Hiya

We're looking for a van, and my options are a van like this (http://www.compucars.co.uk/used-cars/vw/caddy/for-sale/?864040)  or one of these (http://www.compucars.co.uk/used-cars/ford/transit-connect/for-sale/?1925541)

Can anyone recommend either van or give me practical downpoints if you own either?? The vans I am looking at are not these exact 2, and don't have much in price, and I can see pros and cons to both roughly the same amount so I could do with some extra help!

I have 3 BCs, my tallest being 21", and I plan to get cages built in.

I'm not the driver my partner is but we have a Citroen Belingo van for ours. It was 5 yrs old when we bought it and cost us 3.5k.
It is economical and roomy for four.

I'm replacing a kangoo car. I think the citroens are the same sort of size?

The Kangoo and Citroen Berlingo cars are similar however the vans are bigger.

I have a Fiat Doblo maxi van and it's huge (bigger than the old scudo)lol. The standard Doblo van is still a good size and as you have 3 collies it should suit you. The Kangoo is very small and the Belingo is slightly bigger but the long wheel base version is not worth the increased cost of it. I looked at the VW Caddy but again the cost was so high especially for the maxi version. I have my Doblo crated out into 4 compartments which give my lot ample space.

I'm not on the mainland, so my choices are limited. I can't get a fiat doblo :(

I have a peugot partner van, have a fitted cage inside and it has loads of room for my dogs. good to drive.

That's a shame cos I think you would like it. Could you not buy it over here and take it back to Jersey?

With the ferry + tax + converting to J plates it doesn't work out any cheaper then a van from here :(

I would be interested in the answers too as my friend is looking to get that sort of van size, Berlingo, kangoo, Caddy etc, which is the most reliable and trouble free as a used van.

Are you better off getting the window version (thinking less likely to have been hammered as a works van).

My own take going on my Car Mecdhanic Dad is he would avoid Renaults and also liked VW.

My friend doesn't mind if it is panel van or windowed passenger version.  She needs some Dog transport (for 5 or more medium size dogs) that has better fuel economy than her 4x4 3 litre twincab 2001 truck.

I have a Doblo and I used to love it but now it's costing me an arm & a leg to get it fixed, the parts aren't horrendously expensive but it's got so old, things are needing replaced on a monthly basis and I'm almost at that point I'm loathe to drive it.  One big plus point is it's very cheap to insure.

My mechanic said to avoid Renault, Fiat etc. if I am looking to replace the Doblo.  He has suggested the Ford Transit Connect as there's so many on the roads, the parts are cheap and I'd easily get 200,000+ miles out of it - so that's what I'm looking at except I want the Connect Tourneo as I like windows!

I won't touch Renault again - I've had my kangoo 11m and part after part has died!

I am leaning towards the connect I think, because of it being a squarer shape and cheaper to fix, BUT (!) VW have a good reputation and are supposed to be really reliable (athough i'm told parts cost more).

I might see if google can provide MPG and see how that compares?

Ive got a VW caddy van the same as the one in the pic on a 07 plate. I had a T reg one before that for 9 years.

Absolutely love it to bits :)  It carries me and my 6 weims without any problems.  They have a big cage in the back.

Its reliable and economical. The only thing that has been replaced (so far) is a back light bulb.  Other than the usual MOT related things, its been great.

I would definately not drive anything else now.

Its comfortable in the cab, although the dashboard is bigger in this than my previous van, it suits me at 5'3" and I feel safe and secure in it.  However my OH who is 6'2" finds that its abit more of a squash.

I had a hired fiat doblo before Christmas for a few weeks as some numpty decided to drive into the side of my van so the insurance co. got me another van to keep me going with the pooches.  I have to say I couldn't wait for mine to come back.  I didn't like the doblo.

Even the driver that bought my van back for me from the repair shop, said how he'd never driven a Caddy van before and how nice it was to drive.

I'd have loved a Maxi Caddy when I bought this one but it was just that bit too expensive.  Thats next for when i win the lottery :)

I've got the tourneo connect. I love mine as a dog van but it is very juicy, goes through tyres and is rubbish in the snow.
You can get loads in it because its the high top, long wheeled base version but you can't park in multi storey car parks due to it's height.
They are hard to get hold of, we live in Herts and got ours from Manchester.

I'd love the VW Caddy Maxi Life but even secondhand they are outside my budget.  The Transit Connect Tourneo it will have to be. *sigh*  Although I'm finding they are rarer than  hen's teeth!  I think most vans are rubbish in the snow.

Thanks for all the replies, I've ended up going with a NISSAN NV200 SE DCI :) Bit of a curve ball but it was perfect

What year did these start?

2010 I think? I think they were van of the year 2010 for some company/magazine, I've got for a new 2012 model as they were £3k off and I can't find a 2nd hand one on the island

It was International Van of the year 2010

Happy new van, hope you have many years of pleasure in it. The review criticises the small wheels, but think how much cheaper tyres will be :-)

Thanks Chaumsong, I knew it was something! I didn't find the wheels look too small in the flesh so to speak but then again I was busy dancing cause it was tall enough for lovely big cages (off top of my head its 70 odd inches high so splits into 35" cages, or there about) still left me some 'stuff' room and (don't laugh!) had a cupholder!

Oooh, looks lovely tho' the demo driver obviously had no clue about lane discipline lol. Also like the way they show how many bottles of Mistral you can fit in the back lol.

Oooh, looks lovely tho' the demo driver obviously had no clue about lane discipline lol. Also like the way they show how many bottles of Mistral you can fit in the back lol.