ex council vehicle??

bigjl

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

In all honesty any authority vehicle is likely to be sold when it is no longer economically viable for them to run. The days of new vehicles every two years are long gone.

A vehicle doesn't stop being economically viable at 3 or 4 years old.

More lile 10 or 15 years old

The LAS just sold their Renault "bigfoots" which cost a fortune in 94 and were used for major incidents only.

Most had less than 20k km on the clock but due to the cost of garaging them all over London aswell as the cost of mechanical spares when needed made them no longer economically viable in the eyes of the bean counters.

Replaced with a LWB Sprinter van with a tail lift.

Currently 2 on sale on eBay.

And I don't think the Council has ever changed vehicles every 2years.

angrycrow

Firstly if you have to resort to posting the question on a public forum then you should go with your obvious gut feeling that it is not a good idea.

Secondly that van looks to have been crashed and badly repaired. The front drivers side wing is a second had replacement and the front panel below the bonnet looks a little dubious. If they have resorted to slapping a poorly matched second hand wing on to sell it on what other damage is hiding under that wing or with the suspension on that corner.

I would personally not touch it with a barge pole.

jakeh1989

angrycrow wrote: »

Firstly if you have to resort to posting the question on a public forum then you should go with your obvious gut feeling that it is not a good idea.

Secondly that van looks to have been crashed and badly repaired. The front drivers side wing is a second had replacement and the front panel below the bonnet looks a little dubious. If they have resorted to slapping a poorly matched second hand wing on to sell it on what other damage is hiding under that wing or with the suspension on that corner.

I would personally not touch it with a barge pole.

Angrycrow thanks for Making My decision easier, i think you are spot on regarding following my gut feeling feeling. The accident damage hadnt even occured to me, i will have Another look now but only out of interest, i will keep shopping around

Thank you to everyone else that had an input input.

Jake

Spicy_McHaggis

bigjl wrote: »

A vehicle doesn't stop being economically viable at 3 or 4 years old.

More lile 10 or 15 years old

The LAS just sold their Renault "bigfoots" which cost a fortune in 94 and were used for major incidents only.

Most had less than 20k km on the clock but due to the cost of garaging them all over London aswell as the cost of mechanical spares when needed made them no longer economically viable in the eyes of the bean counters.

Replaced with a LWB Sprinter van with a tail lift.

Currently 2 on sale on eBay.

And I don't think the Council has ever changed vehicles every 2years.

The OP is asking about a 10 year old transit not a London specialist ambulance.

SteveJW

As a Fleet Manager for a large council there is not an easy answer to your question.
Up to a couple of years ago we financially leased vehicles, most were for a period of 7 years. I've just returned one (an exception) with less than 20,000 miles on the clock, usual allowance is 12,000 per annum. Vehicles have to meet lease return conditions (three months MOT etc)
The lease companies would either sell to trade or else put through auction
We now prudentially borrow (internal borrowing) and are now planning to replace most vehicles below 3,500kg every 5 years, via auction or trade in
Historical figures show costs greatly increase in years 6 and 7
Servicing, vehicles will get a major service every year, oil, filters, brakes stripped etc, with a safety inspection in between
If anyone rings me for the service details of a particular vehicle, I will email the description of every job raised (not a full breakdown)
In most cases vehicles are not driven by all and sundry, most are allocated to individuals
Many councils are fitting vehicle tracking systems, these report on speeding, excessive idling, harsh braking and acceleration, league tables of the worst offenders are produced and acted on
We operate around 700 vehicles from ride on mowers up to an artic operating at 48 tonnes (legally)
Apologises for the long winded reply

Spicy_McHaggis

SteveJW wrote: »

As a Fleet Manager for a large council there is not an easy answer to your question.
Up to a couple of years ago we financially leased vehicles, most were for a period of 7 years. I've just returned one (an exception) with less than 20,000 miles on the clock, usual allowance is 12,000 per annum. Vehicles have to meet lease return conditions (three months MOT etc)
The lease companies would either sell to trade or else put through auction
We now prudentially borrow (internal borrowing) and are now planning to replace most vehicles below 3,500kg every 5 years, via auction or trade in
Historical figures show costs greatly increase in years 6 and 7
Servicing, vehicles will get a major service every year, oil, filters, brakes stripped etc, with a safety inspection in between
If anyone rings me for the service details of a particular vehicle, I will email the description of every job raised (not a full breakdown)
In most cases vehicles are not driven by all and sundry, most are allocated to individuals
Many councils are fitting vehicle tracking systems, these report on speeding, excessive idling, harsh braking and acceleration, league tables of the worst offenders are produced and acted on
We operate around 700 vehicles from ride on mowers up to an artic operating at 48 tonnes (legally)
Apologises for the long winded reply

I thought a 3+3 could only operate upto 46 tonnes. Are you using a specialist vehicle?

forgotmyname

Looks more like a builders jalopy than a 1 owner council van. If you do buy it ask about the towbar. Are the pictures and description of the same vehicle?

Claims to have a towbar, None visible in the pictures.

Says its clean and tidy, Dents, Scrapes, RUST. O/S rear tyre looks like its going down. Drivers seart worn/ripped.

My my idea of clean and tidy.

jakeh1989

Na i wont be bothering. Theres thousands other transits out there for sale just struggling to find many decent ones with much history, didnt know if ex council vehicle was a good thing or not but regardless of that i will be looking elsewhere id sooner wait till a good one comes along than rush into one im unsure of.

once again thanks for everyones help.

SteveJW

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

I thought a 3+3 could only operate upto 46 tonnes. Are you using a specialist vehicle?

Trading Standards Weighbridge Test Unit
Weighbridges used for prosecution purposes have to be calibrated and certified to a weight higher than 46 tonnes, otherwise the prosecution would be challenged

Steve

harveybobbles

Info says 1 previous.. So to me that would be two owners? One previous to the current?

Council were first owner. 2 owner was Ray Charles..