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Having never before been a van fan, and always happy with an estate car, the number of bikes being stolen is frightening. I started looking at auto trader, and if I could get a van for £3-5 ish k , this would be less than the value of the cargo.
is this a really stupid idea? Will I end up with a completely shagged van, which will cost more than it’s worth in repairs? At the moment the plan would be it is an additional vehicle and not a daily drive.
Are there any warning signs to look out for? Anything I buy would be Hpi checked, but that won’t help if the engine seizes !
My first thoughts were a connect van, as smaller, more efficient etc, although it’s difficult to judge on the used market if they are actually cheaper to buy? Can you get a 29 er in there, without taking the front wheel of? Or is a swb transit a better option?
I guess the connect feels like a car? Where a transit doesn’t !
I’ve been looking at private sales to avoid the VAT.
We have both in Tourneo style
No problem with bikes with wheels on in the Custom. Any more than one I the Connect and its at least front wheel off.
Daughter has toured Alps in both of them.
Double mattress for two and 2 bikes wheels off is easy in Custom
Single mattress for two and 2 bikes wheels off is cosy in the Connect
Thanks Tracey. How do the running costs (esp fuel) compare? I guess service costs are the same as they share the same parts.
I guess the connect feels like a car? Where a transit doesn’t !
People often use the words 'car-like' in relation to vans and it makes me wonder what cars they drive 🙂 Although I suppose its a question of what aspect of 'like a car' you're interested in.
Also have a look at the actual dimensions, inside and out, of the vehicles you're comparing. Theres often not much difference between the external dimensions of connect sized vans and transit size van, as having a more car-like driving position and engine layout wastes a lot of load space.
However at the price point you're looking at theres something to keep in mind between the two size - which is the passenger carrying version of the two van types vary wildly in price.
Versions of transit sized van with rear seats/windows often come at a big premium on the second hand market. But if you look at the car versions of connects, berlingos etc, they're often cheaper and also often much lower milage and in better condition than equivalent vans - so the best van at that price point might actually be a car
Servicing is about the same. Custom has the wet belt to factor in but that's not put us off. Both are on Ford service plans
Both automatics
Had them 8 and 9 years and can't fault them
Hard to compare on fuel as the Connect is 1.6 petrol Ecoboost so not as economical as the diesel Custom.
Mate of mine has just been made redundant as the company he worked for closed down. He bought the work van from them for just short of 1k. It's been kept in the warehouse for the last ten years, has always been serviced and prior to sale had a full shake down by a local garage to see if anything needed replacing or fixing.
Point being, there are good un's out there but plenty of dogs so pick carefully. I wouldn't rule out a garage buy because at least you should have some come back if something goes wrong.
I'd go transit sized as having recently bought a Tourneo Custom I'm really enjoying being able to stick my full suss XL 29er in the back without taking anything off it. The extra room to get changed etc is also welcome. If it's not your daily you may as well!
That's my Tourneo with two bikes and lots of sleeping room. Very cosy!
At the price you are looking at you should avoid the wet belt too as long as it's the 2.2 engine.
You can definitely get a long 29er straight in the L2 version of the Connect - that's what I have
It's been dead reliable upto 145,000 miles, until the air con compressor failed a couple of months ago, that's not exactly uncommon for any vehicle of the age, (9 years) though. Economy is mid 50's or better for its 1.5 diesel and no wet belt to consider . And it does drive like a car, albeit a couple of generations old Mondeo estate because it's got more of a feet forward seating position than a bolt-upright Transit. I actually quite like a proper van seat though, YVMV. Just starting to show a bit of rust round the rear wheel arches now, typical Transit behavior.
Versions of transit sized van with rear seats/windows often come at a big premium on the second hand market. But if you look at the car versions of connects, berlingos etc, they're often cheaper and also often much lower milage and in better condition than equivalent vans - so the best van at that price point might actually be a car
^^^ this. At a £3-5k ish price point your best option is likely to be a window/car version of a Connect/Berlingo, than a Transit Custom/Vivaro-sized van. The bigger ones are more likely to be dogs compared to the smaller versions.
Saying that, Vivaro/Transit Custom is my preferred size for ease and general all round usability. I've daily'd a LWB T5 and a Transit Custom no issues but they're more hassle than a car and definitely aren't "car-like" to drive 😆
Regards value - otally agree with the above. A 'car' sch as the Berlingo or Peugeot Partner/Rifter, are way, way better value than you regular sized van.
Of these, the Mk2 Ford Tourneo Connect is lovely - they are great value, good to drive, the facelift ones have good engines and a good autobox, lots ofshared parts with other Fords etc.
We have had Berlingos/Partners in the family for years and when I finally decided to get a Van, I drove loads of these and very nearly bought one. I was spending more but a late, facelfitd Mk2 with the 1.5 diesel and 7 speed auto in Titanium Spec is a nice thing. No, it doesnt drive 'as good as a car', dont beleive anyone who tells you this nonsense, but they do drive well, not very big, easy to park, economical etc.
However...
It was strongly reccomended to me, and I am going to strongly reccomend to you - if your gonna get a Van, get a VAN. Proper Transit sized. Transport. Vito. Vivaro... etc etc.
I wish I'd done it years ago and it was transformative, after years of driving large estate cars, there is no way I could go back to a piddly E Class! Its not an accident that every trail centre car park is full of T5 and T6's.
I prefer Mercs, so I have a lovely, powerful, plushly kitted out 3 litre Viano but the space/practicality aspect is the same as any of the above Medium size Vans.
It works so well as a family/camping/bike transporting vehicle!
I got 2 29ers and 2 700c grav bikes in my SWB connect. Was ultra reliable despite the wet belt from 20k to 80k. I sold it when Ford wanted 1.5k to change the wet belt. So if you to buy check the service history as that could add to your costs.
It’ll be an absolute dog at that price
I sold it when Ford wanted 1.5k to change the wet belt.
Was it a rare petrol one? The diesel doesn't have a wet belt, I thought it did but was wrong. However Ford quoted me about the same for a belt change, a local place did it for half the cost.
Have a Dispatch, which is a bit bigger than a car (kinda). I have the shortest version, but can sleep in the back with the bulkhead in place. Bikes go on the back or under the bed. It has a lot of headroom in the front (which is nice) and it will do 1000km on a tank of diesel, which is pretty good. It's also relatively easy to park and fits in most car parks.
A mate has an LWB connect (the newer version) and it is very much a car with a big boot. You could sleep in the back but, as my mate says "why would I want to?".
It’ll be an absolute dog at that price
Not necessarily, this one looks OK, similar milage to mine and only the usual consumables on the MOT history.
2015 Blue Ford Transit Connect 1.6 TDCi 210 Trend L2 H1 4dr for sale for £4,880 in Batley, West Yorkshire https://share.google/cRA79eMf1TJtDOKCw
I’ve had all sorts of Vans. Including Connect L2 and Custom, back to back.
Custom:- biggest obvs but easiest to park and manoeuvre.
Fuel economy not brilliant.
Security is poor, does not drive like a car in any way.
Long service intervals
Connect L2:- decent space, good economy, poor turning circle. Front end hard to judge.
Never been broken into. Does drive like a car, a boomy less refined car.
Fits in underground car parks.
We have a Vauxhall Combo XL and absolutely love it. Plenty of space and versatility.
Obviously not as big as a Vivaro/Transit size van, but much more practical than a car.
Does not drive like a car and never expected it to
2014 Transit. EGR valve a constant PITA
Rust appeared at 3 or 4 years. Few major problems.
Don't take aircon, passenger airbags, or anything else for granted. It's a van and not meant for several occupants and long journeys.
You will find the options if you look far enough
I went for a Nissan
Forgot to mention, early Customs get insanely hot in the cabin. Not sure about the later ones as they all had Ac after sitting in London traffic and melting.
I’ve had a couple of Customs and 4 Connects.
We do a lot of miles in them at our company and both Customs and Connects are pretty much trouble free, although usually they get chopped in whilst fairly young before 150k miles
My favourite lager van was a Hiace, (despite its lack of creature comforts) but the proper Toyota ones will all require sweeping up after them.
2016 Transit Custom, now on 102,000 after buying 2.5 years ago on 42.000. It's awesome and has been a game changer for us. Best vehicle i've ever owned.
It’ll be an absolute dog at that price
There will be a lot of absolute dogs, but OP can easily pick up a decent Trafic/Vivaro for that price.
I know because I sold mine last year for under his budget. High mileage but had an easy life and good SH.
Just got to choose carefully and sus the owners out (private sales probably best at that level).
So are you considering the van so you can store them inside rather than on the outside? Becuase you know bikes can still be stole from inside vehicles right? and quite often vans are pretty easy to break into as well? and criminals quite often seen vans and think 'ooooo must be hiding amazing stuff'. Transits in fact are apparently incredibly easy to break into.
I'm a van fan. Once you are carrying multiple bikes, or need to sleep in it, or race and carry gazebos etc, then a van is the ideal tool for the job. I have a T5 and it's been great. No it doesn't drive like a car, but it drives fine, got air-con, plenty of poke and is comfy for long journeys. I need to move mine on now, only one of us races still, and it's not suitable for my new-driver son to drive around in. [Stealth ad- in classifieds 😉 ] . I think once my kids have been through the learner/new driver stage, then I will be back to a van again.
Becuase you know bikes can still be stole from inside vehicles right
Quite correct but if somebody will go to the trouble of breaking into a van for a bike, they would have had it off your towbar rack a long time ago.
I feel my bikes are infinitely safer in the back of the van than on a rack, even just at services, fuel stations, but especially hotels of course. I do have extra locks on there to help, but i understand it's still possible to get them, but i feel it's pretty unlikely. Especially as mine is just a generic blue transit custom.
I feel my bikes are infinitely safer in the back of the van than on a rack
Out of sight, out of mind... away from prying eyes... etc.
Yeah, vans do get broken into just like cars. But if they can see the bike, it's obviously more likely to happen.
Especially as mine is just a generic blue transit custom.
Yeah, vans that are not signwritten with company info advertising their likely content are definitely at less risk. Not no risk obviously, but nothing is.
Another fan of 'van based cars' here. A LWB caddy might be the same length as a SWB transporter but it feels a lot smaller to drive/park/etc etc. Car-van gets cheaper insurance, cheaper tolls (not a commercial vehicle) better cab comforts as standard, much better visibility when driving, won't have been mistreated in the same way and personally I think better security (as it's not 'hiding' anything, doesn't attract attention like a van, but with a dark tint on the rear windows and a blanket thrown over the bikes they're not noticeable across a car park.