I saw 6 builders arrive for work in one of these years ago when they were new. I was instantly impressed. I thought would make a great vehicle for easy conversion to a camper van and travel around Europe. I was offered a job in Switzerland recently and genuinely toyed with the idea of converting something like this into a cheap motor home and save thousands on rent. Then my wife reminded me I'm a middle aged married man with a bad back who took 3 weeks to assemble ikea wardrobes. She's always dashing my dreams. Yet somehow this is still a dream. Maybe one day.

@quoman2232

Жыл бұрын

Made me chuckle…😀

@thedj5914

Жыл бұрын

Go for it m8t, never to late. Do what makes YOU happy 😜

@Kinadnuf

Жыл бұрын

😂😂

@uamade

Жыл бұрын

you would not be able to live in Switzerland in a van. You would need to register in commune to pay taxes at communal, cantonal and federal level :)

@stevenhull5025

Жыл бұрын

@@uamade There will always be some country putting a spanner in the works for us live in van nomads. Well, I could always use my camouflaged kit in some Swiss woods if need be.

I’m not a huge car fan but I just find this channel very relaxing, and always look forward to the next installment😁 good work Matt

@casinodelonge

Жыл бұрын

same here, I've watched Wheeler Dealers for donkeys years but I'm no car nut, I just enjoy hearing people who know what they're talking about explaining stuff!

@chriskonte1909

Жыл бұрын

And that's absolutely ok, noone has to be into cars. I f you like to drive your car that's ok and if you don't that's fine to. I love car history but I prefer to sit in the passenger seat ^^

I’m an officer in Herts and we use these on intervention/999 response. While in terms of servicing, they’re maintained very well; but, they are brutally ragged around 24/7. I got one up to 122mph yesterday on a blue light run down the A1 for a reported stabbing. She got me and my colleague there safely and that’s all I can ask. The rear portion would’ve been where the cage was for prisoners, which is installed/removed when first bought and sold by us 👍🏻

@HighPeakAutos

Жыл бұрын

😂 exactly. My mate is a GMP officer and after talking to him I wouldn’t ever buy an ex police car

@johnb8956

Жыл бұрын

You know it’s time for an upgrade when a Vauxhall vivaro is quicker than your car 😅

@mikehollowell2245

Жыл бұрын

Matt my 57 plate has 184000 miles currently,gearlinkage came off on me in North Wales when I was working in ruthin I managed to find a b.t. engineer and pinched some cable ties from him and walked back and cable ties my linkage back on the gearbox to limp it home to Liverpool. Mine is the 2.0 diesel. But to be fair I paid £2200 for it 3years ago and it's earned me easily close to £100k or more... I do all my own servicing change the oil and filter every 10,000 miles I'd go anywhere in the u.k. in it without thinking about it. I'd definitely have another one. It is an ex b.t. one... Still got the signal booster Ariel on the windscreen too. Superb van mate I can't knock it.

@LiverpoolTours2023

Жыл бұрын

Ran an ex plod volvo 850 T5 for 13 years at 200k. Didn’t cost me any more in garage parts than the Focus I’m running now. For me ex-plod can be a great purchase if the history is there.

@adamcrane6306

Жыл бұрын

Hello @@HighPeakAutos

I was a Police Officer and used a 62 plate Vivaro until 2019 The back third would’ve had a prisoner cage in it which was just bolted to the vehicle so when that’s been removed it would’ve been completely bare metal hence why the owner has done a bodge job of panelling it out. Then the ‘crew cab’ part would’ve had two rear facing seats in, to transport officers but also so they could keep an eye on the prisoners in the cage that they’d be transporting. Also and funnily enough, I also had to do a very high speed dash in one with the drivers window stuck down as the buttons on the drivers door packed in, so could be a more common problem than you’d imagine!!!!

@HighPeakAutos

Жыл бұрын

Ah ok. Makes sense

@Alexander_l322

Жыл бұрын

Yea that makes sense. The size of it looks about right for a cage, I’ve been in one for a ride. Completely innocent of course.

@arghjayem

Жыл бұрын

@@Alexander_l322 technically legally speaking anyone put in the cage is innocent, it’s up to the courts to assign guilt. Hence why an arrested person is suspected of a crime and not immediately guilty of one.

@howardlake6178

Жыл бұрын

😂

@LeighBrookes

Жыл бұрын

My force also used them as dog vans. The dashboard area looks too tidy for response, 😂all our response ones had knackered vents and the top of the gear knob missing. If it was originally sold as an ex dog-van that might be why it was bought by a dog walker. Also dog vans always had the air vent in the roof in the rear you showed, I can't remember if the ones that carried prisoners had that above the rear cage. It might also explain why factory spec it didn't have the rear seats. All our prisoner carrying ones had the rear bench seat

You should use this to go arrest those Merc executives who want to charge guys for extra horsepower

@HighPeakAutos

Жыл бұрын

😂 exactly. Everything is going that way unfortunately

@cobhamlondon

Жыл бұрын

Daddy Doug said it is okay to charge that

@arghjayem

Жыл бұрын

Or the BMW execs for doing heated seats subscriptions….

@HighPeakAutos

Жыл бұрын

@@arghjayem yeah that’s just greed

@HighPeakAutos

Жыл бұрын

@@cobhamlondon I read that article and see what he’s saying but I disagree

I used to be a taxi driver, and I mainly drove a Mercedes-Benz Vito. I can definitely see the appeal in driving a van. It puts you a little bit above the rest of the traffic, and it's sort of satisfying to weave those boxes through narrow city streets.

I had a Renault Trafic LWB 9-seat minibus which I used as an airport transfer taxi, I owned it for ten years with no problems at all. It covered 200,000 miles and I sold it for a pretty good figure. I’d have it back tomorrow as it was a total pleasure to drive, I’ve even moved a seven foot Chesterfield sofa in it - seats removed, of course.

Ahhhhh good old GMP Van, I am qualified to talk about these, been ragged round town by multiple drivers ( of varying skills) 24/7 52 weeks per year taking the £200 and running was a good call. It’s never stopped for breath in its working life, people used to say to me I bought an ex Police vehicle….they have been looked after and always serviced, I used to sweetly smile and say “ good luck “

@HighPeakAutos

Жыл бұрын

😂 haha exactly. My best mate is a cop and I wouldn’t touch one

love driving a van myself. there is something about driving a vehicle which is basic without all the bells and whistles.

This is what I, and probably the majority of your subscribers like so much about your channel, it’s not all super cars and high end stuff but big standard, “normal” cars.

"It's really important you do one of these checks (car vertical) before you buy a vehicle" Why don't you do it Before you buy one?

I drove a wheelchair van delivering handicapped kids around southern England and because you had to be so smooth with your driving it meant that it was almost relaxing. I still feel the same driving them back here in NZ.

Whoever added the purple bits should be put in prison

@rasherbasher8203

Жыл бұрын

Agreed

I always loved driving our big work vans. I loved the commanding high-up driving position. You had an HGV type view (not quite as high obviously) but with the added benefit of a bit of overtaking power. Good road presence too. The seating position in this type of van is excellent too.

No with you there Matt I’ve got a van for work now after years of cars and I’d have to say i don’t see myself going back to a car anytime soon, I love driving it. And it’s the most useful practical thing I’ve ever had. Keep up the videos!

Lol "i can smell this van already" so many brilliant one liners in this video. Pure comedy gold. thank you Matt, proper cheered me up this and made me laugh.

@HighPeakAutos

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it

Hi Matt, great video. I can totally relate to your comment about enjoying driving a van. I own 2017 Ford Transit Custom and I love driving it. For me personally I love the raised driving position, and weirdly the ‘commercial’ feel to it such as the clunky gear changes and (although it’s something you dis-approve of), the noise and characteristics of the Diesel engine. They’re also in general pretty good to drive especially on a long distance, and also very practical.

@HighPeakAutos

Жыл бұрын

That’s right

@ttmadness34

Жыл бұрын

I miss my van, I had an old 2005 vito for 5 years and I loved driving it, went all round the country in it with the caravan on the back and it never missed a beat. Sold it last year and bought an e class as my lad was getting too big to sit in the middle seat. 🤣 As nice as the e class is I still miss the van.

@alexrobinson2281

Жыл бұрын

Hi Matt , I must agree , I have a 2011 Vivaro and a Disco 4 and much much prefer driving the van ! I look like a drug dealer in my black Disco

@2cat5

Жыл бұрын

Totally agree, we have a Tourneo and I like driving it ... because you have to drive it! however, it's not a lot of effort on a long journey and pretty easy to put it where you want to even around town once you're used to the size.

Taking a moment to show respect after noticing the sticker for fallen service personnel was a decent thing to do.

@HighPeakAutos

Жыл бұрын

Got a bit choked up to be honest

@Ne0ge0X

Жыл бұрын

NGL, with this being car related, I read this as respect to (car) service personnel and be like WTF.

Trafic / vivaro are decent vans if looked after and worked on by people who know what there doing.

Not alone, love a van , so flexible and high and reasonable maintenance as there is usually a bit of space to work and not too over the top electronically . Great review , thanks.

I hear you Matt…I love driving my work van and spend a lot of time in it, think vans now drive every bit as good as a car. Nice change up from the usual reviews 👍

I had one of those. Mine had a Renault badge. Did 100000km from new with no issues. Love your work 👍

Enjoyed this one. I’ve got a Vivaro 1.9 2005, I’ve had it for 5 years and I paid £1000 for it, it’s now done 210000 miles, I service it every 5000 miles, they’re great vans when they’re looked after.

I love driving Hired Vans occasionally, apparently the Vivaro is one of the nicest to drive! The experience changes you as a driver but not in a bad way, more in an ‘experienced’ way and other road users give way to you readily.

The injector fault could be dpf Pipe. Was on mine. Roughly same mileage. My mechanic repaired pipe , saved me buying new dpf

Love the remark about the UK factory building standards lol

These are loads better than the newer 1.6 engined ones. Although they're fairly quiet and the suspension isn't too firm. A/C is decent too

Vans are great to drive, you don’t seem to worry too much about ‘em & usually no frills, nice big boxy shape👍🏼

In my brief stint working for the National Trust, I drove a 2007 ex-BT Vivaro panel van and, I have to say, it drove surprisingly well for what it was. I had a Fiesta at the time, and thought the Vivaro felt quite car-like compared with Ford and Volkswagen vans I'd experienced before that. If I needed a van now, a Vivaro would probably be my go-to.

Great video again Matt. I think I'm the same when I get to drive a hire van moving my children to their next property etc, I just like the driving position and height of most vans. I've heard the newer shape transit is very good.

I had an old Vivara. Loved it. I used it whenever I had to go to London. A marginally battered white transit is the perfect London vehicle. People just get out of your way.

No you're not alone, I love driving a van. I've a 2008 Vivaro, had it 3 months and it's been great so far. Another smashing video as per!

@HighPeakAutos

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Injectors, clutch, gearbox, gear linkages. Work in the commercial trade and these are always an issue. A nice van to drive when they’re fixed ! Been stung a couple of times by not driving them before taking them in part exchange!

A good few years ago I used to know a mechanic who worked at a police vehicle service/repair place in Killingworth (I think), Northumberland. I asked him if ex police cars were worth buying because they always got regular servicing and was tempted by their provenance (if you can't trust the police etc), his advice was: best buys are high ex traffic police cars, they bomb up and down the motorway at high speed but are always at operating temperature, the suspension doesn't get a hard time, the bodywork doesn't get dings and scrapes, they want for nothing, the trade off is they do high milage. He said Panda cars have a hard life and he wouldn't want to buy one himself - I'd think it would be the same for police vans too - lots of cold starts, hard acceleration, hard braking, too fast overt speed bumps, bouncing over curbs and more.

@HighPeakAutos

Жыл бұрын

Yes that’s right.

@StarskyQC

Жыл бұрын

Sadly not quite. The Road Policing ones get a hard life too. Lots of idling then the utter guts kicked out of them, not to mention the 'tactical contact' and frequent visits to body shops. They're all kept for much longer too because of budget cuts. They are all serviced regularly because they have to be rather than having attention lavished on them. Best way to see them is they're a tool. They have had a very hard life so go in with your eyes open and realistic expectation over what you're getting.

@edgeyt1

Жыл бұрын

@@StarskyQC A shame - nothing is ever easy.

I was surprised not to hear Prince playing on the van stereo with those wheels.

You’re definitely not alone Matt, I love driving vans. I think it goes back to my childhood when my dad was a sparky and he’d take me out to sites in the summer holidays to help him. They were Transits though, done a lot of van driving over the years with delivery jobs in Sprinters/Crafters/Boxers etc and they’re just so much fun and nippy for their size.

@HighPeakAutos

Жыл бұрын

Haha glad its not just me. I learned to drive in my dads vans. Always enjoy them

@Smithy1789

Жыл бұрын

@@HighPeakAutos oh cool. First thing I drove was a Freelander at the motor museum in Beaulieu I think, they did a junior driver day you could pay for. Did it when I was 14 I think, can’t remember the first van I drove through sadly.

With these Vauxhall’s/Renault’s make sure to check the injectors because water gets in the engine and it seizes. Liking the new vids .

@rlauder7210

Жыл бұрын

Happened to a good friend of mine. Apparently moisture gathers under the engine cover and then drips down and rusts the injectors into the head. Bin the engine cover pronto.

I wont be surprised if your next video is titled: I BOUGHT A HOVERCRAFT FOR £4000!!! Loving the madness, keep up the good work Matt. 😉👍

I'm considering one of these for local business use, so this is going to come in very handy. Cheers Matt. Funnily enough, their colours are purple.

I used to drive a Vivaro as a works van albeit a long time ago and I really liked how it drove. If I needed a van I'd have one in a heartbeat.

@serenityinside1

Жыл бұрын

Transits reliability abysmal

They're really popular for a reason...brilliant vans. Your mate has picked up a real bargain. Dpf is an easy fix. The rhino roof rack with roller is £400 easily. Top stop lamp is a tenner new Worst expense is turbo.

Enjoying the content on the channel as always well done ✔️

@HighPeakAutos

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Nice one Matt luvin these vids 🙂✌️

I am with you on the Van driving thing but I have no idea why. It just feels cool to do 😊

You are definitely not alone in getting a buzz from driving a van. I think it's the rawness.

Used to travel to school in one of these, they're not too bad actually! VERY slow when they're full to the brim though.

Not a bad van for the year and milage. Loved the review. Very comical. I'd like to drive a van all day it would give you a feeling of doing something industrious. It would be a good workhorse for someone. Thanks for the laughs👍👍

Hi Matt! Pretty sure the one sliding door setup is made so no passenger can end up on the road. I think it originates from the Toyota Previa which also had just one side opened so your kids wont run off on the wrong side. If by any chance that was really used by the police it could also make sense that the arrested person has to go through a policeman to actually leave the vehicle.

Matt, you're not alone. I have no idea what it is about vans, but I love driving them. Trying to convince the wife I need one

That locking wheel nut will be for the spare wheel carrier. There's one normal nut and the locking one. 😊😊

Vans at the moment are selling well and a lot more expensive since lock down as they are turned into campers. I own a lt35 which I paid £800 as it has high miles 180 thou but it has passed 3 mots since I owned it with only some brake pipes replaced. I love driving it more than our car.

'Funny seeing you in a van, Matt - especially with that 'lovely' purple wrap! 😂

I've accompanied prisoners to custody or the hospital in those type of van and the cage had a perspex screen between it and the middle third. The problem was that, when you were facing rearwards, in the reflection you could see out of the front screen which was weird as your eyes told you that you were turning left but your stomach told you that you were turning right. Cue nausea and an overwhelming desire to up chuck. Some of that kind van were used by the dog section with a couple of Spaniels up top and GSD in the lower level.

I've owned two TVP vans and they've both been great. Things to watch out for on them are a broken thermostat control for the heater, seized handbrake arms on the rear calipers as well as gearboxes made of cheese. Other than that, they don't tend to suffer from rust and are easy to repair with cheap parts.

I have heard a few tales of head gaskets giving up on these and the head bolts being very prone to snapping when repairs are attempted Scabbiness in those front wheel arches isn't too bad - on the equivalent Transit that would be a mess - no idea how Ford got away with that for so long

Driving a van isn’t always bad. My work have a Vito (2020) for me to use. Including private use. Which for 6 days week, our car is the odd hour or 2 on a Sunday. So the van does get used, Very much. And there a far worse alternatives than the Vito. I’ve had since new. Great video again Matt.

Even tho its just a Traffic i quite prefer the look with the Vauxhall/Opel badge,theyre so common here along the T5/T6 Transporter,everybody likes them because theyre cheap and decently reliable. Great video as always Matt! :D

I once owned a VW T4 Transporter. When i bought it, it had a Sofa bed in the back and some rudimentary kitchen equipment. When I drove it , it rolled around corners. Then i took out the Sofa bed and kitchen and put in an air bed. Then it accelerated like a Golf GTI. Your average van is pretty quick when un laden.

Love driving vans! Learnt to drive in a few different vans. So easy to drive

Made in France, assembled in Luton, what more could you not want. Blower fan only working on 4 normally means thermostat failure.

Have one of these as a company work van, no electric windows, no electric mirrors, no air con. Original radio broken. 13 plate with coming up to 230k miles. Fitted an aftermarket radio at my expense also a leather steering wheels from a Renault Laguna. Same steering wheels. Work offered me the new Citroen based vivaro. Turned them down. Does at least 100 miles as day, only slight faults have been rotten wiring to the alternator, faulty starter motor and of course broken gear linkage. Good thing with a long wheel base vivaro is it can legally tow a 1.5 ton mini digger and plant trailer. Not many transits can do that.

With you on driving vans Matt, surprisingly enjoyable and the Transit custom I’ve got is spot on. For a Frenchie they’re not too bad, had one for work and put 100k VERY hard miles on it and it only broke down once…..chafed wiring loom under the bonnet, it reckoned it had 70,000 bar in the fuel rail according to recovery guy 🤣. Sacré bleu!

Love driving a van, but having worked for ambulance service for 20 years wouldn’t touch an ex blue light vehicle, it will have spent it’s time being ragged to within an inch of its life, or sat with engine idling for hours. As always another great video

I have a SWB ford Tourneo custom 9 seats , would not swap for a car , so much room , and an easy drive. Nice upload

I also love plodding around in a van , I think your brain instantly accepts you’re not gonna be flying around anytime soon so settles down happily in driving along at a sedate pace

@brianiswrong

Жыл бұрын

This ⬆️⬆️⬆️ I swapped out of my company 19 plate ford focus estate for a 19 plate berlingo van. Other than back seats (not needed as all the kids have flown the nest) the van is a nicer driving position,iam getting 57.8 mpg over the 50'000 miles it's done, driving around nottm,mansfield,newark and Grantham. Other than 100% scratchy plastics it is a decent ' weekend car' with the 3 Rd centre seat if needed. Having to be 10mph slower on single lane and dual carriage ways is no hardship,and climbing into a seat rather than falling into a seat (the new focus seats are so low) add to the comfort.

@philtowle4683

Жыл бұрын

Plod, very apt

Great video. Driving a van is the only positive when moving house, love driving a van! The purple everywhere? Maybe the last owner was a Prince fan?

I deliver food for Sainsburys and I love driving the Merc Sprinter. Vans are fun. My car is renault wind and I love driving that too. Lucky me. You're not alone.

I'm a van fan too. 2008 VW T5 LWB. Love it.

I’ve rented one of these and i think they are quite nice vans and fast when empty! Well fast for a van that is.

how do you get the balance between, youtube, the properties, being a used car dealer, and having some free time? your life is bonkers matt and i mean that in a good way, you got a lot going on for yourself. content is great as always👌👍

@HighPeakAutos

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I don’t have any days off 😂

Nana, your not alone there because I’ve owned 3 vans and with the exception of the Nissan note I bought last Monday I’ve loved them all

The Vivaro formerly known as Prince. Great video again Matt. Who'd have guessed you'd end up selling it to a mate 🤔😃

That would make a great ‘stealth camper’ for some prospective KZreadr….love it!..

Love driving a van. There's something about the high seating position and the weight that makes it feel very pleasant.

Yes Matt I love driving white vans when I can

8:00 😂😂 love the UK slander

I also love driving a van. I have absolutely no need for one, but thoroughly enjoy it when I do 😂

Worth doing up and living in it. Roof rack is so handy.

Hi Matt, I drove 40k miles a year for a maintenance company. I had a Transit with same type of door mirrors as the Vivaro (superb for motorway driving when changing lanes) plus a Vito. When I retired the one thing I missed was was the respect that you had from car drivers because you were 'white van man'. Also other van drivers letting you out at junctions and warning you of plod with a speed camera!

I’m with you Matt, I love driving a van, don’t have one at the minute but it’s on the list 🤞you should’ve kept it for the house Reno’s 🤔

This is great! Can you do more vans pretty please?

Vans for me always. Retired plumber I've hung on to my Toyota hi-ace. Still do a bit of work but weekends I like to go for a drive. Out come the tools , throw some carpet in, a matress and bedding. My food pack, wellies and waterproof and a gas stove. Off I go for a few days.

You know some people actually like the fast and furious because of the nice cars that are in it

The highlight of my day, so far. I love the dry humour, typical motor trade. I like Renault Tragics and the Vivarastar offshoots. They have the same level of reliability* as the insanely expensive VW stuff and are vastly better to drive than the abysmal Transhit and all their reliability nightmares.

Love driving a van ............. couldn't justify owning one, but when I've hired one for various things absolutely love it. A few years ago I worked with a senior manager who could have a flash company car but he chose a van.

Great video matt just enough profit to fill ya range rover up happy dayyyyyys 👍

Gives me goose bumps too.

I recently changed jobs and now drive various reno traffic/master vans from 2017 to 2022, and I enjoy driving them as well. I never thought I'll say that when I first started lol

not alone bud,love driving vans:)))hgv driver here,prefer a van over an estate anyday

I bloody love driving a van, we hire one a few times and blooming love it!!!

I had the same van was totally reliable the gear linkage a bar on top of gearbox has a small bearing squirt of WD40 once a e month stops it from seizing otherwise a gearbox out job.

Agree Matt....Just something about driving a 'white van' ...I had done in my job for over 35 years and loved it, always the aim to try break it though, and of course keep the accelerator pedal at maximum everywhere, as any 'white-van-man' worth his salt would!😄😄 Anyway, good luck with a bit of profit and best move to shift it on! .....Next!!!! 👍👍

@HighPeakAutos

Жыл бұрын

Haha definitely

6:20. And the 3 possibility...a clever cover-up of bodywork damage... 😂

i got an ex police van 1400 still marked up and blue lights but all unplugged has a dog cage in the back and a prisoner cage the other side ex essex police ! amazing van

I would love this van with or without the purple!!

i man great vids, u should do a vid on most reliable vans!

My guess would be that someone has gutted the DPF and possibly blanked off (deleted) the physical EGR valve, but they haven’t bothered to reprogram the ECU. It’s a lazy but common attempt to fix the typical “blocked up due to town mileage” diesel issues…

Prob be the mass air flow sensor for the injector light turbo dpf. Even air filter change would help

I drove 2021 Renault traffic Van and my goodness, I felt so fucking relaxed and I felt like a proper Manly man when driving it. It also gave me a sense of belief and self confidence. I think driving a van and also having a tractor is the best testosterone release a man can do. 🙏🏼

The van could be used as a workman's van such as a gas man's van or a joiners van or a glaziers or a plumbers van or a plasterers van or a small removal van or an engineer van