Tell me about vans - Update. Malmo to Leyland with inappropriate non van (A sort of Collection Thread)

[Zantimisfit]

The plan is this

 

We are likely moving back to the UK next year. I want some transport over there so I can get around, but also so I can start repatriating all our crap.

 

I seem to remember it cost a serious amount of money to move out here (fortunately paid for by my employer at the time), so my brilliant idea was to get a van that I can go to interviews in, drive between Malmo and UK in and maybe, if I can find some nice curtains etc, sleep in the back of. Buying a van, using it for a bit and selling it later looks like a good financial strategy.

 

I was thinking about 4k GBP and that this would get me something maybe something five to seven years old, with somewhere between 100 and 200k on the clock, some service history and some MOT. Vans are miles cheaper in the UK than here and I cant be faffed with selling something over here when the clock is ticking. But I dont know too much about vans..

 

What is to be sought out, what is to be avoided, what should I look for? I though something like a LWB Transit? Good/bad idea? I am looking for advice and to draw on the accumulated wisdom of you Autoshiters. What would you do???

 

 

[eddyramrod]

I'm sure I've seen a LWB Transit within that budget, recently on my rounds.  I'll check and get back to you...

[phil_lihp]

A LWB Hiace would be well within budget. Nice and simple, very reliable and not overly rust prone, just a bit old fashioned.

[UltraWomble]

Dont underestimate the shite carrying capacity of the 2.0HDi EV2 we have had beds, sofas and wardrobes in ours at one time or another.

Get a non FAP, pop the rear seats out ( ebay them) and then use as a van.

Cheap as chips too

 

Cheap but thirsty 2.0 Pez with 12 mths MOT

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-CITROEN-C8-LX-16V-BLUE-7-SEATER-NEW-MOT-/172494556878?hash=item28297a0ece:g:CfoAAOSwLEtYgjjE

 

Or 2.0 HDi with DW10 16v engine

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-CITROEN-C8-SX-HDI-16V-BLUE-7-SEATER-/272547921393?hash=item3f751f3df1:g:xMYAAOSw241YmKk4

[sierraman]

I've had loads of Transits, they can rot like fuck as you'll guess.

 

The FWD are most likely you'll come across, the basic engine is unburstable, it's the shit attached to it like the injectors, turbo and EGR that will cause you trouble. If you can find one that's had SMF conversion so the better.

[Lukas]

Like phil_lihp said, the old HiAce is a bit old-fashioned, but over all a very good and almost underrated van. 

 

The 2.5 D4D are fast enough too. Even a 4WD-version was available. 

[Squire_Dawson]

WOT NO LDV?

[Lacquer Peel]

 

 

The FWD are most likely you'll come across, the basic engine is unburstable.

The cracked heads I've seen say otherwise.

[Junkman]

Well, dah.

 

https://www.blocket.se/gavleborg/Chevrolet_van_71468721.htm?ca=5&w=1

 

 

Thread can be closed now.

[Guest Hooli]

Sherpa?

[surprisingskoda]

I am forever bleating on about the capabilities of a ducato/relay/boxer and for good reason, but I do believe that it would be even more pertinent in your scenario.

I should imagine a lwb hi top van is your mission, the more you can fit in, the less trips are needed. These particular vans are, according to my research, the most economical large vans available. Mercedes and Ford hi/long vans are rwd, thus thirsty and less spacious. They both rust too.

Your money might not go as fresh as you think but I would recommend getting a good condition ex carpet shop van over a fresher but rougher tradesmans van, as dents and bent doors and mucky interiors will make long journeys unpleasant and noisy.

However I am talking about large vans and I don't have enough experience in small vans to suggest anything, having only had a couple of berlingos and a connect on the fleet. Don't buy a connect of any sort, tragically slow which will not be good for that long drive.

I can't think of any larger van I would like to go to a job interview in though. Unless you get a not white vw transporter, that might be passable.

[sierraman]

The cracked heads I've seen say otherwise.

 

I used to take them to 120k of stop start driving. Took within an inch of life. Daily. Never blew an engine. Went through 3 Clutches in that time as well due to nature if work per van.

 

Bear in mind, all vans are a tradesmens tool like anything else, we used to throw them out just as trouble was on the horizon.

[wuvvum]

Only issue with the newer shape Ducato / Relay / Boxer (which is what you would be looking at with a £4K budget) is that you can't see out of the bastard things. 

 

Buy a LWB LDV Maxus for £750, spend a couple of hundred quid on a decent driver's seat and then splurge the rest on coke and hookers.

[Richard]

I wouldn't want to move in anything less than a Luton, although that's not going to be so convenient as transport once you get home.

[twosmoke300]

 

The cracked heads I've seen say otherwise.

Don't forget jumped timing chains and little end / piston failure ! Dog shit engines - so much complexity , size and noise for so little power .

2.0 hdi much better .

[Mally]

My son has a van which fits some of your requirements, may even be for sale if the newer van turns up from his works.

LWB Transit 2.4. Been used by us for the last 10 years as a race van.

6 seats, double bed. Very good bodily, showing its age underneath. New MOT.

Things that dont match requirements maybe. 2002.mileage just under 170,000. Bulkhead, double bed and seats reduce the load area, all wood though so easily removed. Oh and price will be nowhere near what you want to pay.

[UltraWomble]

http://autoshite.com/topic/27173-fs-18-auto-space-runner-flash-sale-uxbridge/

 

 

And spend the rest on coke and hookers

[DodgeRover]

There's and LDV pilot Luton on ebay at £760 currently.

 

Is the situation in Malmo as bad as it is being made out? Sounds like one party is saying declaring martial law is the only way forwards?

[paulplom]

My mate has a 2006 peugeot boxer with 99k. It has been converted into a camper with full kitchen, running water, microwave, fridge etc. Even has a telly on the wall.he wants 2k for it. Proffesionally converted. It was my old work van and was really well looked after and serviced every 6 months. I can give you contact details if you like. 2.0 hdi btw.

[Junkman]

No real LWB or Luton, because this would inflate your ferry ticket into Lalaland. If you do this trip often, you should

check the measurements vs. ticket prices and buy your van with a tape measure.

Nothing European or Japanese, because you will be pissing blood after driving it from Malmo to the UK.

I seriously suggest a Swedish septic van, provided Swedish insurance is reasonable.

Van insurance in the UK is horrendous and can offset your cheaper purchase price quite nicely, thank you very much.

Naturalising a septic van in the UK after you've moved could yield you a small profit, especially if it's non Diesel

thus LEZ compliant.

[Cavcraft]

Not a Transit.

[Zantimisfit]

There's and LDV pilot Luton on ebay at £760 currently.

 

Is the situation in Malmo as bad as it is being made out? Sounds like one party is saying declaring martial law is the only way forwards?

 

Its a nice place to live but its also true its much more edgy than when we moved here eight years ago. There were apparently 12 murders last year and there have already been 2 or 3 this year, including a 16 year old boy, plus many more attempted murders, around sixty or so! Local paper says thats three times higher than London (dont know if thats true or not). Mostly its gun related and mostly its gang related, but the police can't cope. Its really weird because walking around, even the rough areas are not what I would consider rough by comparison with 'rough' areas in UK, in that you feel quite safe, but gun crime is a major problem, particularly here, but also in Gothenburg and Stockholm.

 

I got a 100 quid ticket off the police a few months ago for unwittingly driving down a street that had a 9pm curfew on it because of the number of 'criminal acts' that occured. The place is changing for sure.

[Zantimisfit]

No real LWB or Luton, because this would inflate your ferry ticket into Lalaland. If you do this trip often, you should

check the measurements vs. ticket prices and buy your van with a tape measure.

Nothing European or Japanese, because you will be pissing blood after driving it from Malmo to the UK.

I seriously suggest a Swedish septic van, provided Swedish insurance is reasonable.

Van insurance in the UK is horrendous and can offset your cheaper purchase price quite nicely, thank you very much.

Naturalising a septic van in the UK after you've moved could yield you a small profit, especially if it's non Diesel

thus LEZ compliant.

 

Good point re insurance. It is much cheaper here and its the vehicle thats insured irrespective of the driver. I have just paid about 280 quid to insure a four year old V70 for a year and my old Mini is only 50 quid....despite us living in the crime capital of Scandinavia as mentioned above (I am not worried about my car being stolen, but it could well get shot!)

 

Superficially you are insane Junkman, but scratch a little deeper and what you say may well make sense. Although deep down I suspect you are motivated by wanting to see me buy some inappropriate Americana, I promise I will consider your suggestion. But there's no immediate hurry...

[Zantimisfit]

WOT NO LDV?

 I could get a new Chinese LDV Maxus for about 4000 quid couldn't I?

[eddyramrod]

 inappropriate Americana

 

No such thing

 

 

Oh and I drove past that Transit again today, so I slowed down enough to read the card in the window.  Thick end of 7k!  Sorry to bother you...

 

[Zantimisfit]

Sherpa?

Sherpa came to mind but to quote Mrs M, "Don't be a dick"

[Junkman]

Although deep down I suspect you are motivated by wanting to see me buy some inappropriate Americana, I promise I will consider your suggestion. But there's no immediate hurry...

 

No, that is seriously not the case.

Although I'm not adverse to daft septic cars, when it comes to vans, my outlook is very different.

The yank vans are simply better, irrespectively of them being built in America. They are like big Tonka toys.

I'm speaking from experience.

All this Euro and Jap shit shouldn't meet 20th century work environment standards, let alone 21st century ones

and that it does regardless, merely shows how archaic the standards must be.

 

If you want to haul stuff across a continent without wanting to have the desire to hang yourself from the next tree,

buy a septic van.

 

Little hint: The Fords have an even better ride than the Chevies. Avoid Mopars. Despite they are technically

the best of the bunch, they are the least well serviced ones in Europe when it comes to spares availability.

Spares for Fords and especially Chevies are available like water.

[Lacquer Peel]

LDV Convoy. Buy British, buy the best*.

[Richard]

I believe over 5.5m is when it gets (even more) expensive for ferries, but you have to balance that with the number of trips required.

[Eddie Honda]

Just be mega-ruthless at ditching/flogging/leaving stuff.

 

I gave up loads of stuff when I moved country because it was often cheaper to get a replacement of something at the other end, rather than relocating it. I have since replenished the crap with considerably more crap