Peter works in a liquor store in Queens, NY his bosses own an aging PT Cruiser that he uses to deliver the booze. He wants to help them find a new ride that is roomy enough for delivery purposes but isn’t too big for NYC parking. What car should they buy?
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Here is the scenario:
I work delivery for a liquor store in NYC. My bosses are older and looking to replace their old PT cruiser that’s falling apart everywhere. It acts as both their personal vehicle and the store delivery vehicle, so it has to be large enough for 15 cases of various wine and liquor, but small enough to park in Queens. One of them is over 6 feet tall and has bad knees so cars that don’t offer enough room like the Honda fit are out.
They are trying to spend less than twenty grand for something short length, plenty of cargo space, room for the driver.
Quick Facts:
Budget: Up to $20,000
Location: Queens, NY
Daily Driver: Yes
Wants: Big cargo area, comfortable, easy to park
Doesn’t want: Something too big
Expert 1: Tom McParland – Mini Van
If you are regularly transporting cases of liquor, you need something with a big cargo hold and ideally power sliding doors that will make for much easier loading/unloading during city parking. Of course, this narrows your field to van-type vehicles, and while your standard passenger minivan choices should work fine, I imagine you want something a tad more maneuverable. This is precisely the problem that the Ford Transit Connect tries to solve. With its higher seating position that should be comfortable for the older owners and massive storage space, there is a reason the Transit Connect is the vehicle of choice for a lot of contractors and delivery drivers.
Inventory is relatively plentiful at sub $20,000 but sourcing a quality example can prove tricky, as a lot of these cars are going to be in rough condition and likely sold by questionable dealers. I would recommend avoiding most of the independent used car lots near the city and casting your net outward. Here is a nice red one at a Ford store upstate. CarFax does mention a minor accident history which usually indicates a cosmetic repair and may not be a dealbreaker.
Expert 2: Bradley Brownell – Economy Delivered
If the PT Boozer Cruiser is big enough, then I would say you don’t need anything bigger than that. Delivering in the city is a slog, and both you and your employer will appreciate a car that needs less gasoline, so I’m going to suggest a modern Prius. But you need the bigger hatch, so definitely opt for the Prius V. It’s not as attractive or as dynamically impressive as the new Prius, but it’s half the price.
Unlike the Ford Transit Connect, these are easy to find in good shape, because they’ll run forever with basically no maintenance. And pretty much every single one of them is under $20,000, so just find the best one in your area and keep driving it for the next quarter-million delivery miles without a care in the world. This one in Brooklyn is $13,800 with 122,000 miles on it, fresh tires, and a recent inspection. Go get it.
Expert 3: José Rodríguez Jr. – The Euro Hauler
Peter, your bosses could just get a Transit, or Prius V or even a Mazda5 and be done with it, but since this vehicle will also be for personal use, I’d prefer something with some personality. Size is a concern as this is going to be a city hauler, and, truly, no one knows cities quite like the Europeans. That’s why your bosses need this 2000 Volkswagen EuroVan VR6.
The EuroVan is not exactly like American snub-nose minivans, such as the Ford Aerostar, but it’s made with similar considerations in mind. Although this Volkswagen van is bigger than other recommendations here, parking it around the Big Apple shouldn’t be too hard. Just look at those stubby little overhangs.
The EuroVan, or Transporter (T4) as it was known overseas, was designed for use amongst the cramped corners of European cities, so don’t let its relatively big size fool you. Add in that excellent blue paint finish and V6 engine and you get a rad mini, err, EuroVan.