10 things to consider when buying a van

There are plenty of decisions to be made when buying a van, some more obvious than others. Before you purchase, it’s worth considering more than just engine capacity and price.

There are 10 things you should think about when shopping around for a new van, from comfort to purchase price to standard safety features. Here’s some handy information to use as a starting point.

Petrol or diesel?

The low-rev/high-torque power delivery of diesel engines makes them better suited to most commercial vehicle applications. They can also use a lot less fuel compared with a petrol engine, helping offset their usually higher initial purchase price. But if you keep your van for the typical 4–5 years and you do less than around 15,000 km annually, the advantage starts to swing back in favour of a petrol engine, especially if you’re not carrying a lot of weight. This is before you take into account the fact that petrol engines are often cheaper to service as well, so be sure to do the sums before you decide.

4WD or RWD?

There are a number of advantages and disadvantages of both four-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive, and a good salesperson will be able to explain the difference and recommend a van with a powertrain that best suits your business. 

In general, 4WD usually offers slightly lower fuel consumption, lower load-in heights and more internal room, while RWD typically gives you better traction, more payload, less sensitivity to load distribution and better unmade road capability.

One side door or two?

Most vans sold in Australia are specified with a single left-hand side door and, in many circumstances, this makes perfect sense. But if you regularly operate in areas where parking is scarce, two doors will provide a lot more parking flexibility, as you can stop close against a wall or another vehicle and unload from the driver side.

If you’re working in alleys or quiet backstreets, you’re not really at much increased risk by working offside. A glazed left-hand door makes reversing easier and definitely much safer. Dual doors also have a higher resale value.

Tailgate or barn doors?

If you plan to load the van from the rear by forklift, barn (swing) doors are almost mandatory, as it’s difficult to get a forklift right up to the back of the vehicle if there is a tailgate in the way.

To load at a loading dock, you’ll need to open the back doors first. Doors that open 270° and lie flat against the sides of the van make reverse parking easier and safer, as a reversing camera mounted on the doors won’t be of any use with the doors open.

On the other hand, an open tailgate provides handy shelter from sun or rain. Make sure it opens high enough — one of the most popular vans on the market has a rear gate that opens to provide only around 175 cm of ground clearance, which means you’ll be ducking even if you’re of average height.

Stay safe

Commercial vehicle safety has come a long way in the past decade and some now have ANCAP or EuroNCAP safety star ratings, which in theory makes them easy to compare. You should always look at the detailed ratings before making a decision.

As there is wide variation in standard safety equipment, ensure that the van you select has the following features as a minimum: dual front airbags, ABS brakes and electronic stability control (ESC). 

Employers have a legal obligation to provide employees with a safe workplace, so ensure the van is fitted with a steel bulkhead between the passenger and cargo spaces. Better still, have a cargo barrier that meets Australian Standard 4034.2, if it is applicable.

Your van as a marketing tool

A van is a mobile billboard, so use it well. A basic signwriting package will set you back as little as $600, while a full-colour, full-vehicle wrap can be had from about $4000. It could be some of the most effective marketing you do. Buying a white van and wrapping it to protect the original paint will maximise the resale value — about 90% of vans sold in Australia are white.

Total cost of ownership

The van with the lowest purchase price rarely has the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO).  TCO is a comprehensive calculation that includes a wide range of costs that show you the economic impact of operating a commercial vehicle. 

Ask the salesperson to calculate the TCO of the van you’re considering so you can make an informed choice about which is the best-value buy for your specific usage profile. Make sure that the estimate includes residual value — while not important to every van buyer, poor resale can seriously skew an otherwise reasonable TCO equation.    

Comfort is king

A quick spin around the block won’t give you too many clues about what a van is like to live with on a full-time basis. When you’re on the road all day, every day, comfort is critical, and that means more than just a comfortable driver’s seat.

Check the range of adjustability and consider who else might drive the van. This includes the next potential owner, as some vans have had a reputation for poor comfort that makes them harder to onsell.

Also consider noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and cabin ventilation — excessive NVH or a cabin full of fumes will leave you feeling tired and stressed at the end of the work day. Check the air-conditioner performance, as big white vans can absorb a lot of heat very quickly. A bulkhead or AC curtain fitted to a cargo barrier will significantly improve AC performance and cut down noise transmitted to the passenger compartment.    

Fuel consumption

The fuel consumption and emission figures provided by manufacturers on all new vehicles (under 3.5 t GVM) are for the vehicle tested to a procedure that has little in common with ‘real world’ use. Even more problematic for commercial vehicle users, these tests are conducted with the vehicle empty. While this ensures that consumers have a level playing field when comparing models, it gives little indication of what the actual consumption in service will be.  

In some cases, especially when towing, fuel use can increase significantly. Count on it being 15–30% higher than the manufacturer test figure, with diesels at the lower end of the range. If you’re looking at buying used and the vehicle is fitted with a trip computer, take the time to check its recorded average fuel consumption. Owners and dealers almost never reset this figure and it can give you an insight into the consumption you can expect. Be warned: if you check the figure and it is very high, it may have been recently reset. It could also have been driven hard, regularly overloaded to (or over) the GVM or done a lot of towing — all of which make checking further a wise move.

Peace of mind

Choosing the right van is important, but what happens during the time you own it is just as important. A vehicle is a complex mechanical device, so at some stage it’ll need maintenance or repair. Whichever brand of van you elect to purchase, consider the following: the service and support provided by the manufacturer and their dealer network; their new vehicle warranty; the availability of extended warranties; service and parts costs; breakdown assistance; and parts availability. Don't forget to check out fleet partners — good commercial brands have a high proportion of fleet business, because fleet managers don’t take chances on the vans they buy, and a good brand is more than just good product. 

Image credit: © lukasvideo/Dollar Photo Club