[lee_dewing]

hi
my van is giving me a lot of grief lately in out of garage at moment

was wondering if anyone could help answer a few questions?

I have 9 yr old ford escort 75 diesel 01 plate.

I use freedom trolley and ave 10 barrels(25ltr)

what is the closest thing out there now to a ford escort?
i know the ford connect is the replacement.
But i like the height of escort fits in my en-bloc garage nicely has up and over door.


Also if you were leaseing a van how do you stand with modifications, i.e speedliner, and especially with fitting water tanks.

I am very green when it comes to leasing and i don't want to be spending hundreds a month on a new van as i'm only on an average wage

Any advice greatly recieved
thankyou lee.

[Alex Gardiner]

The best thing to do is to ring a company and ask. Even for contract hire they can be very reasonable, a lot of firms do not mind Protecta-Kote as it actually protects their investment. I personally wouldn't bother protecta-Kote'ing a contract hire vehicle as it gives you no real benefit long term. With regard to fitting a tank frame, this usually is a case of drilling 4-6 12mm holes through the floor, most firms have no problem with this at all.

[DaveG]

Have a look into the Despatch/Berlingos mate there are some good views of them on here. My Step brother has got a Despatch and it seems very good

[ftp]

Despatch will be a fair bit higher than your escort but they make ideal work vans for residential work (not too big).

[Alex Gardiner]

Transit connect £144 +VAT per month
http://www.tilsungroup.com/Commercials/Pages/LatestOffers.aspx

New Berlingo £175 +VAt per month
http://www.tilsungroup.com/Commercials/Pages/ViewByManufacturer.aspx?Manufacturer=Citroen

VW Caddy £177 + VAT per month
http://www.tilsungroup.com/Commercials/Pages/ViewByManufacturer.aspx?Manufacturer=Volkswagon

[lee_dewing]

thanks guys looks like i'm going to have to give up on idea of fitting van in garage

Whats people's opinons of nemo, bipper  van.

also nissan kubistar.

will see what the verdict is on my van tomorrow but even if i get it running reliabiley, i need to sort out back up plan.

i.e pick out what my next choice of van will be where from and of course the important how much?

It a shame what has happen i didn't want to feel i'm rushing out panic buying :

Out of intrest the dispatch size vans can you get with 3 seats in as this would be useful to me,mrs,+little one

thanks all
lee

[DaveG]

pretty sure despatch has 3 seats mate

Check the load capacity on those Nissan thingys if youre gonna look at them!

[lee_dewing]

thanks,

i think nissan is 600 ish payload.

lee

[steve m]

have a look at the combo 2000. has a 743kg payload. If you want some advice ring a company called swiss leasing, they'll put you right

[lee_dewing]

thanks steve,

Is that vauxhall who make combo?

[Alex Gardiner]

The new Berlingo has three seats across and the payload is about 900kg.

[macmac]

The new Berlingo has three seats across and the payload is about 900kg.

ONLY the LX model has 3 seats, which is only about 400 quid more for loads more extras. the payloads are - 625KG, 750KG, 850KG depending on model.

[lee_dewing]

thanks alex, mac.

getting someome else who's been reccomended to hopefully fix my van tomorrom (fingers crossed)

but even if sorted i'm gonna have a good look around, have a van ear marked out ready

i like the sound of what you just mentioned,

also like ford connect will find out if do 3 seater, see a lot of them about but only ever seen 2 seats.
thanks lee

[seandyer2003]

The best thing to do is to ring a company and ask. Even for contract hire they can be very reasonable, a lot of firms do not mind Protecta-Kote as it actually protects their investment. I personally wouldn't bother protecta-Kote'ing a contract hire vehicle as it gives you no real benefit long term. With regard to fitting a tank frame, this usually is a case of drilling 4-6 12mm holes through the floor, most firms have no problem with this at all.

I asked a leasing company about thhis and they said you would have to pay at end to put it back to normal

[Alex Gardiner]

The best thing to do is to ring a company and ask. Even for contract hire they can be very reasonable, a lot of firms do not mind Protecta-Kote as it actually protects their investment. I personally wouldn't bother protecta-Kote'ing a contract hire vehicle as it gives you no real benefit long term. With regard to fitting a tank frame, this usually is a case of drilling 4-6 12mm holes through the floor, most firms have no problem with this at all.

I asked a leasing company about thhis and they said you would have to pay at end to put it back to normal

Generally that means if you've drilled a hole through the floor you would need to put a rubber bung in or if you've removed ply-lining to fit your system (which you always should) then re-fitting the ply-lining at the end of the use.  This covers all holes and any scratches.

[Ian Lancaster]

If you really need a low roof van, the Astra might fit the bill.  We had one with a 400lt tank, all equipment and ladders and it was still under the gross vehicle weight, even with the tank full.

You can only have a driver, though as a passenger would take you over with a full load on board.

[lee_dewing]

thanks guys now been told fuel pump.

£1500 to fit new  one (van not worth it!)

they have second hand pump supply fit £330.

gonna go for that

have spent £185 service and fixing wheel bearing 3 weeks ago, £100 2 new front tyres and tracking.

£100 at another garage (mates) fault finding fixing few other bits including ford air filter.

£715 spent 

£450 lost wages

thanks for your advice guys i hope to pick my van up today fri pm.

i hope this is an end to the problem.

I hope to have learned some valued lesson's from this

I will now be working more saturdays and will save up an emergency fund of a £1000, will take me a while but know i can do it.

I will look into my options on vans (i hope i need this later rather than sooner :)


thanks again for all your advice guys have a nice weekend
lee

[EZclean]

£1500 to fit a new fuel pump. 
£330 for second hand one...
think your being shafted there bud.

it wll need programming with a code so it matches your ECU, £50 tops, look for a mobile diagnostic in your area, they have the equipment to do it.

if its the 1.8 Turbo Diesel:

 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ford-mondeo-turbo-diesel-injection-pump-escort_W0QQitemZ130313162504QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item1e57450f08&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

non TD: but check part numbers, as they fitted them to later models:


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ford-Escort-van-1-8cc-diesel-fuel-pump_W0QQitemZ170331440877QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item27a88b86ed&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

[Dean Aspects]

Go to a diesel specialist i went to a garage and they wanted £2200 and needed the van for 2-3 days  the specialist did the job in a day and charged £300  they know what they are doing