Help me choose a cheap car van!!

youtube!

Ok folks here goes,dont laugh but I only have 2500-3000 grand to spend,though quite happy to spend even less if the right yoke turns up.

What I want is like a Focus/Almera/Corolla/ 307/ Megavan etc. Not interested in berlingo or kangoo or caddy ,just dont like em.

I dont do a massive amount of mileage, maybe 15-20000 a yr,but I do like the feeling of power from a turbo diesel, in saying that I have noticed a few 1.5 almeras in petrol and they might suit also.

I also dont want to buy a yoke and find I have to put a lot of time and more importantly money into it a few weeks down the road.

I know I will have to get a high mileage van,but thats ok for a diesel right?

I know a little about what to look out for, (smoky exhaust,noisy tappets,etc) but I will get a mechinic to check it out anyway.

I guess what I am really asking is am I expecting too much to be able to get a reliable yoke that wont cost me an arm and a leg to maintain, I am due to look at a ford focus tomorrow and altough it looks good and the ownder says he always serviced it,there are 165000 miles on it, am I onto a dead loss?

L-M

if you're based around Limerick a friend of mine has a nice 03 Xsara van for sale, timing belt etc. etc. done and a new Doe.

Think he's looking for around 2k.

Has a set of alloys and a Citreon Vtr? Kit on it.

Pottler

youtube! wrote: »

Ok folks here goes,dont laugh but I only have 2500-3000 grand to spend,though quite happy to spend even less if the right yoke turns up.

What I want is like a Focus/Almera/Corolla/ 307/ Megavan etc. Not interested in berlingo or kangoo or caddy ,just dont like em.

I dont do a massive amount of mileage, maybe 15-20000 a yr,but I do like the feeling of power from a turbo diesel, in saying that I have noticed a few 1.5 almeras in petrol and they might suit also.

I also dont want to buy a yoke and find I have to put a lot of time and more importantly money into it a few weeks down the road.

I know I will have to get a high mileage van,but thats ok for a diesel right?

I know a little about what to look out for, (smoky exhaust,noisy tappets,etc) but I will get a mechinic to check it out anyway.

I guess what I am really asking is am I expecting too much to be able to get a reliable yoke that wont cost me an arm and a leg to maintain, I am due to look at a ford focus tomorrow and altough it looks good and the ownder says he always serviced it,there are 165000 miles on it, am I onto a dead loss?

Forget it. You have 3k to spend. That is a lot when it comes to a car van. Nobodys laughing. Go for somthing with much, much lower mileage - that Focus has its work done and everything will be worn. Look for somthing with 70k on the clock and 3k should get you a very nice one. Don't throw your money away on somthing clapped out.:)

youtube!

Limerick man wrote: »

if you're based around Limerick a friend of mine has a nice 03 Xsara van for sale, timing belt etc. etc. done and a new Doe.

Think he's looking for around 2k.

Has a set of alloys and a Citreon Vtr? Kit on it.

hiya,

unfortunately i am based in meath, i like the sound of the xsara though,any idea of the colour?

windward

i agree with Pottler

Focus 1.8 would be my pref - i'd have questions about the 1.6
or
Corolla

there is some good deals out there with the budget you have

delly

Had a Xsara van back in 2000, and remember that I would have loved the higher bhp version, but it was not to be. It was a very comfy van though, and very well specced for the year.

L-M

youtube! wrote: »

hiya,

unfortunately i am based in meath, i like the sound of the xsara though,any idea of the colour?

Yeah it's silver. He's a mechanic, i used to work with him. Has it a few years. Would be as honest a car as be dammed.

Edit: Thinks there's only 80k on it, too.

Pdfile

Xzara would be my choice too OP, they look lovely, seem to be comfy enough and their popular even now so parts shouldn't be too bad come what may...


if not, go jap...

youtube!

Xsara van is sold, back to the drawing board. I must say I have been looking at every website there is for 2 weeks now and unless you want dealer scrap or risk high mileage anything decent that comes available gets snapped up, it's not as easy as it seems to get a yoke with a doe with less than around 100,000 miles in good nick with some kind of service history. Ah well I will keep looking.

youtube!

UPDATE!

Got myself a really nice Almera petrol van 2004, 2 owners not abused, with a full yr DOE ,only 71000 genuine mls, taxed till june end,new clutch just fitted also, really pleased! Drives beautifully!

INEEDANID

I bought A Renaut Kangoo 2005 105,000miles with private tax and DOE today for 1400. Good deal?

Its in good nick, 8 months doe, no tax but 4 new tyres and is clean.

Nissan doctor

No Astra van in your selection?:D

L-M

Nissan doctor wrote: »

No Astra van in your selection?:D

it's a pity they didn't have rear paneled off windows, would look much nicer.

COMPLETELY OT, but the nicest van i ever say was a Transport with tinted windows glued onto the side planels, made a nice job of it.

Nissan doctor

Limerick man wrote: »

it's a pity they didn't have rear paneled off windows, would look much nicer.

COMPLETELY OT, but the nicest van i ever say was a Transport with tinted windows glued onto the side planels, made a nice job of it.

And I actually prefer it because it has the smooth side panels:P

Pottler

INEEDANID wrote: »

I bought A Renaut Kangoo 2005 105,000miles with private tax and DOE today for 1400. Good deal?

Its in good nick, 8 months doe, no tax but 4 new tyres and is clean.

eeerrraaahhhaahheeerrr, mmm, weelllll, maybe.:D When was the belt changed last? Also, you are now not allowed drive on the motorway when it is windy:D More seriously, check the bottom pulley, crank pulley, and every other pulley remotely connected with the timing belt, near the timing belt or under the same bonnet as the timing belt. When all have checked out as having no play, wear, degradation or slop, change them all and put on a new belt. Belt breaks, Kangoo dies. Belt is like a sheep, it just wants to die. Personally I like Kangoos, I do, honestly, but their belts worry me..:)

George Dalton

No offence to the OP but I would rather my 03 Focus van (with 222k on it) than any sort of Almera van regardless of mileage. Mileage is only half the story, especially with a car based van where you don't know what kind of use it has had.

dgt

Car vans eh? There's only one I'd go for...

youtube! wrote: »

UPDATE!

Got myself a really nice Almera petrol van 2004, 2 owners not abused, with a full yr DOE ,only 71000 genuine mls, taxed till june end,new clutch just fitted also, really pleased! Drives beautifully!

Glad t see I'm not the only one with a petrol van! Well wear op and best of luck with it

youtube!

George Dalton wrote: »

No offence to the OP but I would rather my 03 Focus van (with 222k on it) than any sort of Almera van regardless of mileage. Mileage is only half the story, especially with a car based van where you don't know what kind of use it has had.

Well I was advised to stay well away from high mileage vans so I did, as for not knowing what kind of use it had I have a fair idea , it has a full history , was owned by a laundrette for the first 50 k and then a sparks , had full documentation , always serviced and the most recent one was a full service with the clutch changed also . I know the focus or golf vans drive a lot nicer but I guarantee they will cost more to maintain than a bullet proof jap car , that has to be a huge factor for me, no flywheel problems or anything associated with modern diesel engines , I like the sheer simplicity of the chain driven almera . Add to the mix that I only paid 2250 and I reckon I made the right desicion over a focus with 165000 miles ! I intend to keep this for aong time, and I need a yoke with a lot of life left and I got it ! Reliability and longevity over style performance and likely big service bills for me .

L-M

They're known to go through gearboxs. Well, AFAiK the bearings start to go and people don't act quick enough which leads to the boxes going, and it's also driven the price of sh ones up.

Might be worth looking into! Other than that they seem to be as reliable as be dammed

Nissan doctor

youtube! wrote: »

Well I was advised to stay well away from high mileage vans so I did, as for not knowing what kind of use it had I have a fair idea , it has a full history , was owned by a laundrette for the first 50 k and then a sparks , had full documentation , always serviced and the most recent one was a full service with the clutch changed also . I know the focus or golf vans drive a lot nicer but I guarantee they will cost more to maintain than a bullet proof jap car , that has to be a huge factor for me, no flywheel problems or anything associated with modern diesel engines , I like the sheer simplicity of the chain driven almera . Add to the mix that I only paid 2250 and I reckon I made the right desicion over a focus with 165000 miles ! I intend to keep this for aong time, and I need a yoke with a lot of life left and I got it ! Reliability and longevity over style performance and likely big service bills for me .

Its not a jap car, its a mixture of Nissan UK design and Nissan/Renault parts and the chain is their most troublesom component

IMO research is important, even if only spending small money.

dgt

Nissan doctor wrote: »

IMO research is important, even if only spending small money.

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail

youtube!

Nissan doctor wrote: »

youtube! wrote: »

Well I was advised to stay well away from high mileage vans so I did, as for not knowing what kind of use it had I have a fair idea , it has a full history , was owned by a laundrette for the first 50 k and then a sparks , had full documentation , always serviced and the most recent one was a full service with the clutch changed also . I know the focus or golf vans drive a lot nicer but I guarantee they will cost more to maintain than a bullet proof jap car , that has to be a huge factor for me, no flywheel problems or anything associated with modern diesel engines , I like the sheer simplicity of the chain driven almera . Add to the mix that I only paid 2250 and I reckon I made the right desicion over a focus with 165000 miles ! I intend to keep this for aong time, and I need a yoke with a lot of life left and I got it ! Reliability and longevity over style performance and likely big service bills for me .

Its not a jap car, its a mixture of Nissan UK design and Nissan/Renault parts and the chain is their most troublesom component

IMO research is important, even if only spending small money.

I am well aware of the French connection but it's still essentially a jap car. Look In the end I reckon I got as much car as possible for my "small money" what would you reccomend? Nissan are amongst the best cars out there in terms of reliability, every car has its issues but by and large the Nissan are bullet proof! I watched the for sale markets for 2 weeks and except for the xsara that limerick man reccomended which was unfortunately sold this was the only van that ticked all the right boxes. A focus van with all the same ticks would cost me 3500 minimum and still won't be as reliable !

Nissan doctor

youtube! wrote: »

I am well aware of the French connection but it's still essentially a jap car. Look In the end I reckon I got as much car as possible for my "small money" what would you reccomend? Nissan are amongst the best cars out there in terms of reliability, every car has its issues but by and large the Nissan are bullet proof! I watched the for sale markets for 2 weeks and except for the xsara that limerick man reccomended which was unfortunately sold this was the only van that ticked all the right boxes. A focus van with all the same ticks would cost me 3500 minimum and still won't be as reliable !

You bought a petrol one which should, at least be more trouble free then a diesel one.

I'm, clearly, very much a Nissan man. But an Almera wasn't even on my list when I needed a trouble free, economical van.

Best of luck with it all the same.