Is buying commercial up in Northern Ireland worth it?

emeraldgreen

Hi all,

Wondering if anyone can offer me advise. Looking to buy an Opel VIvaro Van LWB.
I would have imagined it was cheaper up in Northern Ireland, but it doesn’t seem to be that much cheaper.
Perhaps I am looking in the wrong places, ive just heard so many stories about people getting such great bargains up there that seems when I actually go to purchase, and then register it down here etc its not as much of a saving as I would have thought.

Any advice is much appreciated.

colm_mcm

Erm... the Vivaro wouldn't be the most robust of vans mechanically.

EPM

Aren't Vivaro's the ones that eat gearboxes?

colm_mcm

They certainly have an appetite for munching gearboxes alright, as well as a good few other issues like fuel pumps, power steering, and elecrical maladies

Just get a Transit.

emeraldgreen

well had one before and i do like them, its like any car/van, you can hear loads of stories but whatever your preference, and ive never had any problems with them, so until i do.....

anyway anyone any advice about buying up north?

colm_mcm

the gearbox is a known issue on them, and I don't mean known to mechaics. It's like word association. You say Vivaro - someone says gearbox. A bit like Octavia - boot.

R.O.R

EPM wrote: »

Aren't Vivaro's the ones that eat gearboxes?

Nah, that's only Vauxhall Vivaro's (and Renault Trafics). Opels are bulletproof.

Someone heard there are great bargains to be had up north, so like a sheep I'll check there first.

Commercial vehicles are cheaper to buy ROI than the UK because of the €50 VRT - that's unless you get a substantial discount from the Manufacturer in the UK for bulk purchases.

OP - check the Renault Trafic. Same van as the Vivaro, available with extended warranty for peace of mind, and if the adverts I've seen in the bottom corner of this website are to be believed - they are giving them away at the moment.

colm_mcm

R.O.R wrote: »

Nah, that's only Vauxhall Vivaro's (and Renault Trafics). Opels are bulletproof.

you being funny?

R.O.R

colm_mcm wrote: »

you being funny?

Trying to be - I just having a really bad day.

emeraldgreen

thanks for the tip on the renault, i will give them a call to see what their prices are like as i cant find the ad you were talking about

ednwireland

know someone who bought a transit last year was trying to do a deal with a garage in derry and wentto letterkenny and got a much better offer, it seems there isnt much difference in commercials, no vrt i guess

R.O.R

emeraldgreen wrote: »

thanks for the tip on the renault, i will give them a call to see what their prices are like as i cant find the ad you were talking about

The ad was up at the start of February - I'd say they are still doing it.

colm mcm took a screen shot because of a mistake on the ad.

Erren Music

I was having a look at this one, is the vrt only 50 quid, whats the road tax based on.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2007-Ford-T280-High-Roof-6-Seater-Factory-Crew-Cab-van_W0QQitemZ200440852240QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Commercial_Trucks?hash=item2eab34af10

R.O.R

Erren Music wrote: »

I was having a look at this one, is the vrt only 50 quid, whats the road tax based on.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2007-Ford-T280-High-Roof-6-Seater-Factory-Crew-Cab-van_W0QQitemZ200440852240QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Commercial_Trucks?hash=item2eab34af10

Nope - that's a passenger vehicle so VRT is based on emissions. I'd guess it's probably 36% of the OMSP.

Can probably be taxed as a commercial if declared as such.

Guy:Incognito

colm_mcm wrote: »

the gearbox is a known issue on them, and I don't mean known to mechaics. It's like word association. You say Vivaro - someone says gearbox. A bit like Octavia - boot.

Seems to be issues with ones that are used to carry a fair bit of weight. AFAIK it's the gearbox from the Laguna and just isnt equiped to deal with the weight of a fully loaded van. I'd say that and the fact that a lot of van drivers seem to have a very bd record of looking after thei rvans (the way they treat the van when driving etc ).

OT but could never understand the absolute rag order most work vans I come accross are in. Why do people notlook after them the way they do with a car?

R.O.R wrote: »

Nope - that's a passenger vehicle so VRT is based on emissions. I'd guess it's probably 36% of the OMSP.

Can probably be taxed as a commercial if declared as such.

That one will depend on a few things, could be in about 3 different VRT classes depending on the percentage of wheelbase that is load area. If it's big enough it could be €50. Most likely wont though. I'm guessing 13.5%

R.O.R

Stekelly wrote: »

That one will depend on a few things, could be in about 3 different VRT classes depending on the percentage of wheelbase that is load area. If it's big enough it could be €50. Most likely wont though. I'm guessing 13.5%

Ste - that's a Transit T280 so 2.8Ton. To qaulify as a commercial vehicle (with €50 VRT) with more than 3 seats it has to have a GVW of 3,450kg or more.

It could fall under the Crew Cab regs I suppose, if it meets the load area to passenger ratio - which I think is 45%.