Vans as cars...tell me more

[They_all_do_that_sir]

My wife accuses me of becoming obsessed with ideas that will never come to fruition. Obviously she is wrong, and the reason all of these things never happen is never* my fault....

 

Anyway.....I'm currently obsessed with the idea of buying either a VW caravelle type vehicle, or a crewcab van like a Vivaro and using it as my main vehicle.

 

Just imagine how amazing my new lifestyle would be, the kids would love it, the MTB could fit in the back, seats could be removed to move motorcycles about (maybe rules out a bulkhead crew cab then). Men would want to be me, women would try and steal me from SWMBO.

 

So please fuel my day dreaming with your tales of lifestyle success, wow me with how cheap* they are to insure and run etc.

 

This thread is also worthless (even with pictures?)

[twosmoke300]

Noisy unless well sound proofed . Much wider than a car esp the sevel vans .

They do make a practical vehicle but will obviously use more fuel . Commercial parts tend to be more expensive as are tyres . Why don't you find a local cheapy hire place with an older range of vans and hire one for a weekend and see if you can live with it ?

[twosmoke300]

Oh and suspension pretty harsh when they are empty

[steve_earwig]

seats could be removed to move motorcycles about (maybe rules out a bulkhead crew cab then).

Are you sure you don't want a bulkhead? Motorcycles tend to be quite heavy and you really want something fairly sturdy to stop it squashing you flat in case of sudden stops...

 

I'm kind of thinking along the same lines, problems with my back mean I'm after an upright sitting position. Looking at all the daft MPV's makes me sick, small vans seem to all have the seating position of a car these days, so I'm starting to think medium van, I spent 12 or so years driving them about for BT so it wouldn't be a problem. Drawbacks are that's a lot of tin you're carrying about and it's never going to be economical and suddenly all your relations and mates will see you as a free removal/delivery service. Also I'd have to start my NCB here from nothing as they all go down as business use. Unless I get a Caravelle or similar, but the prices of them are insane.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Does a crew cab have to be insured as commercial vehicles?

 

I own no pineapples however the T4 transporters with the factory 8 seats look pretty good (other than the HOLYMOTHEROFGODHOWMUCH???)

[Felly Magic]

Vans also do not really have any anti corrosion treatment to speak of, so can be laughably rusty at tiny ages, especially Merc Vitos, that seem to rust faster than a 1974 Marina that has sat in salt water for 10 years

[Richard]

The last time I looked, admittedly quite some time ago, it was difficult but not impossible to find an insurer that would cover a van for private use.

[Lacquer Peel]

That's not the case any more, it's quite easy to insure a van for social, domestic and pleasure.

I don't know what the situation is with insurance in Northern Ireland but in my experience it's cheaper to insure a van than the equivalent car in the rest of the UK.

[John F]

I ran a Volkswagen LT28 Devon minibus for a couple of years in the 1990s as my sole 4-wheeler.

 

I agree with pretty much all of what has been said above... it was noisy, thirsty and large. But it was also ace. I liked it so much I recently bought another LT, a motorhome this time. And with respect to insurance, it didn't actually cost any extra to add it to my classic multicar policy.

[UltraWomble]

Bedford Beagle - FTW

[diesel=ambrosia]

I had a ford escort van (not really a proper van) but it did change my life. The week after I sold it, I regretted it as had to move a washing machine about . I had it insured for personal use only but you do need a van policy with most insurers. I couldn't get admiral to add it as another vehicle on my multi-car policy. 

[diesel=ambrosia]

I found aviva quite fairly priced, although this was only for an escort van. Cost be about £500 a year, I was 24 and 0 yrs NCB as used my NCB on my daily.  

[STUNO]

Bedford Beagle - FTW

Think of the children man !

[danthecapriman]

I used to use 'smiley' Transit DI's as cars! Both short and long wheel base versions. Sure they are a bit harsh, slow and noisy to use like that regularly but they are amazingly useful and the driving position of a big van is great.

Being big, slow and noisy actually adds to the charm, I think. Plus the extra road respect you get when in one is a big bonus!

 

I now drive a Merc Sprinter company van daily so I'm well used to using big vans regularly.

[UltraWomble]

Think of the children man !

Never did me any harm. Extra seat bolted in the back, it did actually start out life as a HA van then got the windows much later on.

[mat_the_cat]

Back in 2006 to 2008 I used the LT as my sole vehicle, doing 20k miles in it the first year. Thirsty and slow, which was a pain if I needed to do long journeys - although with modern vans speed isn't really an issue. Slower to warm the cab without a bulkhead too. But pootling along if not in a hurry I found pretty relaxing. Plus it's just so practical - no messing about taking wheels off bikes, getting changed out of wet kit is easy, and if you need to stop overnight somewhere even a basic van beats a tent.

 

EDIT - you wanted photos? A weekend away in Scotland early 2007, with some fabric pinned up over the windows for makeshift curtains!

 

[doobietoo]

used to run a Shalambraxy 1.9tdi a few years back. it was ideal for me as it could carry 700kg and tow 1500kg.

It drove well, seated 7 if you had only a little luggage and by swapping the seats around became a 4 seater limo. Take all the seats out and it gives you more capacity than most medium sized vans.

Much nicer to drive than a van and did 40mpg. No problems with insurance either and a good MK1 can be had for under a grand....

[The Moog]

When I had my caravelle a couple of years back I struggled with insurance.

 

A lot of them just plain refused unless I had a specific reason. Although as LP says may have changed

[Rusty_Rocket]

Biggest problem with vans for me is the fact you can't get them in to your local tip as you're assumed to be disposing of business waste. At least that's the case in Kent.

Also, height barriers in car parks can be a minor issue 

[taxi paul]

I have had a couple , both newish. A ford transit tourneo . I got to 170.000 miles trouble free then it started to wobble expensively so it was swapped for a Hyundai i800. Another great van / car. I don't miss the Hyundai but I am thinking of a tourneo again. Due to my job I need modern reliability to transport kids ,young adults about. For super cheap motoring van come car / motorbike and any other combo then its an LDV all the way. Don't know a lot about them . I believe the 2.5 is the transit engine and box.I do still think about getting a six seater ex post office one and making a day van out of it. I was slightly put off when my dear wife said it better have a bed , cos that's where you will be sleeping.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Never did me any harm. Extra seat bolted in the back, it did actually start out life as a HA van then got the windows much later on.

Windows ? Pah ! Luxury.

My dad made a folding seat for the back of our HA Van, it was a big bouncy green leather thing out of aSomerset or Devon. Never had windows , it's a wonder me my brother haven't got tunnel vision.

A few years later we had an ex Civil defence S1 hardtop with the luxury of side windows, for local running about we sat on the bare wheel boxes but for long distances we had the back seat out of my mums Dyane mounted on two battens, it was infinitely adjustable held in position by luggage and our legs.

 

I keep thinking about a T4 van but the pineapple thing is too strong, in fact one of my brothers has just bought 2 Californias back from Germany to sell, if you're interested I'll put some details up. One of thems a tatty green thing about 92 the others a nicer red one - apparently a Synchro. Haven't seen em yet , doubt they'll be cheap, because VW , which to me should make them cheaper than aTransit.

[4wheeledstool]

I've always had a small van since passing my test - spot on for lugging crap about, and my current one (VW Caddy) is big enough to sleep in if need be. Insurance was steep until a few years ago, but these days is about the same as an equivalent car (Touran) No offspring means it suits me well!

[willswitchengage]

Car derived vans must obey the same speed limits of cars. For non-car derived vans the national speed limit is 50 mph.

 

Yes, I have been on the speed awareness course.

[Mr A Lawrence]

Seen a few of the ex AA caravels round my way either in the yellow/green AA colour scheme or some scene whore vibrant gash colour with chrome alloys and "because vw" or such like stickers on them.

 

Not my cup of tea though having driven big vans for about 20yrs full of smelly tyre fitting shite.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Citroen synergie might actually be the Shiters multi purpose wagon of choice, never really considered an MPV - the last one we had (espace) was utter shite.

 

Fiat scudos look alright, seem a good size

 

Like a true man I'm planning this in great detail and it's not likely to happen anytime soon lol

[holbeck]

Car derived vans must obey the same speed limits of cars. For non-car derived vans the national speed limit is 50 mph.

 

Yes, I have been on the speed awareness course.

 

I never knew that, but what counts as car derived?

 

I used to have a Citroen Dispatch would that have been a too far a  stretch of the definition?

[Timewaster]

I had a dog rough pre smiley Di transit as a builders skip when I was doing up the house.

Direct line insurance with no problem.

Not a bad thing to drive really except they need about 3 more gears as it was revving it's tits off at 55 and Jeez was it NOISEY!

There was no radio so I thought I'd just take a portable dab radio around on the dash. Over 20mph I couldn't even tell if it was on when it was turned up max.

Good for taking the Mrs out cos you can't hear a word she says!

[dave21478]

While they are bastards in every other respect, Direct Line were always reasonable for me with commercial vehicle cover, and would allow NCB to be swapped from car to commercial policies and back without problem - something other insurers sometimes dont do.

[willswitchengage]

I never knew that, but what counts as car derived?

 

I used to have a Citroen Dispatch would that have been a too far a  stretch of the definition?

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/car-derived-vans-and-dual-purpose-vehicles

 

Have a look at this - a grey area I know. I think it also affects their tax status.

[Lacquer Peel]

The 'van' speed limit applies to vans over 2t GVW.