - 3 months payments = 33 more payments. I stand corrected if wrong.

thanks
Karl

[drive surgeon]

oh right carl that would make more sense.

[steve doyle]

personally if i was you, i would look to find a two years old van which has suffered the "big hit" already,


put your 3k into it and use a personal loan/car loan from a bank for the rest, you then have the option to repay faster and save interest (make sure to check early settlement fees).

eg
 2005 vauxhall vivaro  £7000
                       Deposit £3000           
                       Balance £4000
@
£4,000 15.9% 24m    £193.72   £4,649.28
£4,000 15.9% 36m    £138.43   £4,983.48
£4,000 15.9% 48m    £111.08   £5,331.84
£4,000 15.9% 60m    £94.91     £5,694.60 (lombard, 15%apr is normal on small loans)
 
I would probably choose 3 years at £138.43 to keep payments a bit lower but aim to overpay and settle within 2 years.

you could then do the same again if you wish in 3-4 years time. Otherwise you are funding a huge amount of depreciation buying or leasing new.


so 2 year old van @ £138 per month and it will be worth something when youve paid for it!


tempted you?

steve

[BDCS]

I run a nearly new, 15 year old Transit that cost £200, paid for it in one hit that Mr Brown gave me back over 3 years - Then just one days welding each year for the remainder of its working life. If it stops the AA bring it home on their diesel, none of the doors lock but I got a grumpy dog !!! Why even think of a new van ? I know theres an arguement about image but I let my work standards create that and spend my money on kit

[drive surgeon]

hmmm, got me thinking hard now!

[drive surgeon]

need to get the van soon now, dont wanna put my self under pressure for years forking out for it but i need anew one as my image is (the best only) as i have set high standards with my work.

it aint easy, the work is not guaranteed either unless you keep canvassing. need contracts.!!!!

[steve doyle]

2-3 years old will save you 4-7k,
stick a private plate on it and your customers wont know its not brand new!


I honestly think you are making a huge finacial mistake if you fund the depriciation on a new vehicle.


I could even sell you a cracking plate i own,   "J3T   UU"  (jet you/ jet wash/jet 2 u),
either way it would look really good on a 2/3 year old van and far cheaper than buying new!

[BDCS]

I got a 17 year old transit - only needs 2 days welding, its got a plate on it nobody else has got, painted in ford diamond white and finished in robert rust and the ways scrap is at the moment won't depreciate at all. SERIOUSLY don't buy anything if you hav'nt got the money in your pocket or are sure it won't see you short

[Cleaning Resource]

Either go cheap, about a grand and run it till it dies.

or go new to one year old.

I payed 4k for my first van and spent an arm and a leg on it ever since, but because it cost 4k to start with I had to keep laying out money on it when things went wrong. Had I bought a cheap van I would have just scrapped it and got another one or if I had got a new one I would not suffer half the problems.

What i`m trying to say is don`t go middle of the road cos thats when it starts costing you loads.

I have an old transit I payed 800 for that I just use to move stuff about and my first van which is still costing me loads my new vans are all leased, loads less hassle.

[gary evans]

Try acornfinance they are the lease company i use always have good offers, you might have to wait for the particular vehicle but i would definately recomend these. I have 2 vehicles on lease at moment.

You will have to be careful of payload that is a lot of water, why not have a 650 baffled upright they fairly cheap, that leaves you with more options on vans

Gary

[drive surgeon]

hi gary, have you any pics off an upright 650 ltr tank as i havenever seen one,  it might be an idea as dont think would have much room left win van with a1000 ltr tank really, need to fit all the pressure washing gear in.

[Stevie G]

not looking to  buy myself but it might help might not so dont shoot messenger :)http://www.ilfordcommercials.com/finance.html

[murky]

Ask your accountant thats what he is there for!!!!

Mate of mine is a concrete surgeon, like me he runs a VW Transporter.

He asks me evry 3 years or so if I weant to buy his, he has his on lease purchase and gets a new one every 3 or so, it all goes against tax. Down side is he has to sell it or get what they will offer him for it back.

As  he keeps his in original white he doesnt have a prob selling it.

But not to me I am running mine till it drops, 10 yrs  250k and still going strong.

Murky