nibnob21
Premium Member
Registered: 16th May 10
Location: South Derbyshire
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Situation:
Currently in the process of buying a house with a garage, so I'll be taking the MX5 off the road over winter to do some resto work.
Need a cheap runaround to replace it.
I have a huge dog so was originally planning on just getting a small hatchback and stripping the rear out, but then thought why not just get a little van?
Requirements:
Needs to be able to fit an airbed for two people in the back plus room for a large dog.
Budget of ~£1500.
Cheap to run.
Because of tax, no older than 2003.
So far I've only really considered either a Combo or an Astravan. Both seem fairly cheap to buy and generally have good reviews.
Any one got any experience or advice they'd like to chip in with?
Cheers 
[Edited on 09-08-2015 by nibnob21]
MX5 Project Thread
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Dee25790
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Registered: 3rd Jun 14
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Astravans are good. They shift with the bigger engine in! And 6 speed box is good for cruising on the motorway
Load bay is reasonable and front is kitted out nicely, available with all the mod cons and a nice set of Astra alloys on sets them off nicely too.
I'm looking at getting one myself next year
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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Have you checked insurance on a van? That'll probably be killer.
I'd consider something like a Zafira. Will have the Flex seats (or what ever they're called) so will folder flat and have plenty of room.
I take it the air bed is for camping/dogging?
My go to van would always be a Transit. Only yesterday was we talking to someone about vans. Dad is a builder and has always had Transits. Never have they gone wrong unexpectedly. Just had the routine maintenance.
The person we were talking to had a Vivaro. No end of problems. And now he has a Citreon Dispatch and hates it for being cheap and noisy.
By comparison he loved the Transit.
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nibnob21
Premium Member
Registered: 16th May 10
Location: South Derbyshire
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Haven't fully looked into insurance yet but didn't think it'd be too bad considering it won't be for commercial use.
Definitely don't want a people carrier or anything that large.
Despite being partial to a bit of dogging, It'll mainly be used for a quick blast to work and back over the winter, but with the option for chucking bikes in the back, the dog, camping gear etc. for longer journeys.
MX5 Project Thread
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Ronson
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Registered: 6th Dec 10
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Kind of dog is it? Dog lover here.
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nibnob21
Premium Member
Registered: 16th May 10
Location: South Derbyshire
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quote:
Originally posted by Ronson
Kind of dog is it? Dog lover here.
Good question. He's a Mastif cross, but not sure what with. My bet is Dogue de Bordeaux. Either way he's over 8 stone of muscle. Bit of a tank!
This is why I think an Astravan could be good. Not tall but quite deep. So enough room for a couple of people and a dog to sleep.
MX5 Project Thread
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Ronson
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Registered: 6th Dec 10
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8 stone?! Fuuuck no burglars getting out of your house alive! Pics?
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Gaz
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Registered: 24th Aug 03
Location: Widnes, Cheshire
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Wouldn't bother with a Van, I'd look towards an estate instead for what you want to use it for.
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Andrew
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Registered: 5th May 04
Location: Skoda Octavia Estate, Ford Puma
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Ford Connect is a nice little van. I used one daily for 2 years.
Might get one for your price range.
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nibnob21
Premium Member
Registered: 16th May 10
Location: South Derbyshire
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quote:
Originally posted by Ronson
8 stone?! Fuuuck no burglars getting out of your house alive! Pics?
Should give you an idea of his size:
MX5 Project Thread
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nibnob21
Premium Member
Registered: 16th May 10
Location: South Derbyshire
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quote:
Originally posted by Gaz
Wouldn't bother with a Van, I'd look towards an estate instead for what you want to use it for.
Doesn't offer much privacy...unless I were to get the windows tinted.
MX5 Project Thread
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Ronson
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Registered: 6th Dec 10
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Nice dog 
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nibnob21
Premium Member
Registered: 16th May 10
Location: South Derbyshire
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More of a lion really.
MX5 Project Thread
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craig55
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Registered: 12th Jun 10
Location: Bristol
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Sophs looking well
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Chris C
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Registered: 2nd Jan 05
Location: Hemel Hempstead
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Dog looks awesome ! Ford connect ? They're pretty big in the back.
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Andrew
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Registered: 5th May 04
Location: Skoda Octavia Estate, Ford Puma
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Ford Connect is a decent size in the back until you start boxing everything in.
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DaveyLC
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Registered: 8th Oct 08
Location: Berkshire
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quote:
Originally posted by nibnob21
Haven't fully looked into insurance yet but didn't think it'd be too bad considering it won't be for commercial use.
Unfortunately its the OTHER way around! Insuring a van for Social & domestic costs a fucking fortune 
Your best bet is to find something that is a Car/MPV on the log book like a Viano (Although you'll never find one of those for £1,500 in zillion years) or some kind of factory Kombi (van with back seats).
How about an old V-Class or maybe a Ford Tourneo?
My advice would be to get a Fiat Multipa, its basically a van, they drive really nice you just have to put up with looking like a bit of a homo but lets be fair you already own a MX5!! 
[Edited on 10-08-2015 by DaveyLC]
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Nic Barnes
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Registered: 5th Apr 04
Location: nowhere near ginger people
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quote:
Originally posted by DaveyLC
quote:
Originally posted by nibnob21
Haven't fully looked into insurance yet but didn't think it'd be too bad considering it won't be for commercial use.
Unfortunately its the OTHER way around! Insuring a van for Social & domestic costs a fucking fortune
no it doesnt. i pay £170 a year fully comp for mine 
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3CorsaMeal
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Registered: 11th Apr 02
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Sympathy insurance imo, they feel sorry for you.
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willay
Moderator
Organiser: South East, National Events
Premium Member
Registered: 10th Nov 02
Location: Roydon, Essex
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quote:
Originally posted by Nic Barnes
quote:
Originally posted by DaveyLC
quote:
Originally posted by nibnob21
Haven't fully looked into insurance yet but didn't think it'd be too bad considering it won't be for commercial use.
Unfortunately its the OTHER way around! Insuring a van for Social & domestic costs a fucking fortune
no it doesnt. i pay £170 a year fully comp for mine
My experience was also very high insurance for social and domestic, but then I was insuring a brand new caddy and not a old van which will mainly be parked in buttfuck nowhere.
[Edited on 10-08-2015 by willay]
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DaveyLC
Member
Registered: 8th Oct 08
Location: Berkshire
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Nic Barnes
quote:
Originally posted by DaveyLC
quote:
Originally posted by nibnob21
Haven't fully looked into insurance yet but didn't think it'd be too bad considering it won't be for commercial use.
Unfortunately its the OTHER way around! Insuring a van for Social & domestic costs a fucking fortune
no it doesnt. i pay £170 a year fully comp for mine
Is that with some useless firm like Andrian-Fucks or Ballacre ?
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DaveyLC
Member
Registered: 8th Oct 08
Location: Berkshire
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by willay
My experience was also very high insurance for social and domestic, but then I was insuring a brand new caddy and not a old van which will mainly be parked in buttfuck nowhere.
[Edited on 10-08-2015 by willay]
Burn Baby, Burn.
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willay
Moderator
Organiser: South East, National Events
Premium Member
Registered: 10th Nov 02
Location: Roydon, Essex
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by DaveyLC
quote:
Originally posted by Nic Barnes
quote:
Originally posted by DaveyLC
quote:
Originally posted by nibnob21
Haven't fully looked into insurance yet but didn't think it'd be too bad considering it won't be for commercial use.
Unfortunately its the OTHER way around! Insuring a van for Social & domestic costs a fucking fortune
no it doesnt. i pay £170 a year fully comp for mine
Is that with some useless firm like Andrian-Fucks or Ballacre ?
or NFU
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Nic Barnes
Member
Registered: 5th Apr 04
Location: nowhere near ginger people
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by DaveyLC
quote:
Originally posted by Nic Barnes
quote:
Originally posted by DaveyLC
quote:
Originally posted by nibnob21
Haven't fully looked into insurance yet but didn't think it'd be too bad considering it won't be for commercial use.
Unfortunately its the OTHER way around! Insuring a van for Social & domestic costs a fucking fortune
no it doesnt. i pay £170 a year fully comp for mine
Is that with some useless firm like Andrian-Fucks or Ballacre ?
admiral van
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DaveyLC
Member
Registered: 8th Oct 08
Location: Berkshire
User status: Offline
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You did good there then!
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