Whether you buy new or lease it's always going to be more economical to buy a cheaper older van and fix it occasionally than it is to pay the depreciation on a new one.
Buy a new van for 30k and lose 15k in 5 years or buy a van for 5k whats the chances of it needing 10k of work in 5 years ? Slim to zero.
It all boils down to want not need. A new vehicle is almost never the better financial choice leased or financed or bought outright. There's not even a reliability argument own 2 x 5k vans if you want to never be off the road as even a new one will need to go into the garage at somepoint.
Despite all that logic I still bought a new one haha
IMO you can't beat getting a new van,esp if you plan on keeping it for 10+ years and having a hot water system fitted.when I was trad it was easy to get an old banger for work,get a roof rack and away I'd go.
It's different with WFP.i want a good solid van that'll last with minimum hassle.i couldn't be bothered taking systems in and out of old vans every few years.
My van is nearly 6 years old now,18k on the clock and still on original brakes and back tyres!serviced every year.loads of life left in it yet.
Also a lot of second hand vans have been battered by previous owners