I used an old banger all the years I was trad, in fact I still used it with a trailer after going WFP. I use an old escort van for work now, when all the water that keeps getting spilled rots the bottom out of it I'll buy another one.
I was toying with buying a horse, and a cart to carry my gear, I could offer to keep the grass down as an add on, it would help with the feeding costs too.
I could go out tomorrow and buy a brand new van, wouldn't have ask for finance either, I just don't see the point in doing so, who would I impress?
I was told years ago that old Nye Bevan, the guy that started the NHS would be chauffeur driven down to his constituency in South wales in a Rolls Royce, he changed it for a Morris Minor that he drove himself for the last couple of miles.
I don't know if this was true, but I can understand his motives if it was.
If I was starting out in this business, I would have a new van, but with a long established round the customers would think I was taking the mick if I bought a new one and then tried to increase my prices. It's hard enough putting up prices as it is.