Torn between two vans

[David72]

I wonder if anyone out there can help me with my dilemma. I am torn between two vans. They are almost the same price. They are the same year, I can't see any difference in their condition, MOT checks don't show much difference either. Both 6m long, layouts are similar. Both at the same dealer.
Van 1 has a good sized garage, an acceptable layout inside, with raised transverse bed, cab air con. 2L, 40,000 miles.
Van 2 has a small, just about adequate garage, a better layout inside, French bed, no cab air con. 2.8L, 58,000 miles.

Primarily, the advice I am looking for is on the mileage and engine size - how much of a drawback is 50% more miles? The extra power - do I need it? How much will that impact on fuel consumption?

Presumably lots of people get to this point in their search - this one or that one. How do you decide?

 

[Nanniemate]

either the colour or a coin

 

[AXO66]

Maybe the engine tourque is a way to consider the engine differences.
and the euro standard for emissions, if there is a diference?

 

[bobandjanie]

I would also consider the manufacturers, because the build quality is very important. ? Bob.

 

[mikebeaches]

Cab air conditioning is high on my priority list and expensive/difficult to retro-fit.

The mileage (40k) should not be an issue, although you don't mention the age of the two vans.

Many will say layout is probably the most important?

Are they different brands of van - for me that is important and could likely affect the resale value and indeed the ease of selling on. So I'd be drawn to whichever is the most reputable and popular brand.

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[jezport]

BHP is more important than CC these days. My current van has a 2.3 150BHP engine and my last was a 2.8 127BHP. The smaller engine is far better in my case.

 

[Vipar]

I regret not having a garage. You don’t have to use the extra space but it’s there if you need it. Bet you do fill it up though. Good luck with whichever you chose.

Greetings peeps

 

[MyrtleGuru]

For me, layout is the key. That's what you have to live with at the end of the day.

 

[Grianan]

Cab air con essential if you travel to Europe in the summer. If not you don’t need it.

As jezport said BHP is more informative than engine size.

You’ll fill up whatever garage you have ... think what you need to take and balance against payload.

 

[thebriars]

BHP is more important than CC these days. My current van has a 2.3 150BHP engine and my last was a 2.8 127BHP. The smaller engine is far better in my case.

Mine's 2 litre and 170BHP. Engines getting smaller and more powerful by the day!

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[MyrtleGuru]

Cab air con essential if you travel to Europe in the summer. If not you don’t need it.

As jezport said BHP is more informative than engine size.

You’ll fill up whatever garage you have ... think what you need to take and balance against payload.

We have cab air-con in our PVC and it is rubbish, though (Renault). I think it is designed for a cab that has a bulkhead to separate the cab from the rest of the van, so treating a relatively small space. Once the cab is opened up to rest of the van space, it becomes pretty ineffective. Other marques may differ.

 

[Lenny HB]

You don't actually say what they are.
I assume the 2.8 is a Fiat, they went out of production 2006 so if one of the last ones say a 2007 Motorhome 58k is very low mileage. We do around 9000 a year in ours.
As said if traveling in southern Europe cab air con essential. Having had French bed and vans with a proper garage, I wouldn't have a van without a garage now.

 

[scotzsue]

Go back, spend some time lying on the beds, lounging about, trying out the loo for size ie sitting down standing in the shower.
My no 1 would be sufficient seatbelts, BHP as said before more important, which one 'feels right' for you and how you will use it.
We have managed for 10 years without cab air con, but there are times we really wish we had it.
You haven't mentioned payload, have they been over a weighbridge would be tempted to go for the one with best payload.

 

[Stealaway]

These days engine milage is hardly worth considering. Commercial vans are expected to go at least 200,000. It's just run in.
What you're going to do in it and how it suits that is far more important.
Buy the later model.

 

[138go]

We love our large garage!

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[David72]

Thanks for the speedy and helpful replies so far. Don't want to say what make the are, on the off chance the dealer reads this - definitely don't want to sound keen, but both good manufacturers. Yes, Lenny you got it right, both 2006. I think van 2 is winning -layout is king. It's layout or garage. Tricky.

 

[Grianan]

We have cab air-con in our PVC and it is rubbish, though (Renault). I think it is designed for a cab that has a bulkhead to separate the cab from the rest of the van, so treating a relatively small space. Once the cab is opened up to rest of the van space, it becomes pretty ineffective. Other marques may differ.

Fiat PVC works so well I get cold and have to turn it off ?

 

[138go]

The other thing to consider, is where you will be motorhoming. In the U.K. layout is probably more important. If you plan to go abroad then you take more stuff and live outside more, so layout not so important and a big garage better.

 

[MyrtleGuru]

The other thing to consider, is where you will be motorhoming. In the U.K. layout is probably more important. If you plan to go abroad then you take more stuff and live outside more, so layout not so important and a big garage better.

That's a very good point. We do a lot of poor-weather touring, when you tend to stay in the van. If you mainly stay in the sunny climes, the internal layout is less important.

 

[denisejoe]

Payload is also really important. Some vans have a pitiful amount of payload.

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[Sucoz]

We met someone this year who had recently bought a new motorhome only to find the small garage was a major problem. It depends how you are going to use it and how large/small the garage is.

 

[HandyAndy]

If you intend going anywhere "warm" in it air con would be quite high priority for me as would a decent engine.
I can't see the 2L engine being a great choice to pull a 6m MH to be honest.

As for the mileage I wouldn't even blink twice about either if they both had a decent book of stamps. Just realise the 60K service will likely be a higher cost as there's quite a bit renewed (if done properly ha) at that sort of mileage

 

[DavidG58]

Transverse bed for single occupancy OK, not so good with 2

 

[Northernraider]

Last year I had a 8.5m tag axle 2008 with transverse bed , huge garage no cab air con , 30l engine 160bhp ...had 37000m when bought and 54000m when sold

Didn't like the transverse bed , garage just encourages you to carry more stuff than you need or use , survived in temps up to 46° with no air con and no issues

This year I have a 7 metre single axle , french bed , decent size garage ,cab air con , 2.8 l 130bhp engine had 93000m when bought and currently 106000 miles

Love the French bed , garage is more than required I still carry stuff I don't use , can air con used a few times but not that much to be honest, better fuel consumption. better driving van than the newer one .

So don't be swayed by air con ,garages , or bigger engines ....and mileage is just a number

Layout and comfort is king

Personally from the 2 you've suggested the second would be my choice

 

[138go]

We carry our two electric fold up bikes in our garage. We’ve had a bike rack on a previous motorhome but we really like being able to store them inside.

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[Theonlysue]

Layout important, but air con good for keeping windscreen demisted in bad weather.
Perhaps neither is right for you? ?
Which makes?

 

[Sundowners]

Try and steer away from a Ford, they are sought after by thieves, unless of course you put good extra locks and álarms on.

 

[David72]

UPDATE... Went for Van 2 in the end. It's a Tec, so should be a safe bet. We decided comfort should be the prime factor. Thanks for all the helpful advice.

 

[Just smiffy]

My A-class is a 2012 with currently 68k miles.... should I be worried..... Na, i wouldn’t worry about mileage on a commercial vehicle that’s got a full service history.... mine will probably have around 250k in 10yrs...?

 

[TheBig1]

a choice between an old technology 2 litre and 2.8 litre is simple, choose the 2.8 every time