Cheap van for Nordkapp..?
 

Evening all,

I'm looking for opinions on small vans, Kangoo's, Berlingo's, etc.

I'm thinking of getting a cheap used one for daily use at home (UK) and, as my Euro bike tour has left me a bit skint, I'm contemplating using it as a cheap camper to get up to Nordkapp next year.

Any thought's on which is best..? I know there's a "rough road" version of the Berlingo with more clearance and a limited-slip diff but it seems rare and expensive second hand. I'm looking for thoughts on reliabilty and economy, and any reasons why it might not be a good idea....:(

my experience of looking for a cheap van is no such thing exists!!

what about a good estate car. tend to be pretty cheap, big enough to sleep in (I think a berlingo would be a struggle for most people to sleep in!!) and a better chance of getting something 4wd/AWD

Cheers Moggy,

Having looked around a bit I know what you mean about prices...:eek3:

However, at the end of the market I'm looking at (sub £1000) cars and vans are about the same, it's service history and lack of corrosion that you're paying for.

I wouldn't rule out an estate if the right one came along but I like the fuel economy (50+mpg) you can get from the little vans and they may be a little sturdier, having been built for commercial use.

I forgot to say I'll be taking a tent so sleeping in the back would only happen when the weather gets lively.

Have a look here: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...6-4#post418410

here in Denmark there has also been a camper version of the Galaxy/Sharan with a foldable sleeping roof and a foldable diminutive kitchen in the back.

It can still be found as a runner and I have seen 3 at a junkyard, so a UK van could be converted.

http://images.fyens.dk/41/45341_750_496_0_0_0_0.jpg

http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/4...2718345nt8.jpg

http://images.fyens.dk/50/123950_750_496_0_0_0_0.jpg

It's a strange anomoly in the HUBB that there is no specific, clearly defined forum for anything with 4 wheels other than 4WD vehicles - this particular forum gets closest with it's titling "Brand specific 4WD / 4 wheel, 2WD and Trucks TECH discussions and info for NON-Land Rover or Toyota"

Apart from that, for Nordkapp, a 2 WD would do nicely me thinks.

I've often considered getting a van - not done it so far - and one with 3 seats in the front is the only criteria I have had in mind so far. At the cheap end of the market they should not be much different in pricing from the even smaller Berlingo and the like.

Hi Dave,

Maybe we should start a poll to see if a new forum is needed for cheap, 2wd 4-wheelers...? Adventure bangers perhaps...? :rofl:

I've had vans in the past, from 6 months in Australia with a old Ford Falcon to Highland camping with a Vauxhall Rascal. Good fun and really practical with it.

You're right about pricing at the cheap end, you can pick up a Transit for the same money as a Kangoo - no Mercs though...:rolleyes3: Thing is my last bike tour has left me broke so it has to be cheap to insure and super-economical too, hence the focus on the little vans.

That said, I like the idea of the Ford Galaxy in pbekkerh's post -(thanks for that phekkerh). I hadn't considered MPV's, thought they were all gas-guzzlers but it seems not. More space than a small van and comfier too. Might be a goer if I can find one for the right money...:thumbup1:

Maybe we should start a poll to see if a new forum is needed for cheap, 2wd 4-wheelers...? Adventure bangers perhaps...?

This sounds like a good idea to me, dont know how to set up a pole so sorry but I wont be the pole starter:confused1:

A diesel estate should see you able to get 50mpg plus. my old BMW530 averaged 43mpg at 85mph (on the cruise control) on the autobahn.

The days of commercial vehicles being better built than cars are long gone I'm afraid. Most vans are built from car parts and have a similar life expectancy. The difference is, the van will have been ragged to death in a hard commercial environment while the diesel estate has probably been used as a second car family runabout.

I have to say for a couple of years or so now I have been considering getting a small diesel estate or hatchback car or similar for my travels. two up far easier than a bike. carries more stuff. In an emergency you can sleep in it and has more range than just about any bike. been specifically looking at Citroen C3 and fiat Panda. both do 65mpg or more on a run and have over 400 miles range, plus can easily carry a spare 10 litres of fuel to add another 130 miles. It also means we can take better tents/sleeping bags and beds :)

It also means on a longer trip those time when the weather is bad it is easier to continue travelling and punctures are so easy to deal with :)

for reliability reasons I wouldn't go with either of those.
The Peugeot 400 series offers good build quality, economy and go quite cheaply.
The BMW Audi or VW options are also very good but more pricey.
Another option is a Volvo. Their lack of trendiness means second hand ones can be picked up for a very good price. build quality is of course exceptional and there is a 4wd option (although rare) like this one

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-VOLVO...item41785619dd

Guys,
It's taken me a short while, but I have now managed to find an earlier thread on this very subject, and it's a sticky one also:-
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...hat-does-61908
I am not aware of any changes within the HUBB as a result of the discussion and suggestions in there - I can only recommend that you read through it and add your own ideas to that thread.

Hi Guys,

Thought I'd update this thread.

It's taken some time but I'm now the proud owner of a Peugeot 406 estate..! :D

After a lot of research I concluded that small vans are expensive when compared to cars. Even the 'car' version of the van is cheaper..!

So it was a case of keeping an eye on the ads until something came along that ticked all, or most, of the boxes.

My new purchase was made in 1999, has a 2.0 litre turbo diesel and has covered 184000 miles. Which is quite a lot, BUT it has a full years MOT (roadworthiness), new discs on the back, new pads all round, new rear section of the exhuast and best of all, I bought it from a mechanic who serviced it regularly, including a recent cam belt and waterpump. The only issues so far are the air bag light flashing intermittently (I was told about this) a knackered wiper blade and a slight, rhythmic vibration which may be from the tyres, some of which will need replacing fairly soon anyway.

It's early days but so far I'm pretty happy. It starts, stops and handles well enough and is comfortable and quiet inside, apart from some rattly panels..! It cruised up the motorway to Scotland, where I am now, with no drama covering 500ish miles on 1/2 a tank which is fine by me. :thumbup1:

Not sure if it'll go to Nordkap but only because I'm not sure when I will, given my perilous finances: :( I'll be exploring the camping possibilties a bit closer to home in the meantime however. Watch this space.

Thanks for the link to the other thread Dave, not read it through yet but from a quick skim it seems there may be some interest in another 4 wheel forum. I'll post my thoughts when I've read it properly.

Thanks to all for your contributions...bier

very good cars, good pedigree and very economical, should serve you well.:thumbup1:

dont forget the 1.9 will happily run on a veg oil /diesel mix , better to do in summer than winter , veg oil can be found for around 85 -90p per litre at the moment ! :thumbup1:

Hmm, I thought the 1.9 was the previous XUD engine..? Will the HDI run ok on veg oil..? Looking outside, I'd agree on waiting for warmer weather..:freezing:

I know you've found your car but a vote from me for the Citroen dispatch. I had one on hire to go to a couple of enduros and even though it was the size of a car it took my bike and all the gear no problem.

It was also long enought to put a camp bed in and crash out at the end of the day. I think that there is even one with a clever electric pseudo AWD system but that's not the one I had.

38

I thought I'd post an update on how my 406 has performed after a year of ownership.

It hasn’t been to Nordkapp, but it’s clocked up around 12000mls in the UK; a mix of local pottering around and longer trips to Scotland and Devon. The odo now reads just under 197000. The car cost less than a set of tyres for a 4x4 and still returns over 50mpg on the motorway, it’s comfortable and quiet inside and there’s heaps of space with the seats down – I’ve had ½ a tonne of scrap metal in it.

I bought this particular car, after a lot of looking, because it was previously owned by a mechanic who serviced it regularly and replaced things as and when needed.

The largest expense was a full set of winter tyres which I cleverly fitted in advance of all the snow we were expecting last year, which then failed to materialise.....doh

The only biggish problem has been a broken front spring. Bizarrely, it broke when the car was parked overnight...:confused2: It turns out this is a bit of a known issue with these cars. I had parked it facing downhill with the weight on the front, so I guess that contributed to its demise. Luckily, I had access to most of the tools I needed and a local parts supplier who had one the shelf. I did have the spring fitted to the strut by a garage as I couldn’t compress it enough with the tools I had.

Other than that it’s just been service items and a £7.00 temp sensor from ebay.

So don’t let high miles put you off, if a vehicle has been looked after properly it could work in your favour as it has for me….:thumbup1:

:thumbup1:

sounds like a goodun!!

shame merc don't still make vans like that

I am still learning the importance of this statement.

Buy a good old Merc.....i was offered a 4wd estate made for the German/ Austrian or Swiss market i think for £400. LHD so great for travelling.