{"id":1735,"date":"2020-12-08T18:29:48","date_gmt":"2020-12-08T17:29:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gonefilming.de\/?p=1735"},"modified":"2021-08-05T12:19:05","modified_gmt":"2021-08-05T10:19:05","slug":"meine-kastenwagensuche-szene-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gonefilming.de\/ca\/2020\/12\/08\/meine-kastenwagensuche-szene-1\/","title":{"rendered":"My Van Search – Take: One"},"content":{"rendered":"

I now have the search engines on varying platforms looking for suitable van candidates and I get plenty – almost too many – results, mostly due to insufficient selection options. And often regarding the desired measurements.
\n<\/span> <\/p> \n

\"\"<\/a>So I get tipped off to an ad by a company called “Europoint Truck&Trailer Parts GmbH<\/strong>” (in spitting distance to the French border) for a 156 in. wheelbase 2014 Iveco Daily (so about 21 ft. long) with A\/C and backup camera and further descriptions such as:<\/span> <\/p> \n

“One-owner German vehicle”<\/strong> and<\/span> <\/p> \n

“regularly shop-maintained”<\/span><\/strong> <\/p> \n

This can has 225,000 miles<\/strong> on the clock and is advertised for \u20ac 7,999 (VAT incl.)<\/strong>. So, realistically, one cannot expect this to be even close to a new vehicle. But with a traceable service record, this may not be a problem – at least on the technical side.<\/span> <\/p> \n

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The Phone Call<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"\"I make the call (on a Saturday). I’d like to view the vehicle on Monday. Since I will travel 220 miles one way, I’d like to be assured, that the van will actually still be there. I am also told, that the accrued miles are “long distance” and this had not been a parcel delivery van. We set a date for Monday noonish.<\/span> <\/p> \n

Claudia is so nice to offer the use of her Toyota C-HR – it has cruise control and is, according to her very personal opinion, safer than my 2003 Yaris puddlejumper. She’s concerned. Well – o.k.<\/span> <\/p> \n

On Sunday night I send off a WhatsApp to the seller with the request to mount dealer plates prior to my arrival, so to be ready for a test drive. The reply: “Ok.”<\/span> <\/p> \n

\"\"

Bild von klimkin<\/a> auf Pixabay<\/a> <\/p> <\/div>\n

Since Instant Teller Machines are not very cooperative at providing larger sums of cash, I will have to frequent my bank on Monday morning. The Corona line extends well beyond the entry out onto the curb, so I brought a warm jacket and a good deal of patience. I arrive at the counter to be told, that my residence permit (this Canadian has no German citizenship) is not “machine-readable” and I could therefore only withdraw \u20ac 2,500 max. My persistence pays off though, their IT did after all accept my ID and I ended up with the desired amount.<\/span> <\/p> \n

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The Journey<\/span><\/h3>\n

The clock was dangerously nearing the 10:00 a.m. mark, so I try to contact the seller. I get the answering machine and leave time and message, that I would arrive between 1 and 3 p.m. If this would cause a problem, I’d like to have a call back. I’m on my way.<\/span> <\/p> \n

The call gets returned a bit later whilst driving and inquiring about my arrival time. He tells me to take my time as he has another appointment and will be back by about 2:30 p.m. No problem – cruise control set to 60 mph.<\/span> <\/p> \n

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The First Impression<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"\"I arrive around 2:15 p.m., overlooking the sign “Entrance” on the garage door I press the doorbell. There is no answer, windows are rather dark – but all the “whities” are in front of the fence, so I can inspect the candidate already – even the sliding door is unlocked.<\/span> <\/p> \n

    \n
  • A hit on the upper right rear roof area, otherwise free of other bruises.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • The bonnet has edge rust (at closer inspection underneath later, this would turn out to be the consistency of puff pastry) and a view past the wheel arches shows major rust on the body joints.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • This continued in the cargo area, pretty worn and all panels (riveted to the body) played witness to a difficult life. <\/span>Rust around the heavily cold-formed metal wheel covers and the floor edges behind the backdoors would most likely involve extensive welding.<\/span> 225,000 miles and 6 years of mistreatment left their marks. O.K. I did expect most of that.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • A look at the brake rotors and touching the edges (this Iveco had mag wheels!) would estimate a wear of about 2-3 mm per side – these brakes were done for.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • The (cheapest) rubber was of 2019 vintage with 3-4 mm tread, the left rear being the exception with 2 mm and it did not belong to the rest of the set.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Spare or repair kit: Obviously not.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n