I've got to get a windsurfing vehicle and I'm recently arrived. In the UK, a T4 or T5 seems to be what people get but here there aren't many about.

I've looked at Toyota Hiaces but I'm a little scared about what will happen if someone crashes into me - the crumple zone seems to consist of the bones in my legs...

Any ideas?

Ford Transit for sure, the are great vans for windsurfing. You put everything in them, have a bed up top and your gear down the bottom.

We had a hiace with a sodding big bullbar on the front plus the spare wheel. One day a Sigma was kind enough to pull out in front and act as a crumple zone.
not a scratch on the van ,minor issue on the bull bar

If you're looking for a van with a nose/bonnet/engine at front (much larger crumple zone than 'forward control' vans) try:

Mitsubishi WA Express walk-thru
http://www.drive.com.au/used-cars/MITSUBISHI/EXPRESS/Melbourne/detail.aspx?id=8632629&lid=8632629&pg=1&pp=13&d=0&nv=1&SG=123905152&pt=1

I've got one like this, drives like a car and there are quite a few around (first came out in 1995 and discontinued in 2005). Parts are reasonably easy to get either new or used, though new parts can sometimes be expensive through dealers.

Hiace SBV (SBV an acronym for 'semi-bonnet van')
Have driven one and is more like driving a 'delivery van' than the WA Express walk-thru. Considered pretty reliable though probably not as many on the road as WA Express so parts may be harder to come by.

Volkswagon Transporter T4/T5
Not sure whether they're called VW Transporters in UK though there are many around oz. Almost brought one before getting the WA Express, got cold feet when told how much it would cost to fix a faulty auto trans and managed to escape from the deal with my deposit! I've heard that parts are much more expensive than parts for Toyota, Mitsubishi or Ford vans. Suggest you do some research before you buy one in oz!

Go to:
www.redbook.com.au/used-cars/results.aspx?N=0+4294939368+4294966879&Ns=p_Make_String|0||p_ClassificationType_String|0||p_Family_String|0||p_Year_String|1||p_SequenceNum_Int32|0&TabId=1407342

Ford Transit
Owned a highly modified 69 Ford Transit 6cyl for 15 years! Great purpose built windsurfing vehicle running on LPG. Later models are very common though I think they're somewhat boring, too much like driving a delivery van!

Check out oz used car values for the above vans at: www.redbook.com.au/

Suggest you search for used vans listed in Melbourne Trading Post and at: www.carsales.com.au/

Yeah, forgot to mention Delicas as well as Mercedes Benz Vitos as I have no real experience with either, there are some other vans of this style (bonnet van with engine in front) that would probably work great as a reliable windsurfing vehicle.

The Mitsubishi Delicas have basically the same van body as the Mitsubishi Starwagon and WA Express walk-thru and some parts are interchangeable, though they do have different engines and transmissions (possibly Pajero sourced?).

Check out Delica club website:
http://www.delicaclub.com/portal.php?sid=84d0d502b66f5d76854a7277d0e7dd7c

Mobydisc said...

I if you hit anything else the other car would probably go underneath the cabin and engine bay, a benefit of having a commanding driving position.

A good reason not to get one unless you live in the bush.

Hey ginger pom,

Another thing to consider, if you're planning to do some medium-long distance travelling whilst in oz then get either a van running on 'duel-fuel' (petrol with LPG conversion) or a very economical diesel van as the price of fuel in some parts of oz (particularly northern WA) is around $1.80 per litre and may go higher (was around $2 a litre a few months ago).

For example, my WA Express van on petrol (2.4 auto) is relatively thirsty costing around $150 to do 800 km (around 12 litres per/100km). I've heard that the 5 speed diesel Transits are very economical getting around 8L/100km on the highway (35mpg in 'old' language), and the guy I talked to said he was towing a trailer as well! Haven't heard much about fuel economy figures for other diesel vans, also diesel fuel prices per litre are considerably more than petrol in some places.

Ian K said...

Mobydisc said...

I if you hit anything else the other car would probably go underneath the cabin and engine bay, a benefit of having a commanding driving position.

A good reason not to get one unless you live in the bush.

Yeah maybe but I wanted a 4WD van and the Delicas are cheap and cheeful.

There is talk on the Delica site about LPG injection into its diesel motor. Apparently it gives better combustion leading to improved economy plus a cleaner running motor, leading to fewer oil changes.

The commanding driving position is a real plus in city traffic. Over in Perth I was driving a hire car Lancer and it was so different not being able to see over the top of everyone else.

Go the Delicas!!!
Or you could hang up yer sails and start kiting then u'd only need a Honda CB90