[TomSE]

Car was wrote off yesterday, will have between 1.3k and 1.6k to spend on a van. Ideally something below 120k miles. 02 plate upwards. What in peoples experience is the most reliable to go for? At the moment I am trad so wont need a tank fitted inside.

I have mainly seen vauxhall combos in my price range but have heard they are a lot of trouble? Also looking at citroen berlingos and peugeot partners. Havn't seen any kangoos or connects in price range as yet but would these be better options?

Any advice appreciated as will be buying one in the next week and its gonna need to last!

Thanks
Tom

[Don Kee]

Brought a swb transit 260 for 1200, although i got pretty lucky. Really good nick and cheap to repair if anything goes wrong.

[robertphil]

berlingo/partner has an excellent engine,outlasts the van usually , you never see any with a blown engine on Ebay.

 but often i Do see combos with a blown engine on ebay .

[Mike #1]

If you want a vehicle that you can use for the family as well get an mitsubishi L200 or other make of pickup double cab and all your stuff in the back of load area .

Its the way to go if you intend on going wfp at a later date as you wont get insured putting a water tank in a people carrier . Mike

[AuRavelling79]

Peugeot Expert/Fiat Scudo/Citroen Dispatch in 2.0 HDi or JTD guise.

You may need to spend a little more to get a good one.


My story is my car was written off in 2006 and I went for a Doblo 1.3 diesel but I bit the bullet and financed a new one. Still got it now as my second van but I ran it for six years with a 400L tank and then pulled a trailer with it with a further 200L when I went 2 man. Only did that for six months though!

[king marko]

I'd go for an expert hdi or similar mate - the reason being, if/when you get busier you've already got a better van in place and can equip for a higher payload.
I've got a 02 plate 2.0ltr Hdi and it runs fine with a 600ltr tank in - glad I went for something a bit bigger 

[mark dew]

gumtree is pretty good for all price vans.
http://www.gumtree.com/vans/uk/citroen+dispatch?sort_by=price&sort_order=increasing

[H2GoKent]

Fiat scudo. Got a 500litre tank in mine with room for all my gear.
Has sliding doors both sides, the heater controls and locks often stop working on them, but both are an easy fix.

[tompoole]

Don't buy the 1.6 ;-)

[AuRavelling79]

Don't buy the 1.6 ;-)

I think at the price the original poster will be getting a pre-07, pre 1.6. But very good advice as they apparently have oil feed issues.

Anything with the 2.0Hdi/Jtd lump is good.

And as mentioned above - the 900kg version is the best payload.

1.9 non-hdi is ok but sluggish and may only have an 815 payload. (I think Tosh has one with a 500L on board but he and his missus only weigh in at 120kg between them!

[tompoole]

I had the 1.6 :-@ only lasted 6 months .... In my humble
Opinion it's a van for light use and not to be used for
Lugging 500 litres of water and wfp equipment.

£1600 you could get into a £5000 van and use the £1600
As the first 16 months payments
Or £10000 and use £1600 for first 8 months payment.
Just an idea.

[[GQC] Tim]

For that price you'd struggle to get a good Dispatch, Berlingo on the other hand.....brilliant vans.

[Pro-Poler]

I have a Berlingo Multispace, great as a van and a car I can get 200 litres, a trolley and a hose reel in it without folding the seats down, 250 litres with the seats down