Fleet Policy – Low Cost Vans

[kwatt]

I was thinking….

(Now Kev and Dave are running for cover! :lol:)

Would there be any interest in a policy for the aquisition of vans and a deal, probably direct with a manufacturer or large supplier, to get vehicles?

Having one or two contacts in the industry, this is how it works in essense… 😉

You pick a manufacturer that has the range required to cover most, if not all, your needs. Both Renault and Vauxhall spring to mind as prime contenders as most of the others have holes in their ranges.

You then do what they call a single brand deal where you agree to only use that one manufacturer, which is some ways is a pian but many a large fleet does likewise for the reason below…

Anything between 30{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} and 45{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} off the new ticket price!

Of course that is dependent on the number of people that sign up for it and also the number of vehicles that we’re talking about here but I did this through Fiat a few years back (okay, not my brightest ever move with hindsight, Fiat I mean :?) but we were typically saving about 35{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} per vehicle, any vehicle, in the range.

Food for thought and, if there’s enough interest in it, I’ll look into what can be done.

K.

[admin]

Re: Fleet Policy – Low Cost Vans

Speaking only for me….
I would not touch Citroen Vans again ever. To say the service support was crap is putting it mildly. When the fuel pump failed(2.0 HDI engined Berlingo at 25,000 miles) it took them 5 weeks to get one making the 100,000 mile free parts guarantee totally worthless as no loan vehicle was available…ever. Oh and it broke down again within 2 days and then took 2 weeks to repair due to staff issues.

As there are so many of us, we probably can post bad reports about all makes….or can we?

My current vehicle (a Vito) has done 27500 miles on its front tyres and they ain’t done yet by a long way. Lasted longer than a french fuel pump and don’t cost £800.00 a throw.

The idea is great….would like to read other views on this, as we would also be able to do a deal on the finance factoring if the support is there.

Kevin

[johnmac11]

Re: Fleet Policy – Low Cost Vans

This is one I would go with but the only problem I can see is getting a consensus on a manufacturer. Is it possible to attach a survey to this thread to get the feel of the members.

I currently have 2 Transit Connects and 7 Kangoos and the Kangoos outperform the Fords in MPG, tyre costs and servicing and they have the added bonus of only needing serviced every 18k so my vote would be for Renault.

John

[kwatt]

Re: Fleet Policy – Low Cost Vans

Hence the reason I didn’t mention them, Peugeot or Ford.

Citreon get slated for spares and reliability.

Peugeot are known to the salesmen as “boomerangs” especially the 309.

Ford, well even the guys that sell them ain’t keen on driving them.

Of course each to their own but I’ll go with the people in the trade thanks as, given that my other half works for a company that sells one or two cars a year I’ll trust them. 😉

You can of course, like any machine, have troubles but that’s just the chance you take. What I will say is that when you do a deal like this you tend to recieve attention pretty damned fast as they really do not want to loose that kind of business. Oh and the servicing costs usually drop as well.

Kev, Merc is too rich methinks the closest you’d get is VW and Audi don’t do vans so just don’t go there eh? 😆

K.

[admin]

Re: Fleet Policy – Low Cost Vans

ok…as we are chatting on this lets expand the thread and the interest..

My Vito @ 27500 miles has had one service at the main dealers, £99.00…yeah thats what it cost. No breakdowns, no punctures, no parts at all, no tyres, just oil and water. The service took 2 hours and I had the vehicle back. Its coming up to 16 months old now and due a 30,000 mile service, it might need something I suppose but it works so well, I don’t know what?

So lets hear yours.

I also have 2 connects and a transit that are excellent too, all are LX with air con and cd ect(i spoil my engineers) with a lowly citreon trailing in last place(1.9d) which has a dicky power steering pump(guess what £500.00 for a new one, pump that is), be glad when I trade it in as its also the worst for MPG.

Kevin

[kwatt]

Re: Fleet Policy – Low Cost Vans

Dunno I only run one Kangoo now and a Scenic as vehicles, both have been fine bar a dodgy wiper motor on the Kangoo that was replaced under warranty. Mind you, if the last driver had stopped hitting other things on the road it’s life would have been easier! But all told the Kangoo has been excellent, very little went wrong with the three we’ve had, costs were very low on servicing and the £6.5K to buy you just can’t argue with. They also seem to return 35mpg plus even when hammered.

I have no doubt whatsoever that teh Merc is a good van, but it is also not at all cheap up front. Running costs I would tend to agree are probably much of a muchness in the class, but I do not run a van that size as I have no need to and therefore no need for the additional expense either.

Ford, well it’s a pet hate really and the trade don’t like them much either. That said I am informed that many people like the Connect.

Horses for courses really and if a multi-brand deal is what is required I may just have the ability to come up trumps there as some people here have already found out. 😉

K.

[Mark]

Re: Fleet Policy – Low Cost Vans

I HAVE MOVED FROM MERC’S TO RENAULT’S AS AFTER ABOUT 50K THE FRONT TRANSMISSION STARTS TO FAIL AND IS ONLY AVALIBLE AS A COMPLETE UNIT COSTING ABOUT 350 POUNDS.JUST BOUGHT TWO NEW TRAFFIC’S BOTH WITH ELECTRIC PACKS AND AIR CON FOR UNDER 10800 .BUT IF BUYING VECHILES COLLECTIVELY CAN BE ARRANGED THEN I WOULD CERTIANLY CONSIDER IT.

[kwatt]

Re: Fleet Policy – Low Cost Vans

Okay so do you want me to look at a deal that offers multiple brands? You won’t save just as much but it should still offer a considerable amount off as well as special finance rates on vehicles.

For commercials I would have to agree that right now, Renault seem the best in the area and currently leading the field on costs as well as what you get for the money up front in the van. Also remember that they manufacture the Traffic and badge it up for Vauxhall as well. 😕

Fiat are out, crap range.

VW and Merc I think would be too rich for a lot of people and they ain’t cheap to buy or service (IMO, no offence Kev but we all know you’re a snob :lol:) so they’re out.

Vauxhall, well if you want anything bigger than an Astra you may as well just save a few bob and get one direct from Renault! 😆

Ford, still a contender despite my grave reservations (bad experiences with Ford and their crap dealers) as the Connect seems a popular choice as well as not a bad van from what I can gather but I think Renaut pip them on price.

Let’s face it you can’t buy a bad vehicle these days, they are only really seperated by degrees of good and cost along with who’s prepared to do a deal.

Any more comments and any more that want to look into this?

K.

[Kirk]

Re: Fleet Policy – Low Cost Vans

I run 3 new Traffics full electric and air con, well two are 15 months old and have done 42& 46 thousand miles both needed new disc pads front and rear at 36000 both had new front tyres at 40000, the one I drive returns 750 to 85 litres the other two about 650 to 80 litres.

The one at 46000 is now showing a fault at 2500 revs then clears itself hopefully it is just needing rebooted but does sound bad will find out Tues.

The other one is 9 months old and done 16000 no problems my son runs the Nissan version and it has just been as reliable.

A friend has one and it has had 4 gearboxes but he does drive badly and it is company van.

Kirk

[Seamy]

Re: Fleet Policy – Low Cost Vans

I’ve a Transit at the minute but it’s not a patch on the VW transporter, they’re made of steel!
I learned this when i broke several drill bits trying to fix shelving in one.

[kwatt]

A bit of a report back on this one because, as usual, we have to work at the speed of others and not our speed with these things. 😕

Anyway, we may well have a deal on contract hire and all the other methods of payment including low finance rates etc. I’m awaiting more information but I hope to have something in place in the next month or so that will give us access to major fleet pricing for small companies, including one-off purchases of cars and vans which should allow you to choose from virtually any make.

As soon as I have the details I’ll post it.

And no, I don’t forget these things. 😉

K.

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