Buying a van

ElephantBoy57

I am thinking about buying a van, in the next six months. Lots of motor auctions, with branches around the country.

Will one location be cheaper than another? Will motors be cheaper just after the Christmas peak, maybe a large organisation will go bust?

I am based near Leeds, so I could look at the vans for sale in Liverpool or Manchester, I recall vehicles being brought to an auction sale in Leeds, from the North, maybe I should look for cheaper vehicles in Washington?

A rough example of what I may want -

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/vauxhall-vivaro-a-2008-a-2-0-cdti-115ps-LWB/193692876133?hash=item2d18febd65:g:JIYAAOSwMYRfduNh

AdrianC

<shrug> How long is a piece of string?

Van prices seem to be strong at the moment, with lots of people wanting to home-build campers.

Five grand for a 12yo Vivaro is, frankly, extortion. Half that would be about right.
No MOT history - has it been in NI for years? It shows as having a test and tax, but no MOT history at all.

onlyfoolsandparking

How long is a piece of string is exactly right and whilst van prices do appear to be strong at the moment, bargains are still out there if you do your homework. I've had lots of vans over the years (mainly new Transits) and only yesterday I sourced a new van for a good friend of mine which we happily travelled the 90 miles to pick up and just as an example of finding bargains, it's a 65 plate Transit custom 75k on clock, full service just done and 12 months MOT we gave 8k + vat, bargain!!

I'm not familiar with the Vivaro range but having had a quick look in that sector I think the seller is dreaming if they think they are drawing 5K for that van, the fact that it's low mileage makes me think that's where there delusion with the price is coming from, it's still a 2008 and I would pitch it at around 2k based on what 5k can get you with Vivaros.

ElephantBoy57

AdrianC said:

No MOT history - has it been in NI for years? It shows as having a test and tax, but no MOT history at all.

The car that I have now had the same issue, it had been in NI and on a different plate.

It can lower the price, but really, it means nothing.

ElephantBoy57

onlyfoolsandparking said:

I'm not familiar with the Vivaro range but having had a quick look in that sector I think the seller is dreaming if they think they are drawing 5K for that van, the fact that it's low mileage makes me think that's where there delusion with the price is coming from, it's still a 2008 and I would pitch it at around 2k based on what 5k can get you with Vivaros.

Yes I agree. I bought my last couple of cars on ebay, I like auctions, as you are buying for just a little more than what someone else is willing to pay.

I drive a VW Crafter at work, but I want something a little smaller, than drives like a car, but more usefull.

Something colourfull, I know I shouldn't buy on colour, but I need to enjoy my vehicle.

A lot less talk at the moment about the problems of buying a diesel with clean air zones.

sweetsand

ElephantBoy57 said:

I am thinking about buying a van, in the next six months. Lots of motor auctions, with branches around the country.

Will one location be cheaper than another? Will motors be cheaper just after the Christmas peak, maybe a large organisation will go bust?

I am based near Leeds, so I could look at the vans for sale in Liverpool or Manchester, I recall vehicles being brought to an auction sale in Leeds, from the North, maybe I should look for cheaper vehicles in Washington?

A rough example of what I may want -

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/vauxhall-vivaro-a-2008-a-2-0-cdti-115ps-LWB/193692876133?hash=item2d18febd65:g:JIYAAOSwMYRfduNh

Dear OP
Never bought a van but we have bought many cars and we find that the best deals are between Xmas and New year period EG the day after xmas, up until the new yrs day, day before usually. However, if you have something to sell as well, then its swings and roundabouts. This scenario is at main dealers.

HYH

onlyfoolsandparking

ElephantBoy57 said:

onlyfoolsandparking said:

I'm not familiar with the Vivaro range but having had a quick look in that sector I think the seller is dreaming if they think they are drawing 5K for that van, the fact that it's low mileage makes me think that's where there delusion with the price is coming from, it's still a 2008 and I would pitch it at around 2k based on what 5k can get you with Vivaros.

Yes I agree. I bought my last couple of cars on ebay, I like auctions, as you are buying for just a little more than what someone else is willing to pay.

I drive a VW Crafter at work, but I want something a little smaller, than drives like a car, but more usefull.

Something colourfull, I know I shouldn't buy on colour, but I need to enjoy my vehicle.

A lot less talk at the moment about the problems of buying a diesel with clean air zones.

I've had a couple of escort vans from auction which I did well on (long time ago) and yes the auction houses used to be good for outbidding the traders by a few hundred and still bagging a bargain, don't know what they are like these days and I heard just the other day it's online bidding only now coz of Wuflu.

If you want a certain colour then that's what you want, you pay your money and takes your choice, of course it will limit your choice but no point saving a few quid and hating it for it's colour. I hear Crafters are a decent van, like I said I'm not familiar with Vivaros or many others in reality. The example I gave about the Transit me and my pal got yesterday was for the year and spec we were looking at they were/are all mainly around 10k-11500 so we did well paying 9600 and that's why I'm saying bargains are still there to be had if you look hard enough. Good luck anyway, hope you find a good one. 

AdrianC

ElephantBoy57 said:

AdrianC said:

No MOT history - has it been in NI for years? It shows as having a test and tax, but no MOT history at all.

The car that I have now had the same issue, it had been in NI and on a different plate.

It can lower the price, but really, it means nothing.

For me, the issue with it is that there's no easy way of viewing the history. When the van is being sold at a massive premium because of "low mileage", that could easily hide clocking. And, of course, a 12yo van could easily be an utter shed with a history of bare minimum maintenance and fails as long as your arm...

eamon

 I watch some of the Youtube car flipper channels and a common  theme from all of them is the current high prices at auctions (salvage & normal). It is possible that there may be better prices in the SE in anticipation of ULEZ impact on Euro 4 & 5 diesels.

AdrianC

eamon said:

It is possible that there may be better prices in the SE in anticipation of ULEZ impact on Euro 4 & 5 diesels.

I suspect that ship sailed in spring last year, when it was introduced in the congestion charge zone, after two years of the "t-charge". It's only being widened to the circulars next autumn.

forgotmyname

Private buyer after a one off vehicle, auctions are probably not the place to start looking.

Lots of bargains out there from private sellers or dealers, my last 4 or 5 cars have been from dealers
because private sellers are living in fantasy land.  Main dealer has these for ££££ so i want ££££, err
no it doesnt work like that. Your not offering a warranty and wont fix everything that breaks for the
next 12 months.

Up the mileage to 120k and you can get a newer transit for half that vivaro. 120k miles is nothing and
thats around the mileage i look for to get the bargains.