Van sized things

[skattrd]

I might be needing a van type thing shortly, but before everyone says buy a Sherpa/Transit/whatever I don't really want a van, so I was thinking of something van sized, but not a van.

My B-I-L used to have a Nissan Prairie I would borrow for occasional tat hauling, but that is no longer with us (RIP two tone blue Prairie) so I was thinking of something along similar sort of lines, van size but more car like to drive.

 

Current thoughts:

Mk1 Espace - can the seats be easily removed from these? if so that's top of the list.

Galaxy/Alhambra/Sharan - I do like a bit of VW tdi now and again, again do the seats all come out easily?

No fucking Citroens, Picarso/Blingo, no chance. Megane scenic, too small.

Prairie - maybe, but I'd really like something a bit bigger.

Possibly a Volvo with full length roof rack.

 

Suggestions ...

 

[xtriple]

We had a Serena (JDM) 2.0 litre petrol with 8 seats (yes, 8!) and it was great. Went okay and handled in a most amusing way especially when you take all the seats out!

 

It had twin air con (with remote control for the rear) and loads of toys and was about a grand on e-Bay. We had it for years and it never cost a penny, never failed an MOT and was seriously abused. I took all the seats out and we used it as a van for the last 18 months we had it and it used to cart motor bikes around, had three in the back several times, also used to tow a trailer with several bikes on at the same time.

 

It wasn't good on fuel... ever, but it didn't seem to matter much how much weight was in it, always the same. Had some serious speed out of it on the M5 (licence losing sort of speed) and I always thought it went well. Maybe JDM spec cars have different engines but it went really well. Also sounded sweet and cruised quietly.

 

I would have another.

[robinmasters]

No fucking Citroens, Picarso/Blingo, no chance.

Xantia estate? Huge load space (wide, no suspension turrets), self levelling (and drops down for ease of loading), and cheap.

[mouseflakes]

Synergie/Ulysse/806/Zeta (not sure if your 'no Citroens' covered this)? Seats all come out.

 

[mouseflakes]

Delica (seats not so easy to remove)

 

[Sealtainn]

We've had a Mk2 Espace - great load space & Captain seats in the front but the rear seats are bloody heavy to lug in and out

and we also had a Vauxhall Zafira which was good as the 2 rearmost seats folded into the floor and IIRC it was only 6 bolts to remove the middle seats (again bloody heavy) but we then got a UPVC door and frame in it for the garage we were doing up.

[Asimo]

Mk1 Espace: Seats an easy unclip   - one today in the Ebay thread

[Lacquer Peel]

I really liked my Nissan Vanette, they don't feel as slow as the pub experts make out. Easy to work on, simple, veg friendly, RWD DRIFT. Nissan Serena YES.

[bub2006]

I'm sure the scenic we had was bigger than a prairie but could be wrong. Ours was 51 plate diesel.

[andy18s]

I really liked my Nissan Vanette, they don't feel as slow as the pub experts make out. Easy to work on, simple, veg friendly, RWD DRIFT. Nissan Serena YES.

Also available in LDV Cub flavour

[Cavcraft]

Kangoo car? Mine was like a cave inside and could get two XL mountain bikes in stood up with the wheels still on and still had loads of room to spare.

[Timewaster]

Galaxy etc. seats come out in 2 minutes but are heavy and need storing when they are out.

Early Zafiras are getting cheap now and all the seats fold into the car.

Not as much room as a galaxy.

 

My mate has a 1.8 pez Zafira which hasn't been serviced for about 4 years but it soldiers on without complaint.

Only does about 18 to the gallon though

[fraser.innes.3]

Grand voyager. Seats fold into the floor

[Pillock]

We have a Touran (not suggesting those, anything in Shite budget will be seriously knackered) but bought it because we needed occasional seating for loads.

 

Rear two fold into floor. Great. Middle row has to be removed and stored - not so great, they're massive and heavy. It is big when they're out (7ft fridge freezer long) but not as practical as one that had fully fold-flat type stuff.

[Ghosty]

Toyota Previa Estima Emina Ermine Estimate Approximate Arkansas Scottish Flag Grand Super Bonus Pleasure Wagon?

[Coprolalia]

Mid-90s Toyota Previa? Available in pez and derv flavours.

A mate had one for work. Captain's chairs. Vast inside with seats that remove. Mid-engine, rear wheel drive. Toyota build quality when that meant something.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=252002120193&alt=web

[HH-R]

I know there was to be no Berlingos, but I'm sure they're rated quite highly on here.

 

How shit are Grand Voyagers? Worth a look or not?

[Felly Magic]

Vauxhall Sintra? That rebadged American thingy, it it uber shite too, so perfect for here

[wuvvum]

The Estima Enemas have a rear row of seats that folds up sideways against the side of the car, which steals quite a lot of width.  I don't know if the UK market Previas use the same arrangement?

[sierraman]

At least with a car you stand less chance of it being fucked. At that price level 90% of vans will be hanging. You don't want to be lumbered with some old van that's spent it's life lugging paving slabs up Porlock Hill.

[Ghosty]

Pontiac TransSport/related?

[bub2006]

The Estima Enemas have a rear row of seats that folds up sideways against the side of the car, which steals quite a lot of width. I don't know if the UK market Previas use the same arrangement?

the two I know of fold up sideways and it does really narrow the load space

[eddyramrod]

Pontiac TransSport/related?

Oh yes, perfect.... if you can find one.  They do come up now and then, but not in anything like the numbers Voyagers do, which would be an easy second choice.  Anything else just isn't American.

[r.welfare]

How soon do you need one? I've got a Mazda MPV I'll probably look to offload in a month or so. Will be cheap. 7 seats, rear 5 come out, slightly bigger than an Espace, sliding rear doors both sides.

[skattrd]

Lots of good suggestions chaps, I hadn't thought of the Grand voyager, but like the idea of one.

Mr_Welfare, I like the sound of twin sliding doors, so the Mazda could be a possibility as well.

[mouseflakes]

Incidentally (probably has no bearing on your choice, but I'm going to say it anyway), the rear bench seat in the L300 Delica can be folded flat and then tipped forward to create a full height 'bulkhead'. You can keep the middle row of seats in use as normal but load the rear of the van, floor to ceiling, without fear of burying your passengers in cargo when you brake.

 

 

[skattrd]

That does look nice Sr_Mouseflakes, but the planned use of the vehicle dictates that I don't want something too nice .... It would be using for shifting building materials amongst other things.

[ruffgeezer]

We've got a Reno Kangoo dci coming in soon as a trade in, not sure if that would be big enough for you?

[mouseflakes]

I don't want something too nice .... It would be using for shifting building materials amongst other things.

 

Exactly what I use mine for (those photos aren't of mine - mine is very tatty ). I fold the seats all flat, put a super-thin sheet of ply over them (just to save on wear), and then you can carry 8x4 sheets of plasterboard or whatever in it, resting them on top of the flattened seats. Even in a larger van this might be difficult because of the wheel arches, but in the Deli, the seats provide a raised platform that clears them.

 

I'm not really advising anyone to get one though. In many other respects mine is a complete pain in the arse.

[fraser.innes.3]

I know there was to be no Berlingos, but I'm sure they're rated quite highly on here.

 

How shit are Grand Voyagers? Worth a look or not?

I love mine. Seats fold into the floor in 2 mins giving over 3000 litres of space in the back. Look for one described as stow - and - go as these are the ones that have the fold in seats. Only car that I have driven from hereford to Edinburgh and not got out with chronic back ache. 2.8 turbo diesel, the same KV engine used in London taxis so will last a million miles.