Vans.

Dale.

Dale.

Bo Derek
Suspended / Banned
Messages
13,716
Name
Dale.
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi troops.

I'm thinkimg of buying a van. We currently have to 2 cars, one is a Corsa @£20 / year road tax, 1.3 diesel, 70mpg. Pretty nippy for what it is, just out of warranty, lovely little car. The second car we have, which does barely 4000 miles /year, is a 2004 Ford CMax 1.8 16v petrol, which is used just for the Nursery run and 'togging trips. Long in the tooth now but still under 60,000 miles and a really nice clean car with not bad mpg for what it is, in the high 30s. What I do grudge about the CMax though is the road tax at £210/year. If it were a 3 litre V8 or something fair enough, but a 1.8 petrol? Hey ho.

So, the CMax is too nice a car to put my 3 dogs in, they are big and bring big mud back when they go out and the Cmax is clean and I want it to stay that way. I have been thinking of a van lately and I've seen an old banger of a Berlingo, the right side of £1k. I'm shocked though at the road tax on it. It's a 1.9 diesel which you'd think would be be maybe £145 or £180 a year at worst road tax. Being a van and classed as a commercial though, I believe from what I've seen that it is £235/ year road tax.(n) Apparently, the insurnace might be higher than a car too.

Anybody else got any experience/comments with this on vans please?
 
I've driven vans both my own and other peoples for 30 years. 2nd hand vans are a minefield, folk rarely sell them until they are totally fubar'd and anything under £1000 would pretty certainly fall into the fubar'd category imo.
Do you have other reasons than just carrying the dogs in it though? if not then you'll find a better deal with a sub £1k car.
 
I have Driven a couple Berlingo's in the past, and for several 1000 miles, and found them to be quite acceptable.
Both as transport and the load capacity and ease of access, specifically with the side door.

Having said that, I'm pretty much with Hugh on this, if its just dogs and the occasional large item, why not by a smaller end estate car and put the rear seats down?
 
Yes, both very good suggestions. It is an idea I had considered. My dogs though are not the quietest creatures to have in a car though and their noses don't half leave a mark on the windows, bless 'em. I had planned to ply the bulkhead of the van to maybe supress their barking. They do get really excited about getting in the car as it usually results in a hefty walk on the hills for them and trying to get them to lie quiet is impossible if it's just me and them. Being big dogs, 2 Weimaraners and a Border Collie, the noise is in the water torture league. Using ply to seperate the cab from the back was what attracted me to a van, which whilst it won't stop their barking, it might make it more bareable. A van seems more practical for dogs but the estate car is still on the table. We have tried to train the dogs out of this behaviour and even had a dog trainer try to help us but when it comes to the car, they are off the scale. They are very well behaved apart from this.

The Berlingo I have seen is a 2006, £850 and in decent condition. It is one owner from new, and electrical engineering company who are based next door but one to a car mechanic, who has done all the work on it. There are 3 pages of recent work that has been done to it, including a new steering column, from what I can tell, it has wanted for nothing. It is high miles 150k although it does have a full service history with every stamp since new.
 
Hmm yes I see your thinking, the bulkheads from what I remember are not thick, and an empty compartment ( apart from the dogs of course) may well echo / amplify the sound.
I guess a double skinned bulk head may help, especially if there is a layer of some kind of sound suppressor in-between, either something specific or just a thick polystyrene sheet.
Can't think of much else really.

I'm not really sure what the life expectancy is but the first one was starting to become a bit of a liability around 160k (thankfully I didn't own it and got brand new one after I complained several times :D )
 
The last company I worked for would run their vans well into the 200k miles range though a new engine was almost always on the cards before end of life. If the one you're looking for does indeed have a full service history from a known source then it's a better bet than most. My only worry would be that it's getting into the expensive repair part of its life with many things due to fail about now. Check to see if things like the fuel pump, timing belt have been replaced, what state is the gearbox in or the engine valves and don't forget that the cost of taxing it isn't going to get any lower.
I'd investigate Cobra's suggestion of an estate car, you could rig up a box in the back that would keep the noise level down.
 
Estate with a fitted (possibly removable) ply box is the way to go.
 
There are assorted cans/vars around (cross between a van and car) which would probably fit your needs. The name that springs to mind is the Renault Kangoo but very similar things are available with Citroen, Peugeot and FIAT badges. Pretty sure they're classed as cars rather than vans so should be more sensible to tax and insure. (Dad had a Kangoo and was spending averse!) IIRC, the rear seats were easy to remove, leaving a large space for dogs, bikes, crap of any sort.
 
I wonder if the likes of RSPCA or the police sell off their older "dog" vans to the public?

Condition aside at least you could be sure it was equipped to safely carry the hounds with the best of ventilation systems.

Sorry to state the obvious but a normal van could become a hot box death trap if not properly ventilated!?
 
Last edited:
Was reading this and got thinking... ex plod mutt trucks. IIRC some are ford focus estates.
 
Thanks all.

I've pondered this all weekend and given the high miles on the Berlingo, higher road tax and potential insurance issues too, I think an estate car is the way to go. I like that Astra van, although it is over budget for a second car but it would be ideal. 1.7D Astras are £145 on road tax, so that would be a bonus too.

The search for a cheap estate begins. ;)
 
Dale. said:
Thanks all.

I've pondered this all weekend and given the high miles on the Berlingo, higher road tax and potential insurance issues too, I think an estate car is the way to go. I like that Astra van, although it is over budget for a second car but it would be ideal. 1.7D Astras are £145 on road tax, so that would be a bonus too.

The search for a cheap estate begins. ;)
Click to expand...

I'd have recommended an estate had I not been late to the party :)

Obviously there is also the Focus estate - not sure how they relate to price / car tax to the Astra, but as you'd been thinking of a Citreon, what about Peugeot estate or even something Korean ??
 
andyred said:
I'd have recommended an estate had I not been late to the party :)

not sure how they relate to price / car tax to the Astra,
Click to expand...


I think probably ballpark. Emmisions are the governing factor for cars. Most vans though are not, they are taxed as commercial vehicles, which was an eye opener for me. :LOL:

I have had a few Peugeots in my time and they are excellent mechanically. Simple things let them down, I seemed to be changing lightbulbs on a weekly basis on every one I've had. The last one, a 307SW, 2.0 HDI was a stonking car and the last one the dogs got to use. It let me down in the end though with rusty sills, unusual for a Pug. I traded it for the CMax that we now use as our second car.
 
What about something like a Ford Fusion? it will have a bit more head room for the dogs than a Focus estate.
 
Dale. said:
I think probably ballpark. Emmisions are the governing factor for cars. Most vans though are not, they are taxed as commercial vehicles, which was an eye opener for me. :LOL:

I have had a few Peugeots in my time and they are excellent mechanically. Simple things let them down, I seemed to be changing lightbulbs on a weekly basis on every one I've had. The last one, a 307SW, 2.0 HDI was a stonking car and the last one the dogs got to use. It let me down in the end though with rusty sills, unusual for a Pug. I traded it for the CMax that we now use as our second car.
Click to expand...

What about the 308 SW 1.6D then if you liked the 307 previously ?

From auto express "The new SW also comes with a range of new powerplants, including a 1.6-litre diesel that emits just 85g/km of CO2 and a new three-cylinder PureTech turbo that is smoother and punchier than a Ford’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine."

Very cheap tax :)
 
andyred said:
What about the 308 SW 1.6D then if you liked the 307 previously ?

From auto express "The new SW also comes with a range of new powerplants, including a 1.6-litre diesel that emits just 85g/km of CO2 and a new three-cylinder PureTech turbo that is smoother and punchier than a Ford’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine."

Very cheap tax :)
Click to expand...
As the Peugeot engine is a 1.2 it's expected to be punchier. Shame it's max torque band is limited to 1750-3000rpm compared to the 1.0 Ford's 1400-4500rpm.
 
I think a Fusion might be too small, back to front, I think they have the same footprint as a Fiesta. I also looked at Corsa and Clio vans but the boot space is tiny. Just one of my dogs would fill that up. :LOL:

If I were to go Pug again, the 308SW would be in the running. The 1.6 I believe is £30 tax (y). We had a 207 1.6HDi previously and that was £20 tax. :clap:
 
Warch out for the 1.6 hdi used in Berlingo and also focus estates. I had a 2008 new shape Berlingo blow its turbo at only 40k. There's a known fault that the mesh on the oil feed to the turbo is too fine for a 12.5k oil change interval. The mesh gets clogged and starves the turbo.

If it blows for a proper repair your looking at over £1k.
 
I have hired two berlingos loads of room for five and luggage. A bit van ish but very practical. I found them sluggish to drive but economically. If that helps
 
been thinking the same for a year now to dump some company cash as our personal car is getting tired. i think i am going to see if the citroen can do 6 months more and plump for a berlingo.
There are quite a few van pimping companies out there that can make a van pretty swish.
 
Mondeos seem to have agood reputation and they are big, which is ideal. I do have a problem with Fords though as in every Ford I have had access too, you can't switch off the front passenger airbag, which means my daughter would have to sit in the back (with the dogs:eek:) as she is still in a child seat. There is a fix for it but it's not cheap. Maybe newer Fords don't have this poblem. My Daughter would rarely be with me and the dogs at the same time but it could happen, so the option to put her upfront is essential.

I've found a Multipla going cheap, it's huge inside and in lovely condition but boy, is it ugly? It's a 1.9 diesel, the newer shape, although in the same tax bracket as my current CMax, so frying pan and fire spring to mind.
 
Dale. said:
Mondeos seem to have agood reputation and they are big, which is ideal. I do have a problem with Fords though as in every Ford I have had access too, you can't switch off the front passenger airbag, which means my daughter would have to sit in the back (with the dogs:eek:) as she is still in a child seat. There is a fix for it but it's not cheap. Maybe newer Fords don't have this poblem. My Daughter would rarely be with me and the dogs at the same time but it could happen, so the option to put her upfront is essential.
Click to expand...


If the child seat is forward facing your daughter is safe to sit in the front with a passenger airbag switched on. It's only when the child's seat is rearward facing you shouldn't place the seat up front with an active airbag.
 
nilagin said:
If the child seat is forward facing your daughter is safe to sit in the front with a passenger airbag switched on. It's only when the child's seat is rearward facing you shouldn't place the seat up front with an active airbag.
Click to expand...


Thanks. Everyday is a school day. (y)
 
Dale. said:
I've found a Multipla going cheap, it's huge inside and in lovely condition but boy, is it ugly? It's a 1.9 diesel, the newer shape, although in the same tax bracket as my current CMax, so frying pan and fire spring to mind.
Click to expand...

Horrid cars and if it's going to cost the same car tax, then from the reason of the thread, no point in getting - much nicer cars out there, in lower tax groups as well...
 
andyred said:
Horrid cars and if it's going to cost the same car tax, then from the reason of the thread, no point in getting - much nicer cars out there, in lower tax groups as well...
Click to expand...

Yeah, same page Andy. (y)
 
Just had a massive headache insuring a berlingo van for my son. He is 24 and has 3 years no claims on a car. They would not accept his no claims even thought the van is only 70 bhp. great little van though. 1.9 diesel that has the workings of an old tractor :)
 
Never thought about a Merc but I will look them up. (y)
 
For your Safety and the Dogs they should be in a Cage or Similar.

Imagine in a Crash a Large Dog hitting you or Family in the back of the Head, then multiply by 3 if all are in Car.

If getting a Cage I would recommend a BARJO Cage, folds flat when taken out, erected in about 5 mins
 
stryvya said:
For your Safety and the Dogs they should be in a Cage or Similar.

Imagine in a Crash a Large Dog hitting you or Family in the back of the Head, then multiply by 3 if all are in Car.

If getting a Cage I would recommend a BARJO Cage, folds flat when taken out, erected in about 5 mins
Click to expand...


Totally agree. One of the reasons a van appealed to me was that the dogs could be totally seperated from the cab with fixed ply boards. I will probably go down the estate route now though as the van option is a bit of a minefiled, so a cage or guard will definately be used. I've used guards previously that fix to hard points of the car and I would probably do this again, or some kind of ply seperation, which would be more effective when it comes to supressing the barking.

A very good point made. (y)
 
I took the back seats out of my Berlingo, and put in a dog cage, secured to the lashing points with the securest ratchet straps I could find.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top