Need advice on good van to purchase
 

If you had £4k to spend on a van tomorrow what would you buy?
Will be used for garden maintenance / landscaping work

Thanks

Old transit pick up, not the best but work it hard and get your money's worth out of it ASAP then buy a newer one

Joe

Pick-up and decent trailer for flexibility?

Need something that I can store tools/equipment in overnight so a pick-up isn't ideal

Renault Master...

For which reasons mate?

I have had two Renault trafics and I can't really fault them as they drive just like a car.

A tidyish T4 Transporter? Nuclear bomb proof and hold onto their value very well.

All the recommended vans above are good. Maybe a trailer is a good option.

Ford Transit everytime,I have done 100,000s of miles in them,they take everything you can throw at them.Tried the odd Vauxhall but they dont do it for me.

The Renault traffic does look good though...

Land Rover Defender 110, especially if you have to go off-road to do some landscaping.

My Dad uses a 110 for the same purpose. He fits a lot of tools in, including petrol mowers, strimmers etc.

Mercedes Vito 111 gets my vote..

I should have added the older versions of the Vito had problems with rust, the newer models are fine. I've ran mine for a year now with no trouble and only needed a Ball joint to get it through it's MOT today.

The Volkswagen T4/5's are the daddies when it comes to vans but I would put the Vito close second.

Tow like fook as well! ;)

Renault Trafic upto 120k after that they fall to bits..

VW Transporter...Hmm..Dual mass flywheels and gearboxes are rubbish,as well as loads of electrical problems...I wouldnt bother..

Mercedes are good,but you will get a ratbag for your budget,they are overpriced IMHO.

Transit are worst of the bunch..

Toyota hi-ace

Found a couple of 111's for around 5k which seem decent

So what would you buy?

I've just sold mine for just under 6K,http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-m...ong/1010995436 had it a year and never had to spend a penny on it apart from a new ball joint to pass its MOT yesterday.

The company Transit has it's tits revved from cold day after day and it basically is abused - in 2 years I am yet to see it complain!

+1, I had one for 4yrs only thing i replaced was front pads and tyres, not the fastest or most economical, but the fact nothing goes wrong with them makes up for it, just make sure you fit good tyres as the cheapo ones mine came with made it a tad hairy in the wet on roundabouts, so binned them and it was fine.

Very car like to drive and comfortable too, 14hrs to Switzerland and fresh as a daisy when i got there, well not quite but no back ache or crinked neck or shoulder pain.

Failing that T4 transporter mine is on 250km and counting, in three yrs only a recon for the starter and a battery, which was the fault of a mate that left it connected for 7 weeks while i was away.

I'd avoid the Vito heard nothing but horror stories about them, rear axels and brakes go costing a fortune to sort.

Transits of that price range tend to be well abused.

Maybe the older Vitos but AFAIK the newer ones are reliable enough.

Transit for sure, all the french vans are ****, trannies can be good for heavy mileage and the parts are cheap as anything. VW vans are good but ridiculous second hand prices make them a bad choice.

Here's my curve ball.

LDV Maxus, I have had one for some years now and it has been faultess,
2.5td and it shifts and is nice to drive, the main thing is you can pick them up for peanuts.

^^ forgot about them and you forgot to say they have the transit engine and running gear.

Hiace more of them still running in the world must tell you something

Alternatively, whatever is a good price ;)

I have one for sale, let me know if interested..

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/k...ps8ab9e0b6.jpg

I have had various vans over the last 9 years . Transit has been the best

Renault trafic,had it from new 11 years ago,not had a problem.just local miles so engine never warm half the time,engine can get started up approx ten times per day,tows my two tonne trailer for about 25% of the time,not even had to change the battery,30 mpg when not towing and no rust

Which version should I be looking for?