I need a small cargo vehicle

Elias Graves

Elias Graves

Common misfit
For work. Here's what I've looked at...

Honda Element. Just adequate cargo space but it has a flat floor and low load height. Good mileage. Good reliability. Can carry passengers, which is a plus. Kinda pricy on the used market.

2003-Honda-Element-3.jpg



Ford Transit Connect. More capacity, can also get a five passenger version. Low load height. Good mileage, awful power. It's a real putt putt machine. Ugly as hell.

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Nissan NV200. Haven't seen one yet but there's no back seat at all. Basically the nissan version of the transit. These will be the exclusive taxi of NYC next year.

nuovo-nissan-nv200_1.jpg
 
I need at least 40" opening through the door. Minivans don't hold up well under commercial use.
Any other ideas?
 
Small pickup with a camper shell? Dunno if that's even an option for you, but just another train of thought. .
 
I looked at the Honda element because of the hose out floor for moving cargo and gear... but since my wife was going to be driving it too, it wasn't very plush inside.

Consumer reports had top marks on the Lexus RX300 and I found a large number of them on the used market so I was able to be picky and find the color and options I wanted (heated leather seats, power sun roof, CD changer, etc) in out price range.

mint_1999_lexus_rx300_4wd_96635313940553127.jpg


I can fit all the gear I need for a gig inside with the back seats folded down and I strap the lighting truss to the roof.
 
My next vehicle will be a Hyundai (for the obvious reasons) but they don't make a single vehicle that would be right for your needs.
 
Eventually I want one of these for my gigging vehicle.

79161754.jpg


I want to pimp out the front half with full fold leather seats and flat panel TV for travel/tailgating/sleeping, then have a wall (or door) that partitions off the back half which would be for speakers, amps, guitar, and all the rest of the gear. DANCING-banana
 
baimun said:
I looked at the Honda element because of the hose out floor for moving cargo and gear... but since my wife was going to be driving it too, it wasn't very plush inside.

Consumer reports had top marks on the Lexus RX300 and I found a large number of them on the used market so I was able to be picky and find the color and options I wanted (heated leather seats, power sun roof, CD changer, etc) in out price range.

mint_1999_lexus_rx300_4wd_96635313940553127.jpg


I can fit all the gear I need for a gig inside with the back seats folded down and I strap the lighting truss to the roof.
Click to expand...

I like the SUVs but they nearly all have a back door that's too short for my needs. Apart from the Element, the only ones big enough in the back are full size jobs and they use too much fuel. Heck, the Element has a taller back door than my current grand caravan.
 
baimun said:
Eventually I want one of these for my gigging vehicle.

79161754.jpg


I want to pimp out the front half with full fold leather seats and flat panel TV for travel/tailgating/sleeping, then have a wall (or door) that partitions off the back half which would be for speakers, amps, guitar, and all the rest of the gear. DANCING-banana
Click to expand...

Awesome but too big. I hear Mercedes is bringing one of their smaller ones over next year. But that's too late.
I could get something cheap now and wait it out, I suppose.
 
The Elements are awesome but they have a huge secondary market, almost a cult following, so used prices for the low-mileage 2011's are sometimes close to what the new ones sold for. It's kinda crazy, my gf was looking into them but she'd want something a bit fancier on the inside anyway.
 
FenderPusher said:
The Elements are awesome but they have a huge secondary market, almost a cult following, so used prices for the low-mileage 2011's are sometimes close to what the new ones sold for. It's kinda crazy, my gf was looking into them but she'd want something a bit fancier on the inside anyway.
Click to expand...

They are expensive. The utilitarian interior is actually ideal for me usin it for work.
My only beef with it is it needs more power.
I found a 2010 model with less than 30,000 miles on it here that looks good.
 
Jeep Wranglers are like that (cult following keeping used resale high).

I'd like one of the 4 doors with the soft top, but I'm not going to fucking pay 20 grand for a used Jeep.
 
The transits are everywhere here these days. Very popular.... Seems like many tradesmen are switching from the sprinters to transits when they don't need the extra space the sprinter provides.
 
We have a fleet of both the Sprinters and Elements at work (event production company). We use the elements mainly for small deliveries, site surveys and crew transport. The Sprinters are fantastic to work out of, and very pleasant to drive. I looked into buying an Element for personal use, but ended up with a better equipped Outback for less money.
 
That nissan is REALLY UGLY, uglier than the transit. Did you definitely get the job like starting date and everything or where are you at?
(p.s. the one with ocd and who fears change has made a post on the new forum.)
 
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