Transit Contract Rental?

[P.Jackson]

Hello all some how i find this site and thought hmm wonder if theres anyone here thats been in the same boat as me.

Well here goes , basically im starting a new landscaping company and obviosuly im going to need a van , so i was informed that contract rental will be my best choice? Because if something where to go wrong with my company in the first few months would mean i don't have any bills to pay on the van.

Now i understand this as the old company i worked for also done this.

My question is what exactly should i be looking for with a good deal? and does anyone know of any decent places in the north east that offer these kind of deals?

Regards,
Paul

[chadmat]

If I were mate, I'd buy a cheapy first.
Thing is on rental no work you still have to pay for the van.
I've been there, buy a cheapy!!
If it goes tits up, at least you can sell it!
Good luck mate.
Welcome to the forum.

[P.Jackson]

hmm yea could do altho i would really like a new one i think no maintenance

[motorwise]

hmm yea could do altho i would really like a new one i think no maintenance

leasing is good from the tax angle but as said you could start out with a cheapie then you haven't got the commitment of the rental each month - if you know you'll be busy enough to afford it at the start go for it

up to you

good luck with the business

[FredTransit]

I am with chadmat on this one. If you save a bit and get a cheapie, you know it's paid for. Ask anything you need to konw about the prospective van on here (as long as it's a transit!). If things get very bad, you won't have the commitment of monthly payments, for something which is at the end of the day never gonna be yours. As for the repairs, middle aged transits are hardy beasts. They may not be the prettiest, but they go on and on with maintenance. Even new vans break down, and it will still be inconvenient workwise until the lease company sorts it out. Save you money and instead of paying out every month, pay a good mechanic and you will still have an asset to sell if you want to.

Also, there is insurance to think of. You will have to insure a leaser fully comp (or pay for it if the company offers it, not sure on that one). It's cheaper to insure a cheap van TPFT that a new one fully comp.

[chadmat]

Cheers Fred.
It's easier to buy and maintain an older a transit than you think.
If you find the right one, with all of our collective knowledge, it will be easy peasy.
( Bigging evertone up! ).
And I bet it would be more reliable as well!
No ECU's spitting their dummies out!!!!!!
Good luck. Hope all this helps.
At the end of the day, it's upto you.
I know what I would do.
Don't forget, with a leaser, limited mileage, if you damage it you have to repair it!

[motorwise]

depends of course as well what sort of company image you want to present and this is largely down to the clients you have if they're all in an upmarket area then you really want new (or newish) because the client will expect this

if it's more run of the mill areas they wont expect you to in a new vehicle - if it is new they may be of the opinion that the bill is inflated to pay for the van

sounds snobbish but thats just the way people think - you've got to put yourself in their shoes and decide from there


at the end of the day it's up to you

[FredTransit]

I think you will find that the average non van driver can't tell a middle aged transit from a hole in the ground without reading a number plate. when we ran a Mk1 back in the 80s, I sat a customer in the (recaro) passenger seat and asked her how old the van was. She said 3 or 4 years old, the van was 10 at the time.

[Altransit]

I agree with Fred and Chadmat on this one

Been in business for 35 years, and have never bought a new van. I always buy tidy 3-5 year olds, and run them until the rust can't be hidden anymore

Even adding the preservation cost to the running cost, it still works out cheaper, and my current insurance is less than £200

[BigNeil]

i agree with all these nice people who have taken time to advise you. i have justed started my business and bought 2nd hand as i know that if things do not work out i can still sell the van.

the nice people on here are great for advice and stuff, i have not found any negative people thus far. So going down the route of buying should not be such a bad thing. and you can always disguise the age by putting on a personalised plate, as Fred says the average punter has no idea how old a van is.

Just need to find that resistor!!

[bigmastif]

good thing is m8 even a mk6 can be found at a reasonable price nowadays on ebay and the likes or dare i say it a cat d rite off from the back of the autotrader or buying a solid van from ebay even a solid mk4 can be updated to look like a mk5 with a smiley front end and even make it stand out with clear front indicators small things will make the van look better and even stand out i would have a mk5 with clear lights and a nice paint job over a bland white mk6 or mk7 just my tuppens worth

[FredTransit]

good thing is m8 even a mk6 can be found at a reasonable price nowadays on ebay and the likes or dare i say it a cat d rite off from the back of the autotrader or buying a solid van from ebay even a solid mk4 can be updated to look like a mk5 with a smiley front end and even make it stand out with clear front indicators small things will make the van look better and even stand out i would have a mk5 with clear lights and a nice paint job over a bland white mk6 or mk7 just my tuppens worth

Quite honestly I wouldn't bother with the face lift bit, that's exactly what I am talking about when I say most people won't be able to tell the age of a tidy van without reading the number plate. Save your money and time on the facelift and spend it making sure the van is relyable.

[chadmat]

There are a few on here for sale.
I'm selling one, funnily enough.
Set yourself a budget, and have a look on the internet.
Give yourself a few ideas!
Good luck mate.
We all are a posting away!!!!

[P.Jackson]

thx bud

[alloageorge]

i had a lease van.the fuel pump went on it.
i was expected to get the van to their garage of choice then waited three weeks for it to be fixed.
also the guy who has business use insurance for £200.give me that insurance companies name