Looking for: Van or MPV for occasional day trips with dogs (£5k max, all-in)

smallzoo2

Hi all, on the hunt for a vehicle to convert into a simple day van — used occasionally, not daily. Budget is £5k max, including the vehicle and any small mods, so looking for something realistic rather than showroom condition. Here's what we're after:

• Seating: Either 3 seats up front (no rear seats needed), OR 2 seats up front plus a rear seat/bench with seatbelts (or one we could fit)
• Sliding side door would be ideal, for easy access
• If it's an MPV: needs a middle row where we can remove 2 or more seats, keeping the rear two seats in place for when we're parked up
• Middle area free for two dogs to travel
• Bonus: room for a simple mini kitchen setup — even just space for a camping stove and a mini fridge

Thinking along the lines of a VW Sharan, Seat Alhambra, VW Touran, Citroen Berlingo Multispace, or similar — but open to suggestions if it fits the above. Let me know what you've got or point me in the right direction — thanks!

sheramber

your previous thread from February

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6653287/day-van-for-under-6k-where-do-i-start-lol

smallzoo2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82098162#Comment_82098162

I thought as our needs have changed slightly it would be worth starting a brand new thread with clear objectives

forgotmyname

Seen someone covert a Berlingo and it had so many compromises I thought all that effort for almost no functionality.

The guy he was showing around it was 6ft2" and he could not sit inside without being in a almost reclined position which
was not possible for more than a minute or so.

The conversions will probably make insurance comparison websites useless so your going to be stuck phoning brokers
detailing every change you made. If you need a van buy a van. £5k good luck your going to spend a while searching
for the right one.

QrizB

your previous thread from February

I thought it seemed familiar!

Hi all, on the hunt for a vehicle to convert into a simple day van

How about a nice purple Renault Trafic? Already converted!

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/van-details/202607053908418

PTP123

5K is danger money in terms of a van

Mildly_Miffed

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82098435#Comment_82098435

That's a great example for the purposes of this discussion…

Surface level:
Very cool, pretty, lots of money spent on paint and nice blingy rims, decent camper interior… What could possibly go wrong?
(Shame it's a tintop, not even a pop, and what IS going on with the stretch carpet on the front doors)
Lots of mileage, but heavily front-loaded. 113k by first MOT, then two 60-70k years, a few 20k years, then retired to a life of leisure…

Then we look more closely:
Why are they selling it with just one month MOT.
Last year's test had structural rot as an advisory, as had 2024's. That won't have got any better…
Nor will the oil leak that's been advised for the last two years.
It's clearly not had a lot of basic maintenance love.

And the biggie - if it's such a great van, why is the ad over a month old?

PTP123

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82099039#Comment_82099039

That will be a money pit for the new owner

smallzoo2

This is exactly my problem but I do get a lot of comments on various sites that make me feel dumb …

I am no mechanic and yes I've been lucky over the years.. had MANY cars ( you wont believe how many ) over the last 40 years ..only 5 of them were over £5k and literally only 3 actually either lost me a little money or had major issues like turbos.

For example I bought a 2005 1.9PD Passat diesel 2 years ago with 125k miles on the clock for £1000 and its never let me down , gone all over the country in it and passed the last 2 mot's with no advisories.. yes it rough around the edge but utterly dependable

I guess thats what I am looking for in a van/mpv etc.. something that will be dependable but it seems all I get are tales of woe for anything I buy under £5k

..maybe again I've just been lucky !

Ditzy_Mitzy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82099192#Comment_82099192

Ah, but a van isn't a car…

The vast majority of vans are used, at least from new, as working vehicles by people who don't own them personally. As such, nobody really cares what happens to vans unless they break down — don't expect care to be taken of either the bodywork or mechanical bits, therefore.

Additionally, most vans are built to the principle that they'll be driven into the ground over five or ten years and then thrown away. Don't expect anything to be up to the standard of a private car.

PTP123

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82102591#Comment_82102591

Partly true regarding usage but a van that has been owned by a large company will be taken care of mechanically far better than a privately owned car