We have a nice little Megane Sport, but it’s slowly getting trashed by bikes and dogs. Looking to get a second vehicle to accommodate this dirtier side of our life.

Won’t get used as much as the car, so budget is relatively low (£2000-£3000). Needs to be able to transport 2 or 3 bikes without dismantling, be dog-friendly and comfortable enough for biking trips up to about 4 hours drive away or so.

Obvious options –

Big estate – probably the comfiest option but least practical.

Mid-size van (Citroen Berlingo/Transit Connect type thing) – practical but uninspiring.

Full cab pick up thing (Mitsubishi Warrior etc.) – best in terms of ‘big boys toy’ but in our price range are all up in the 175000 plus mileage range – is that an issue?

Pros and cons of these? Any other ideas or opinions?

Cheers.

My brother uses a Transit connect and does a trip to and from Edinburgh a lot with no issues, they’re surprisingly comfortable and with a secure lock on the back and a solid bulk head extremely secure compared to an estate car.

The only other option I could throw in is an old Land Rover, cheap to run and hardy but expensive for their age/wear and not very secure.

Mid-size van (Citroen Berlingo/Transit Connect type thing) – practical but uninspiring.

You’ll take that back if you buy one. Having a van is a god-send to a mtber, get changed out of the rain, throw the minging bike in fully built and covered in mud, carry a surprisingly massive amount of kit for road trips or whatever…..

Yeah, had thought about a crumbling old Defender but not sure I could face all the DIY it would inevitably involve and always seem to read mixed things about their driveability.

I would say ford galaxy/vw sharan/ whatever the Seat version is

basically a van that drives like a car and is MASSIVE with a few seats taken out (if you can store them?)

yeah – Berlingo here

pros – great for dump trips etc, running costs, mpg (1.6HDI)
Bike options
– single rear perma out (2 bikes – fronts out down side) 4 real seats
– double rear perma out (3 bikes – fronts out down side) 3 real seats
– all rears perma out == small van
leave door up when raining == alfresco, dryish changing room, assuming you parked nose into wind

cons – rock/roll on corners, overtaking can be tricky on fast As
*in my (MK2) you CANNOT flatten etc the front seat whick limits length of things you can carry

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-rather-flash-smallish-bikesports-vanvw-caddy-2k-in-the-sw

Edit – I thought 2k was the price 😯

I understand your problem, my car is soon to be returned to the lease company, it’s spent the last 3 years with its back seats permanently down transporting muddy bikes and kit. I’m not sure they’ll be all that chuffed.

Big diesel estate? Volvo/Mondeo/Skoda?

I have a similar dilemma

looking for something for family trips that can carry 4 people and 4 bikes inside with front wheels off.

rather not have a van but VW transporter Mb Viano seem the only options

I used to have a galaxy, no room at all with the seats in, and is a bit awkward to get the bikes on a roof mounted rack due to the height. I changed to a long wheelbase vw t5, had 5 of us in it with 5 fully assembled bikes last weekend. Wouldnt go back to a car now, and its not too bad to park etc.

Of your list, I’d say the big 4×4 are the least practical you can only get one bike diagonally in the back unless you start taking the front wheels off. The dog would sit on the tiny back seats.

Oh and drive like something with leaf springs…

I have a mondeo estate but for your citeria (occasional car, 3 bikes fully built) I think you should look at a van, I had an Expert for a while that was a brill bike carrier – not particualarly fast, which made it relaxing on big journeys as you went with the flow, could take 7 bikes fully built with ease and 3 people. I had it as a main vehicle and I got tired of the difficulty to park (it was a commercial with no windows) and you could never “nip” anywhere. Finally went when kids showed up. The Escort van I had before was ace, a closed in UTE.

For low millage use a Defender makes a lot of sense. What extra you will spend in fuel you will save in depreciation.
.
I had one for a couple of years. Noisiest, slowest, thirstiest, draftiest, least comfortable, most unreliable car I’ve ever had. But I loved it, huge fun, and still miss it. As a second car it would be ideal, but not as an only. Don’t worry about unreliable, your budget would get you a mid-eighties V8, everything is very easy to DIY so repair bills are very cheap.
.
With sensible head on Scudo/Expert/Dispatch, 3 seat option gives a bit more flexibility than Berlingo/Connect.

Personally I would avoid a Mitsubshi L200, we have then at work and they make the Citroen’s look good!
A colleague also has one and is now having engine issues, but he previous one was OK.
I would go for the van/people carrier option.

4 bike 4 people = VW Caddy Maxi/Maxi Life

People can see your willy if you get changed in the back of a people carrier. Jus’ sayin’

Toyota Hiace SWB with D4D engine (post 2002), will go on forever and keep value when you come to flog it on. Go for minibus ones with removeable rear seats if you are taking more people/bikes etc

Do you actually enjoy driving? If so look at an estate. If not then pick the small van things.

Love driving (hence the Megane Sport with cup chassis and brakes). Not too fussed about the ‘bike’ vehicle being a hoot to drive though, as it’s for a pretty specific purpose.

We use a toyota verso, rear seats pop out,,can get three bikes in with the front wheels out and threepeople in. also looked at vauxhall zafira, tbh any car about that size would be ok you can always unbolt the rear seats if they’re not meant to come out

Thanks folks. Finally went for the least inspiring option of a small car-type van.

Am now the proud (I think) owner of a Renault Kangoo van. Bit of work to do ‘deconverting’ it from British Gas spec (loads of racks and stuff in the back that need to come out), but should be plenty practical enough for my needs.

Hideously ugly vehicle, that. Perfect for mtb duties though. Good choice.

If you like driving, ditch the Megane, get a nicer better sports car like an MX5 and buy an estate for the rest of the time. That way you get the best of both worlds.

Get the racks out carefully and on eBay/gum tree, they will sell easily.
And as great a driving car as the mx5 is I’d still have the megane as it actually goes reasonably quick

What do people think of a Vivaro van? I’m tempted to get one initially to use as a day van, possible conversion to camping use later.

Not a lot of love on here for vivaro’s.
However my old man has one on a 58 plate and its a sound motor.

I would rather have the megane than the mx5.

Hideously ugly vehicle, that.

Oy! I have a Kangoo too and tis a thing of beauty, and a seriously versatile vehicle.1
With a 1.5DCi -Rocketship it is not, however it goes up anything and handles surprisingly well, if you were so inclined it is possible to put the brakes and running gear from a early clio 172 on them, goes like a startled rat then.

thecaptain – Member
What do people think of a Vivaro van? I’m tempted to get one initially to use as a day van, possible conversion to camping use later.

Have a LWB crew Trafic – same vehicle, better trim level.
Cracking vehicle, goes well, massive load carrying capacity, racking, bikes, etc with six people inside to boot.
Wouldn’t be selling it if it wasn’t for divorce :-/

if you were so inclined it is possible to put the brakes and running gear from a early clio 172 on them, goes like a startled rat then.

Do you have any more info on this?

Can you fit the engine too?

Agreed – the Kangoo is a bit of a munter but I think it will do it’s one job for me fairly well.

Also agreed that I would keep the Megane over and MX5 any day – quicker by far, I’d bet (not driven an MX-5 TBH) handles better on the twisty stuff with the Cup chassis and is still a relatively practical little car. Thirsty as anything though.

People can see your willy

you’re in the wrong car park!!

hammyuk – Member

thecaptain – Member
What do people think of a Vivaro van? I’m tempted to get one initially to use as a day van, possible conversion to camping use later.

Have a LWB crew Trafic – same vehicle, better trim level.
Cracking vehicle, goes well, massive load carrying capacity, racking, bikes, etc with six people inside to boot.
Wouldn’t be selling it if it wasn’t for divorce :-/

I`m after one of these Hammy, to replace My SWB Van, can you send me some details ?

thecaptain – Member
What do people think of a Vivaro van? I’m tempted to get one initially to use as a day van, possible conversion to camping use later.

Mine has been great, they drive really nicely, It was my Dads for the first 30K then I’ve put another 87K on it now.
Barring a HP fuel pump replacement and general consumables Its been pretty cheap to run and repair.
Cambelt snapped just before Christmas but just had that fixed.

I debated putting windows and rear seats in it for Dayvan/Camper duties, but I`m on the look out for a Crew van/ combi version now instead

Email replied to Dom 😉

Can you fit the engine too?

Oh you most certainly can! There’s a good thread on the cliosport forum about a conversion

Thanks for vivaro opinions. Didn’t really mean to hijack thread 🙂

Kangoo cup conversion
http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?636059-My-Kangoo-Cup-Dci-Build-Thread