what car/van do I need?

[virus]

so I'm in the process of getting my car licence and I'm tempted to get something with 4 wheels especially as I'm getting fed up of winter commuting but I'm not sure exactly what I need.

Id like something that can carry a motorbike if I need to and has good storage space, Id also like a reliable vehicle thats cheap to insure and run.

My google fu has pointed me in the general direction of a vw caddy mk2 pickup/skoda pickup which seems sensible enough on insurance and fuel.

Are there any other options I've missed that I should look into?


Cheers
John
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own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[331X2]

Citroen Dispatch/Peugeot Expert/Fiat Scudo (all the same van) are cheap, good on fuel and reliable. You'll get bikes in the back and they come with a bench seat in the front (3 x places).

If you can put up with the fact they're slow as fuck, a 1.9D (non turbo) makes a shit hot bangernomics van.

[MahatmaAndhi]

What kind of motorbike? A Goldwing is quite different to a Kymco Agility.
The one time I put my bike in a van, the guy had a kind of bike rack inside (which didn't work because I had a Piaggio MP3 at the time) so it would need something solid to fix to if you're going down that route.
You'll presumably want ramps too. Not sure how long they are, but no point getting a VW Caddy if the ramps are too long for the back.

If you want something cheap, look at old Royal Mail vans. Lots of bands pick them up for carting gig equipment (and band members.) They come in a variety of sizes and are generally good value for money from what I've seen.

You could also go down the route of something like a Toyota Hilux. They're generally bomb proof, but tend to have big ol' 3.0L engines.
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2008 Aprilia Sportcity 250

[MarJay]

This is going to come across as negative, and I guess maybe it is, but it's more a warning for the OP...

EFA:

[Shaft]

[grr666]

The bigger the better I say.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[Ebbs73]

I've got a 2007 fiat Scudo , I've had two bikes in the back zx6r and a er5 , it's a long wheel base but it was tight .
Great for one bike , mine is a 120 multi jet , errrr defo not slow , hence my 7 day driving ban !

Drives like a car , really comfortable and good on fuel .



Chris

[Shaft]

[virus]

Cheers all, the bike in question is currently an old xj900 but ive yet to actually need to van it somewhere, I more thought if i was going to go to the hassle of buying and insuring something with 4 wheels it would be nice to be able to move bikes occasionally. I think the expert/dispatch etc is probably the largest id want to go as shaft mentions issues hence looking at the smaller stuff like caddy pickups/vans.


Cheers
John
____________________
own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[andyscooter]

the vw/skoda caddy pick ups are getting rare now

parts are a nightmare to find for them (I have one I'm trying to get on the road again I'm also sure the bike you want to put in it will be a bit long as the wheelbase is quite short

also I found they are expensive to insure as a private vehicle as were vans

I was looking to insure one as a daily I passed test in july and am 37 and was getting quotes of about a grand for a Peugeot partner van

the car version with the same engine was only 500 quidish

if you deside on a pick up that is not 4x4 look at mazda and I think ford do one as well

or the proton jumbuck(I wanted one of these)
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[grr666]

My 2008 sprinter is under 250 quid a year to insure, that's trade use cover too.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[andyscooter]

[MarJay]

Mercedes Vito seems to be a good compromise. Same size as a SWB transit low top, but is actually a car and can be parked and driven like a car. G raves about his.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[grr666]

Yeah Andy, it's a fair cop. 20+ years in most classes of vehicle.

I will concede the load bed of the sprinter is a bit high for bike moving. It makes the ramp pretty steep.
But weight wise you can't really tell there's anything in the back when you drive it. It's plated to carry a tonne.
So a well strapped down bike is nothing for it to pull really. It's much nicer to drive now since the remap and DPF delete.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[virus]

I know what you mean Andy, I was looking at them based on them being fairly cheap and hopefully a simple basic diesel engine to work on.

My better half has mentioned the idea that considering I wont be carrying large loads or motorbikes regularly, it might make more sense to get a cheap to insure and run car with a tow bar.

Obviously this logic has completely thrown a spanner in the works.

Id definitely rather avoid the vito, not cheap to insure for me and also I've never seen one that wasn't rotting, some to the extent of the floorpan about to fall out.


Cheers
John
____________________
own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[G]

I would always go for a van over a pickup, given the choice.
Means everything is hidden from prying eyes, it can't fall off and doesn't get in incliment weather.

A bigger Caddy/dispatch etc should just fit a bike in and can be pretty decent on fuel.

Move up to vito/transporter/transit custom and you can easily get two bikes in, then if you don't mind a squash, decent amount of kit.
I like my vito for 'daily' stuff - it get in car parks, isn't too silly on fuel and drives nicely. Mine is the extra-rusty model however. Very. very rusty.

For occasional use, a car with a tow bar and trailer does make a lot of sense.
Given the choice I'd have both. Van is very nice to be able to just chuck stuff in and not worry - for mountain bikes, large boxes, dogs as well as motorbikes. If you're doing decent miles not carrying stuff, you can get significant economy savings from the car and option for cheaper tax and insurance if you choose the right one.

[dydey90]

Aren't Caddys the small vans?
If you're going to get a van, get a proper one. Preferably white.

I once stuffed a CBR125 into the back of a transit connect, but only just and I'm not sure it'd have fit if it had front fairings at the time.
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This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750

[iooi]

[G]

[chris-red]

My neighbour had a Vito, it was brilliant, it could fit my TDM in the back and could seat 8 or 9 (the rear seats clipped in and out.)
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
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[Diggs]

Car and a trailer will be the most convenient option if you don't need to load a bike often and a full sized van is too big for you to park easily. Trying to carry a bike in a small vehicle is asking for trouble in my experience.

How we laughed when I tried to carry a z400 in my old Citroen Dyane and it went through the floor mid journey...
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Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting...

[almostthere]

a dispatch or expert being a car derived van can do 70mph transits etc are restricted to 60 max I think maybe wrong
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Beer, It's the reason I get up every afternoon
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[stinkwheel]

Vito is perfect for what you want in every way and drive superbly. Unfortunately, they are also unreliable money vortexes in my experience.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[G]

[Shaft]