MarkSport 
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Registered: 22nd May 09
 
User status: Offline 
 
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I've been having a think about what i want to do career wise and i'm set on my original plan now.since leaving school in 2002 i've always put off being an electrician but now my mates uncle has offered me an apprentiship as long as i get myself on the college night course.Obviously for the first year i would be working with him but I will be lookign for a van for when i have set jobs off him to do myself... 
 
What sort of van would you guys suggest to buy? I know astra mk4 van's have the diesel pump problem so that is off the list.any others?
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DannyB 
Premium Member
 
Registered: 6th Feb 08
 
User status: Offline 
 
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If you're just starting up then get something cheap and cheeful for a year or two, something like an escort van.
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AlunJ 
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Registered: 3rd Apr 07
 Location: Newport 
User status: Offline 
 
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corsa van? combo?
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Leighton 
Member
 
Registered: 21st Feb 01
 Location: Liverpool 
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DAF LF  
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Colin 
Member 
 
Registered: 4th Apr 02
 
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Just use your car until your out your time. Concentrate on doing your tickets, Build up some decent tools, a tradesmans only as good as his gear etc   
 
You wouldnt be going out on jobs yourself for a couple years anyway i'd not expect. At least until youve done your 13th edition, or COMPEX, or city & guilds or whatever you need to be qualified to be a domestic spark!! 
 
 
 
[Edited on 27-12-2009 by Colin]
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MarkSport 
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Registered: 22nd May 09
 
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Was looking at a corsa c combo or astra mk5 but unsure on facts and figures of them.
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MarkSport 
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Registered: 22nd May 09
 
User status: Offline 
 
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quote: Originally posted by Colin 
Just use your car until your out your time. Concentrate on doing your tickets, Build up some decent tools, a tradesmans only as good as his gear etc   
   
 
Thats a good point.the guy who offered me the position has 2 guys under him and hes a contractor for the council so there is always work available   .Thay have there own vans now so for the first year i will be passed around the 3 of them working as a helper for them pickign stuff up along the way.thing is,im tempted to sell my car now and buy a van with putting cash towards it so i would use the van as a daily driver anyway for the first year
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Colin 
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
 
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If you think it will help then go for it.  
 
Or just get a bigger car. Older Audi A6 2.5 TDi Avant or a 5 series touring or something  
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MarkSport 
Member 
 
Registered: 22nd May 09
 
User status: Offline 
 
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cheers colin.I keep looking at c20let's van and fall in love everytime  
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AlunJ 
Member 
 
Registered: 3rd Apr 07
 Location: Newport 
User status: Offline 
 
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as cool as it is, would a c20let van be practical for this sort of thing?
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Ian 
Site Administrator
 
Registered: 28th Aug 99
 Location: Liverpool 
User status: Offline 
 
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c20let is the username of the guy who owns a nice Astra H van. 
 
I would be using the car until it became impractical to do so.  I also wouldn't rule out an Astra G.  Might just come down to what is local and cheap.
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MarkSport 
Member 
 
Registered: 22nd May 09
 
User status: Offline 
 
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Yeah thats true Ian.I've heard that astra g models have a diesel pump problem meaning you have a £700 bill straight away
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Ian 
Site Administrator
 
Registered: 28th Aug 99
 Location: Liverpool 
User status: Offline 
 
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They're not all faulty though are they.  You would need to be unlucky on two counts - finding one with the problem and then not being able to find a bent one to take the bits off.
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Ian 
Site Administrator
 
Registered: 28th Aug 99
 Location: Liverpool 
User status: Offline 
 
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http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320465847555 
 
Faced with a £700 repair bill, I would be buying this, selling the headlights and being up on the day.
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Ian 
Site Administrator
 
Registered: 28th Aug 99
 Location: Liverpool 
User status: Offline 
 
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http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280440784174 
 
They even do them with fetching stripes.
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G.C.M 
Member 
 
Registered: 14th Aug 03
 Location: Sunderland 
User status: Offline 
 
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You shouldnt need more than your car mate, i can fit all sorts in mine. bundles of 10 mini trunking and plastic conduit will fit in a corsa with a bit effort,metal containment and 2 and 3 compartment trunking wont but it can be delivered by wholesalers to site or your boss will surely have a van it can be picked up in? Toolbox and coils of cable are fine in the boot aswell 
 
Oh..and the course isnt that bad, just put the effort in and enjoy the money once your qualified   
 
[Edited on 27-12-2009 by G.C.M]
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MarkSport 
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Registered: 22nd May 09
 
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I drive an mg zs atm which seems big enough but its a 1.8 petrol so not very good on fuel.im thinking diesle for better economy
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G.C.M 
Member 
 
Registered: 14th Aug 03
 Location: Sunderland 
User status: Offline 
 
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quote: Originally posted by MarkSport 
I drive an mg zs atm which seems big enough but its a 1.8 petrol so not very good on fuel.im thinking diesle for better economy 
   
 
Ah, if ya thinkin of changing anyway then, the lads at my work have got corsa combo's and some estate cars as their own workhorses for fiddle work etc and they are plenty big enough for gear, our work vans are transit connects with ladder rack and a tube (for trunking, conduit) on the roof - good luck with the work mate
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mattk 
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Registered: 27th Feb 06
 Location: St. Helens  
User status: Offline 
 
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Astra vans are too small, combos are a nice size, but be a man and get a transit
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Rich H 
Member 
 
Registered: 26th Oct 05
 Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3 
User status: Offline 
 
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Connect.
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MarkSport 
Member 
 
Registered: 22nd May 09
 
User status: Offline 
 
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the connect does seem a good size.i remember looking at yours rich at pvs  
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Nic Barnes 
Member 
 
Registered: 5th Apr 04
 Location: nowhere near ginger people 
User status: Offline 
 
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connects are awesome. search for ag motorsport transit connect for inspiration.............
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MarkSport 
Member 
 
Registered: 22nd May 09
 
User status: Offline 
 
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"runs to google"  
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DannyB 
Premium Member
 
Registered: 6th Feb 08
 
User status: Offline 
 
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I use a Connect at work, good van, nice to drive, engine is gutless though.
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Nic Barnes 
Member 
 
Registered: 5th Apr 04
 Location: nowhere near ginger people 
User status: Offline 
 
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quote: Originally posted by MarkSport 
"runs to google"   
   
 
http://passionford.com/forum/restorations-rebuilds-and-projects/238454-connect-4-by-four-cossie.html 
 
tbh  
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