Small van recommendations?

hi, im looking for recommendations on a small car/van.

i have a small car now, having realised over the years that i am a crap car owner!

i have had good cars, bmw, audi, but i treated them like sh1t and wasted loads of money on these cars.

im looking for something small, car size really, dont know much about vans, i know the size of a citreon berlingo so that kind of size. i dont do huge milage so dont think paying extra for diesel would be worth it,but dont know if thats the same with vans as cars?
i have a dog which has my car in bits! putting him in the back of a van would be soo much better. dont need back seats, can count the amount of times i have had back seat passengers on my fingers ( and maybe toes!)

so, cheap to run, cheap tax? and cheap to buy

George Dalton

What is your budget?

corkgsxr

Dont get a berlingo there a heap

Beer Assistant

Have a '01 Berlingo 3yrs now paid €600 for it,

for that exact purpose carrying the dog in the back,

182,000 miles on it and going like a dream passed DOE everytime

tinofapples

I'm in the very same boat at the moment having sold my Pajero Sport. Ideally I'd like something nice, comfortable, reliable and cheap to run and maintain. My budget is 3-3.5k, so far I have shortlisted the following:

Dispatch/Expert/Scudo (New shape preferably)
Berlingo/Partner
Fiat Sedici (Benefit of 4wd)
Ford Focus post 2005 (Hard find 1.8tdci in my budget, concerned about 1.6's)
Ford Transit Connect
Landrover Freelander (Reliabilty might rule this out)
Opel Astravan (1.7cdti not huge number in my budget)
VW Caddy (Have to be the tdi)

That's my list so far, maybe that might be of assistance to you or someone can make some alternative suggestions ???

L-M

Considering you're list don't bother your arse with the Freelander unless you need the 4wd to tow.

tinofapples

Limerick man wrote: »

Considering you're list don't bother your arse with the Freelander unless you need the 4wd to tow.

Will probably ignore the Freelander myself, very occasional use of a trailer. Anyone anything to add to the list or any experience with the list above either positive or negative would help me and the OP ? Anyone run a Sedici ?

Bpmull

I've had a 1.3cdti astra van. I now have a 1.6tdci focus. The astra was hands down more reliable. In fact the focus is the most unreliable car we've had between myself (I've only had 2 car im only 19) but also my parents who have had 40 plus cars vans jeeps. But the 1.7cdti astra would be better again. The main issue is your budget is a bit tight to be trying to buying an astra h. We've had 1.9 berlingo partners in the past with little trouble. We also had a 2.0hdi new shape scudo which was a lovely van again fairly reliable nothing major went wrong with it.

JohnBoy26

get the caddy. It's the best and most reliable van on your list, especially in 1.9tdi form.

tinofapples

Bpmull wrote: »

I've had a 1.3cdti astra van. I now have a 1.6tdci focus. The astra was hands down more reliable. In fact the focus is the most unreliable car we've had between myself (I've only had 2 car im only 19) but also my parents who have had 40 plus cars vans jeeps. But the 1.7cdti astra would be better again. The main issue is your budget is a bit tight to be trying to buying an astra h. We've had 1.9 berlingo partners in the past with little trouble. We also had a 2.0hdi new shape scudo which was a lovely van again fairly reliable nothing major went wrong with it.

I'd buy the Astra if I could get the 1.7, I missed one that went up on donedeal yesterday and seemingly sold in a matter of hours. Would like at least an 07. I like the Focus but as stated very weary of the 1.6 which is by far the most common in vans. I've only recently bought a 09 estate 1.8tdci for my wife. The new Scudo's are nice too and 3 seats but hard find within budget.

tinofapples

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

get the caddy. It's the best and most reliable van on your list, especially in 1.9tdi form.

The sensible voice in my head keeps shouting those very words

Medic475

Lads I'm on the look out for a van myself but what's the craic now with the tax? I remember a while ago something came in about the commercia/private tax on vans. If you own a van you have to have a business or something and that you cannot tax it as a private vehicle anymore. This make sense?

tinofapples

By the way ....... what's the 1.6 diesel like in the 07 Expert/Scudo/Dispatch ?

Bpmull

tinofapples wrote: »

By the way ....... what's the 1.6 diesel like in the 07 Expert/Scudo/Dispatch ?

its the same engine thats in the focus there all 1.6 hdi peugeot engines just with different names ie ford call them 1.6tdci.

tinofapples

Bpmull wrote: »

its the same engine thats in the focus there all 1.6 hdi peugeot engines just with different names ie ford call them 1.6tdci.

The PSA ?

Bpmull

tinofapples wrote: »

The PSA ?

yep thats thats the one. that 1.6 engine is in quite a lot of cars vans. Its a good engine if minded well. But cant handle abuse at all really thats why you can have hassle with them when buying second hand.

derry

Medic475 wrote: »

Lads I'm on the look out for a van myself but what's the craic now with the tax? I remember a while ago something came in about the commercia/private tax on vans. If you own a van you have to have a business or something and that you cannot tax it as a private vehicle anymore. This make sense?

Sorry I don't get your logic
As best as I know if you buy a commercial van and decided to use it for private road use you can tax it at the more higher costs as a private car . However if you bought a commercial van and chose to use it for private road use and taxed it at the far cheaper rates as a commercial van thats where the issues lie as far as I know. To be commercial all you have to be is a sole trader. They might have changed the rule but not that i heard of recently .But as they say they got to catch you first.

Derry

brian_gall85

I have had a 07 Fiesta van now for over 4 years and apart from having to replace some seals in the injectors (common fault on the 1.4 tdci engine) I haven't looked back.

Great little run around, enough room for your dog, car like to drive and I get 550 miles on a full tank of diesel. I have thought about changing it the past 2 years but it's so economical and darn right useful that I can't bring myself to change