A band with a van?
Isn't there a law which stipulates that it has to be a Transit?
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There is...it's the Law of Rock, enforced by Constables Bachmann, Turner and Sergeant Overdrive, "you aint seen nothing yet mate, allright?"
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The only thing I have against the Transit is the cost - £6k is absolute entry level for a new shape one of those and while it's a very nice van, having driven a couple, I suspect that it's quite a difficult expense to justify. I'm not convinced that the older shape will be quite as nice to drive and even they aren't cheap, plus the older they get the worse the condition will tend to be.
One of the band members has driven the two vans I suggested and liked it. I think a Trafic would also fit the bill but is probably a little new and pricey at the moment.
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No idea of of prices but is an ex BT van an option, if they do not mind a ladder rack.
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The 2 problems you'll have - regardless of what you buy, are insurance & seating!!
Insurers will be VERY concerned about what your carrying, who'll be driving, where the van will 'live' & what you've done about sufficient seats, as you say there are 5 of you.
My suggestion is an ex MOD LDV Convoy swb 13 seater minibus. You'll have proper seats & belts, reasonably well maintained vehicle, a good engine (Transit 2.5 diesel & gearbox) & you can remove a couple of rows of seats, for loading.Partion off this area, for security, would be a good idea.
Your own insurance brokers will probably end up with Minibus Plus quoting - you'll get nowhere with on line/ordinary sources.
I've just checked in Auction View link, to our left - nothing available, today. You need to check an auction centre with a Lex Defence section.Belle Vue, Measham, Blackbushe all do.
If you do go this way, you'll need to get the vehicle road legal before you use it - it'll be on military plates currently.The auction will supply relavant paperwork for this to be done at your DVLA local office.The auction can deliver it home for you, 'till this is carried out.
VB
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VB you've just hit the nail on the head!
Ex AA VW Transporter - already sits 5 as standard.
They would have to remove the racking in the back to get their gear in but that will sell well on e bay, giving them much needed cash to run the vehicle.
I have seen a private vehicle similar spec in Auto Trader for around £3500 plus.
H
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I, thankfully, am not in the band so there are only four "musicians." It wouldn't be a huge problem if there ended up being two vehicles going to gigs - one for stuff and one for people, if the van were big enough.
The chances are that most gigs would be attended by at least one friend/"roadie"/partner so it wouldn't necessarily be much cheaper or more convenient to have the seats available.
Insurance is an issue although they all live fairly close together and it's not too painful an area. Storage and who would actually be the main driver might be more of a concern.
Hugo - An ex-AA van would stretch the budget to the limit, I think, unless bought at auction. If that were to be taken into consideration then it would only make sense if insurers recognised the configuration as a factory option and quoted accordingly.
I know that VW offers seating options on the Transporter in the factory and even calls one of them the Caravelle, which could be insured as a car :-) £4k would only get an 8 year old at best, of course, but these do tend to be less abused than most vans and unlike Transits they mostly don't rust.
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£4k would only get an 8 year old at best
no self-respecting rock band is allowed to travel in a van with any remaining hint of newness. 8 years sounds about right, as long as there are enough dents and scrapes :)
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Vansboy is spot on.Transit mechanicals LDV Convoy prices! Had one myself couldn't fault it....insurance will be the headache
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I'd think VERY hard before buying ex AA - they work long hours, carrying plenty of weight & you'll not buy their vehicles cheaply.Plus you'll hear stories on maintainence issues.
VW will achieve a price premium, due to supply & demand, rather than quality of the vehicle.Their vans are not on as many fleets, as say, Transit.
You won't want NEW Transit, either, plenty of reliability problems, with the first of new shape. Serious ones at that!!
Another thought, so you still get benifit of 1 owner, how about ex Police personel carriers??Plenty of space, additional (uncofortable) seating, white (not AA yellow) Mechanically A1, lots miles covered with various drivers, so fully run in!! & cheap!!Auction view again or www.woma.co.uk Transits, LDV & sometimes VW.
Insurance link in 'Usefull Websites' to Commercial vehicle direct, for your quotes, helps get a penny or two, back into this site!!
VB
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