Anyone with experience from previous recessions/hard times

Zippydragon

Well-Known Member
Random question:
Any of you guys who have been around longer than me know from experience on past recessions/depressions etc if VAT on commercial vehicles got dropped as an incentive for people to buy them? Reason I ask is I am forking out a fair bit keeping my van at the moment(seems everything is going at once) and am looking at something new with a warranty. Downside is that I am looking at 18k plus vat minimum which I can’t afford to do. I know the vat isnt huge but it will take the sting out of it
 
Random question:
Any of you guys who have been around longer than me know from experience on past recessions/depressions etc if VAT on commercial vehicles got dropped as an incentive for people to buy them? Reason I ask is I am forking out a fair bit keeping my van at the moment(seems everything is going at once) and am looking at something new with a warranty. Downside is that I am looking at 18k plus vat minimum which I can’t afford to do. I know the vat isnt huge but it will take the sting out of it
Was it you that got @superspread old van?
 
Unfortunately I can remember several recessions and life even before VAT. Govt has never reduced VAT to incentivise buying, only where they have been embarrassed by taxing essentials to life, like food, fuel, and tampons.
My van is falling to bits and I'm in the same bind but with less money. Forget warranties, they are all insurance based, with the related problems of getting a claim under them. If you wany you can buy your own warranty. Just pay less for a van and bank the rest for repairs as and when they will happen. Using local garages, van breakers and avoiding main dealerships keeps the costs down.
 
I’m 45 years old mate and been plastering for near enough 20 years I first thought it’s best to have a van a banger and not have the monthly instalments of a brand new or nearly new for years but I was wrong so my advice is you are a fool to ourselves if you don’t get a new one on finance because in five to ten years time you look back and think what an idiot I was not to
New means u have no problems going to work and getting what you need to earn money, any business (which you are mate ) needs decent shoes to walk
 
@Vincey - If you are sure you will have enough regular income to afford it then yes that's viable and I agree.
Big But though - I've been thru several recessions, long strikes, and no-work/low work periods, some of it my own fault/limits aswell, but I get the impression Zippy is in maybe the same position.

Getting into debt like that/losing your transport if it is repo'd, totally screws your ability to recover or ride the storm. A complete banger is not good but neither is too big a commitment for your own abilities and circumstances.
 
for the last 30years or so i have only purchased Toyota or Mazda these are a workhorse that have never let me down.
as regards my car, a Jaguar sports car i only let jaguar specialist work on it as most bog standard garages have not got a clue.
the last episode it needed repair to the suspension. the local garage told me to order a lump of metal about £200, i went to my local jag main dealer they said you don't need that lump of metal just the rubber grommet £9.
 
for the last 30years or so i have only purchased Toyota or Mazda these are a workhorse that have never let me down.
as regards my car, a Jaguar sports car i only let jaguar specialist work on it as most bog standard garages have not got a clue.
the last episode it needed repair to the suspension. the local garage told me to order a lump of metal about £200, i went to my local jag main dealer they said you don't need that lump of metal just the rubber grommet £9.
Agreed, its horses for courses. Vans are a bit more mainstream but the manufacturers are trying hard to freeze the little guys out of the business. Do you go main dealership for your vans or have you got a reliable local fixer?
 
Casper your man to ask about vans! Just getting me tools oot
ford-transit-custom-campervan.jpg
 
im sure they reduced VAT 15% in 2008 to stimulate spending, that’s about as good as it gets in that department.
 
@Vincey - If you are sure you will have enough regular income to afford it then yes that's viable and I agree.
Big But though - I've been thru several recessions, long strikes, and no-work/low work periods, some of it my own fault/limits aswell, but I get the impression Zippy is in maybe the same position.

Getting into debt like that/losing your transport if it is repo'd, totally screws your ability to recover or ride the storm. A complete banger is not good but neither is too big a commitment for your own abilities and circumstances.
True life’s a gamble mate , I believe we have to roll the dice and go for it and then fail rather than go through our whole life’s thinking maybe
Best of luck this year lads
 
Agreed, its horses for courses. Vans are a bit more mainstream but the manufacturers are trying hard to freeze the little guys out of the business. Do you go main dealership for your vans or have you got a reliable local fixer?

works vehicle and wife Toyota rav4 goes to a local garage who i have a straight cash understanding with.
 
I save £50 a month and go to van sales and buy 3 year old van and run for 10+ years and scrap it. Then do that again..

Seen ups and downs over 30 years and hate loans or credit cards but needs must sometimes. Currently no loans. Can't see me ever getting one either... Do bash credit card, but I pay back only to hit it again when needed.
 
Let's hope those with big out lay have bundles put away cus this time next year a lot will be homeless!! Plastering is going to be the last thing folks will worry about!!
This will be survival of the fittest this time!!
Forget your fancy vans!! 2021 is going to be tough full lock down coming tonight @8oclock of boris!! Or it's in the post!!!
Ladies and gents I wish you the best of luck!! It's going to be a very bumpy ride coming!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Let's hope those with big out lay have bundles put away cus this time next year a lot will be homeless!! Plastering is going to be the last thing folks will worry about!!
This will be survival of the fittest this time!!
Forget your fancy vans!! 2021 is going to be tough full lock down coming tonight @8oclock of boris!! Or it's in the post!!!
Ladies and gents I wish you the best of luck!! It's going to be a very bumpy ride coming!!!!!!!!!!!
Did my tape arrive yet?
 
Let's hope those with big out lay have bundles put away cus this time next year a lot will be homeless!! Plastering is going to be the last thing folks will worry about!!
This will be survival of the fittest this time!!
Forget your fancy vans!! 2021 is going to be tough full lock down coming tonight @8oclock of boris!! Or it's in the post!!!
Ladies and gents I wish you the best of luck!! It's going to be a very bumpy ride coming!!!!!!!!!!!
Loads of work out there and will continue to be so... to much scaremongering going on. Worked all the way through the first 2 lockdowns and will continue to do so through this one
 
Loads of work out there and will continue to be so... to much scaremongering going on. Worked all the way through the first 2 lockdowns and will continue to do so through this one
That's just the over flow kid!!
Come back in six months and you will see!!
I've been here many times and this has all the signs of the worst on record!! Hope I'm wrong!!!
 
Hard times get rid of all the wankers in the game, if you can't afford a van you perhaps need to work for someone on the cards, being a self employed plasterer might not suit you, it's not for everyone just work for a firm.
 
I've always bought vans wen they are around 4 years old and it has worked for me never had issues with Transits...

Having said that a diesel ban or move to electric vehicles now would completely de value my van and I would have been better on finance.
 
Lost my power steering tootling down the road last day of work before Christmas! Serpentine belt had f**k*d off somewhere down the road. That was fun!

solved my exasperation with my unexplained battery problem though. Every cloud!
 
Ive been plastering 35years.
I went on my own 15years ago. I bought a brand new crew van was 23k. But got it for 17.
Had it 3 years sold it lost 7k.
Ok it never went wrong . But still servicing.
Since then ive not spent more than 2k on one.
Last one 900. Had it 18 months . Not cost a penny.
Im into cars and pretty good at not getting caught out.
My advice. If your only using it for work dont bother with new. If you need it for a family or 2nd car maybe.
If you lease and do fair mileage you'll be looking at 250 plus a month.
 
the worst recession that i have been through was under the John Major government. times where bad.
one national developer who was building local stopped work. sent out an email to suppliers and workforce that they would have to wait 6 months for their payment. after the 6 month wait they posted out cheques post dated for 3 months time. now they winge that they cannot find trades.

prices in London EWI work fell so much it was not worth starting. plasterers working there said a half of a slice is better then no slice.
because of our home position 20 min drive to Harwich. we left to work in the Netherlands. we could catch the ferry at 9.30pm and arrive in Rotterdam at 6.30 am next morning. do a 14 day shift and return home for a long weekend.
the dutch government started a large building program so that the country where able to ride the recession.
 
I've always bought vans wen they are around 4 years old and it has worked for me never had issues with Transits...

Having said that a diesel ban or move to electric vehicles now would completely de value my van and I would have been better on finance.
The old
Shape transits were brilliant, not sure about the
New ones
 
All the central locking, fuel pump , needs 2 new keys , coolant bottle has split
In it. Believe it or not apart from
The keys everything else has happened within 10 days. The karma gods have really barebacked me dry this xmas lol
Blimey, sorry to hear that , I’ve got a mechanic who only does vitos if u want his number ? Have you done many miles since you had it off me?
 
Blimey, sorry to hear that , I’ve got a mechanic who only does vitos if u want his number ? Have you done many miles since you had it off me?
I’ve only done 5k in it. Luck of the draw mate
It can happen to any motor, I’ve got a good mechanic, just doing as much as I can , the keys are £130 a piece
 
I’ve only done 5k in it. Luck of the draw mate
It can happen to any motor, I’ve got a good mechanic, just doing as much as I can , the keys are £130 a piece
Like I said at the time , I wouldn’t of sold anything to you or anyone if I knew things were wrong, I spose it’s 8 years old this year so there’s gonna be a few things,just a blow especially this time of year, hope it’s been a good drive /van for you other than these things
 
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