pogweasel Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 OK, so this week I have already railed against oddly-proportioned modern cars. Now I would like to explore just what the chuff is going on with vans these days. I'm talking "car derived" vans, that size that for decades was dominated by Astra & Escort commercials. I am looking to replace my van very soon. It's getting a bit long-in-the-tooth TBH, well out of warranty, and at just the stage in life when the big bills start hitting.Here it is for reference purposes:But with what? I can't abide another Astra van because they all now have this electric power steering which is both vile and (in my opinion)dangerous. But everything else seems to be aimed squarely at POSTMAN FRUGGING PAT. I don't need tall. I don't need short-wheel-base. I don't need asthmatic poxy 1.3 diesels only suited to city use. What I need is an estate with windows and less doors - but have you noticed how that type of van just does not exist now? Do van drivers never drive long distances / out of town now? What a bunch of arse. In a perfect world, I'd just go for a Land Rover or Navara (perfect for the job, rock solid residual values) but high purchase cost and not the most economical weigh against. Bloody minefield. I've never had to select a brand spanker before, never realised it was so chuffing hard. Maybe I should just get a Bedford HA. And add an extra few days onto each job quote to allow for the 50mph top speed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 What's wrong with a knackered Daewoo Espero? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pogweasel Posted February 8, 2008 Author Share Posted February 8, 2008 Nothing at all, really. The only justification for vans is (a) solid sides divert prying eyes and ( there are still tax advantages that can be had.Best "work van" I ever experienced was an Isuzu motored Astra. Slow but lovely, very tidy handling and most robust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigstraight6 Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Nothing at all, really. The only justification for vans is (a) solid sides divert prying eyes and ( there are still tax advantages that can be had.Best "work van" I ever experienced was an Isuzu motored Astra. Slow but lovely, very tidy handling and most robust.How much kit are you lugging about? what about an estate with a load area cover? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pogweasel Posted February 9, 2008 Author Share Posted February 9, 2008 Bit much for that. My van has the basic floor area covered. Above that sits an extra 3/4 length shelf for smaller tools, boxes & whatnot, plus the current set-up allows a small area near the bulkhead for coats, bags etc, essential really as we work outdoors in all weathers. I don't doubt that with careful packing you -could- fit everything in a car. But then you would have to take EVERYTHING out to get to your essentials. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Come on, do it for the team! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spottedlaurel Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 How odd, I was thinking only the same thing yesterday. We've got a similar Astra van at work but the surveyor who first had it is a bit flash so it's a Sportive with alloys, A/C etc. Fast in the right circumstances, but not quite as nimble feeling as I'd hope for a modern car. Dreadful switchgear, the column stalks all feel like they're about to snap off, and there's nowehere flat to put a cuppa! Cabin got a slightly cramped feel too, at least it does with the bulkhead/grille thing we've got, so not easy when you've got big coat and boots on. Not sure what they'll replace it with as a pool vehicle, we had a Yaris 1.0 in that role for a while and it was 120% useless for that. Agreed that you definitely need a bit of length ( ) for use as a surveying wagon, chucking in tripods, staff, ladder etc. Our surveyor is getting a new Hilux I believe and doubtless it'll be fully belled and whistled up, but he likes all that macho posturing stuff. Such a shame they don't do those 5dr Favorit estates with blanked out windows any more... Even more of a shame that I imagine these to be utterly extinct here: We can dispense with the usual slam/banded steels opinions (and we don't need to ask whether it's RWD). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pogweasel Posted February 9, 2008 Author Share Posted February 9, 2008 Sportive, eh?Load of unnecessary faff. Hilux with all the macho options? Sounds like this guys getting a bit spoiled. I say you should sack him off and subcontract the work out to somebody else. Like me. That Rekord van is superb, just the job. Bet that has somewhere to rest one's tea. Hows about these: ALL HIGHLY SEXUAL, and goes to show that there was alot more choice in days of shite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r.welfare Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 I would quite happily don a "hi-viz" on a permanent basis to own a Rekord van. Mmmmm.It is quite bizarre that I cannot think of a single car-derived van that would fit the bill. You don't like New Astra, and that's the only one of "sensible size" I can think of. All the others (Fiesta, Corsa....err, I think that's it) are too small. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pogweasel Posted February 9, 2008 Author Share Posted February 9, 2008 Yeah, there's loads of really small ones still, Fiesta / KA(!) / Citroen C2 Pug 206, but all next to useless. Any bigger and you've only got Postman Pat things to choose from, Citroen Berlingo (been there, got the unreliability Tshirt)/Partner, Fiat Doblo (urgh), VX "Combo" (Tall enough to wear a 19th century villain's top hat whilst driving, I believe this is the "USP"), Transit connect (allegedly quite good) et al. Also the cost can be ferocious. Tried speccing up a Doblo: if you want option "x" you HAVE to have options "y" and "z" it seems, and each options pack is very expensive. All I wanted was electric mirrors and a couple of other bits, by the time all the costing was done it was like £16k ex vat. Yikes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoterstangen90 Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChinaTom Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 2 dr Disco I or II with blacked out back and steels? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Land-rover-Discov ... dZViewItemLike that one, but better obviously. You could order them as 2-seaters in full van-mode at the time - a colleague of mine ordered one as a company car and paid very little tax as I remember. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spottedlaurel Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 One of these would be good, if a tad difficult to find: Except you wouldn't be able to leave it anywhere for fear of it being nicked. Think this one went for an expensive resto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milford Cubicle Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Astravans seem to be pretty popular, it's strange that nobody tries to compete with them.Why don't you just buy the nicest Mk3 Astravan you can find if you like them?Or wait until Renault brings over the Dacia Logan van. It's a wee bit 'high roof' but not much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volksy Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Hows about one of these...http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ex-military-Frenc ... dZViewItem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michiel Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Is that the famous RR-Bryn Renault?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pogweasel Posted February 9, 2008 Author Share Posted February 9, 2008 It is indeed. Seems a pretty fair price too for such a wierdy old bus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michiel Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Sure does, I reckon it would be double that over here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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