1989 Bedford Rascal L from UK and Ireland - Comments

Fuel transmission problems, endless rust on the bodywork, clutch prodlems, naff brakes, crap handling, crap stereo, exasperating performance, starter motor problems, speedometer stopped, various dashboard lights kept coming on.

This van is a bag of CRAP, NEVER BUY ONE unless you're mad. It is so rusty, I'd rather drive a skip.

If vauxhall ever made a 1.4 Rascal (which I very much doubt), can I buy yours? My mate and I could not even squeeze a 1.2 Nova engine in one. So all I can say is I smell pork pies!

I agree. They are very silly vans!

True. if you do decide to by one of these quirks of fate, buy a second hand one and with the money you save buy a second hand welder. I was quoted £60 for the welding I needed to get mine through the M O T.SO I ADVERTISED...

"MIG welder wanted any condition so long as it works

reasonable price paid." and it worked, now I've done all the welding myself, still have the option of selling the mig or keeping it. in fact I think I will put them both to work and earn some easy money!!!

Hello every one I think you are all mistaken about these little vans, I think if you look after one it will look after you, they are excellent for what they were originally designed to do, say no more cheap rot-ax, insurance, and fuel, space saving design, and above all significant power behind the wheel for a 970cc, I think they're the best, Iv no owned one for about 7 years and just had a clutch in it once and yes I upgraded the stereo my self... 10\10 for these little vans they're superb.

What a cool little van. You feel a bit cheesy in it, but it takes a lot of stuff and even when crammed up in the back you can access any point of the heap in the back via 3 doors and front access! I want a new one (if I could afford it). Mind you the girlfreind won't be seen dead in it! She has a paper bag especially for longer journeys!

No, joking aside, love the van...man.

I agree with the previous comment. These vans are great. You must be sensible in what you want them to do for you. They were never intended for heavy duty work, just light stuff and they are great for parking in tight spots. Regular servicing and the occasional check on levels under the bonnet will keep these nippy wonders serving you faithfully, but you must give something back. I rebuilt my one 6 months ago, it was well abused by previous owners. Now used for mobile d.j. work and is a very trustworthy investment,which will hold its price well against other vans, anyone got a spare nudge bar?

I've only had my 1989 Rascal for a few months, but am well pleased with it. 90k on the clock and a bit sore round the edges. A serious change in circumstances meant I've gone from a Mercedes 308D so was very apprehensive at first. Aside from the weight difference, the only thing I can't get inside the Rascal that I could in the Mercedes is a full sheet of ply. An 8ft x 3ft with the passenger seat down, but not a full one. Cheap to run and insure. Only thing I have been warned about is to make sure the cam belt is changed religiously on time.

I've had my little rascal for about 6 months I love it so cute!!I've got a whole spare one if any ones interested good drive every thing works, no tax, offers 07788418232.

I paid £300 for a old rascal and I love it. I stuck a sign on the side advertising removals etc and made my money back in a month. Its reliable, cheap, easy to park and I have even slung a mattress in the back and kipped in it by the sea.

If you want 'coolness' then its not for you, but for any other reason it's a winner.

I got a rascal not so long ago and I think they are great. I'm only 18 and have wanted one for ages, some people laugh wen they see it, but I just laugh with them. its my little beast. I have a mattress in the back and a couple of bean bags. THE GIRLS LOVE IT...!!!

I have had two of these great little vans. Each one did around 90000 miles before I sold it on and each one went on for another two or three years of lighter more local work. Each van was my sole vehicle and each one took a lot of punishment and little regular maintenance. They were used to carry a considerable amount of junk for my TV and aerial business, but also they took me on a great many trips from the UK to France, Germany, Austria, Holland, Switzerland and even Spain and made a good make-shift camper van with a mattress in the back on the way to boating holidays etc.

Roadholding in the wet was dangerous to say the least, front tyre wear was incredible no matter how the geometry was set up and I could never get rid of the hiccup in acceleration when pulling away. The main steering pivot seized regularly, but they were fun and I could get them into spaces where nothing else could go.

I have now got a Suzuki Carry Van (new type). The engine is a world better. Smooth and much faster. The power steering is great and the seating position is much better. Much less buttock-cramp on long journeys, but... the floor is ridiculously 9" higher than the Rascal, the suspension on a rough road is much worse (jerky and kicks due to the short swinging arms and the straight line stability is even more dangerous than the Rascal in crosswinds! Front tyres were to the cloth in 5 months, but tyre wear now a bit better after very careful alignment. Still not good.

Can't believe that someone at Suzuki couldn@t combine the best features of both vans.

I owned a 1991 Rascal Van and was generally very pleased with it. That was until I rolled it down an Embankment on the M5 Motorway. Still that was my own fault throwing it into a corner at 95MPH in the wet was not my best move. The van was absolutely smashed to pieces, luckily I only broke my arm.

I have owned around 5 rascals in various states of repair, swopped them for all sorts of things.. but missed them like crazy the first time you needed to move something... just picked up a '86 with blown engine.. engine already sourced, for repair... why do I like 'em..if I had to explain you would not understand!!!

These vans are great!

Dangerously unstable in high winds and bad weather, but if you drive them sensibly, they will serve you well.

Sure they have their engineering quirks, what machine hasn't, but they are great work horses especially for local business activities.

They are cult!

I have had my rascal for two years, paid £60 for and it passed mot first time. Used for work daily and averages 1000 miles per month, problem free. Does anyone know of any 13 inch wheels that fit on rascals, as finding tyres is a pain.thankyou.