Choice of car.

Hi.

I am new on here and very keen on starting out as a car only courier, before perhaps progressing to van ownership also.

I have a question concerning car size and it's whether a Fiat 500 would be too small? I am interested in the 1.3 diesel as it does up to 80mpg, hence the consideration. Obviously the rear seats can go down!

I am unsure what sort of loads the car drivers normally take so I would also be interested in finding out.

Many thanks for any feedback.

Andrew

Under no circumstances buy a Fiat I have owned 2 and they had more problems than Burlusconi had Women, I was once given a 500 for a courtesey car there is more room in kellogs cornflake box, would buy a low milleage berlingo/partner.

The larger the vehicle you have, the more you can get in it, the more money you can make. A small van will not cost any more to run than a small car The speed you drive affects fuel consumption the most. I could get 50mpg out of my Sprinter at 50mph. At 70 mph it was below 30mpg. At 80mph it was below 20mpg.

I understand the need for those dipping their toe in the water to keep costs down, but you have to have something that is fit for purpose, so for me thats a small van, or at the very least an estate car.

Anything less is reducing what you can cover

Very useful feedback. Thanks all!

I dont know if this is of any use but if you can look at a peugeot 406, if you can still get good ones. The 2.2 or 110 Hdi. They are so powerful increadably economical and have a fantastic level of creature comforts. I used to have one as a company car a few years ago and would get on average around 50-55 mpg at 80! Really compfy as well. Also they tend not to rot. You have to get the 2.2 or the 110 as the 1.9 and 90 hdi are a bit underpowered. By the way the older 2.2 will run on just about anything. ( I am not joking--even tubs of marg) old chip oil etc

Thanks so much GeeGee. I will certainly look into this suggestion. Many thanks for the heads up on this car.

Don't bother getting a car, the type of work you'll receive will only be very short retail jobs earning you peanuts.

Go straight to buying a small van, one that you can fit a std size pallet in and this will give you the opportunity to do any small van jobs. If you need extra seats then get something like a Combo that can have a rear seat conversion for extra passengers.

I can't agree more with the above statement.

Have you even looked at Car courier insurance? Its more than van even if its the same model type. My rear seat Combo conversion is brilliant the seats fold completely flat into the loading area. My Missus had a 500 as a courtesy car for a few days, she hated it.

Sometimes its down to luck, I use my car but do miss my van, I still manage to get jobs I have just had a quote accepted for a trip to Lyon sometime this next week using my car, granted you can't fit a pallet in one but lots o jobs are small only requiring a car, good luck its a jungle out there.

Mr G Courier service- I take it personally said:

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Oh boy here we go again... mtvan turning into mtcar

Not really lots of courier companies use cars, its about transporting people gooods from A - B my car is averaging 63mpg at the moment with cruise control on last week on a run I averaged 76mpg, I have lots of power, Climate control so when you sweaty folk turn up at your customers hot and bothered in the summer I'm has cool has a cucumber, if I want a kip the seats recline you can't do any of these things in your £500 combo happy motoring.

Rear of the combo is 1.7 mts, inflatable camping bed bungee'd to the roof, drops down in 2 secs, lovely and comfortable cant do that in yer car ;-) Most car work would go on a bike, faster & much more fun, whats this summer thing you talk of?

I don't use cars for my work as a rule. If its documents then they go by motorbike, anything else goes in a van. Too many people in cars without the right insurances if they have insurance in the first place. This is why I don't post work on here. Too risky in my book.

Have been through 2 winters when I had my bike far too cold, I take your point about insurance but insurance companies are good at talking there way out of paying money out for anything god help the day when anybody has to claim on there insurance cos they don't cover you for that many things, what about insurance when have a tender that goes awol or some important documents.

1.6 fiat doblo ;)

Or a renault trafic lwb crew cab 900kgs 1 standard pallet + you can carry 6 people (not at the sametime as the 900kgs though)

Cars were used by many courier companies before car derived vans. Most of my work could be done in a car, I may get 1 pallet a week.

Why not look at the Nemo/Bipper? Larger internally than an early Berlingo cheap to buy and run, I think they will soon be exempt from the 'C' charge,

I always say get the biggest small van or the biggest big van.

I can never understand a courier with a low roof short wheel transit.

We have just bought 2 citroen dispatches and a peugeot expert new shape models.

2 carry 1000kg and the other 1200kg

If the load is 550kg and under we charge small van rate and above we charge transit rate.

They can take 2 pallets too

What about an mx5? Great fuel economy and a fair size boot too

Fiat= Fix It Again Tony!

Why not talk to your local companies and see what they are short of? Subbing is the quickest way to get going and you will by default get advice/on the job training. Myself I run a small van because 90% of my work would go on a bike so it would be daft running a thirsty sprinter to deliver a box that would fit in your pocket! Or lease a van from a hire company? My local one will do a Nemo for £320 a month including insurance etc you will need to sort out some GIT insurance but this is cheapish, that way you can make a more informed decision on what is required and or more importantly whether on not you are up for the job!

MR G... Boyakasha watum Bro.. Me wuz finkin of an MX Bro, but me wanted street cred, so got me some top wheels fir dis job, its kitted out wi 18" amir kans, baddest head player, turb'd ta max, me scooby nox spots off any evo.. respec

Thanks all - really great advice and most appreciated. I am looking at vans and cars. All options are open right now. Really appreciate all the feedback.

Mingeeter Express said:

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MR G... Boyakasha watum Bro.. Me wuz finkin of an MX Bro, but me wanted street cred, so got me some top wheels fir dis job, its kitted out wi 18" amir kans, baddest head player, turb'd ta max, me scooby nox spots off any evo.. Respec

Hi Mingeeter. What's your fuel consumption?