Using the van as a daily - pro's and cons please.

Probably gonna put the Beetle up for sale at the end of his month, i've decided that because i have to tax and insure the van at the begining of June i should really use it, i only go 9 miles to work and when the weather gets better i'll be cycling in anyway so it seems stupid to pay for 2 vehicles, the van only does about 5mpg less than the car anyway so it makes sense, i'll put 6 months tax on the bus and then at the end of November buy a crappy runabout for the winter, this seems to make more sense to me than runing 2 vehicles while i'm skint, the downside is if the van develops a problem but these things come to try us i'll get round that when it happens. So what disadvantages can you see with me running the van as my daily apart from the obvious of it being harder to park if i go shopping or out for the day, i must admit i'm not keen on leaving it for 10 hours on a railway carpark if i go out for the day on the train but that is the only major problem i can see at the moment.

 

it won't be freezing as it will be summer...... and i will finally fit my propex or reinstall the exchanger that are sat in my shed. I'm more looking at con's that will affect the van with it being old and used daily, i make no secret that the engine and trans isn't the best but i guess unless i had it fixed for the hell of it then it's gonna fail one day so it might as well let go during the summer.....

 

Pros
- in theory the more you use your van - the more reliable it will become ...
- it's fun

Con - None ... (if you do breakdown) make sure you have the bike ready or find a friend to give you a lift).

- just use the wheel clamp when you park it .... I use Pinky as my main vehicle now. and go to the supermarket, shops etc in it.

 

you don't like my beetle then? take your point on all of the con's there, the carpark one is my main bug bear, not so fussed about shopping as i can park a bit away from the shops and i go on a sunday when it's dead anyway, it's mainly the once a month i go on a train trip when i have to leave the car for 10 hours plus i wouldn't like, but i can't keep mollycoddling the thing it's costing a lot of money to be static (i lent money to buy it so in effect it costs me parked up)

 

I can't think of many cons. Like any old vehicle, you'd probably be causing more damage if you laid it up for a long while. Regular runs will serve it well. And why wait for the better weather for cycling? There's nothing stopping you riding in 12-months of the year if you really wanted to. I bet you look great in a kagool. Grrrrrr. So, the bike'll be your back-up vehicle if the bus breaks down. It's a great source of exercise anyway. The only con: I wouldn't want to leave any bus in the same car park day after day.

 

Rick....I use my bus daily as my works van, being an electrician I have shed loads of toot in the back...Pros as far as I've experienced so far are:
1. Still brings a smile to my face after a day's work when driving home
2. Sometimes brings a smile to my customers faces!
3. If anything is about to break on it,it will,so you have to get it fixed pronto and not just leave it to be done another day
4. I arrive at my jobs in style

Cons:
1. Am spending approx £80-£100 a week on fuel just going back and forth
2. Am running it into the ground gradually, especially interior wise
3. can't think of anything else at the moment!!

 

I always had a suspicion he shaved his legs.

 

i'm loving the pink top there, but don't they do it in brown..... pink or brown?

 

howard you have "toot" in the back? that means drugs round here or lady garden....

 

Pro : you can carry your bike in the van in case of breakdowns

Cons : You will shudder in pain when the gritters come out in May due to the freak snow showers

 

pros - you will walk around all day with a smile on your face

cons - people may think you are simple

( OK people , the door is open )

 

I used mine all year round i think like cars they prefer to be used, lets face it theyve survived nearly 40 years.

Con: is fuel on short trips and long trips to a point but fuel will always be a con!!
Con: supermarket door swingers and trolley shuvers
Con: some car parks height restrictions

Pro: just like everyone says they bring a smile to yours and others face when you drive them
Pro: you dont have to pay some garage loads of money for computer to say no if you want it fixed
Pro: Overtaking is a joy
Pro: they are great fun in the snow and ice

If your skint ?money unfortunately is king, rob a bank, just make sure you get Paul Weeding to tune your engine lol.

 

fair points made, to be honest i'm 99% sure i'll give it a go anyway, to be fair the "summer" is the best time to see how reliable it can be as a daily i guess and also if fettling needs doing at least it's light after work..... so depending on how the mot goes next weekend i'll put the beetle up for sale end of may.