I did a lot of research online to try and find van sizes. The intent was to get a small van that can fit on the windy, small roads in the UK without freaking us out too much. This also gives us better fuel economy. After tons of research, and not a lot of luck on
AutoTrader and
eBay, I was told about a large auction in Wales, the
Merthyr Motors Auction and convinced a friend who knew about auctions to come with to keep me in check. It was a great experience and I was able to see a large amount of different style panel vans. I found that the wife and I loved the Relay/Boxer/Ducato vans. Unfortunately, with VAT and the indemnity charges it was around the same cost as buying privately and the ones being sold were too recent to be within our price range.

When I came home, I decided to give AutoTrader one more look and found this van. It was Saturday night, but I called anyway and the man said he had just posted the add an hour prior. What luck! I scheduled a visit for the next day. I really liked the van, though it seemed a bit beat up in the driver cab. The van seemed to drive perfectly. I couldn't identify anything wrong with it mechanically. I have since found a number of issues, but for the most part they are things I can work on myself. The driver window doesn't roll down, the CD player was wired incorrectly, and the plastic panels in the center have been damaged.
Even with the problems I've discovered so far, I think that I paid near its value. If it was 100 or even 200 GBP above what I should have I'm not about to get upset. It was the perfect fit for what I wanted to do. The photos are the inside and outside as it was when I purchased it.
© 2014 Bryan Otteson. Last update 24-February-2013
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