work vans

[L-E_Fault]

I have a Vivaro love the van just waiting for the gearbox to go.

One annoying thing with it, not sure if others have this problem, but when we get a frost the side door freezes shut.

 

[bengie]

i have found the trick to opening the side door when frosty, if it won't open normally hold the handle open and pull the external rail cover on the door and it normally opens fine

see the circled part on the picture, but obviously don't pull hard on it incase you damage anything

 

[kme]

Also, if you buy a large capital item like a van, you can write off 25% of it's cost in the first year, then the remainder goes into your "capital pot" which is written down at 10% each year, so it can take a long time to fully write off the cost of the van.

Unless there's an exception, you can't just write off the full cost of it in one year.

P. i'm not vat registered.

Can I just correct those figures mate? AFAIAA,"Writing down allowances" are 50% in the first year, 25% in the second, and 12.5% in the third. That`s it. Nothing in the fourth, fifth or following years. If you go this route, you can claim for running repairs, but not the 40p/mile; just fuel costs.

I`m not vat reg`d either - 40p/mile works out better for me;

To O/P - Fiat Doblo. 8/10. Pros - two side doors, roomy driving position, good sight lines, VERY nippy, 2.0L TD engine ALWAYS starts, and >50 miles per gallon

Cons - size. You need to keep it quite tidy to maximise storage.

KME

 

[Andy™]

but it does have a electrical problem where it believes it has a boot lid,

my van has a similar electrical problem: it often thinks i have a trailer when i dont, and tells me the lights dont work

 

[Subneural]

Fiat Ducato 2.0

Pro's - Cheap to run, good to drive, 3 seats in front, loads of room in the rear.

Cons - Central locking up duff, side door is easy to break into, condensation in rear.

7/10

 

[bengie]

condensation is a problem in all vans i think.

 

[flyingspark]

Ford Escort 2001 75TD, its ok for what I want it to do, mostly stuck in traffic around London, 350-400 miles per tank. Previous owner was a DNO, so racked out, roof rack, alarm etc. Cheep for parts/tyres etc. New van would be nice though, but need more work first!

 

[bluetof]

Volkswagen Caddy (New shape). Great van - but a bit small.

Only 69BHP (2.0 SDi) so painfully slow but it does the job - lovely thing to drive.

 

[paul b b]

i got a fiat scudo in 2005 with 125000 on the clock, its now done 300000 and touch wood!

i find a few things irritating though....

1, the sliding doors stick out more than the front causing a noise that can get loud at around 60mph

2, the back is about 7inches to short, would be nice to fit a 8x4 sheet in there

3, curved sides make it a bit of a ****** to put racking in.

but that said, it's not a bad van. i used to regulary drive 300m a day and the van would think nothing of it.

 

[Lurch]

1, the sliding doors stick out more than the front causing a noise that can get loud at around 60mph

That is what annoyed me about my Expert, I'd have another one if it wasn't for the fact the side doors are useless. It's the locators at the top, you need to replace them or bend them back so the hold the door in position. Over time (about a week in most cases!) they bend inwards so don;t actually hold anything. Also when shutting the door once they are bent into shape put some pressure on the door in that corner otherwise the locator jumps out of position and wedges the door open.

 

[ianmacd]

Also when shutting the door once they are bent into shape put some pressure on the door in that corner otherwise the locator jumps out of position and wedges the door open.

Sounds like a man speaking from experience? Is there a funny story there?

 

[Lurch]

Sounds like a man speaking from experience? Is there a funny story there?

Not really, just that if I didn;t always put some pressure in that corner the locator didn;t always locate and sometimes wedged the corner of the door open.

I can;t even say it was mildly amusing. Sorry.

 

[maccarooni]

I have an old R reg suzuki supercarry. Go on then laugh.... :^O

I only started SE last oct, and didn't want to spend my cushion on a nice comfy van with a stereo or anything like that........

I paid

 

[Lurch]

I have an old R reg suzuki supercarry. Go on then laugh.... :^O

I didn;t need telling, already lolling!

 

[maccarooni]

so glad to bring some cheer to the forum.

Hope youe sides don't hurt too much from the laughing lurch....

LOL..

macca.

I darn't tell you his name now.............

ROTFWL

 

[Lurch]

I darn't tell you his name now............. ROTFWL

Oh dear....

 

[Blue Fox]

I have a new merc sprinter. Not that impressed with it. Shut lines don't line up, its broken down 3 times in 18 months and it drinks fuel, its the high roof medium wheelbase, but the rear loading area is only a couple of inches longer than my transporter was and its a pain with width restrictions - won't go through a 7' restriction. But on a positive note its very comfy to drive and does motorway speeds easily. Ideal van if your company os going to buy you one and your not paying but if you are paying then don't get one!