Buying a small van from auction again

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Thu 13 Mar 2014 15:56
Buying a small van from auction again - grumpygituk

Well it seems like only yesterday when I picked up yet another good priced vauxhall combo van for my electrical business(5 years now) from auction. And yet again it was a fantastic buy, got well over 120,000 miles out of her with hardly any complaints, just wish I had the same luck finding a wife with the same attributes.

Even though mine is still running really well it is looking a bit battered now so time to let her go )-:

I am looking for something about 2 or 3 years old and roughly the same size as the combo, but I am half thinking about going up just slightly bigger, maybe one of those ford connects. I want something with roughly 50/60k miles on the clock and in quite good nick, just wondering how much I am looking at?

Any ideas?

Thanks

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Thu 13 Mar 2014 18:51
Buying a small van from auction again - jamie745

just wish I had the same luck finding a wife with the same attributes.

I've found it makes most economical sense to trade women in after a year or so, hopefully for something with a decent service history but not too many stamps.

All I know about vans is they're overpriced. Low equipped box on wheels is more expensive than the equivalent car, because buying used vans is tricky. The Ford Connect is good, I chucked that round some bends last year as my company had a few. The Peugeot Bipper is lovely, air conditioning as good as my Jag.

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Thu 13 Mar 2014 19:54
Buying a small van from auction again - focussed

Even though mine is still running really well it is looking a bit battered now so time to let her go )

Hmmm- got me thinking, should I change mine-and how do I tell her?

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Fri 14 Mar 2014 17:32
Buying a small van from auction again - daveyK_UK
The brand new f*** Transit Connect which has recently come out is a great van, but obviously there wont be many appearing at auction for a few years.

The mark 1 Connect IMO was good to drive but thirsty and the 1.8 diesel gives plenty of problems.

Why not go for the new cCmbo in its orginal form?
What I am refering to is the current Fiat Doblo which the new Combo is simply a re-bagged version of.

Fiat's reliability has improved leaps and bounds, we run a few of the Fiat Fiorinos and a Fiat Qubo (car version) and have found them to be ultra reliable which is saying something for 3 - 4 year old Fiats.

One thing I will say, the Qubo car version drives and handles alot better than the Fiorino van version.

The only problem with the Fiorino and its identical sister vans the Bipper and Nemo, they are smaller than the old Vauxhall Combo.

Im sure you could pick up a reasonable current shape Fiat Doblo a few years old.

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Fri 14 Mar 2014 17:50
Buying a small van from auction again - grumpygituk

Thanks Davey

I have picked up two decent vans from Blackbushe in recent years and will be heading there again, do you think I will get something decent for £3300. The last Combo I got was 3 years old and I got over 120k miles out of her personally(clock now 200k), that van cost me a litte over £2k, it did have a small little dent though which I got sorted for a few hundred quid.

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Fri 14 Mar 2014 18:23
Buying a small van from auction again - elekie&a/c doctor

I run an 2006 connect and find it a great drive and comfortable and to date has been no major problem.I do find it heavy on front tyres and don't seem to get more than 12k out of them,even using the original hankook factory fit.They are not the fastest van off the block,but it is an old fashioned engine design with a single overhead cam and 8 valves.For 3.3k you should be able to pick up a 2009 plus .Try to get one with a/c and electric pack,windows, mirrors and heated front screen.hth

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