once in poland eventually i will need a car is buying a small car be practical?

Absolutely. The smaller and crappier you buy, the better. Get something cheap, but reliable, and make sure you don't wash it often. Your car won't necessarily get stolen, but it's always a possibility. I'm assuming that you're not from Poland or living in Poland right now, because of your question, but if it gets stolen in another country, it will cause you a lot of problems. I don't know any costs, but a travel guide I read suggested the above.

my bf (is polsih) just sold his pl plate car for 1000 pounds more in poland than that car will currently sell for in england (same make model, miles etc)

so i would say cars are not as cheap as you might first think, his father has recently bought a small opel (vauxhall) corsa which was about 800 pounds- for its age etc a good price but exactly the same as you would pay in the UK.

insurance isnt as expensive as the UK but it seems to me more complicated and more paperwork, if you have family they can help with this. its good to note that every new owner is responsible for getting a new license plate, so the cars reg plate changes when it changes hands and gets re-registered. look on europcar.com for car hire prices, as for vans i dont know....

good luck

Minivans no way!! Get a Opel or a Renault or Peugeot. But minivans not so really. Lots of those want to be stolen.