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Currently have the obligatory STW issue Octavia hatch. However growing children and potential for a new dog, which could be around alsation size, mean that I'm looking to get something slightly bigger.
Was initially going to get a Superb estate but started looking at crew cab vans. Appeal I can throw the wet mucky dog in the back and the same for bikes. I'd probably go for LWB so I don't have to take wheels off etc.
Would generally only be used for longer journeys where we have to take a lot of kit and the whole family of five plus dog. Will keep the Octavia as a general runabout as it's got 120k miles and worth more to us than it would be if we sold it.
Looking at the Renault traffic/Vauxhall vivaro initially but also thinking Transit, do they still rust badly? Budget is around £20,000, less then 50k miles and want something with A/C and ideally cruise control for motorway journeys. Oh also I'm 6'5" so need something with decent leg room for the driver.
So what have other people got and what would you recommend?
I expect you may need to compromise one of the criteria for a transit custom. Custom is probably the nicest of the bunch. Vito is also a good option not looked at cost for them.
You couldn't have picked a worse time to be looking for a van. All vehicles are up in price over the last 18 months, none more so than vans. 40-50% increase.
XLWB Merc Citan (kangoo with a different front end, and cruise control).
Rear seats fold completely flat, love it.
Caddy life/maxi life?
Being 6'5" means forget a Transporter, the Kombi doesn't have the bulkhead but has the same seat rail, the cockpit space is dire. Custom all the way, better VFM, as reliable, far more cubby holes and storage in the dash/doors and doesn't have the ghastly overpriced image.
Go for 2018 onwards with the 170ps Panther engine, they're really good and 30mpg is no bother.
There was an Iveco went through work recently, I think it had been a Highway Maintenance crew van, bulkhead behind the driver/passenger seats, rear compartment spit into two, with the front section having a table with four seats with lap belts in place, with the rear wall fitted with a work surface with cupboards and a sink, and a hot water supply, a microwave and a couple of wall-mounted cupboards as well. I couldn’t see into the back, because it was parked up against a fence, but I guess it was just for general tools and equipment. It was a LWB hi-top.
If you can track something like that down it might need some mods, but could do the trick. The lease company it came from was Arval, so it could be worth looking for end of lease vehicles they’re getting rid of.
Try the Stellantis (PSA+Vauxhall+others) vans, most of which you can get as 8/9 seat passenger variants with windows and seats and normal speed limits. Store or ebay the rearmost row to make a 5/6 seater. Both commercial and passenger come in a few different lengths.
Their smaller ones (Berlingo, etc) also come in a LWB / 7 seater now (4.75m long), again get rid of the rearmost seats and it's a very decent space behind the middle row.
with the front section having a table with four seats with lap belts in place, with the rear wall fitted with a work surface with cupboards and a sink, and a hot water supply, a microwave and a couple of wall-mounted cupboards as well. I couldn’t see into the back, because it was parked up against a fence, but I guess it was just for general tools and equipment.
What you;re describing is a 'Welfare Van' so in the back there would have been a toilet and either clothes drying facilities or a shower (0r another toilet)
Try the Stellantis (PSA+Vauxhall+others) vans
I've not driven the smaller berlingo ones but the current generation of Traffic / Vivaro size ones are wery pokey for the driver if you're 6'5" - the top of the windscreen is also very low - like having the sun visor down all the time (you can't see traffic lights if you are at the front of the queue). If you then put the sun visor down you can't see the road.
The first generation of Traffic / Vivaro's had lovely roomy cabins, second gen a little less so, the new one are really quite cramped.
a hot water supply
What’s the proper name for this? Googling it just suggests hot water for showering which isn’t really the thing.
Hot water supply requires a water tank and a gas/diesel/electric boiler to heat it up
And a grey waste tank to collect the used water
https://www.vantastec.co.uk/vehicles/ford-custom-l2h1-130ps-ltd-crew-van-tailgate/
50% over budget but looks good value compared to used just now
It's a LWB transit custom crewcab in the top spec with a tailgate
Hot water supply requires a water tank and a gas/diesel/electric boiler to heat it up
I was assuming Challenger tank style boiling vessel, but that needs 24v electrics, I think.
I currently have an older Vivaro crew-cab, which is great for family trips & biking.
The Vivaro got updated along with the Trafic, but has since changed to the Peugeot Expert / Citroen Dispatch / Toyota Proace platform - which looks a bit small for someone of your stature.
You might be best with a Trafic or Transit. I think Renault might be doing 5-year interest free on the Trafic now.
It’s a LWB transit custom crewcab in the top spec with a tailgate
But I'd buy that now if I still had a VAT-registered business and £25k to hand.
19 plate Vito dualiner here, auto with the 116 engine. More space in front than my old 55 plate Vito. Has a storage bin that sticks out low down on floor that might get changed for one off the viano. 45-50 mpg so happy. None of the VW tax here and don't listen to the rust bucket comments. On the old I fixed a little rust on the rear arches, plastic trims on front door( clips must rub some paint off) and the rear wiper. This was a pre galv or part galv 2005 van. Go for a 2007 on if used. The only issue on the old one was a new propshaft at about 90k.
Already mentioned, but unfortunate timing to be considering a van purchase with current prices being inflated over what they normally are.
My van would fit the needs perfectly but not for sale. LWB Transit Custom DCIV (Double Cab In Van aka Kombi/Crew Cab), individual passenger seat and 3-seat bench behind with bulkhead behind that, and tailgate. I'm 6'1/187cm and plenty of adjustment left on the seat rails to go backwards. WBAV valued my 67-plate with 20k miles (130ps euro6 2.0 engine) at £18.6k last week but I'd be surprised to find anything similar for sale for <£20k at the moment.
Thanks for all the pointers. Appreciate that buying a car or van at the moment isn't ideal due to inflated prices. TBH I will probably wait until the new year in the vague hope that prices somehow drop, but I do wonder if they ever will due to the increased demand and lack of new sales over the last 18 months.
That Transit looks great but I think I'd struggle to justify the almost £30k cost. Part of me does wonder whether I should look at something older with more miles on it and put the cash into a newer car when the Octavia finally dies. Decisions, decisions.
Part of me does wonder whether I should look at something older with more miles on it
Be wary of buying anything without a Euro 6 engine, if you're likely to be near current or future clean air zones.
Unless you want to buy my Vivaro, in which case step right this way please sir.
Loved our trafic for the first 18 months till the dpf started giving no end of grief then it had to go once Renault blamed our driving style and said the warranty wouldn’t cover it anymore. Was a 2013 model, had it from new crewcab sport 115 swb, don’t know if the later ones are better or not. Shame because I really liked it.
I went for a Vito as a lot easier to find a well spec'd one, they fit under height barriers as standard, isofix rear seats a fairly common fitment and some airport taxis out there with big mileages showing what they are capable of.
Parents have a Transporter, but see just as much of the courtesy cars.
Transit Custom was out of my budget, partly as newer, partly trying to find higher specs.
Hired a new Vivaro/Expert thing, never again.
Hired a new Vivaro/Expert thing, never again.
Do elaborate.
My Vito is available, in the classifieds