Switch to van?

Penn

I currently drive a 99 Corolla, but as I commute to work, I'm doing almost 500 miles a week. I was wondering if it would be worthwhile getting a small van, perhaps a Berlingo. I also own a 98 Polo which I can't get rid of and could use it as scrappage which a lot of dealers are doing now. Just a few questions:

Would my insurance be cheaper or more expensive? I've a full licence so thats not an issue

Do I have to get it NCT'd every year?

The tax would likely be greater, but would it be by much? I know it depends on the engine size really, but say for a 1.9 diesel

Cheers all

leeroybrown

Motor Tax on a small van would be €288 per annum. The van would require a DOE certificate every year in order to tax it. The insurance might have a small loading for the contents but if your current insurance is low it should be too.

Penn

leeroybrown wrote: »

Motor Tax on a small van would be €288 per annum. The van would require a DOE certificate every year in order to tax it. The insurance might have a small loading for the contents but if your current insurance is low it should be too.

Ah cheers, I figured the insurance would be a bit more for contents (even though the most expensive things that'll be in the back will probably be Zoo magazines and empty Lucozade bottles ) but the tax and stuff seems grand so overall it should be ok.

As for the mileage, (forgive me, I don't know a lot about engines) with the amount of miles I'm doing each week would a diesel really make that much difference in terms of how much fuel I go through and stuff. I know diesel is cheaper than petrol these days but even if they were the same price is the difference really that noticable?

cashmni1

The insurance can be bought for personal use also. In other words, you will be carrying nothing for work in the van. - Quinn Direct comercial have this option.
Be careful when buying the van. It might seem more frugal to purchase a van for the commute, but would you not be better off running your '99 corolla for the cummute and not spending any further money on a van?
I fell into this trap before. Now I own a car and a small van. The GF also has her car.

Penn

cashmni1 wrote: »

The insurance can be bought for personal use also. In other words, you will be carrying nothing for work in the van. - Quinn Direct comercial have this option.
Be careful when buying the van. It might seem more frugal to purchase a van for the commute, but would you not be better off running your '99 corolla for the cummute and not spending any further money on a van?
I fell into this trap before. Now I own a car and a small van. The GF also has her car.

Sorry, I didnt explain myself too well. I'd be using the Polo as scrappage to get money off the van, but I'd still be selling the Corolla. I have more chance of selling the Corolla myself than the Polo, as I've been trying to get rid of it for over a year now with no luck. With insurance and tax I wouldn't be able to keep a van and the Corolla

robtri

also you can park in loading bays for up to 30mins for free, handy for parking around town

Drummerboy08

Why dont you look at a carvan OP? all the benefits of a normal van, but it will be more comfortable to drive over longer distances.

Something like a Focus van, Kia Pro'Ceed etc.

Penn

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Why dont you look at a carvan OP? all the benefits of a normal van, but it will be more comfortable to drive over longer distances.

Something like a Focus van, Kia Pro'Ceed etc.

haha, I read that as caravan and thought you were taking the urine

Yeah a carvan would be great. Either or I suppose, budget allowing. Don't want to be spending too much money. I work in the construction industry and... well... y'know

Focus van would be great if I could get one and it was fairly cheap, good runner etc

Drummerboy08

What kind of budget have you got?

Penn

depends how much I get for the Polo and Corolla, but I'd be aiming around the 4-5 mark. Like I said, don't want to be spending too much money due to my job

bazz26

A few examples:

Citroen Xsara van:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1282477

Ford Focus van:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1323274

Fiat Stilo van:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1242618

Nissan Almera:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1351584
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1321979

Peugeot 306 van:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1344761

Opel Astravan:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1101796

L-M

What kinda of Corrolla have you? Why not take the back seats out of it and convert it into a commercial. One option.

I'd be going for the Focus van out of bazz26's choices.

Penn

its a 5 door saloon, so no converting. Its not necessarily the fact I need a van, its that for the amount of miles I do, a diesel would probably be best, and I could do with the extra space in the back.

Yeah, the Focus looks like a great job, going to give them a ring in a while and see about if they have any scrappage deals or anything. Cheers

snowman707

leeroybrown wrote: »

Motor Tax on a small van would be €288 per annum. The van would require a DOE certificate every year in order to tax it. The insurance might have a small loading for the contents but if your current insurance is low it should be too.

it is possible to get 2 years tax from the DOE test, no need to test the van every year. just watch your dates.

if you have a car policy Setanta Insurance will mirror your NCB off that policy no matter what company the car is with.

L-M

snowman707 wrote: »

it is possible to get 2 years tax from the DOE test, no need to test the van every year. just watch your dates.

if you have a car policy Setanta Insurance will mirror your NCB off that policy no matter what company the car is with.

Aye work it out so the tax runs out a a month before the d.o.e is due. Then tax it for the year. Nothing illegal about that:rolleyes::pac:

OldmanMondeo

snowman707 wrote: »

it is possible to get 2 years tax from the DOE test, no need to test the van every year. just watch your dates.

Until a guard askes you to produce your DOE cert. They do ask for these unlike the NCT....and the fine are bigger I beleive.

Penn

the Focus dealer wouldn't accept scrappage or trade-in, so its out of the question then. Pity.

Ah well, I'll just have to ring round and see what deals are going on around the place. Cheers all

pcardin

I have 97' Peugeot Partner 1.9D with 155k miles on the clock. I could probably swap to your Polo.

Penn

pcardin wrote: »

I have 97' Peugeot Partner 1.9D with 155k miles on the clock. I could probably swap to your Polo.

hehe, unless you're a very good mechanic I wouldn't inflict it on you. Theres something wrong with either the battery or alternator, but basically it doesn't always start, and even when it does, it dies about 5 minutes later. My uncles a mechanic and can't figure out whats wrong with it. I was taking the term "scrappage" very literal

Besides, I'm kinda looking for something younger, less miles etc, for resaleability (that might not be a real word). Cheers anyway

pcardin

Can I still take a look on your Polo?

snowman707

OldmanMondeo wrote: »

Until a guard askes you to produce your DOE cert. They do ask for these unlike the NCT....and the fine are bigger I beleive.

Have never been asked by a garda for a doe cert in over 20 years. Up until recently we had 3 commercials on the road, one look at the windscreen & waved on.
Mostly HGV's they stop, not bothered with the lighter stuff.

dutchcat

snowman707 wrote: »

Have never been asked by a garda for a doe cert in over 20 years. Up until recently we had 3 commercials on the road, one look at the windscreen & waved on.
Mostly HGV's they stop, not bothered with the lighter stuff.

until something happens............van towed away by gardai for inspection:eek: