I have a budget of about £10,000 tops for a van. Not had one before so thought I'd ask you lot for advice. Don't really want transit size so something a bit smaller. Thanks in advance 👍

In reply to Post #1
You should get a really nice transit connect or similar for that price.

Ice cream van......Goodness me I love ice cream.

In reply to Post #1
I'd probably get a caddy maxi if push came to shove. But vans that size really are useless, a transit is the perfect size, even better if you can get away with a high top but they're a pita at car parks etc.
Mine is just like driving a car. AC, cruise control heated seats... in fact with parking sensors it's easier to drive than a car
I couldn't go back to that low down seat position of a small car or van So bloody dangerous

In reply to Post #1
If the van doesn't work out,Skoda Yeti's seem like a good alternative, esp the 4x4 version.

In reply to Post #6
Skoda Yeti's
only know 2 people that bought one BOTH were huge money pits which was a surprise as Skoda/VW are normally very good ?

In reply to Post #7
Caddy or Peugeot expert/Citroen dispatch 👍

In reply to Post #1
SWB or LWB Vauxhall COMBO van

In reply to Post #1
Don't buy anything french !

In reply to Post #10
dont talk daft m8 every country makes good and bad cars ?
silly generalisation really isnt it ?

In reply to Post #11
No. It's bloody good advice.

In reply to Post #10
You get good and bad. 2 mates both have newer combos. One is a money pit and the other has been the best van he's had.

In reply to Post #12
Thanks for all the replies chaps... I like the vw caddy but it looks small in the back. Will it take a standard rod holdall ie 12ft rods?

In reply to Post #11
Well being an ex commercial vehicle mechanic I kinda know what I'm on about gerry

In reply to Post #15
My expert has done 149k. Not had one single problem with it in all that time.

I change the oil, filter and fuel filter every 6k.

Look after a motor and it will look after you.

In reply to Post #14
Yes, but on the diagonal. I've always had Caddys. Been perfectly reliable for me and doesn't feel like you are driving a bag of spanners. The new shape looks to have a bigger load space but I've never had a problem fitting everything in.

In reply to Post #14
Get a maxi (lwb)
A van that takes rods diagonally might as well be a car

In reply to Post #1
We run alsorts of vans and have done for 30 years, Electrical contractors.
Caddy max is probably the best but v expensive up front
But the best for value, kit, running costs, would be the berlingos, never thougjt I'd say that but that's the scores on the doors.
Our last one brand new was £13k, now got 150k miles on and never misses a beat don't rule them out as for 10k you would get something very new.

In reply to Post #19
my mate/ex supervisor retired to mid France and bought a new Berlingo years ago

and prior to the Covid restrictions was coming back home regularly to visit his family the last time I spoke to him he had over 45100km that I think is getting near 300,000 miles and no problems other than normal wear things he has probably upgraded by now I sent an email to ask

one thing that shocked me the main dealer servicing here is much cheaper than in France so all the servicing is done on his visit`s here

In reply to Post #16
If you say so.....

In reply to Post #21
I bought my first FRENCH Peugeot 405 estate years ago as thousands of minicab drivers cant be wrong lol

it was so good when it got to 190 thousand trouble free miles I got rid and upgraded to a 2003 Peugeot 406 rapier 110 HDI estate thats still in use

and got no plans in changing it my fox barrow when level wheels straight in the back too plenty of room for rods etc love it
only expensive thing was recently had to have new AC pump and re-gas to bring it back to ice cool

In reply to Post #19
Absolutely love my ⁴berlingo van, does over 60mpg, fully loaded with gadgets, I sleep roughly 10 nights a year in it whilst walking/climbing as use it instead of a tent. Can't fault it, and put 75k on it in 7yrs so far with no problems at all.

In reply to Post #22
Good for you Gerry. I'm very pleased for you that you've been one of the lucky ones. For every one of you there half a dozen that aren't though. Speaking from my EXPERIENCE In commercial vehicle industry. Just imagine if a mechanic started saying he knew more than you about aircraft refuelling eh?

"modern Peugeots must be good because i had one 18 years ago and it was ok"

Ask any single person who works in the industry, avoid anything PSA.

In reply to Post #24
I've had 3 x Peugeot Partners through work (leased through Northgate/Enterprise ). 1k a week motorway miles over three years. Didn't skip a beat. In the process of buying one for myself. Apparently the second hand price has gone up due to supply/demand as every man and his dog now delivers for Amazon.

10k should get you an 17/18 plate with around 50k on the clock.

In reply to Post #26
Yet my old work had brand new partners the new shape ones and some of them broke massively in the first couple of months! Partners are crap to drive too.
I have a transit connect and it's miles nicer than a partner to drive... Just slower. Much slower.

In reply to Post #26
Yes motorway miliage is very easy on vehicles. If you look at more all round usage you will find far more breaking down. The French make very nice cheese , they should stick to that, as their vehicles are crap. You will never convince me otherwise . I've seen way way too many french money pit motors .

In reply to Post #28
Ian I am not saying French cars are not ALL good of course not ?

but what I am saying is for you to say ALL FRENCH VEHICLES ARE CRAP is a pathetic generalisation based on your experience or not
FFS there is not a COUNTY in the world that doesn't produce good and bad cars ? get a grip mate ? ok so your a french car hater and wouldt buy one I get that but give over with condemning an entire Country that does produce some very good reliable cars as well as bad ones

out of interest the Peugeot 308 SW (2008-2013) is the best budget buy in the Which mag tests

In reply to Post #29
I've had loads of French cars including 5 RenaultSports. Only bad one I ever had was a 1997 406 Coupe (bought it when it was 4 years old), which I think had probably been in a river at some point as EVERYTHING electrical went wrong randomly. I know people will say that's typical of French cars, well every other one I've had (at least 10] has been great.

Currently got a Megane 300 Trophy but it's not great for fishing, I highly recommended it if your Mrs has a Qashqai though cos you get to enjoy a great car day to day and nick the Qashqai to go fishing, which is a mega fishing vehicle.

In reply to Post #26
I had a peugot expert as as a hire van last week after my vivaro broke down.

Picked the van up on 800 miles, it had to get towed away at 1500 miles

In reply to Post #23
Same here. Love my Partner Escapade, but it's now coming up for 18 years old and is probably considered to be a dirty diesel. Won't change it until forced to, and will probably buy a Dacia when the Pug breathes its last. After all, Dacias are no more than old-fashioned Renaults and I have had so many of those it will be like welcoming home an old friend!

In reply to Post #32
My Y reg Escort white Van from 2001 I bought for £500 5 years ago and is peanuts to run.

Cheap insurance, and the mechanics all say, with being so basic there isnt that many things that can go wrong.

In reply to Post #14
Caddy Maxi is the one, big enough everything you will have to take.

I take a 8ft rigid boat in mine plus tackle etc.

In reply to Post #29
You saying anything anyone says is pathetic is comical Gerry.

In reply to Post #34
i have at moment a caddy life maxi wav ,its the 2nd ive had .i loved it but breaking down 3 times on motorway in 2 months due to injector faults has cost £800+ plus to fix ,it goes next week . Apparently its a fault on the 1.6 L .The injectors are hard to get was with the garage 2 weeks last time . Im joining the berlingo wav club .

I have a 2019 connect LWB it's the perfect size for me I just wheel my power Porter straight in, it's very comfortable with heated seats air conditioning and cruise control, it's supposed to be 120bhp but it seems to go like it's only 80 that's it's only fault I'd definitely have another

i've put these pics on before and expect I'll put em on again......
My Renault Kangoo bought it in 2003, fantastic vehicle used for work everyday, at least two trips a week fishing, one or two trips to France per year. The only major job I had to have done was when the turbo went, it never really felt the same after that but had it for for about 11 - 12 years.

In reply to Post #38
Andy ,dont suppose you still havethe internal roof bars ?

I hope people are aware that comparing Vans from 2003 to Vans from 2018/19 is apples and oranges? Your experiences will bare no resembelance at all.

In reply to Post #37
You want to try having the 75hp engine 🙄😂

In reply to Post #41

I'm not sure why people bother. You might as well have a blacked out sharan, touran or galaxy for the extra power and comfort.
Vans should be transit size and up. Anything else is a rickety car with no seats. Also 130bhp and up

In reply to Post #42
If it was just for fishing yes but there's many reasons a family car isn't the same or as good as a van... Plus if you're taking seats out then that gets into the realm of modifications etc. I'd love to be able to have an audi s4 avant if it was solely for fishing 😁

In reply to Post #43
I'm literally none the wiser 😭😭 but thanks for all the input. A vw caddy maxi is looking top of the list at the moment

In reply to Post #44
Just don't get a 1.6 and you'll be fine

In reply to Post #45
What should I be looking at bud?

In reply to Post #46
1.9 or 2.0l...the 1.6 as Someone else also mentioned below, the injectors fail on a high percentage of them for whatever reason. Can be costly.

In reply to Post #44
Borrow/hire one for a weekend first.
I found the caddy really uncomfortable, didn't like the blind spots created by the corner post/mirrors and a cassette player wouldn't look out of place in the interior...

In reply to Post #39
Darryl the bars you see inside are storm poles, covered in pipewrap. My Kangoo was a combi, 5 seats and the rear seats laid down flush, two rear side sliding doors and the lift up back door, excellent for 5 people and some stuff or two people and all the stuff

In reply to Post #40
Why's that, the newer ones still use the 1.5 dci engine, have 5 gears, 5 doors, seats inside, glass windows and rubber tyres, along with AC and some buttons on the dashboard.

They aint that much different!

In reply to Post #30
There you go another rs fan on here.
As you had every rs you can up until I trashed the 250 megane on a roundabout, gutted what a car that was
Not a single bit of myther with any of them since my 5 turbo in 1990 ish
Had loads of German stuff now on an m2c

The French stuff has its place, its not expensive up front and very popular with my lads who are all over the shop

A bit of garlic power nowt wrong with it.

In reply to Post #50
The bare engine might be the same, but the crap bolted to it wont be. Its comparing euro 3 or 4 to euro 6. Its not the same.

In reply to Post #52
The bare engine might be the same, but the crap bolted to it wont be. Its comparing euro 3 or 4 to euro 6. Its not the same.

and this only applies to French vehicles?

No of course not, all new vehicles have the the crap bolted to it and that crap is required by law!

In reply to Post #53
Huh?

You said that the vans from 2003 were exactly the same with the same engine. They aren't.

Yes all manufaturers have to meet the same standards, and tge french do it unreliability.

Someone who worked in the industry related to this has literally told you they are the least reliable. I work in the automotive industry, i work with an awful lot of van mechanics, they dont recomend newer french vehicles.

But everyone thinks they know better because they owned something in 2003

I'm going for a Galaxy as a compromise. Roof bars and tow bar for a box at the back will help for the French trips

In reply to Post #55
Not good at all for those French trips mate.....


















It'd melt.

In reply to Post #55
Good luck with that. Got one now. Pile of *****

In reply to Post #36
You need to get the AA parts garage cover. That way the dreaded injector issue and other parts on the 1.6 is - are covered. You pay the £30 excess and then its all done. 5 claims a yr. Pays for itself in the long run😉

In reply to Post #54
Where did I say they were exactly the same?

I actually said


Why's that, the newer ones still use the 1.5 dci engine, have 5 gears, 5 doors, seats inside, glass windows and rubber tyres, along with AC and some buttons on the dashboard.

They aint that much different!

But never mind, you must know I've never worked as a mechanic, or receptionist in a major car dealership service Dept.

In reply to Post #59
they're incredibly different.

In reply to Post #57
What don't you like about the Galaxy?

In reply to Post #60
How are they incredibly different,surely they still have all the things Andy mentioned

In reply to Post #61
It's gone massively downhill since the empire took over...

In reply to Post #61
My wife had a galaxy and liked it,she has a Toyota Verso now and likes this even more.The worst she has had is a Vauxhall Zafira now that was utter junk

In reply to Post #61
Good motor usually the galaxy. I drove one for a bit, loads of room.
Fords do tend to be all or nothing with no in between. The electrics are pants though

In reply to Post #10
Yep, anything coming from a French manufacturer will be a heap of crap.

In reply to Post #66
I will take a crap Bugatti any day of the week,still manufactured in France

In reply to Post #67
****ers car. I'd rather have a Datsun and the difference in cash

In reply to Post #68
A Datsun my dad had a bright yellow one when I was growing up.It was a bloody horrible thing

In reply to Post #68
The last Datsun fell into a pile of rust in the early 90's

In reply to Post #70
And then some wide boy sold it to noj as a fixer upper...

In reply to Post #71
There was no such thing as a Datsun Fixer Upper

In reply to Post #72
They all were. Straight off the production line.

The 240z fixer upper sport. The Sunny fixer upper ghia....

In reply to Post #73
My first car a Datsun Cherry F11 100A certainly wasn't

In reply to Post #73
Thats what my dad had the sunny,it was hilarious.Imagine a 6ft,18stone debt collector getting out of that,its was not just any yellow it was almost fluoro

In reply to Post #75


I had a red one for a while.

Traded it in against a 205gti which was like chalk and cheese...

In reply to Post #76
Great motors. Any problems clearly user error

In reply to Post #70
OMG ! you just jogged a memory

I had a 1949 mk 5 Jag used to be called the SS but they changed it because of the war
anyway driving down a bypass saw traffic stopping so braked got to about 30 mph from the 70 odd I had been doing when a bang and my brake pedal just fell on the floor frantically grabbing the handbrake I crashed into the back of the stationary Renault Dauphine that in turn was shoved into an Austin Cambridge
when I got out the Renault Dauphines front axle and wheels were off the ground and so was the rear axle and wheels !!! it was like a rocking horse lol
it was like a bent banana and the smell of the petrol pouring out I was scared it was all going to catch light took a few of us to get the driver out and he was ok apart from a small cut my car was fine it had a double front bumper straight into the solid chassis and the 2 front bumper over riders were flat that was about it lol but the Austin Cambridge had been pushed into a morris minor so a few cars were badly damaged
LIKE THIS ONE

In reply to Post #78
Now that's a thing of beauty