First Transit Choice

[School Boy]

Hi, i've been talking to a few of you and having a transit as a first car seems to be a fun idea, practicle and not too expensive.
The great thing is my dad (who will be buying it) thinks its a really good idea as well . So, what would be the best one to go for? Obviously it would have to be a SWB and insurance would be a major factor.
I'm not to clued up on the engine and weights, combined with the models, makes it a complicated and confusing choice.
Having one with rev counter would be nice, but I suppose I could fit one anyway.

So, which one would you recommend?

Cheers guys

[hdegroot]

All the mk6/7 models have a rev counter, i suggest you get a T330 or T350, that looks nice with the uprated suspension. I dont see what can go wrong, RWD/FWD both should be fine 90bhp or more should be more then enough when your always "unloaded"

[School Boy]

Sorry, I should have put this in Buyer guide shoudnt I

Thaks anyway

[sc_BK]

All the mk6/7 models have a rev counter

no they don't

My mk6 is/was my first "car". Insurance would be about half the price of some crappy little saxo type car, and a heck of a lot more practical.

[Guy88]

My first car was a MK3 transit 80 petrol. Crap on fuel good on insurance.

Now i got a N reg smily SWB 80 diesel Bloody amazing tool rev conuter too

Now looking for a LWB SHT or a Long cube

[Guy88]

As for weights and engines

MK3-5 had either 1.6 petrol, 2.0 petrol 2.5 Diesel or 2.5 turbo diesel

MK6 has either petrol (cant remember size), 2.0 diesel (FWD) or 2.4 diesel (RWD)

As for weights

I will put MK6 weights in brackets

80 (T260) payload is 800KG
100 (T280) payload is 1000kg
120 (T300) Payload is 1200kg
150 (T330) Payload is 1500kg
190 (T350) payload is 1900 kg (LWB only)
230 (T430) Payload is 2300kg (DRW and HGV)

[moojuice]

To give some idea on insurance prices, when I passed my test almost 2 yrs ago, I paid 1350 quid for 3rd party cover for a K reg escort van, then the price droped to 571 quid 3rd party after my 1st year. Then upgraded to a W reg yr 2000 mk5 (low top, swb, 76ps -the lowest power in diesel and 120 -1.2 tonnes carrying capacity) ex BT and paid an extra 46 quid - bargain!

So it's not unfeasable to have a van as a first vehicle. As for which one to go for, you might find it sensible to get an old banger for your first years motoring, and use it as a learning experience. It doesnt really matter so much if you bump it as its old, it'll be cheaper to insure AND you'll appreciate it more when you come to upgrade!

[xbox360]

If you decide to change from a van to a car in the future you may not be able to transfer your no claims discount

[Uncle festa]

I'm not sure, so don't quote me, but I think they were going to restrict new driver's to engine size. Since most Tranny's have a 2.0 petrol or 2.5 diesel, you may have trouble with the restriction if it came into affect.

I would personally choose a mk3 or 4 swb diesel. Depending on your budget, you should be able to pick up a late mk4 or early mk5 for around a grand.

As for insurance, if your going to get your own policy then your better off going for an insurer who specialise in young drivers and perfomance cars. It's surprising how much you can save with this type of company with a standard vehicle.

[djswampy]

Quotes I got:

Third party fire and theft on my little escort estate 1.4 K reg. £1758

Third Party fire and theft on my chunky Mk5 transit 2.5Di 80 swb low roof £935.

I can do a hell of a lot more damage to others with my van than the escort. I can park the escort tidier than the van.

However I don't have a single insurance policy for my stuff. All our cars/van in the house are insured with a company called Tradex which is ideal if your not going to be using it for business purposes.
http://www.tradexinsurance.co.uk/produc ... tegory=356 Their homefleet policy is worth looking at. our entire policy is only £1380, cheaper than one policy for the escort.

[rover]

Dont get me wrong here but if your dad splashes out on a Mk6 as your first car he needs his head looking at....

Get yourself a crappy beat up Mk5 to start with, you will thrash it, you will have minor scuffles with posts/walls/kirbs/other cars etc etc...

Then in six months time when you have done all the silly things new drivers do you can upgrade, if the cash is available of course

Rover.

Just to add to what swampy t said....

Tradex wont allow you to carry a NCD on to any other policy, so if you need to build a no claims forget them........also if a cyclist rides into the side of you they will pay up even when its not your fault (yes I am talking from peronal experience!!!)

[Terry]

I tried to get my daughter, 23 at the time, insured on my 2.3 Scorpio estate, they (Norwich Union) wouldn't cover her. But I put her on my '03 Transit 2.4 Turbo Diesel (1 year old at the time),£80.00 extra with..... Norwich Union..... go figure !!

[djswampy]

Tradex wont allow you to carry a NCD on to any other policy, so if you need to build a no claims forget them........also if a cyclist rides into the side of you they will pay up even when its not your fault (yes I am talking from peronal experience!!!)

But, they say that all our drivers earn our own NCD. My sister and her husband have a Tradex policy. Their focus got hit and the repairs were easy to sort out. The only complaint she had was that you an only deal with them between 9-5 Monday to Friday. Well that's the hours most offices work. Plus you get people who know what they are on about not just some idiot who doesn't want to be there.

[Guy88]

I picked my MK5 up SWB lo roof for a grand

[Luke]

main question would be how much cash do you/he want to spend

but a swb 80 mk3/4/5 would probly be the best - especially if you wanted to learn a bit of mechanics on it too