VW Caddy van purchase and insurance

[elainemary]

V excited that I’m getting close to buying a VW caddy van. Need some advice pls re value and insurance considerations

Come from a family of VW fanatics, starting with my dad spending most of my youth doing up Beetles, specialising in rebuilding and fine tuning carburettors, so any van had to be a VW! Also read Steve Donohoe (used to be Fat shark) has just bought one too.

Been looking for ages and prices have rocketed and can’t justify the nearly new ones. Have sourced (via a local commercial van dealer) a 2006 Silver, automatic, with 80k miles. He’s bought it from a local authority down south where he’s had good vehicles previous. It’s passed it’s MOT and he’s bringing it to show me on Friday.

My questions please to any of you beeks out there with trading / van purchasing experience:

-What do you think it’s worth assuming it’s in good nick? I trust the guy who’s selling but I want a good, fair price

-Is there anything I need to consider when asking my insurer for a price to insure? Eg should I be disclosing it’s for beekeeping or not? I’m not a business, just a keen hobbyist.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Also read Steve Donohoe (used to be Fat shark)

no he didn't

 

[Erichalfbee]

Fat shark is Prof David Evans Steve is Walrus

 

[blackcloud]

You can make the insurance as complicated as you like (someone else will if you don't want to)
Normal Social Domestic Pleasure cover should do the trick provided your use is not traceable as any commercial venture -that's what most companies will be looking for
Safety wise carrying bees is no different to anything else- the container is leakproof and securely restrained
Yes they are livestock but do you buy specialist cover to take your tortoise to the vet?
Its normally a case of specialist cover being available for you to buy rather than you actually needing it.
Adrian Flux sorted my vintage motorcycle,car and tractor cover very nicely.

Have you tried a VW forum for watch outs?
I have had Citroen vans for a couple of decades- the after market seems more concerned with things that show so a FSH and good bodywork will help sell it when you've done with it.
That mileage is beginning to get high so a FSH is a nice to have,ply lined cargo hold is useful.
Test drive essential as is Full 12 month MOT -emissions standards are tightening up.
Find a quiet car park and do some powered circles at full steering lock and listen for bumping rattle fresh m th front wheels -CV joints worn.


My late uncle was a rascal,a beekeeper and a VW beetle nut.

 

[The Poot]

Hi, the mileage is low for a van of that age, so try to verify it by getting a service record. Ask where the MOT was done - was it the seller? Ask for a copy of MOT documents to see if there are any advisory items which will need doing before the next MOT. MOTs are now on line with no certificate but advisory items are usually printed out.
Go on line with the registration number to search for clues - you may find adverts for the van for sale prior to your guy getting it. I did this recently and prevented making a mistake.
Is it diesel or petrol? Check out its future viability if diesel - it may not comply with future emissions regulations. Ask your local VW dealer about this before making a decision.
Other than that, as Blackcloud says it’s down to bodywork and general condition. Haggle. After over 40 years in the motor trade I can assure you his opening price will not be what he needs or expects, but would like to “get away with”
Caddy vans are excellent workhorses. The diesel technology has changed significantly since 2006, so just try to be ascertain its future viability.

 

[jeff33]

For a start I would look at something else than a caddy as you are paying twice as much just because of the badge!! Fiat and Citroen make some really good ones at a fraction of the price, especially 2nd hand.

 

[JamezF]

Fat shark is Prof David Evans Steve is Walrus

Fat shark, Walrus, easily confused

James

 

[Nige.Coll]

Overrated German rubbish.
80k it's about due to blow up then.

 

[elainemary]

Overrated German rubbish.
80k it's about due to blow up then.

Have you owned one? VWs can keep going to over 150k miles with the right care and maintenance. Just checked with one of my sisters who had a VW golf and it did 220k miles! Another friend had a German Audi and that kept going for over 200k miles. The bodywork goes before the engine. German manufacturing and quality standards are good, they’ve built a worldwide reputation on it. I’m buying German and asking for advice on pricing and insurance rather than should I consider a VW

Here’s the line up at my dads funeral. His moto was always “you get what you pay for” (he was a tough but v fair negotiator). I will also trust his opinion on German manufacturing build quality

 

[elainemary]

Fat shark is Prof David Evans Steve is Walrus

Ah yes got mixed up. Steve has bought a caddy and did a recent blog which reinforced my decision to buy. Have seen him come on the forum in his own name recently unless that’s another SD.

 

[elainemary]

You can make the insurance as complicated as you like (someone else will if you don't want to)
Normal Social Domestic Pleasure cover should do the trick provided your use is not traceable as any commercial venture -that's what most companies will be looking for
Safety wise carrying bees is no different to anything else- the container is leakproof and securely restrained
Yes they are livestock but do you buy specialist cover to take your tortoise to the vet?
Its normally a case of specialist cover being available for you to buy rather than you actually needing it.
Adrian Flux sorted my vintage motorcycle,car and tractor cover very nicely.

Have you tried a VW forum for watch outs?
I have had Citroen vans for a couple of decades- the after market seems more concerned with things that show so a FSH and good bodywork will help sell it when you've done with it.
That mileage is beginning to get high so a FSH is a nice to have,ply lined cargo hold is useful.
Test drive essential as is Full 12 month MOT -emissions standards are tightening up.
Find a quiet car park and do some powered circles at full steering lock and listen for bumping rattle fresh m th front wheels -CV joints worn.


My late uncle was a rascal,a beekeeper and a VW beetle nut.

Thanks that’s v good advice

 

[elainemary]

Hi, the mileage is low for a van of that age, so try to verify it by getting a service record. Ask where the MOT was done - was it the seller? Ask for a copy of MOT documents to see if there are any advisory items which will need doing before the next MOT. MOTs are now on line with no certificate but advisory items are usually printed out.
Go on line with the registration number to search for clues - you may find adverts for the van for sale prior to your guy getting it. I did this recently and prevented making a mistake.
Is it diesel or petrol? Check out its future viability if diesel - it may not comply with future emissions regulations. Ask your local VW dealer about this before making a decision.
Other than that, as Blackcloud says it’s down to bodywork and general condition. Haggle. After over 40 years in the motor trade I can assure you his opening price will not be what he needs or expects, but would like to “get away with”
Caddy vans are excellent workhorses. The diesel technology has changed significantly since 2006, so just try to be ascertain its future viability.

Great advice Thankyou
I love a good negotiation

 

[Swarm]

Be aware that second hand cars are holding their price at the moment so you may not get much negotiation.

 

[pargyle]

Hi, the mileage is low for a van of that age, so try to verify it by getting a service record. Ask where the MOT was done - was it the seller? Ask for a copy of MOT documents to see if there are any advisory items which will need doing before the next MOT. MOTs are now on line with no certificate but advisory items are usually printed out.
Go on line with the registration number to search for clues - you may find adverts for the van for sale prior to your guy getting it. I did this recently and prevented making a mistake.
Is it diesel or petrol? Check out its future viability if diesel - it may not comply with future emissions regulations. Ask your local VW dealer about this before making a decision.
Other than that, as Blackcloud says it’s down to bodywork and general condition. Haggle. After over 40 years in the motor trade I can assure you his opening price will not be what he needs or expects, but would like to “get away with”
Caddy vans are excellent workhorses. The diesel technology has changed significantly since 2006, so just try to be ascertain its future viability.

You can obtain the MOT History and associated mileages for any vehicle with just the registration number:

https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history
And it's free .... (Not like me to be giving things away is it ?)

 

[pargyle]

Be aware that second hand cars are holding their price at the moment so you may not get much negotiation.

Yes ... and actually going up in some cases ...

 

[Erichalfbee]

And campers even more so. We have decided we can do without the motorhome and downsize to a van with almost the same specs but a more drive able vehicle. It’s three years old and we’ve been offered more partex than we paid for it.

 

[Swarm]

New car market has been seriously affected by lack of parts and such, second hand vehicles are like gold dust and yes, worth more than they were a couple of years ago.

 

[wightbees]

Go on the mot check gov website and put the registration in and you will get all the mot history and advisory list plus mileage.
if Diesel then it’s low mileage and good for a lot more yet . Petrol I stay clear of as it’s towards the end and problems will start to show .
Lots of looking on the web and Facebook market place will give you a rough price guide too.
I’m commercial side of things with a lot of years using Vans . Not for beekeeping, I use landrover for this with nice trailer)

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

For a start I would look at something else than a caddy as you are paying twice as much just because of the badge!! Fiat and Citroen make some really good ones at a fraction of the price, especially 2nd hand.

Wouldn't touch a fiat personally, even from new some of their diesel engines sound
Ready to explode.

Stick with ford, usually stand up to the previously abusive owner, and if they do go wrong, parts are cheap-ish.
2.4/2.2 have week valve trains and little ends, if we had one in the garage we would remove and get a service exchange motor, used to work out cheaper for the customer that way.

 

[blackcloud]

're high mileages-with frequent fluid and filter changing you can get most engines well beyond the average that's why verifiable previous servicing should be evident
Our works van was a Mercedes Sprinter with a very credible 280k on the clock
But boy did you know about it- if it was a horse you would have put it out of its misery.
What's high to some isn't for others,and anecdotal reputation means nothing now the Chinese have monopolized

Our new Merc is very fragile by comparison and showing its age at 110k- lots of journeys to and from the repair shop