Van Recommendations

[andy1814]

Hi All,
Contemplating getting a van for transporting the bikes around, for trackdays n stuff, and just wondered if anyone has any recommendations van wise? 10k budget'ish 
Guessing a reasonably modern van would be OK as day to day transport?
Cheers Lads.

[dusty350]

Hi
Why don't you get a towbar and a good bike trailer, and then go and buy more bikes !!
Can't help with van recommendations, but I was speaking to a Police Inspector at a Community meeting on Saturday, and he was saying about a tool that can be bought, perfectly legally, that enables you to easily get into a Ford Transit van 18 thefts from Transits in 6 weeks in his borough alone, so if you go Transit, get a good alarm system fitted.

Dusty

[andy1814]

Yeah Dusty tough choice between a van and box trailer really tho obviously a trailer would be way cheaper, like the idea of sticking bikes/caneo/puchbikes into a van and buggerring off somewhere nice. Spend a lot of time in the Lakes so a van makes sense in that regard.......choices eh!!!
Hey I'm trying to control my bike buying habbit by the way I guess like most on here?

[dusty350]

Hi,
mate of mine bought a new Transit Custom earlier in the year, with a crew cab on the back. I know it's not in your budget, but it's a lovely van, easily as comfortable as most cars nowadays ! I rented a Transit last year to pick up the Ducati, and it flew from London to Rugely - I was really impressed with the performance. I'm sure guys on here will talk with greater experience, but a decent Transit makes good sense - parts availability, dealer in most towns etc etc. Just make sure it's got an alarm !!

Dusty

[mark350lc]

I don't know how people manage without a van. I sold my car a while back because I prefer the van. I bought a Transit custom sport.

Prior to that i had a Vaxhall Vivaro. In terms of refinement and being car like to drive it's spot on and possibly even better than the transit and way better than the old transits.

[andy1814]

Transit looks nice but for the price maybe a VW Transporter would be a better bet? Never drove a T5 but they have a great rep but again not cheap, can you get two sportsbikes in the back of a SWB OK? Guessing all SWB are roughly the same size?
Cheers for the info lads.

[iwantalc]

my sons got a swb transit 07 plate £3500

[Yogi]

Vauxhall vivaro all day long,there fast enough,a good driver,pukka on diesel and don't sound and drive like tractors

[northernmonkey]

T5,can get 2 bikes and all the gear in for weekend racing,will hold its money better and won't drop to bits.

[marsbar350]

got a T5 myself
2 bikes in easily
had 3 in this year a rgv 250,ypvs an my LC that was a squeeze!
i love it and wouldnt have a car again

[pistanbroke]

I have 2 vans the now, both Nissan Primastars, one swb 100bhp, one lwb 115 bhp, the 115 has just hit 100k and only ever needed a new clutch, the 100bhp is 90k and has only ever needed the usual consumables, had a few in the past Transits (never again) no point in having a reliable motor if the thing rusts away in your drive before your eyes, Mercedes Vito ( sheee ite ) and a Citroen Relay ( did ok and cheap as chips) in short id go for the Primastar lwb 115 horse , drives like a car, plenty power, reasonable price etc or any of its variants Trafic Vivaro etc. I like the VW but could never afford one

[kostas]

We had two company vans to move people around, one 2.5 litre diesel Vivaro and one 2.0 litre Petrol Primastar.
Both looked the same, Primastar had a crapy problematic engine, Diesel Vivaro was and still is bulletproof.

Primastar was sold to get a 518 Merc.

[Yogi]

Nov 24, 2014 20:53:09 GMT 1 kostas said:

We had two company vans to move people around, one 2.5 litre diesel Vivaro and one 2.0 litre Petrol Primastar.
Both looked the same, Primastar had a crapy problematic engine, Diesel Vivaro was and still is bulletproof.

Primastar was sold to get a 518 Merc.

Well said Kostas,,I've had vivaros for ten years and the only problem I've had was a winey 6th gear at 120k miles,but was still wining the same when it was sold at 170k, As for Vitos they are Shi,ite. T5s are good and hold there money but there smaller and cost more,as long as its not a tranny tractor I'd be happy

[andy1814]

Thanks for advice again Lads, looks like Vivaro's leading the way, look OK too which is nice.

[pluto]

VW T5 - superb bit of kit, I have had mine for 5 years, use it everyday for work, its a 5 seat LWB kombi, it's is used everyday for school runs and then as a builders van, at weekends clean it up and use it to go camping in, every summer drive to southern Europe on holiday. Never let me down and being the 5 cylinder 130hp model goes as fast as you could ever need. I can take the seats out in 2 minutes and fit 2 bikes in the back. Another advantage of the van is on the motorway you are higher than everyone else so when sat in a busy fast lane you can see for miles ahead - makes it much safer. They are a bit costly but hold their value like nothing else.

[slsx5]

I have a 53 reg transit swb 2.0 tdci hi top I am 6ft I can just about stand up in it has a low floor so easy for loading bikes in and out also gets used for sea fishing trips I have owned it just over 2 years now it has had a starter motor, rear brake shoes, and x2 front tyres in that time I have owned it it has just turned 200k I would trust it to go anywhere averages 35mpg 41mpg on a run down side it is getting a bit crusty around the sill's and arch's now but would buy another transit for sure.

[hardhatharry]

T5's are just as unreliable as Vivaros and Transits, I know 4 people that have and had they say they are bulletproof but "forget" when they go wrong.

Electrics and alternators seem particularly problematic on T5s

I went from a car to a van and never going back to a car if I can help it.

Got a 56 plate vivaro Sportive that had a couple of problems recently and looking to change next year been lusting after the Transit Custom but already hearing some "issues" and they are still using the 2.2l transit engine that sounds like a tractor

Probably new Vivaro must get a test drive booked soon

[stusco]

I'm getting a new Renault traffic next week it's away getting racked out at the moment not seen it yet but supposed to have all the bells and whistles

[pistanbroke]

Nov 24, 2014 21:50:21 GMT 1 andy1814 said:

Thanks for advice again Lads, looks like Vivaro's leading the way, look OK too which is nice.

Vivaro and Primastar and Trafic are all exactly the same, made in same factory etc etc I buy Renault parts for my Nissan as they are cheaper for some reason lol

[hardhatharry]

Vivaros are made in Luton

[Yogi]

Nov 25, 2014 22:50:23 GMT 1 hardhatharry said:

Vivaros are made in Luton

Went past the factory a couple of weeks ago

[hardhatharry]

Did you see them ragging Vivaros round the car park

[4l04ever]

The older shape Peugeot Expert can just about fit two bikes in the back if you remove the bulkhead. I have a 2.0 HDI one and have had two bikes in the back and towed my caravan behind. I did have it remapped to 140bhp to help :-) I needed the smallest van to fit two bikes as my drive is not that long.

Whatever van you get, look at getting it remapped to help performance and economy. My van will do 43mpg cruising on the motorway at 70mph.

[reggieperrin]

Not seen it mentioned yet but I have a Mercedes Vito Dualiner Sport.
Goes as quick as you could ever need, has all the electric toys plus it's also fully soundproofed and fitted out in the rear just like a car.
extra row of seats that can be folded up or removed when necessary.
Slightly less cool than a T5 but longer and more spacious inside.
I get 40mpg and 600 miles to a tank.
Easily takes 2 bikes..

[marsbar350]

Nov 25, 2014 18:20:13 GMT 1 hardhatharry said:

T5's are just as unreliable as Vivaros and Transits, I know 4 people that have and had they say they are bulletproof but "forget" when they go wrong.

Electrics and alternators seem particularly problematic on T5s

I went from a car to a van and never going back to a car if I can help it.

Got a 56 plate vivaro Sportive that had a couple of problems recently and looking to change next year been lusting after the Transit Custom but already hearing some "issues" and they are still using the 2.2l transit engine that sounds like a tractor

Probably new Vivaro must get a test drive booked soon

maybe they are not as reliable as people say
one thing is they dont turn into a "flintstone" van after 7 years

[hardhatharry]

I looked at Vito's when I bought my Vivaro but after four or five years Vito's are always rusty, I thought they had fixed this in 2006 when they changed their paint supplier but I have seen rusty ones much younger than that.

Nov 26, 2014 23:45:04 GMT 1 reggieperrin said:

Not seen it mentioned yet but I have a Mercedes Vito Dualiner Sport.
Goes as quick as you could ever need, has all the electric toys plus it's also fully soundproofed and fitted out in the rear just like a car.
extra row of seats that can be folded up or removed when necessary.
Slightly less cool than a T5 but longer and more spacious inside.
I get 40mpg and 600 miles to a tank.
Easily takes 2 bikes..

[honeymonster]

I use a vito duelliner swallows two bikes two sets of wets plus kit bags tools paddock stands ect no problem, put the seats in and it is as practical and as easy to drive as a car, only reason I will be changing it is to get a vw t5 4motion

[botty]

How much will you be selling your Vito for then?

Could be interested

Year , mileage etc.

[stusco]

My brand new Renault traffic broke down after one week ,no brakes or powersteering ,the seat belts are too short you can't reach your sat nav with it on and the gear stick hurts your knee. Also the other three vans we got yhe door handles came off hasn't happened to me yet mind you I haven't got it back yet not a good advert for Renault

[crm]

Nov 25, 2014 18:20:13 GMT 1 hardhatharry said:

been lusting after the Transit Custom but already hearing some "issues" and they are still using the 2.2l transit engine that sounds like a tractor

n

I actually have a transit custom sport in black (the 155PS one) and it does use the same 2.2 from the older gen transit - well most of it anyway.
the injection system and other bits are redesigned thank god.
as for tractor sound, when cold it does have that familiar transit sound, but once warm its silent inside the cab and a whole world away from the older transits. Being the sport too is fully loaded and i use mine for commuting and general driving around. Its so good that since i have had it, my Mk5 Golf R32 doesn't get much of a lookin.

Back to the OP and vans, there are good and bad of every make and model and everyone will have a story good or bad of each brand.
I have owned most over the years and certainly driven them all.

With a 10k budget, if you want new, and looks and nice to drive, then a galactic miles T5 is what you need, or possibly a vivaro / traffic - or other clone.
My own money would be buying a £6 - £7k transit Mk7 with say sub 80k or over 120k on the clocks (let someone else replace the clutch and flywheel and fuel pump) and around a 08 09 plate, i would even swing you towards the basic 85PS van as often they are far more reliable than the higher PS ones or failing that at least the trent model or even a limited if you can find one.

with every van - oil changes are essential. 10k changes or every year is about right. dealer serviced at this age is irrelevant try and buy private with no VAT - possibly from a biker who understands something about mechanical sympathy and oil changes.