MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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I'm looking for a small van that will be used for a house renovation and bike transport but have no idea about vans! I've got a £5k budget and looking for something with FSH and 12m MOT and not horrendous mileage. Lots available locally (Essex) such as Ford Transit Connect, Peugeot Partner, Vauxhall Combo, etc. If it was your hard-earned money, what would you recommend and why? TIA
Transit size plus if you want 8x4 sheets of plywood, plasterboard etc in it, bigger is better
I bought a Fiat Doblo lwb (same as a Combo), when I was looking you could get a bit more for your money if you went with a smaller van and generally better mpg too.
its worth looking at mpvs as well - often you can get more for your money with something big and unpopular (like a galaxy or a berlingo). similar amounts of space inside as a combo etc.
Wife's 1.6 diesel Berlingo L2 van has been great. Bought it new in 2014. It's has regular service items & tyres, never missed a beat & no signs of corrosion anywhere. I was expecting something a lot less durable but I'd definitely buy another.
Transit size plus if you want 8×4 sheets of plywood, plasterboard etc in it, bigger is better
Nope. You can get 8x4's in the earlier connects with the folding mesh bulkhead.
Although if you don't need that capacity, French vans are fully galvanised so don't rust. Can be a problem on older Ford's particularly.
Spend 4700 on a transit and 300 on a decent welder and some steel if your spending 5k on a transit.
My Transit Connect is the worst cheap vehicle I've ever had. Bought for £3000 in July and I've now got around £4500 in it. We haven't even been anywhere yet. Make sure you find out what a wet belt is and then buy one then definitely has chains.
It works fine at the minute. It's actually quite nice to drive and is very frugal.
I removed the bulkhead and it can just about carry an 8x4 sheet but more importantly a YZ125 goes in diagonally with loads of room to spare.
As above Transits are okay when they're not rusting. A full size van is handy when house bashing - I've just finished a project with mine, ladders, 8x4's, mixers, etc.
Nissan NV200? The look like great value and get good reviews. Had an old shape Peugeot Partner 2.0 hdi and it was a good workhorse, put up with my abuse for years...bit small though. Got a Caddy now but I'd rule them out unless you dont mind having something older with leggy mileage as they do silly money TBH