Used Van, age vs mileage?

goatfertility

I had a debate with my sisters boyfriend about buying a van. He seemed to insist that a higher mileage, newer van is better than an older, lower mileage van. Seems like a toss up.

So if you had two vans, same make and model and in similar condition for the same price, what would you buy? The high mileage newer van, or the lower mileage older van. I think I know which I would...

motorguy

I'd buy on condition and service history.

bugslet

It depends as well what you are going to do with it. We do around 80,000 miles a year, so we would go for a low mileage one.

But as motorguy says, condition and service history are the deciding factor.

paddedjohn

I only do about 12000 miles a year now so I bought a high mileage 5yr old van. Still only got 120,000 on the clock so a good few years left in her yet.

davidwood123

Condition.

I've seen vans, same year, model etc. Some have had low mileage but been used by builders etc, that were battered. Others were higher mileage that were used by a clothes shop etc, that were mint.

A rough van will always be that, regardless of the year or mileage.

EssexExile

I've had a 2000 Astravan since 2001 that has done less than 40,000 miles. Knowing the service history I certainly wouldn't buy it!

AdrianC

goatfertility wrote: »

So if you had two vans, same make and model and in similar condition for the same price, what would you buy?

It is, obviously, never quite as simple as that in real life...

But one question that would help me decide - how many miles am I planning on putting on it, and how long am I planning on keeping it?

Unless I'm running it into the ground, will my use help it - whichever I go for - return to a fairly average mileage for the expected disposal age?

delirious

I've actually been looking for a car and my wife suggested a van instead for work. The nicest, cleanest looking van I've seen is a new shape Vauxhall Combo van with 150k on it (only 3 yrs old) so debating this exact question myself.

AdrianC

If you want a van for work, then check your insurance - business use for a van can be a chunk more than business use for a car. Also, vans tend to be much more expensive than similar age/condition cars.

delirious

AdrianC wrote: »

If you want a van for work, then check your insurance - business use for a van can be a chunk more than business use for a car. Also, vans tend to be much more expensive than similar age/condition cars.

I've done a few quotes myself, and for a 62 plate Citroen C4, the insurance was going to be around £850, whereas the insurance on a 13 plate Peugeot Bipper was going to be £700.

I actually found it was going to be cheaper to get 'company car insurance' than personal car insurance...mad eh?

patman99

My son's friend runs his own gardening​ business and decided to replace the high mileage Transit he was using.

He purchased a low mileage, newer van. It came with TSB from a main dealer.
Within 18 months he has had the engine go hang (he opted for a brand new engine to be fitted instead of buying a reconditioned unit) and now the gearbox has failed.

The old van is still running.