[lord flynn]

Hi
hope this is alright in here, could do with some advice and the most traffic (pun intended  ) is probably here.


My much abused Clio is dying-it really has done well considering how I treat it and its done 145K miles now. I would like to buy a secondhand van, I think this would be best for my needs (feed/bedding/dogs). I recently hired a VW Caddy and loved it but not sure I can get one within budget that hasn't done too much mileage.


So I am looking for a Caddy or similar (Berlingo, Peugeot or possibly a Ford) unless anyone has any other recommendations? Absolute top budget (so including VAT) of £8K. Would prefer to not be facing any major services too quick. I have a daily commute of about 60 miles which is why I don't have a 4x4.


If anyone has any experiences, vehicles that I might not have thought of yet, mileage bands to avoid with a diesel, dealerships they can recommend (I am near Lanark) etc etc I would appreciate it, thanks

[Fleecewife]

One of my sons, who runs his own business, buys his vans from the commercial vehicle auctions in Glasgow.  He's been delighted with the two he's had so far.

[Rupert the bear]

We have recently purchased a 4x4 pick up from a major leasing / vehicle hire company , I sent many months researching and asking around in the end the vehicle we purchased was on a contract local to us in Aberdeen, but I still had to go to Glasgow to collect it after its service and preparation !  ( even got a no questions asked 60 day satisfaction warranty )
It was a trade off between paying a bit more for a newer low milage truck or pay less for a higher mileage vehicle .
But these days vans have a longer lifespan so if you are prepared to accept something in the 80 ~ 90k miles then your budget is achievable , our previous van was an ex RAC van at 120k miles with full service history up to 100k when it came off lease and was about half your budget .
The  new pickup has only 35k on it and still has the dealer warranty , probably the last utility vehicle we will need ( if looked after ) 

[Old Shep]

I have a caddy long wheelbase version and love it!

[Anke]

I got my van from Dunston Van & Truck centre in Newcastle/Gateshead and it had only done 23,000 miles, although was 5 years old ( ex-NHS lease!).I am delighted with it, and it was under 8k! Now had it for nearly three years. BUt t is a big van (Renault Master) and probably not really suited for a daily 60mile commute I have to add.

It takes 30 bales of hay, as many feed bags as I buy at a time and my goats love to jump on and travel in style! I also sleep in it during shows.

[nutterly_uts]

I have a Nissan nv 200 and I can only say good things about it. New they seem to be around 10k and fairly plentiful.
With mine, a full tank of diesel gets me to Peterborough and halfway back from Weymouth or pootling around for ages and it drives nicely - doesn't drive like a van really fits in multistory car parks as not too high too. Only thing is I'd like 3 seats in the front has a decent load size, insurance was low too

Funnily enough I'm selling mine as I need to downside and would be looking for £7-8k for it but I am way way south (Jersey) and so useless really (unless you fancy a flight and road trip?!) Mine is a 2011 and has under 8k on the clock (island life lol)

[Victorian Farmer]

I would look at a kango we have 2 a2008 and a 2003 very good .And to fix the diesel 50 mpg and cheap

[chrismahon]

I have a Vauxhall Vivaro 1.9TDi, 2004, which I bought in 2006 for £7,000. It has been an excellent buy and does about 40mpg. But when I was looking for vans we didn't half get to view some dodgy ones! So whatever you buy Lord Flynn be sure to get a good one- you may have to travel around a lot.

[Izzy]

I have an Astravan as my own vehicle and as a postie have experience of quite a few marques. I would say fords and vws are rock solid build quality, Peugeot/Renault/fiat below that and Vauxhall at the bottom. Vauxhall vans at RM really suffer with the wear n tear. Door hinges break, seats burst, heaters die. But they keep on getting from A to B. Mine passed it's MOT this year at 100,000 miles without any advisories or work needed. So if your budget is tight go for a Vauxhall but it won't be a refined motoring experience!


I love my Astravan (good for dogs, skis, brushcutters and sleeping in) and am really sorry they are no longer made. Many car-derived vans sell the fact the load space can hold a tonne pallet. But I can't imagine many people need them to do that. I like the astravan's length without height/width.


One problem I have with work vans is the high windscreen. The sun visors are not always deep enough to allow for the fact that they are attached high up. So it can be tiring in sunny conditions. Another thing is small vans (corsas and fiestas) have a lip which can make it hard for dogs to jump in.

[lord flynn]

thanks everyone, thats been really helpful - some van shopping this weekend I think!

[Penninehillbilly]

We have a '14 Berlingo - Love It! carries goats etc, 10 bales hay (when we learned how to put them in right), drove round the field collecting hay, easier than small van to get in & out of, (always had a badback when driving 'low' vans). Side door very useful, but I suppose they all have that now. It has a bench seat, seats 3, passenger seat drops down for longer items.
Did have a Kangoo but he wasn't impressed, expensive servicing I think, Berlingo replaces the Ford Transit Connect which we also liked.
Also have an Astravan, but he wants rid, too sporty and he got stopped for speeding  , the vans fault of course  . For the amount of time I drive the Belringo he's decided he'll drive that, so I get the Gator when it's sorted.
A point on MPG, OH recently went onto a 'fuel card' and has to buy from garages other than supermarkets, he says performance and MPG has improved a lot.

[hughesy]

Our Transit has done 250,000 miles and still runs like a swiss watch.