£1800 is from compared the market already, they hate everyone under 25. I was looking at ex-BT and ex-Sky vans, seem to be quite good with all the racking in already. Probably need to wait until I am 25 to drop the insurance price.you can get good deals on van insurance , try compare the meerkat.
I haven't considered an estate car, I think it will be too small for me, but I am thinking about a 'car' due to the benefits and how expensive the insurance is for a van.Have you considered an estate car, the BMW 5 series and Mercedes are massive inside with the seats folded down, cheaper insurance and no commercial speed restrictions, a little less convenient as you can't walk around inside them, but will have side doors on both sides.
I personally don't care too much about image or advertising as due to my full time job, I won't have time to pick up those jobs anyway. Property development jobs are good because they normally give me a few weeks or months so I can go in evening or weekend when I am free, I take leave from work for bigger jobs like rewire which are quite rare. However working from my tiny car is an absolute pain so I need to find something bigger.