Vans? Are they all total rubbish?

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Danny

Danny

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For the last 7 years I have had "skip cars" I fold the seats down and destroy them, using them for all teh crap jobs and so seeing as our house purchase is nearly done a van would be handy for lugging a bit more shite about.

I bought a combo about 8 maybe 10 days ago and since then I have been fixing faults. It was a cheapo van and I expect to do repairs and what not but today while I was meant to be on a beach with my family I was underneath trying fix and I decided that I had bought a lemon.

But broken engine mounts, oil leaks, crank sensors, remote locking not working etc etc etc...

The garage claimed they had done a cambelt and after all the other stuff I did a bit of searching and from my opinion and the 3 other people who were there with me agreed the belt had not been changed. which is hard to prove and unless you physically see someone fitting a belt its hard otherwise.

I dont mind tinkering but literally all week I have been messing about.

The van was sold as seen but I was not standing for that and after a lot of arguing my money was returned... Thankfully the consumer rights act is on my side... They did try charging me 50p a mile which I was not having none of.

Anyway...

So my search for another van is on... but everything seems absolute garbage...

I try and avoid french...

Fords rot and the VW caddy has massive injector problems...

I don't actually need it for plastering and to be honest the only reason I use a van is for moving my bees about and home projects... I may do the odd job here or there etc but not enough to warrant spending huge amounts..

SO what do you drive and how reliable is it?
 
Danny said:
For the last 7 years I have had "skip cars" I fold the seats down and destroy them, using them for all teh crap jobs and so seeing as our house purchase is nearly done a van would be handy for lugging a bit more shite about.

I bought a combo about 8 maybe 10 days ago and since then I have been fixing faults. It was a cheapo van and I expect to do repairs and what not but today while I was meant to be on a beach with my family I was underneath trying fix and I decided that I had bought a lemon.

But broken engine mounts, oil leaks, crank sensors, remote locking not working etc etc etc...

The garage claimed they had done a cambelt and after all the other stuff I did a bit of searching and from my opinion and the 3 other people who were there with me agreed the belt had not been changed. which is hard to prove and unless you physically see someone fitting a belt its hard otherwise.

I dont mind tinkering but literally all week I have been messing about.

The van was sold as seen but I was not standing for that and after a lot of arguing my money was returned... Thankfully the consumer rights act is on my side... They did try charging me 50p a mile which I was not having none of.

Anyway...

So my search for another van is on... but everything seems absolute garbage...

I try and avoid french...

Fords rot and the VW caddy has massive injector problems...

I don't actually need it for plastering and to be honest the only reason I use a van is for moving my bees about and home projects... I may do the odd job here or there etc but not enough to warrant spending huge amounts..

SO what do you drive and how reliable is it?
Click to expand...
@Casper
 
Danny said:
For the last 7 years I have had "skip cars" I fold the seats down and destroy them, using them for all teh crap jobs and so seeing as our house purchase is nearly done a van would be handy for lugging a bit more shite about.

I bought a combo about 8 maybe 10 days ago and since then I have been fixing faults. It was a cheapo van and I expect to do repairs and what not but today while I was meant to be on a beach with my family I was underneath trying fix and I decided that I had bought a lemon.

But broken engine mounts, oil leaks, crank sensors, remote locking not working etc etc etc...

The garage claimed they had done a cambelt and after all the other stuff I did a bit of searching and from my opinion and the 3 other people who were there with me agreed the belt had not been changed. which is hard to prove and unless you physically see someone fitting a belt its hard otherwise.

I dont mind tinkering but literally all week I have been messing about.

The van was sold as seen but I was not standing for that and after a lot of arguing my money was returned... Thankfully the consumer rights act is on my side... They did try charging me 50p a mile which I was not having none of.

Anyway...

So my search for another van is on... but everything seems absolute garbage...

I try and avoid french...

Fords rot and the VW caddy has massive injector problems...

I don't actually need it for plastering and to be honest the only reason I use a van is for moving my bees about and home projects... I may do the odd job here or there etc but not enough to warrant spending huge amounts..

SO what do you drive and how reliable is it?
Click to expand...
Most vans are a gamble wether there gonna be decent or not. You clearly know your vans so take your pick and cross your fingers lol
 
Danny said:
For the last 7 years I have had "skip cars" I fold the seats down and destroy them, using them for all teh crap jobs and so seeing as our house purchase is nearly done a van would be handy for lugging a bit more shite about.

I bought a combo about 8 maybe 10 days ago and since then I have been fixing faults. It was a cheapo van and I expect to do repairs and what not but today while I was meant to be on a beach with my family I was underneath trying fix and I decided that I had bought a lemon.

But broken engine mounts, oil leaks, crank sensors, remote locking not working etc etc etc...

The garage claimed they had done a cambelt and after all the other stuff I did a bit of searching and from my opinion and the 3 other people who were there with me agreed the belt had not been changed. which is hard to prove and unless you physically see someone fitting a belt its hard otherwise.

I dont mind tinkering but literally all week I have been messing about.

The van was sold as seen but I was not standing for that and after a lot of arguing my money was returned... Thankfully the consumer rights act is on my side... They did try charging me 50p a mile which I was not having none of.

Anyway...

So my search for another van is on... but everything seems absolute garbage...

I try and avoid french...

Fords rot and the VW caddy has massive injector problems...

I don't actually need it for plastering and to be honest the only reason I use a van is for moving my bees about and home projects... I may do the odd job here or there etc but not enough to warrant spending huge amounts..

SO what do you drive and how reliable is it?
Click to expand...
All vans today have their problems,
I bought a vivaro bi turbo all singing and dancing. 3 odd years ago and it was totally garbage,spent 4 months at the dealers with a partial engine rebuild.
They wouldn’t loan me a van while it was getting fixed so I ended up buying a £200 20 year old berlingo to get me to work.
Sold the vivaro when it came back and kept running the berlingo for another 2 months until I bought a bigger van.
The new van has had its problems but nothing major as the vivaro.
I’ve kept the berlingo as it just keeps running and passing mots with no major problems,and it allows me to take the dogs out in it as it’s always empty.
It’s just a gamble with vehicles today some good and some bad.
 
hollybank said:
All vans today have their problems,
I bought a vivaro bi turbo all singing and dancing. 3 odd years ago and it was totally garbage,spent 4 months at the dealers with a partial engine rebuild.
They wouldn’t loan me a van while it was getting fixed so I ended up buying a £200 20 year old berlingo to get me to work.
Sold the vivaro when it came back and kept running the berlingo for another 2 months until I bought a bigger van.
The new van has had its problems but nothing major as the vivaro.
I’ve kept the berlingo as it just keeps running and passing mots with no major problems,and it allows me to take the dogs out in it as it’s always empty.
It’s just a gamble with vehicles today some good and some bad.
Click to expand...

I can fix pretty much anything its just I dont want to.

You use to be able to buy cheap crap that would do 2 years and then throw it out and buy something else.

Now its £2k forma shitter
 
had loads of different types of vans Nissan interstar basically a Renault master was faultless only money I ever spent on that van was tyres brakes and service.
 
had a few vans over the years some have been okay, some well, one van i had the mechanic said it was the worst van he had seen in 34 years, well and truly ripped off, and what i know about the mechanical side of things i could write on the back of a stamp with a felt pen,............have a peugeot partner van now ex nhs , cost me 5,800 quid, but immaculate,, peace of mind etc ,......
 
Danny said:
For the last 7 years I have had "skip cars" I fold the seats down and destroy them, using them for all teh crap jobs and so seeing as our house purchase is nearly done a van would be handy for lugging a bit more shite about.

I bought a combo about 8 maybe 10 days ago and since then I have been fixing faults. It was a cheapo van and I expect to do repairs and what not but today while I was meant to be on a beach with my family I was underneath trying fix and I decided that I had bought a lemon.

But broken engine mounts, oil leaks, crank sensors, remote locking not working etc etc etc...

The garage claimed they had done a cambelt and after all the other stuff I did a bit of searching and from my opinion and the 3 other people who were there with me agreed the belt had not been changed. which is hard to prove and unless you physically see someone fitting a belt its hard otherwise.

I dont mind tinkering but literally all week I have been messing about.

The van was sold as seen but I was not standing for that and after a lot of arguing my money was returned... Thankfully the consumer rights act is on my side... They did try charging me 50p a mile which I was not having none of.

Anyway...

So my search for another van is on... but everything seems absolute garbage...

I try and avoid french...

Fords rot and the VW caddy has massive injector problems...

I don't actually need it for plastering and to be honest the only reason I use a van is for moving my bees about and home projects... I may do the odd job here or there etc but not enough to warrant spending huge amounts..

SO what do you drive and how reliable is it?
Click to expand...
The joy of motoring! By cheap buy twice. If I go for a van I go for a newish one 4year old. Then run it to the ground yes I am going to get problems in 3 4 years. But it better than paying 300 pound a month for a lease one checking millage and checking thers no scratches on it!
 
Pony for sale
12 months mot
Tax exempt
Easily parked in customers garden for reduced feed costs
No cart available but I'm sure you could knock one up Danny
 
Cockney1 said:
Van prices have gone through the roof lately, I spoke to a friend of mine about it and he said loads of furloughed people have been buying them to deliver parcels in so that’s why they’ve been hiked up! What a joke.
Click to expand...

Exactly it mate. Was looking for a new van for ages but ended up getting my old one fixed.
 
Cockney1 said:
Van prices have gone through the roof lately, I spoke to a friend of mine about it and he said loads of furloughed people have been buying them to deliver parcels in so that’s why they’ve been hiked up! What a joke.
Click to expand...
I bet red diesel sales have doubled as well
 
carys said:
The joy of motoring! By cheap buy twice. If I go for a van I go for a newish one 4year old. Then run it to the ground yes I am going to get problems in 3 4 years. But it better than paying 300 pound a month for a lease one checking millage and checking thers no scratches on it!
Click to expand...

I have bought at both end of the spectrum. Buying brand new bikes are expensive to keep on the road so I dont bother with new anymore.

My last few skip cars have been scrappers and they have been good cars. Cheap reliable and when they are finished I just scrap or strip them.

I think I am going stick with looking for a combo
 
I asked MOT tester what van to get
He said “they are all rubbish now”

...you need a time machine to go back 20 years and buy a new old one but new again cos you pulled it forward twenty years in time!!!
 
Monkey Boy said:
I asked MOT tester what van to get
He said “they are all rubbish now”

...you need a time machine to go back 20 years and buy a new old one but new again cos you pulled it forward twenty years in time!!!
Click to expand...
Bought a new Renault Trafic in 02 and still got it, not seen a garage since warranty run out except for mot, done any repairs myself. Will keep it aslong as I can.
 
hector said:
my next door neighbour had a lada estate car , never any trouble with it, reliable, carried heavy weights,started in winter okay a good solid dependable car,
Click to expand...
No technology in it nothing much to go wrong, old school would keep vehicles until too rusty to go through mot.Nowadays they buy new car/van if a bulb blows!
 
Danny said:
For the last 7 years I have had "skip cars" I fold the seats down and destroy them, using them for all teh crap jobs and so seeing as our house purchase is nearly done a van would be handy for lugging a bit more shite about.

I bought a combo about 8 maybe 10 days ago and since then I have been fixing faults. It was a cheapo van and I expect to do repairs and what not but today while I was meant to be on a beach with my family I was underneath trying fix and I decided that I had bought a lemon.

But broken engine mounts, oil leaks, crank sensors, remote locking not working etc etc etc...

The garage claimed they had done a cambelt and after all the other stuff I did a bit of searching and from my opinion and the 3 other people who were there with me agreed the belt had not been changed. which is hard to prove and unless you physically see someone fitting a belt its hard otherwise.

I dont mind tinkering but literally all week I have been messing about.

The van was sold as seen but I was not standing for that and after a lot of arguing my money was returned... Thankfully the consumer rights act is on my side... They did try charging me 50p a mile which I was not having none of.

Anyway...

So my search for another van is on... but everything seems absolute garbage...

I try and avoid french...

Fords rot and the VW caddy has massive injector problems...

I don't actually need it for plastering and to be honest the only reason I use a van is for moving my bees about and home projects... I may do the odd job here or there etc but not enough to warrant spending huge amounts..

SO what do you drive and how reliable is it?
Click to expand...
If you don’t need a van buy a diesel zafira. They are cheap to pick up and the 1.7-1.9 are fairly good
On fuel. The seats all collapse and make it a great size
 
You obviously want a Caddy. Buy one, and if the injectors go, get them fixed. Stop being a skinflint. Have the van you want.
 
TonyM said:
You obviously want a Caddy. Buy one, and if the injectors go, get them fixed. Stop being a skinflint. Have the van you want.
Click to expand...

The injectors are dumb money for a caddy and they go far too often...

I think van manufacturers benefit from selling shite...

Speaking to an MOT tester today and he reckons the most reliable Van on the road is a Peugeot as he see stupid high miles and they all go throu MOTs quite well...

Not sure I can bring myself to buy a Pug though

May just throw the extra money and get the Landy
 
Luck of the draw, whichever make/model one person praises another slates.

Loads hate the Vivaro for example. I bought the last of the old model brand new in July 2014 for £11k + VAT having never bought or owned anything newer than 6 years old. It's been absolutely spot on with only servicing and tyres since. I put the details into 'We Buy Any Van' a couple of weeks back out of curiosity, and even on there it's coming up as £5.5k + VAT nearly 7 years later. Other people have had the same van and it's been trouble from day one.

Transits rot, German stuff costs a fortune to buy/service/repair, French stuff is very basic and smells of garlic.

Low owners and mileage with service history is the best guide. Ultimately the cheapest you can get your hands on new or second hand and hope for the best. I wouldn't be buying one at the moment though, prices are daft.

For the sort of stuff you'd use it for I'd get a Previa or similar.
 
You've got a welder so maybe something like this would do? Link Removed
 
I have a 2010 l200 singe cab
a bit like driving a shed around, but a real workhorse, tonne payload, perfect for my small screeds , and you can lay 8x4 sheets on the back if you put a bit of timber across.
has wind down windows, no central locking old fashioned as fook
beats modern electrics hands down
and when i have finished i can sell it to some third world army/terrorist organisation as they make perfect gun mounts
 
imago said:
Luck of the draw, whichever make/model one person praises another slates.

Loads hate the Vivaro for example. I bought the last of the old model brand new in July 2014 for £11k + VAT having never bought or owned anything newer than 6 years old. It's been absolutely spot on with only servicing and tyres since. I put the details into 'We Buy Any Van' a couple of weeks back out of curiosity, and even on there it's coming up as £5.5k + VAT nearly 7 years later. Other people have had the same van and it's been trouble from day one.

Transits rot, German stuff costs a fortune to buy/service/repair, French stuff is very basic and smells of garlic.

Low owners and mileage with service history is the best guide. Ultimately the cheapest you can get your hands on new or second hand and hope for the best. I wouldn't be buying one at the moment though, prices are daft.

For the sort of stuff you'd use it for I'd get a Previa or similar.
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Yeah agree with all of that
 
markyspread said:
i can sell it to some third world army/terrorist organisation as they make perfect gun mounts
Click to expand...

Well that's got you and @Danny on a watch list or two then. :LOL:

Spying Conspiracy Theory GIF by DrSquatchSoapCo
 
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