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Car or Van
At the moment i use my car which is sign written but i’ve been thinking about getting a van that will look more business like.
Does anyone else use a car only and whats your thoughts on it, does is make a difference.Lee
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41 Replies
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personally i think a van looks more professional, as the cowboy sign makers ive seen always splatter their cars with company name….i think its tacky… 😀
nik
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I’ve been using an estate car for a while, mainly for financial reasons, only hiring a van when necessary. I agree with Nik. Not only does a van look more professional but it is a good advert ( I think cowboy is a bit strong though ). I’ll be looking at a van in the new year.
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quote Andy Gorman:( I think cowboy is a bit strong though )
you know what i mean andy…..couldnt think of another word :lol1:
nik
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Personally I can’t see how you can run a sign business using a car, but I guess it depends on what kind of work you do.
I know many on here do use cars.I need to carry a minimum of an 8×4 board so a van is a must.
IMO if your serious about your business a van is definitely the way to go. -
Depends on what you’re doing. 🙂
All we ever have to carry around is a few rolls of vinyl lettering and a squeegee. Of more importance to us is the ability to ferry drivers to collect or deliver vans.
Therefore Focus estate. Unmarked.
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It is a struggle sometimes.
Whilst we are on the subject, I’m open to any recommendations. As Martin says, an 8′ x 4′ is a minimum in the back. So what’s that, SWB transit or bigger?
Nik, I know you’re only teasin’. 😛
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I was told by a big scaffold hire company that it would take a lwb to carry a tower without it sticking out the back.
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quote Andy Gorman:So what’s that, SWB transit or bigger?
Andy, Iv’e got a Peugeot Boxer SWB, an 8×4 lays flat on the floor between the wheel arches. Hired a Transit once and an 8×4 only went in diagonally standing up from what I can remember.
James, I can fit my tower in no trouble, inc the 2 8ft trestle boards depends how high you want to go of course.
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quote Andy Gorman:Nik, I know you’re only teasin’. 😛
i know……… 😉
nik
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John
I take it you only do vehicle graphics thenLee
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I have a swb dub transporter, prob the smallest big van to fit an 8×4 in, but that is corner to corner, standing up, but i dont find that a problem usually. have had a few bigger signs hanging out the back before which is sometimes a pain, but you get by, where theres a will theres a way.
I always wanted a transporter though, as its the whole surf/jetski freestyle lifestyle.image thing for me. 🙂 haha
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I have a Citroen dispatch, with 6 seats and a bulkhead in.
However I have an 8×4 roofrack that holds plenty of sheets in there.
surprisingly roomy vans they are.
Of course the Peugot expert and fiat scudo are identical except a few cosmetics also. -
i bought my renault kangoo for £1200 3 years ago and its been amazing, it came with a roof rack which easily takes 8×4 sheets, cant recommend it enough and is great for fuel too.
graeme
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Steve i have been looking at these vans the Expert, Dispatch or scudo
All the same
Are they good vans?Lee
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Absolutely excellent vans.
I cant fault mine anyway, its fast, reliable, roomy and does everything I need it to do. -
What models yours Steve
Lee
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The 2.0 litre HDi turbo diesel
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Always had a van for business, love them & far prefer driving them to cars (well cars that I can afford:roll:). They also do so much free advertising for you & free in my book is :thumbsup:
I reckon it’s one of those purchases that make you wish you had got one years ago 😀
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Buy a pickup crew cab, dual purpose no need to have a car as well, tax deductable, so cheap motoring
Peter
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Hi Peter
I would love a crew cab pickup but couldn’t get one that new on my budget.
You need a newish model one that looks the part, Unless your thinking of swapping yours for a Stilo 😀Lee
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no need for a new one Lee,
lots of older ones around at reasonable money, especially since the rfl has gone up. but still cheaper than running a car and a van,
Peter -
quote leemorris:John
I take it you only do vehicle graphics thenYup. 😀
Well, that’s not strictly true, we do the odd sign when we are cornered, but on the two or three occasions per year we need a van we can usually beg or borrow one.
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John
Is there any reason you don’t like to do signs, surely a lot of the customers that have their vans done would need some sort of signage from time to time.
More work and profits for you.Lee
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quote leemorris:Is there any reason you don’t like to do signs,
There’s a few reasons Lee, but maybe better on another thread rather than hi-jacking this one.
Or give me a call and I’ll bore you silly. 😀
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Hi Lee
I also have a little Renault Kangoo. I’m not in a position where I can afford to run both a work van and have a car for personal use, so I went for a small van.
Inside is boarded, insulated and carpeted to keep the noise down, its as comfortable as any small car I’ve been in and its super cheap to run. Went to Paris and back last weekend on about 3/4’s of a tank of diesel.
It has a roof rack for carrying trestles, sheet material and signs. I’d say its big enough for about 75% of my work. When I need a bigger van I have an account with a local hire firm who will give me a LWB H-top transit or sprinter for not much more than a round of drinks !It obviously depends on the type of work you are doing, but there is no point on going out and buying a big van unless you really need to.
The money might be better spent on equipment ?Just my thoughts. .
Dave 😀
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funny how customers think.
5 years ago i needed a cheep car replacement i ended up with a £1000 merc est and the customer comments was not in some cases very friendly. even when i told them it was a £1000 run about. cos i had bought a new printer.last year bought a new van £13000 and the customers comments totally different. love the van chris what mpg you getting etc. all favorable.
strange.
anyway vivaro LWB love it
chris
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quote Peter Normington:Buy a pickup crew cab, dual purpose no need to have a car as well, tax deductable, so cheap motoringPeter
Peter
thats subject to its carrying weight, if it is capable of carrying 1000kg then its a commercial less than a 1000kg then it is classed as a car. Modification e.g hard tops etc are deducted from its carrying weight & can see the Tax man taxing it as a car. i believe more changes were imposed this year as well.Kev
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quote Chris Wool:funny how customers think.
5 years ago i needed a cheep car replacement i ended up with a £1000 merc est and the customer comments was not in some cases very friendly. even when i told them it was a £1000 run about. cos i had bought a new printer.last year bought a new van £13000 and the customers comments totally different. love the van chris what mpg you getting etc. all favorable.
strange.
anyway vivaro LWB love it
chris
Only just bought a trafic lwb, I’m as happy as a pig in s….
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quote Kevin Flowers:quote Peter Normington:Buy a pickup crew cab, dual purpose no need to have a car as well, tax deductable, so cheap motoring
Peter
Peter
thats subject to its carrying weight, if it is capable of carrying 1000kg then its a commercial less than a 1000kg then it is classed as a car. Modification e.g hard tops etc are deducted from its carrying weight & can see the Tax man taxing it as a car. i believe more changes were imposed this year as well.Kev
all true Kev, but only if buying new, even so, the point is, its cheaper to have a dual purpose vehicle than 2 separate forms of transport…
especially for a start up, or one man businessPeter
Peter
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quote Peter Normington:no need for a new one Lee,
lots of older ones around at reasonable money, especially since the rfl has gone up. but still cheaper than running a car and a van,
PeterHas your Road Tax gone up Peter? mine is still £115 a year. Just renewed it. 😎
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Chris (and Neil)
quote :anyway vivaro LWB love itcan you get a 10 x 5 sheet in and what sort of mpg do you get as im looking into getting one of these?
Lee – Like you I used a car when I started out, I use an astra van now and even a small van like that makes a big difference.
John
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Idont know if its gone up yet, mine is not listed on dvla database, but the nearest I can find is the pathfinder and that is £300 Pa but mine was purchased before the date specified so not sure till I get the reminder!
it was £170 last time
Peter
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I drive a Renault Traffic everywhere. My son used to complain when I took him to his football matches in the van and I have always jokingly replied "It’s free advertising". I’m currently in the middle of producing a big sign order for an electronics company. It turned out the buyer was the father of one of the other boys in the team. He phoned me to ask If we could do their signs as a result of seeing my van at all the games and realising I was a signmaker.
I reckon every signmaker should have his own van (apart from John of course who everyone assumes is a big cheese in the Mafia) – I probably get as much new business from my van being seen around town as by any other means of advertsing I do.
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quote Phill:apart from John of course who everyone assumes is a big cheese in the Mafia
Careful Phill. Or I’ll have to send the boys up to see you. 😀
quote Phill:I probably get as much new business from my van being seen around town as by any other means of advertising I do.Of course. Isn’t that the line we give to all our potential customers?
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We currently drive a wagon and a sedan. The sedan has no signage on it and the wagon now has a rear window perf.
😛
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quote John Harding:Chris (and Neil)quote :anyway vivaro LWB love it
can you get a 10 x 5 sheet in and what sort of mpg do you get as im looking into getting one of these?
Lee – Like you I used a car when I started out, I use an astra van now and even a small van like that makes a big difference.
John
10×3 the bigest i have put in no bulkhead aprox 220 to 250 miles per £30 worth
chris
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quote Peter Normington:Idont know if its gone up yet, mine is not listed on dvla database, but the nearest I can find is the pathfinder and that is £300 Pa but mine was purchased before the date specified so not sure till I get the reminder!
it was £170 last time
Peter
Think it maybe has gone up a fiver from last year, so will be £175. May have to get a paper round 😀
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quote Brian Hays – Impact:May have to get a paper round 😀
Plenty of those going in Corby.
Unless you’re any good at cleaning bikes. *rofl*
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i do intend to get a van in the near future, but it will have to be one with the additional row of seats, ie more expensive generally.
i currently use a toyota lucida estima, i can fit an 8×4 sheet in when i fold down the two rear rows of seats, and the roof rack takes care of ladders,
while i agree it’s more professional looking, and will prob gain more work by sitting it on the roadside, i think it’s more important to have a goood reputation than a van.
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Hi Hugh
I’ve been looking at these you can get them at a reasonable price and there are a lot a makers doing them now,
Need to check because not all the rear seats fold down.Lee
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I used a car until recently when I bought a van. It would be hard to go back to squishing rolled up vinyl and metal sheet into the back seat of the car and the boot. Roping down large sign boards to the little roof racks was always a bit of a worry. Ever tried to transport a full sheet acrylic sign face with a car? 😮
Everything lays out nice and flat in the back of the van and when the weather is crap it’s great to have the enclosed van space as a small layout area out of the wind. Love my little van 😀
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