[Missing Link]

I'm looking for a 2nd hand van; I loved my Dispatch, but it's dying.

I'd rather not go down any kind of finance route, so have around £5k to spend.  Would prefer to spend about £4k and keep the rest for work that might need doing to it.

I'd like enough payload for two people and a 650 litre tank.

I'm not arsed about anything fancy, just a workhorse.

There's a Ford Transit Connect 1.8L TDCi T200 SWB that looks decent close to me.

Suggestions anyone?

[AuRavelling79]

Does size matter? As in dimensions of length and width? 

Go for another Dispatch/Scudo/Expert (07 onwards) if a slightly physically bigger van is OK.

Well proven good engines (2.0HDi and upwards - avoid 1.6) and galvanised body see?

As you are both (Helen and you) not heavy weights you could get away with a 1000kg payload, but the above vans offer a 1200kg option too.

My Hyundai iload  has been brilliant (1070Kg payload) but they are rarer than hen's teeth secondhand and  have only been around since a '59 plate so might not fall within your price range.

[Missing Link]

Thanks, Gold, you're a star.

[Mike Halliday]

Tosh have you considered a 4 wheel drive pickup with a lockable cabin on the back, considering your outdoor type lifestyle  one might be worth considering ,

[Missing Link]

Tosh have you considered a 4 wheel drive pickup with a lockable cabin on the back, considering your outdoor type lifestyle  one might be worth considering ,

I have in the past, but I prefer just keeping a vehicle for work.

Nice idea though.

[Missing Link]

Any good?  70K on the clock!  We only do about 5 or 6k miles per year.

[dazmond]

it looks tidy tosh.how long have you had your current van though as it doesnt seem 2 mins since you bought  that one?

[Dry Clean]

Dispatch isn't a bad Van I bought mine at a year old and its going on 9, the bodywork is still like new and even though its the 1.6 engine Iv never had a single mechanical problem which is great considering I wouldn't be the greatest at keeping to service schedules, the electrics aren't the best thought as Iv had problems with electric windows heater fan and so on.

[NWH]

Save yourself untold hassle and put that 4K towards a new van.

[Missing Link]

it looks tidy tosh.how long have you had your current van though as it doesnt seem 2 mins since you bought  that one?

I think I've had it about 7 years now, Daz.  It's been brilliant; very few problems.

But now it's losing power intermittently; I'm not sure what's the matter.  It's been serviced recently - all filters changed - but it still loses power, slightly, but fairly regularly in the low revs.

So I'll pull away in first gear no problems, put it in second, and as I accelerate it'll lose a little bit of power - at the same time I see dark exhaust out of the rear - and then the van with 'catch' and it'll accelerate no problems.

It happens in all the gears, but seems more noticeable at low revs, particularly in 2nd gear.

I've not even taken it to a garage; it's time to change it I think.

[Missing Link]

Save yourself untold hassle and put that 4K towards a new van.

Yeh, it is a bit like Russian roulette, but I'd rather not have any finance.  My last van has been brilliant for the money (bought 2nd hand with about 50k on the clock).  I've put another 50k on it over seven years, but I do less mileage now than I used to, just by having a more compact round, bigger jobs and only using the van purely for work purposes.

[Og]

 air flow sensor ?

Don't get caught out on weight.

I went on a weighbridge recently and was surprised how close I was with 650litres.

[Missing Link]

air flow sensor ?

The Google mechanic tells me it could be all kinds of things.

[p1w1]

Yeah sounds like the air flow sensor had the same issue with a Corsa recently I would check that out first if the van is still in good nick.

[֍Winp®oClean֍]

My dispatch used to blow black smoke out, I had the EGR blanked off and it was like a different van- no smoke and has run like a dream ever since. That was about 20k miles ago.

[Steven Biggs]

No vat is always a bonus . Deffo worth a look .

[Missing Link]

No vat is always a bonus . Deffo worth a look .

It was a nice van.  There were a couple of minor things which they're going to sort out when they MOT it (runs out in Jan, so they give it a new one).

Full service history too, but no cam belt change.

I pick it up Sunday.

[p1w1]

No vat is always a bonus . Deffo worth a look .

It was a nice van.  There were a couple of minor things which they're going to sort out when they MOT it (runs out in Jan, so they give it a new one).

Full service history too, but no cam belt change.

I pick it up Sunday.

You dont mess about..took me about a month of research before i ordered my new van

[Missing Link]

You dont mess about..took me about a month of research before i ordered my new van

I trust Gold's advice.  I really have no interest in cars or vans, I just like them to work. 

Oh, it's fully ply lined and has a full bulkhead.

[Steven Biggs]

Sorted that's how you do it . You chose that van quicker than the wife chooses which pair of shoes to wear .