Right, so amid the maelstrom of working out the details of how to move to Spain in 10 weeks, we will require a way to get the few possessions we will be taking down Iberia Way.
Basically we need something the size of a LWB high roof Transit capable of completing the return journey (even if we buy one, we will bring it back to the UK and flog it). It will need 3 seats, but other than that, we'll look at almost anything.

If we buy, it will have to be under a grand including insurance, etc.

I'm told that with the new law on minibus permits there could be bargains to be had.

Any advice? Thanks, All...

Have you thought about trying a reverse auction service such as this Jim?

Hi Pete,

I've used Anyvan and Shiply with some success before, but one issue here is that it won't be a straightforward delivery (we'll want to use the van to visit my kids on the way back to UK, hence the need for 3 seats) and it won't be in neat boxes, it'll just be "stuff". Also, of course it will include 2 cats...

But if the cat is in the box, how will you know whether... oh, wait, that was Schroedinger.

As you were.

Wanted: Dead and Alive...

Err, I've missed something here! Spain??

Got it now, as you were, away to catch up with the (mis)adventures of Jim!

Err, vans, yes, errm Citroen, Fiat, err big things, boxy, errm auctions, errm yes, well moving on.

Wasn't there are comedy series about 25 years ago called something like 'The Adventures of Lucky Jim'?

The builder who did our bathroom and kitchen a couple of years ago has just sold his 1997 LWB Mitsubishi L3xx for £1500 And believe me, it was a typical builders van.

Not sure what kind of beauty you'll get for a grand.

This Japanese workhorse dog is in your price range.

Or this Surfer dude wagon

This Fiat Pink beauty looks errrrrr..........

Good luck!

I was hoping for something a bit more like this .

No glamour, but plenty of space once the seats are at the scrappers...

As it's a minibus, would you need to mess about re-registering it? Presumably too many seats for your license at the moment?

If you passed your test before 1997 you can drive up to a 16 seater as I used to drive one for my missus's holiday club.

This.

I've had my licence since 82, so should be ok.

It may be a case of beggars not being choosers Jim, but those LDV's are a killer to drive especially on the long journey you have planned. The clutch pedal tends to be really heavy and the pulling power, with heavy load, is pretty poor.

You're right about beggars and choosers, Simon. I'll look at anything, but it may just be anything we can get...
I can't see how renting won't work out way more expensive.

Jim, silly question maybe but have you looked at the van trader website? I have seen a transit Luton with tail lift advertised for £850 in Lowestoft area. Bound to be others dependant on how fussy you want to be?

I've been looking pretty closely at the Van Trader site plus eBay obviously. The more I think about it, the more the minibus solution is attractive. We now think we could leave 5 seats in and take the other 2 kids with us when we move, with still enough space for cats and stuff.
I think £1500 seems a more realistic budget for something capable of what we want, which is disappointing but not unexpected. Plenty of 2000-2002 LWB hi-top 17-seaters around. Ropey, but hopefully good enough to stick on 5k miles and re-sell. If anyone knows of a big van/minibus dealer, I'd be keen to get contact details...

My last work had one of those LDV minibuses in high roof configuration and I had the misfortune to drive it a total of about 3 miles.
That was plenty.

It was almost as nasty to drive as the 02 reg Land Rover 110 they also had there.

Aw, Tim, that's not fair. I don't care what a pile of shocking dross the LDV is, just please don't say it's as bad as a Land Rover; I'm going to have to drive this thing about 3000 miles. On motorways.

I did a few trips in a '98 LDV 16 seater (diesel)
It was alright once you got up to speed and sat at 75/80 no problem. That was with 10 people and suitcases in as well.

Thanks Dazvr6, that's much more what I want to hear!

Must be a different engine then because our one apparently struggled to stay at 60 on the motorway (I never went above 30 in it - a speed I wish I hadn't exceeded in the aforementioned Land Rover :D)

Lets not get ahead of ourselves here!
It took an eternity to get to 80, the gearbox was always a pig to find 3rd and the steering relied on 'using the force' to predict which direction you would actually go!

They are cheap and cheerful but it got the job done.

The essence of this thread!

LDV's are in my experience somewhat agricultural load luggers. Gearbox and clutch failures were common with ours but were always just partial failures (rattly or juddery clutches, losing 1 gear, that kind of thing) the damn things just kept running. Other than that, they did the job fairly well... and we absolutely knock the stuffing out of our fleet.
If I had to buy one privately though... I'd rather a vodka and razor wire enema, myself...

Well, if anyone down Enfield way fancies a look at this one , I'd be very grateful. If it's any good, I'll bid on it!

I've had a similar comment from a mechanic who maintained a fleet of LWB Convoys, though he reckons that for what we want, it will do a decent job.

That looks just the job Jim. Go for it.

Well, it's got the legendary "banana" engine! The bloke sounded very genuine on the phone (he works for a council, not a car dealer!) though he reckoned he had other, better ones for the job, as he described this one as a plugger. The others will be more expensive though. This one looks clean and fairly well-maintained (inspected every 6 weeks), and I think the 8-seat layout may put some people off (football clubs for example) but I'm not sure about the front access. I'm going to head down to his yard next week and see what he's got.

I imagine there is no front passenger seat. I also think he will have a spare for you. Dont forget to ask for the seat belt assembly. Give him a bell and ask,he may get it all done before you arrive.

If not ebay should have some on sale. Good luck with it.