[David Kent @ KentKleen]

Important when you are just getting started out in wfp window cleaning is to keep your overheads as low as possible.
Selecting a well maintained older van can be a great option.
I have just had emailed over the totals for the year from one of my franchisees. His total van expenses for his 2000 reg transit for the tax year 2013/2014 are £1134 THIS INCLUDES FUEL.
He does have a very compact round so uses very little fuel (another imortant aspect)
£21.80 a week to service all his customers is pretty good.

Dont think you have to buy new or nearly new. Older can mean you are left with more profits which is what its all about.
Hope this helps.
 

[LBWCS]

Good practical advice. I agree with everything you have said. Just to add, with equipment, buy right the first time, they will last you longer and less time is spent repairing/faffing about with stuff that doesn't quite work.

[robertphil]

older vans with low mileage and good nick can usually be found locally in small ads or for sale on the roadside .  few low mileage old vans are sold over the internet 

[andyM]

It's just the luck of the draw.
Some good older vehicles out there but also a lot of bad one's.
Bit of a lottery really.

[G Griffin]

It's just the luck of the draw.
Some good older vehicles out there but also a lot of bad one's.
Bit of a lottery really.

Correct. Hindsight, eh?

[andyM]

It's just the luck of the draw.
Some good older vehicles out there but also a lot of bad one's.
Bit of a lottery really.

Correct. Hindsight, eh?

Yep.
Had one or two incidents with second hand vans in the past that cost me time, hassle and unexpected expense that I would rather do without.
Both of these second hand vehicles were purchased from "reputable" dealers in good faith.
I've also bought second hand cars in the past that were ok.
So as I say a bit of a lottery, sometimes you get it right and sometimes not.
When it comes to buying a reliable vehicle for work I am now very careful in what I choose.
 

[Clever Forum Name]

Last transit we got was £2000 no vat. One owner 2003 49k
Never used for work. MINTY MINT!!

[johnwillan]

Our Connects start life around 60k miles, normally pay around £5k, several have required a new clutch, all required a new battery, a couple required starter motors, but overall very reliable and cheap to run.

A couple have done over 130k miles and still drive well.

One however threw a rod at 80k miles! Replaced with a scrap motor (40k miles) via ebay £1,400 supply & fit, running well with over 130k miles to date.

Often looked at buying new but struggle to justify the cost.

[Don Kee]

£3.5k -  06 transit, 39k on the clock : had it a year and ive done 4,000 miles and its done me ok so far (i'll break down tomorrow now)

[Simon Mess]

The age and mileage of a van, just like a car, is largely irrelevant. What matters is how it has been looked after and, crucially, how it has been driven. There is an inexplicable obsession that a low miles vehicle is better than high, and while that may sometimes be true, more often than not, it just isn't. Low mileage vehicles that are being used for short, stop start journeys during which they never get warmed up properly, are going to suffer much more wear and tear than one that has spent its life cruising up and down the motorway at their optimum rpm.

The main difficulty is trying to determine how the vehicle has been driven. It is easy enough to find evidence that it has been serviced regularly, but that is only half of the story. Unless you know the person selling it and how they drive, that is where the 'pot luck' comes into it!.

I have just been reading an issue of evo magazine, in which one of the 'fleet' contributors is detailing the latest work on a Lamborghini Murcielago which has done nearly 260k miles!.
   

[SeanK]

A new van wont cost you anymore in expenses than an old van infect it could work out cheaper as
your less likely to pick up a dud.
The only difference will be a higher expense in the first years paying for it.
My mates van is about 12 years old he's had it from new and I wouldn't be surprised if he gets another 5 years
before changing it as its still in a very good condition and he's looked after it.
I think he paid around £9000 for it so take that over 17 years and it works out slightly over a tenner a week to
buy.
Keeping your overheads low is good business sense new start or not.

[Richard60]

ok if u have a compact round .£21.80 wk .fuel etc . ???when u pay that or more a day .its worth buying something reliable.

[Jonny 87]

Important when you are just getting started out in wfp window cleaning is to keep your overheads as low as possible.
Selecting a well maintained older van can be a great option.
I have just had emailed over the totals for the year from one of my franchisees. His total van expenses for his 2000 reg transit for the tax year 2013/2014 are £1134 THIS INCLUDES FUEL.
He does have a very compact round so uses very little fuel (another imortant aspect)
£21.80 a week to service all his customers is pretty good.

Dont think you have to buy new or nearly new. Older can mean you are left with more profits which is what its all about.
Hope this helps.
 

Either that or...........

He's lousy at keeping his receipts.   

[Dave Willis]

£21.80 a week? Why bother with a van? If his round is that compact he'd just as well bolt his reel to his front door step.

[David Kent @ KentKleen]

ok if u have a compact round .£21.80 wk .fuel etc . ???when u pay that or more a day .its worth buying something reliable.

He has, a 2000 reg transit! 

[David Kent @ KentKleen]

ok if u have a compact round .£21.80 wk .fuel etc . ???when u pay that or more a day .its worth buying something reliable.

He has, a 2000 reg transit! 

Just re read, sorry I know what you are saying.

[SeanK]

I think he's went wrong somewhere tax and insurance would set you back at least £10 a week.
Even with the most compact of rounds your talking £5 to £10 a week in fuel.
So it doesn't leave much for buying and maintaining the van.
An MOT will set you back a couple of quid a week just to put it through with no extra work.

[David Kent @ KentKleen]

If your paying £500+ for your van insurance you seriously need to do some shopping around or your very young.
No mistakes made.
Title of post is 'running costs' not 'cost of buying' (cost him£1300 with private plate)
Maintenance was a strip down and rebuild of the starter motor and oil (good quality) and filter change.
MOT £30

[SeanK]

If your paying £500+ for your van insurance you seriously need to do some shopping around or your very young.
No mistakes made.
Title of post is 'running costs' not 'cost of buying' (cost him£1300 with private plate)
Maintenance was a strip down and rebuild of the starter motor and oil (good quality) and filter change.
MOT £30

I said tax and insurance tax is £220 and that leaves £300 for insurance.
I'm 50 and the cheapest I can get with full no claims is £340.
Your post stated that it was his total van expenses so I assumed that would also cover buying costs.

[dannymack]

Got new transit cost to lease £315 vat included
Had a year in March
Mileage 30,000
Fuel cost £100.00 lasts five days
This is why I won't buy old van as I do lots of mileage and things to to get worn over 150k 🚘🚘🚘👍