mr henderson
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| posted on 2/7/08 at 05:44 PM |
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Thinking of getting a van
As some of you already know, I've started a kit car workshop and I find myself needing some suitable transport.
I'm thinking of gettting a minbus rather than a van, they seem to have been looked after better, and they look smarter anyway. Naturally I will
take most of the seats out so I can get the interesting stuff likes chassis and engines and other bits in.
I'm familiar with Transits and LDV's (which I understand use Transit engines etc) but obviously there are other makes of which I know
little.
I'm not looking to spend very much at this stage, but I don't care about how old it is (as long as it doesn't look too rough) or its
fuel consumption as I can walk to work and will only drive it when I really need to
Any thoughts would be appreciated
John
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theconrodkid
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| posted on 2/7/08 at 05:48 PM |
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TRANSIT! best van ever made.end of story
who cares who wins
pass the pork pies
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donut
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| posted on 2/7/08 at 05:54 PM |
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^^^What he said!^^^
Andy
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andywest1/
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Volvorsport
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| posted on 2/7/08 at 06:29 PM |
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sprinter .
or a transit .
www.dbsmotorsport.co.uk
getting dirty under a bus
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Myke 2463
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| posted on 2/7/08 at 06:48 PM |
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Hi John, Transit. LWB Hightop cant be beaten, very hard to kill, Good luck with the business, Mike.
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Danozeman
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| posted on 2/7/08 at 06:56 PM |
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If you dont want to spend alot i would look at ldv convoys. Good vans really and transit engines. I work on them all day and they stand up to
postman abuse so cant be that bad. Cheap parts too.
Transits if youv got a bit more money.
Then lots more merc sprinter or VW.
Dan
Built the purple peril!! Let the modifications begin!!
http://www.eastangliankitcars.co.uk
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mcerd1
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| posted on 2/7/08 at 07:11 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Danozeman
If you dont want to spend alot i would look at ldv convoys. Good vans really and transit engines. I work on them all day and they stand up to
postman abuse so cant be that bad. Cheap parts too.
Transits if youv got a bit more money.
LDVs' are definatly the value choice 
but I'd rather have a Transit
just don't get too old an LDV, the older ones (mid 90's) have really bad Pug engines instead of transit ones
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PAUL FISHER
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| posted on 2/7/08 at 07:41 PM |
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Renault master,great for fuel economy,Ive ran ldv's and transits,and now renault master,cheaper to buy new than the transit,I get a average of
35mpg out of my 120dci minibus,I got 26mpg out of a 90bhp transit minibus,100% reliable,costs no more to maintain,140,000 miles in the last 3
years,and thats a lot of money saved in fuel alone,for this reason I would not be able to afford to run a transit anymore,I will be buying another one
next time 
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Triton
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| posted on 2/7/08 at 07:57 PM |
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T4 veedub but you will pay more for it than most others but then again they hold their value so swings n round things
Mark
My Daughter has taken over production of the damn fine Triton race seats and her contact email is emmatrs@live.co.uk.
www.tritonraceseats.com
www.hairyhedgehog.com
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darrens
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| posted on 2/7/08 at 10:05 PM |
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transit "WORST VAN EVER MADE", it has a ford diesel in it for christs sake. And if your going old enough to get one with a pinto in it,
way under powered due to weight.
VW make good ens, don't look as pretty as some on the road, but good vans
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eccsmk
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| posted on 2/7/08 at 10:09 PM |
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im keeping an eye on this thread as im after a new van
ive been warned away from vivaro's and even the older transits (2003) shape as a friend of mine runs a fleet ie 50 or more and almost all of the
with the 2.2 diesel engined ones have had gearbox (inc drive shafts) or engine trouble
saying that he knows only too well that they get abused really badly
hop your search goes well
[Edited on 2/7/08 by eccsmk]
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hillbillyracer
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| posted on 2/7/08 at 10:32 PM |
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If you know your LDVs & can put up with it being a bit stoneage then I dont think they can be beaten for value. Rust isnt too bad, we have an M
reg at work & although tatty it's got no structural rot, never needed welding for the MOT. It's got a non-turbo Peugeot engine though,
not fast!
Has nobody realised the rot problem Transits have? To be fair if you get a sound one & dont mind it being a bit crude they are a tough old thing
& cheap to keep on the road but the rust is a real killer on them.
The newer ones from W reg on drive much better but as said there's been some engine bother on them & the rust isnt beaten on them yet
either.
The Renult Master is better in many respects, drives much better & less prone to rot but if you're looking at an older van the double
wishbone front suspension with inboard springs can be a bugger to work on. Seized bolts & captive nuts that break off inside the chassis legs, top
fun!
If you're looking at something a bit smaller the VW T4 transporter is a great van but mabye not worth the price premium the have due to the VW
scene.
I've got a Fiat Scudo (same as a Citroen Dispatch & Peugeot Expert) & it's been fine apart from the synchros going in the box,
does 35+mpg, no rot at R reg, carries 800kg & tows 1300.
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mcerd1
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| posted on 3/7/08 at 07:43 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by hillbillyracer
If you know your LDVs & can put up with it being a bit stoneage then I dont think they can be beaten for value. Rust isnt too bad, we have an M
reg at work & although tatty it's got no structural rot, never needed welding for the MOT. It's got a non-turbo Peugeot engine though,
not fast!
I used to drive one of these now and then (same age, same engine) and that sounds about right
but when the engine died they got a transit instead
(don't these pug 2.1 or 2.3 engines have a major issue with overheating, followed by softening of the block or something  )
transit engined LDV's are much better, the turbo ones are quite quick
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