OV9

As the prospect of some major renovation work looms, I'm considering swapping my car for something a bit more utilitarian for a year or so while I get the projects completed. Ideally want it to be London-friendly which means compact-ish and happy to pootle around town doing low-speed journeys. Will be used for shifting building junk and picking up materials when needed, and will double up as my car for occasional motorway journeys to see family etc or if I decide to do a silly YouTube challenge again.

A bit of quick research last night around compact vans led me to the VW Caddy Maxi which looks like a sound choice and one of the more car-like vans. Budget is <£6-8k max (That's a hard upper limit on the budget BTW, I know what you lot are like )

Does anyone have any experience of driving these, or know what they're like? If they're loosely based on the Mk5 Golf I figured they're proabably a pretty sound bet.

Example:
https://ebay.us/m/JFlZJF

You need to be able to fit an 8x4 sheet on the roof or in the back.

Dave!

a 2011 diesel isn’t going to be euro 6 - is that an issue for you in London?

V8Granite wrote: Mon May 11, 2026 6:28 pm You need to be able to fit an 8x4 sheet on the roof or in the back.

A few sheets is possible on the diagonal or if they're ply, with a little bending and wiggling. Alternatively, roof bars are an option too.

Rich B wrote: Mon May 11, 2026 6:32 pm a 2011 diesel isn’t going to be euro 6 - is that an issue for you in London?

Ahhh yeah my bad, that's an older 1.6, if I get the 2.0 then it's Euro6

Don’t be boring
https://ebay.us/m/1pxy8J

This one won’t be hopelessly slow
https://ebay.us/m/HWqxGm

Just like a Ute, but shitter in every way.
https://ebay.us/m/v8Loss

wtf is this
https://ebay.us/m/S1Lb6U

I wouldn’t bother getting one with back seats unless you know you’ll need them tbh.

Should lower it and put it on 19s though. You and Rich can start a roomy vag appreciators club.

Gavster wrote: Mon May 11, 2026 7:20 pm

V8Granite wrote: Mon May 11, 2026 6:28 pm You need to be able to fit an 8x4 sheet on the roof or in the back.

A few sheets is possible on the diagonal or if they're ply, with a little bending and wiggling. Alternatively, roof bars are an option too.

Rich B wrote: Mon May 11, 2026 6:32 pm a 2011 diesel isn’t going to be euro 6 - is that an issue for you in London?

Ahhh yeah my bad, that's an older 1.6, if I get the 2.0 then it's Euro6

yeah, worth going for euro 6 if you’re only planning on keeping it for a couple of years - resale will be severely affected otherwise and the ULEZ zone is bloody huge these days.

i also found it useful across Europe - driving in Paris and Brussels as well as Bristol and birmingham were all cheap/free with the van being euro 6.

If you get the 1.6 you also need to budget for replacing injectors, they’re a known issue

Mito Man wrote: Mon May 11, 2026 7:28 pm
wtf is this
https://ebay.us/m/S1Lb6U

That needs tubbed rear raches, massive tyres and a huge V8 with blower sticking out the bonnet