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Summary
Page 53
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This challenge was designed to establish if you could buy a half-decent van for EON.
The simple answer is yes —hut whether it's a good idea is another matter. Away from the pampered world of warranties, you pays your money and takes your chance. Buying from a photo and description online is even riskier.
Of our three purchases, the Leyland Daf still has plenty to offer as a potentially reliable workhorse for a deaf tradesman.The mechanically impressive Vauxhall could also have a good future if a new owner an be bothered to spend a few quid on a cheap respray.
As Glass's Alexander pointed out, at that age the potential for expensive repairs is greater on a diesel than a petrol,balancing out the slightly higher fuel costs, and with barely 75,000 miles behind it, the Midi should have lots of mechanical life left.
Only with the Master did we have our leg lifted. It had a mystery electrical fault that could have cost more than the van did to sort out. and the way it overheated was ominous.
Although throwing time and money at it could have resulted in a good buy, the prospect of the van stopping dead on the M25 with no warning meant it was best put out of its misery.
So this exercise has proved that paying £600 for a van probably isn't enough. Stretch your budget to four figures and you'll have a considerably greater chance of a long relationship with a happy ending.
• For more on the van challenge see the Truck &Van blog on www.roadtransport.com