I currently have a v reg transit SWB which is the smiley but i find it a bit small as i do a fair few flat removals which involves 3 runs usually now this doesn't bother me to much but it wastes time and money and as i'm becoming busier i guess i could do with saving time etc so i have opted to get a bigger van now i have my eye on two at the min one is a v reg LWB hightop smiley and the other is an x reg new shape same size about 2000 miles difference and £50 price diff

Both vans need a slight tidy up bodywise but nothing major i just hate dents or rust I know it's a transit but hey i can repair them myself so no great costs involved i hear nothing but good things about my van bananna engine pretty bullet proof etc which makes me think reliability but with the new shape ones they look more modern etc but there front wheel drive and thinking of reliability etc which i've heard can be an issue so what do you guys think if it was your money would you go for the newer van or stick to the smiley with the bananna engine cheers

 

balls to that. buy a luton

 

ditto, with a tail lift, as to banana engines stick with the banana, from what ive noticed the later duratec engines might go well, but the diesel pumps seem to pack-up regularly, and when they do you will need a second mortgage

 

I run the van as my car as well at the minute now the whole removal thing was accidental and i really don't like them but money is money my neighbour moans like fuck about the van imagine a luton lol

i'm thinking of day to day running costs and i treck up the motorway alot to go see the old chap which is 200 miles so that is another reason i'm not thinking luton plus the insurance is ker ching on one too

 

Tail lift i need the exercise

 

The newer vans are a bit more fuel efficient but I'd ignore the front wheel drive ones and get a rear wheel drive.

 

smiley one for me all the way see if you can find a turbo diesel one!

 

i got fwd (53 plate 320,000miles) and rwd transit (06 plate 150,000miles), rwd is 115bhp 2400cc and piss slow and stuggles to get 400 miles to a tank
fwd is 85bhp 2000cc, totally anialates the other van and can get 500 from the tank

 

smiley for me with the bannana engine, i run mine on neat veg oil so it saves plenty on fuel aswell