Vans as cars...tell me more

[fraser.innes.3]

I may sound like a broken record, but every time anyone wants a large vehicle with van like capabilities, buy a grand voyager. Seats fold into the floor giving over 3000 litres of space. Motorbike would fit in easily. No insurance ambiguities.

 

Sent from my Hudl 2 using Tapatalk

[twosmoke300]

You wouldn't fit a dirt bike in without dismantling !

[Dave_Q]

I would consider how much space you really need.

 

I drive a mk1 Berlingo as my main car, it does 40ish to the gallon round town, more on the motorway, it can fit an MTB in the boot easily with all the seats in place, can be insured as a normal car etc etc.

 

I would say it's at least 80% as useful as a big van without most of the drawbacks.

 

You can remove the rear seats with a few torx bolts for occasional transporting of larger loads..

 

 

I can see the thought process that bigger is better, and I have thought myself about a transit/vivaro/etc size van instead but have put myself off due to increased running costs, and the fact that the rear seats and windows in most of them may* have been installed by a scenemong and I wouldn't be confident in someone else's workmanship.

 

When the Berlingo eventually dies I will replace it with a Caddy maxi life and remove the last row of seats.

[chaseracer]

Blingo = brilliant.

[Asimo]

I wouldn't be without a van. My Connect Transit is the perfect daily vehicle to run in parallel with the toy or shite cars. just so damn useful and is really nice to drive - Zetec petrol engine, about 34 mpg the way I use it.

Insurance is no problem to arrange, although it is more expensive than any of the cars I've had recently, £250 ish rather than £200 ish. (Old, max. no claims)

Modern vans have such good mirrors that solid rear door isn't an issue. Just remember to stop at a junction so you can see the road to the left.

We have some late model VW transporters at work, I bang my head getting in and out of them for some reason and find the seats uncomfortable. Rented a Vivaro (for more seats and space) and that drove really well but was a horrid place to sit. Too much blingy plastic and a poor view out.

 

Main disadvantage is people want to borrow it, or worse borrow me and it! Even the tip here accepts vans providing a (free) permit is held.

 

I wouldn't go looking for a VW van first off. Others are better and often cheaper. Many Transits are not sold on until they are worn out but there are so many of them it isn't going to take for ever to get a good one. Toyota Hiace is bloody good too by all accounts. LDV Cub for shite points

[steve_earwig]

Windows ? Pah ! Luxury.

My dad made a folding seat for the back of our HA Van,

A fold out seat?! I used to dream of etc. My dad used to run me into school sitting on a lump of foam in the back of his (as was then) GPO HA. I still remember how interesting it was to see the world going backwards...

[I_am_Diesel]

I wouldn't be without my Astra van, it's pretty good on fuel and useful for loads of reasons. I am considering a Transit sized van next, the extra front seat will be good for the dog, the upright driving position will suit the SWMBO and it will be easier for carrying bikes and stuff. Tax isn't really an issue and insurance has never been a problem for SD&P. Vans are for winnahs!

[hairnet]

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.

youd never catch me during the week then

[fraser.innes.3]

You wouldn't fit a dirt bike in without dismantling !

Just out of interest, what is the average height of a dirt bike? I assume it is higher than a normal bike due to the suspension, but how much?

 

Sent from my Hudl 2 using Tapatalk

[mouseflakes]

Would one of these be an option?

 

https://www.gumtree.com/p/citroen/citroen-synergie-for-sale/1141634232

 

 

 

Or be like me...

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/15121-uvavu-its-a-deli-ca-ca-ca-camper-advice-sought/

 

 

 

...or maybe not...

 

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Mouseflakes both look like pure WIN. synergies/806 etc getting thin on the ground but they are cheap.

 

The mitsi looks first class but that's a scary amount of rust...

[Lacquer Peel]

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fabulous-Unique-8-Seater-Nissan-Serena-/291596218684

[UltraWomble]

Be like Mrs Womble...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/-/301798384635?roken=cUgayN

[Slartibartfast]

I drive a modern Tourneo as my daily. I need the nine seats to lug the Wolflets about. Well, really I need ten seats but they don't make a ten seater car. It's pretty thirsty (30mpg) and it's not at all fun in stop/start traffic. The insurance is also crippling. But I love it and wouldn't be without it now. Nice high driving position, good visibility, good mirrors, comfy seats...

[Cavcraft]

They_all_do_that_sir, on 14 Nov 2015 - 5:57 PM, said:

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?)

 

 

In an entirely E-CONAN manner, anyone who mentions VW and 'lifestyle' in the same posts should be repeatedly kicked in the bollocks by someone wearing size 12, steel toecapped Doc Martens.

 

 

But if you got something like a Kangoo (car) or Berlingo, you can do tip runs for extra cash (on the sly, of course) and the bin Nazis can't do anything about it. If you do aim that small I can tell you the load space of the Kangoo is far easier to make use of than the Berlingo.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

In an entirely E-CONAN manner, anyone who mentions VW and 'lifestyle' in the same posts should be repeatedly kicked in the bollocks by someone wearing size 12, steel toecapped Doc Martens.

 

 

But if you got something like a Kangoo (car) or Berlingo, you can do tip runs for extra cash (on the sly, of course) and the bin Nazis can't do anything about it. If you do aim that small I can tell you the load space of the Kangoo is far easier to make use of than the Berlingo.

Don't worry the lifestyle stuff was tongue in cheek. Had I been serious I think I would have deserved the full pelt of the ban hammer

[Jerzy Woking]

I have a VW T5, but not into the pineapple scene. I have fitted Range Rover wheels and side windows though. As I take passengers as well as motorbikes in it, I had rear seats fitted (reputable company, insurance approved) and the sides insulated and carpeted. Insurance is no problem at all, and it wasn't for my previous T4 either. Regularly et 38mpg, but it is used for long runs in the main.

 

In the 3 years I have owned it, depreciation has been minimal, according to sold listings on eBay for similar vans.

[mouseflakes]

The mitsi looks first class but that's a scary amount of rust...

Yes, there's quite a lot of rust but 'fortunately' all of it is above head height. I don't think I've ever been able to say that of any other car I've owned. I'm almost looking forward to welding without having to lie down.

[Cavcraft]

I would consider how much space you really need.

 

I drive a mk1 Berlingo as my main car, it does 40ish to the gallon round town, more on the motorway, it can fit an MTB in the boot easily with all the seats in place, can be insured as a normal car etc etc.

 

I would say it's at least 80% as useful as a big van without most of the drawbacks.

 

You can remove the rear seats with a few torx bolts for occasional transporting of larger loads..

 

2015-05-11 17.04.45.jpg

 

I can see the thought process that bigger is better, and I have thought myself about a transit/vivaro/etc size van instead but have put myself off due to increased running costs, and the fact that the rear seats and windows in most of them may* have been installed by a scenemong and I wouldn't be confident in someone else's workmanship.

 

When the Berlingo eventually dies I will replace it with a Caddy maxi life and remove the last row of seats.

Soz for repeating myself, but before you buy a Caddy, try the Kangoo. The seats fold down much better than the Berlingo, I could get two extra large (26" wheeled) mountain bikes stood up in mine with wheels attached and still lots of room. The only thing that puts me off getting another is that it'd have to be petrol as the diesel ones have a grim rep and on that score the Citroen is much better.

[solid61]

A mk1 Picasso makes a good hauler with the rear seats out,mate of mine had a real tatty hdi one and did a house move with it,air-con,welcomed at the local recycling centre(tip) 45mpg,side loading doors,loads of em to choose from for not a lot of money,what's not to like?.

[purplebargeken]

VW/lifestyle, VW/lifestyle, hahahahahaha. I have the Magic Broom and you are too far away to kick

[They_all_do_that_sir]

VW/lifestyle, VW/lifestyle, hahahahahaha. I have the Magic Broom and you are too far away to kick

As awful as the lifestyle bollocks is, what we need from a 2nd vehicle is space for tents, people etc. With three kids if we are out for the day we often take picnics so a day van appeals.

 

I'll be filming adverts for VW next if I can stop vomiting long enough

 

Again this is all hypothetical as the mrs is going back to uni and we are downsizing to one car to cut costs - can't see her being convinced the one car should be a van

[cros]

The last proper vans were built in the UK by Ford and LDV in the '90's. They go very rusty, and don't have a jamrag dispenser. If you can cope with this just choose between wide or narrow and start living.

[twosmoke300]

Just out of interest, what is the average height of a dirt bike? I assume it is higher than a normal bike due to the suspension, but how much?

 

Sent from my Hudl 2 using Tapatalk

My Ktm is 52 inches when stood upright , holding its own weight

[garbaldy]

A dirt bike will fit in transit connect style vans if you don't need a full size van, I managed to fit two in a seat Toledo although one had its wheels removed.

I wouldn't touch a transit unless you have a welder.

[twosmoke300]

They are a twat to fit in an ldv pilot because the doors aren't full height , you have to push them in at 45 deg . Not easy when the bike is filthy and your knackered after a full days riding

[PiperCub]

Bit surprised to hear insurance is not the bloody pain it used to be. I last had a van on the late 90's (Mk3 Ez) and insurance companies were really awkward & shitty about it - they were convinced I would use it for business purposes despite this not being the case. 

[BorniteIdentity]

This is the answer.

 

 

I always say this, in whatever context, no matter what the actual question is.

 

I bought ours last summer, and it's absolutely fantastico.  It really was the answer to all of our problems:  7 seats, 5 removable, 3 foldable.  It's not slow owing to the 3.0 Turbo Diesel engine.  It's neither frugal or frightening (30mpg), fits in car parks, incognito at the tip, easy to drive, easy to work on.

 

To give some perspective (not to be flashy) we went out with a budget of £10k to buy a van derived mpv.  The best possible vehicle was £2k.

 

A few subtle changes make them less like an invalid carriage, so have a look at the humble but brilliant Toyota Granvia.

 

/EndAdvert.

 

 

 

 

[They_all_do_that_sir]

This is the answer.

 

Granvia.jpg

 

I always say this, in whatever context, no matter what the actual question is.

 

I bought ours last summer, and it's absolutely fantastico. It really was the answer to all of our problems: 7 seats, 5 removable, 3 foldable. It's not slow owing to the 3.0 Turbo Diesel engine. It's neither frugal or frightening (30mpg), fits in car parks, incognito at the tip, easy to drive, easy to work on.

 

To give some perspective (not to be flashy) we went out with a budget of £10k to buy a van derived mpv. The best possible vehicle was £2k.

 

A few subtle changes make them less like an invalid carriage, so have a look at the humble but brilliant Toyota Granvia.

 

/EndAdvert.

This looks good, is it classed as a car for insurance purposes?

[BorniteIdentity]

This looks good, is it classed as a car for insurance purposes?

 

 

It's a proper MPV inside: seats on rails.  (They also fold flat to make a double bed - winner).

 

Japanese import means that you need to shop hard for insurance, best to leave it to a specialist.  Costs me £350 with 1 years NCB (I have 10 years tied up on my main car).