Might end up selling my van

[LSi]

I run a breakdown/recovery service in Leicestershire, and of late, things haven't been doing that well, infact things have been doing very badly. Today I was told that I may be able to have a job as a courier driver for a local company, if I did that then I'd use a company van and would have no need for mine. Nothing is set in stone yet but it's an option, and with no sign of business improving, it's a safe option too. Add to that, a couple of local garages have expressed interest in buying the van for their own recovery use, should I wish to sell it.

I'm truely dreadful when it comes to things like this. I don't know what my van would be worth in the current climate.

It's a 1998 ex RAC TD 150, I'm sure alot of you will know it as Madmark's old van. It's on 117k (I thought it was more than that till I just looked), got all the usual RAC goodies, c/locking, electric mirrors, tailgate with rear wash wipe and heated screen, bulkhead etc. It's also got the original RAC beacons, a set of aux flashers in the back window, spotlights on the tailgate and for the side door, interior loadbay lights, reverse parking sensors with dash display, and is generally in VGC. I'd put 12months MOT on it if I were to let it go, and probably another 6months tax as it'll be up soon.

This isn't a for sale thread, nothing's for sale yet... but what would be the current market price in people's opinions?

[LSi]

Couple of pics:

[madmark]

she is such good nick for a mk5 ,if i needed one i would have it back no problems!
as for value still gota be a good £1600 plus !

[LSi]

Cheers Mark. I'd happily keep it, but the current state of affairs means I'm getting less work, and I thought breakdown/recovery was a safe trade!

The bottom line is as a van for work it's top notch, but if the work isn't there, there's no need for the van

A garage local to me has expressed interest, with all the lights on at a figure over 2k, so I just have to decide what I want to do.

[bigmastif]

shame to see another ecovery boy looking to leave the trade

just seems to be a sign of the times...... industry is real cut throat i know
a few big glasgow firms feeling the pinch some more than others.....
hope it all works out for you if you do leave the trade and hope ya get a good
run at it with the courier firm and of course top money for a top van

[LSi]

Is the way of things mate

That said, atleast with me pulling out with the capital I have now, rather than let it dwindle down to nothing, I stand a good chance of saving it, adding to it, and re-investing it when the market opens up again, in a couple of years so the forecasts tell us.

That'll give me a chance to pass a CPC exam and apply for an operators license, and open up to all recovery work.

No doubt in that scenario I'd be happy to have the van, but I can't just keep it in mothballs for a couple of years until that happens.

[bigmastif]

well mate i hope ya do hang in there

the industry needs smaller ops......... well who else cleans up when the big motor clubs f it up

[jolly olly]

Tell me about it that's why when i got the chance of a proper job i grabbed it with both hands there's a lot to be said for a steady wage (never thought i would be saying that after 13yrs of being self employed) but why do you need to sell the van can you not keep it for the odd private weekend job (especial with the price of beer these days) as i have kept mine as its worth a lot more to me than what i could get for her, or will you get the other van to take home?

[LSi]

I guess it's the thought that I wouldn't actually need it. I'd use the car to be traveling about in, which makes sense, and the van would just be sitting for most of the time, apart from the odd occasion when a van comes in handy.

[Luke]

sell the car instead i dont have a car just a van or 2

p.s. nice van

[jolly olly]

I would chose the van over the car any day to

[LSi]

I'll keep my sanity and use the car when I just want to get about lol. It's easier to park, better on fuel, quieter, better equiped, more comfortable and quicker.

I've had two solid offers for the van, and I've practically took the new job, but am still in two minds about selling the van, it has it's uses, and if I did sell it, it wouldn't be because I needed the money.

Decisions

[chep]

I'll keep my sanity and use the car when I just want to get about lol. It's easier to park, better on fuel, quieter, better equiped, more comfortable and quicker.

I've had two solid offers for the van, and I've practically took the new job, but am still in two minds about selling the van, it has it's uses, and if I did sell it, it wouldn't be because I needed the money.

Decisions

honestly mate dnt sell it i sold my 1999 swb 120 a few years bk it was in mint condition n didnt really need to sell it but a neighbour kept on pestering me to sell it to him so stupidly i did cause i hardly used it at the time regretted it ever since to mate matters worse the guy ended turning it ino a ice cream van , i spoke to the coach builder who did it n he said it was 1 of the niceset vans he has ever had to cut up even he didnt want to do it so belive me mate dnt sell it cause in a few months time u will be kicking yourself especially with such a good looking mk5 as that