Are vans better offroad than cars ?

[Count Steer]

Yup. It wasn't the engine in my (petrol) Volvo V70 T5 that stopped me taking it past 200k, it was all the other stuff - central locking failed etc. Chucked £2k at it in the last 2 years I had it. (It's still going but I think a mechanic has it). I was wondering whether buying a 135k miles van was heading into a steady ramp up of service costs. Starts with usual stuff - track rods, steering racks, bearings etc. Just wondered if somehow they made all that sort of thing more durable on vans so people don't worry about it until, say, 250k miles.

[mangocrazy]

It's my perception (and nothing more) that vans are built to the same standards as cars these days, and can be expected to cover similar mileages before starting to become uneconomic to maintain. The fact that modern vans drive like cars has the corollary that they have similar reliability and longevity. My T4 has a 2.5 TDi 5 cylinder engine, whereas its modern equivalent has a 2.0 4 cylinder engine, but producing more power... Modern vans have all the toys that car drivers benefit from but that also will probably become a maintenance nightmare in later life.

I'm a bit of a Luddite when it comes to vehicles and prefer something simpler that I (or my little independent garage) stand a fighting chance of fixing at reasonable cost. This precludes pretty much anything built in the last 10-15 years.

[Kneerly Down]

I bought my 11 plate Transit 2.2 Tdci MWB van 3 years for just under £3k with 230k on the clock as a temp van to move some stuff.
It now has 290k on the clock.
In that time I've serviced it a couple of times, replaced an alternator, brake pads, a door latch and a bit of brake line.
The water pump need replacing but other than that I've been pretty impressed with lack of issues.
That said, if I don't sort the rust out that's started on the sills, within 2 years it'll be scrap.

Rust on vans always seems to be the killer.
Very much on the plus side there's normally a whole lot more room to work with when fixing bits!


edit: I also chopped half of the fuel cooler off as it got damaged when I hit a truck tyre that was in the middle of the M6.
I reckoned the fuel wouldn't get too hot in the Highlands!

[Pirahna]

My thoughts wander from "do I need a big van" and "will a smaller one do the job"

I drove a Caddy for 7 years, sold it last year when we got the big camper, otherwise I'd still have it. It was bought for 2 people to put bicycles in, go camping and commute, it did all this and more perfectly.

Now that the big camper has gone we've got a VW T6 Kombi. We were originally going for a front seat only van but came to the decision that rear seats would be handy. The VW was the only van we found that didn't have a bulkhead, the rear seats are easily removed and we have a full load space. Not a cheap choice but it's the only thing we found that worked for us.

[weeksy]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/van-detail ... 00&page=13

[cheb]

The longer wheelbase Vivaros have an irritatingly large turning circle, it's one of the reasons I got rid of the last one a few months after I bought it.

[Mr. Dazzle]

I'd have thought it's more age than milage you need to worry about. I say that because I've driven a few works vans over the years that have got intergalactic mileage, but they're <5 years old so everything works just fine. I think the top figure was >300k on the clock.

'Course, they're all maintained by business on a contract and hence don't want for anything. Vans at work go two ways IME; absolutely by the letter servicing, or completely neglected cause its all someone else's job

[Mussels]

I had a low mileage transit custom and it was great but a mate bought one about the same time as a taxi and when he went past 100k there were some big bills like turbo replacements. However if your aren't doing big miles then there a good chance you'll avoid many of those bills.

[demographic]

Was talking to a couple of the fabricator welders at work this week who said they'd bought Transits for years but the most recent one (2017 IIRC) was an absolute albatross. Turbo went at about 70,000, electrical gremlins and all sorts I can't remember went wrong after that.
They said they'd not be buying another Transit after that.

That was a Transit Custom.

[Pirahna]

When I used to commute you could spot Transits, always a taillight or headlight out.

[weeksy]

Anyway, I may have gone rogue.

Tomorrow will tell just how rogue

[KungFooBob]

It's not another Kia Soul!

[weeksy]

it's this.



It's not a van, i'll admit that... but it's as close as i'm going to get without it being a van in terms of boot size.

THe van thing is still a great idea... if i could double my budget. I just feel that the van leaves me wide open to potential issues more so than cars. Sure the QQ hasn't been ideal, but it's not actually cost me a huge amount in the year (apart from depreciation anyway). Whereas i do worry with the van throwing turbos, injectors and sod knows what else you see. Lets be honest, unless it's a fleet van, it's arguably going to have been a little neglected in terms of servicing, upkeep etc.. THis is often shown in both the history and and overall condition. After all, it's a van.... what else can you expect.

[dern]

I looked at getting a van at 10k and really struggled to get anything I thought would last and didn't look shit. I think that you've made the right decision.

I've ended up putting a deposit on a 17k vivaro and didn't want to spend that much but it was only at that price point that I could get something I was happy with. I really wanted a transit but they seem to have so many issues (reliability and security) that I stopped looking at them.

[weeksy]

I looked at getting a van at 10k and really struggled to get anything I thought would last and didn't look shit. I think that you've made the right decision.

i'll find out the answer to that bit later on
But i'm hopeful.

MY only concern is the lack of Bluetooth/Phone in the specs, but looks like the Media until has BT and maybe even Sat Nav integrated into it.

Neither are 100% essential... but i'd really really like both. The phone is more important than the Nav though.

[Tricky]

I looked at getting a van at 10k and really struggled to get anything I thought would last and didn't look shit. I think that you've made the right decision.

I've ended up putting a deposit on a 17k vivaro and didn't want to spend that much but it was only at that price point that I could get something I was happy with. I really wanted a transit but they seem to have so many issues (reliability and security) that I stopped looking at them.

Yup, exactly the position I was in a year ago, there are an awful lot of over-priced (IMO) beaten-up and worn out vans out there!

Good luck with the CRV @weeksy , hope it gives you what you're looking for

[KungFooBob]

I looked at getting a van at 10k and really struggled to get anything I thought would last and didn't look shit. I think that you've made the right decision.

i'll find out the answer to that bit later on
But i'm hopeful.

MY only concern is the lack of Bluetooth/Phone in the specs, but looks like the Media until has BT and maybe even Sat Nav integrated into it.

Neither are 100% essential... but i'd really really like both. The phone is more important than the Nav though.

That looks like an aftermarket unit rather than the OE Honda one.

[weeksy]

That looks like an aftermarket unit rather than the OE Honda one.

Yup, certainly seems to be. So i'm hopeful it has the bits i want. The phone button implies it's got phone connectivity and the compass makes me think it's got Nav.... both of which would be awesome.

You can get both in some models of the CRV but not all.

[Count Steer]

Should be a nicer drive than the QQ. An acquaintance had one and it looked quite swish. She said it was rather a heavy thing but drove pretty well (I think she'd have preferred a Skyline but what, with kids and all... ).

My only experience of Honda 4-wheels is limited to a couple of years in a 2l car. As you'd expect, it was functional inside but went pretty well. Oddly, it had the turning circle of an oil tanker.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I know 3 people with CRVs, they like them