What van, farm vehicle?

Chae1

Member
Location
Aberdeenshire
Had a 08 fiesta van up till now. It failed its Mot due to knackered steering rack, so looking for a replacement.

It's just basically a farm runaround, to go for spares. Or If working away from home will leave tractors and take it home. Staff member gets it home in summer when doesn't have cattle to feed where he lives.

Any suggestions what to buy or avoid? Budget of around 5k. Doesn't have to be a van. Don't want something with mega mileage or too old.
 

Chae1

Member
Location
Aberdeenshire
Not tempted to stick another rack on it and run it longer?

We had a load of Fiesta vans around that year on mega miles and they were a cracking van 1.4 TDCis.

I'm not gifted in the workshop. I know what your saying theres plenty with a lot more miles still going. Its only done about 110k miles. I fear its rotten looking at other advisories. I'm still using it around farm and goes fine.
20210311_175907.jpg
 

sahara

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Somerset
I know nothing about them, but, judging by what it can do, where it can go and the level of abuse that our assorted postmen/rally driver wannabe's give them, how about one of the Peugeot Bipper vans? Its about the same size as a Fiesta as well.
 
I'd be more concerned about the "excessive corrosion" - Reads as though it has been running over rough stubbles but no need for a new rack yet, mainly wipers and sensors and rubber service parts - It would be well worth a local motor engineer estimate for the lot but note that you really shouldn't have it on the road even though it is still taxed till June....
 

Chae1

Member
Location
Aberdeenshire
I know nothing about them, but, judging by what it can do, where it can go and the level of abuse that our assorted postmen/rally driver wannabe's give them, how about one of the Peugeot Bipper vans? Its about the same size as a Fiesta as well.
Seeing the way our postman drives his I would be terrified of buying one that had been treated the way he does his.
 

JeepJeep

Member
Trade
Unless you’re worried about claiming the VAT buy a Diesel Golf for about £1500 and run it for a few years. An 08 or 09 mk5 will run and run as long as it’s driven hard!!

There's a 1.9 Tdi BXE engined Mk5 here. Lowish miles at 130k. Apart from Servicing it's only had 3 Springs and a clutch slave.

Does mostly motorway sat at 80-90 and a solid high 40s mpg

It doesn't get quite as much abuse as it did due to the DMF becoming more vocal.
 

Spencer

Member
Location
North West
I quite fancy a Discovery Commercial.. anyone got one as a farm truck?
Hilux is getting ready for swapping and quite a lead time on new ones, so got me thinking.....? :unsure:



Apologies to OP, slightly more than 5k I know....
 

Mur Huwcun

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North West Wales
There's a 1.9 Tdi BXE engined Mk5 here. Lowish miles at 130k. Apart from Servicing it's only had 3 Springs and a clutch slave.

Does mostly motorway sat at 80-90 and a solid high 40s mpg

It doesn't get quite as much abuse as it did due to the DMF becoming more vocal.

got my mk4 to near 260k before I sold it on Facebook! I think it’s still going! I did nothing major to it really. A DMF kit at 120, s/h solid kit at around 230k, timing belt and water pump every 80k and it had some bushes here and there for every MOT for last 5 yrs and welded one sill!!! Only sold it as wanted something with higher towing capacity and some comforts such as hands free etc.

This was last photo I can find!
9489F701-518D-44BD-A53D-9D0EBE89AF1E.jpeg
 

Mur Huwcun

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North West Wales
Those Mk4 PDs were bombroof.
Mine was pre PD, 1.9 with the injector pump. The engine only had a sump and oil and filters!! Was driven hard from day I got it and used to tow aheem heavy stuff aswell from time to time. Blanking the EGR transformed it aswell!!

I kind of still miss it intill I use the cruise control, air con, hands free, multimedia etc in the A4!!! Regret selling it though
 

JeepJeep

Member
Trade
Mine was pre PD, 1.9 with the injector pump. The engine only had a sump and oil and filters!! Was driven hard from day I got it and used to tow aheem heavy stuff aswell from time to time. Blanking the EGR transformed it aswell!!

110 Td then... even better. i I had an Octavia with that motor.
Fantastic car covering decent miles.. Was a Keeper I done all the front arms / Joints with Lemforder and had the parts here for the rear. Written off when a car pulled out on me. Was still on the road as a Taxi in Rhyl with 250k on it.
 

Mur Huwcun

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North West Wales
110 Td then... even better. i I had an Octavia with that motor.
Fantastic car covering decent miles.. Was a Keeper I done all the front arms / Joints with Lemforder and had the parts here for the rear. Written off when a car pulled out on me. Was still on the road as a Taxi in Rhyl with 250k on it.

yes 110 but garage I took it for MOT was convinced it was chipped or something although we never found anything. Bought it at three years old ex Lex leasing with 74k on clock. There was a Octavia taxi local that the speedo stopped working at 350k and he still ran it for another three years and apparently another firm had a yellow one that passed 600k
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 77 43.5%
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    Votes: 28 15.8%
  • 50-75%

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  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 4 2.3%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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