Advice on buying a Van

Hi

I am in the market for a van to replace my regular day to day car (corolla ) that I will use for my daily commute to and from work as well as in my leisure activities including kiteboarding, surfing, SUP, camping, festivals, etc, etc...

I have several criteria in choosing my vehicle:
- Safety - must have airbags and safe within reason. This rules out mitsibishi express vans (cheap and reliable) and toyota hiace earlier than 2005.
- Serviceability/availability of parts - ideally would be cheap top service and replace parts. This rules out the VW transporter, which I like for safety and are also priced reasonably second hand.
- Price - the vans that satisfy the above criteria are not cheap and have <200000km.

I have been wondering about highish mileage vans, and have been warned to not get one over 200000, but have read alot about hiace vans and VW vans going past 600000km easily. I am just wondering what the 'worst case scenario' is in terms of if I bought a van that I thought was in reasonable condition but needs some work done (ie engine rebuild, clutch replacement, etc).

Does anyone have any general advice based on what I have said? Is it worth taking a gamble and just hoping for the best?

Cheers

My best advice is you should buy my 1997 XH Ford Falcon Panel Van with it's 5 speed manual gear box, only 156,000 klm on the clock, fitted with a raised double bed in the back with plenty of room below for camping gear, surf boards or land yachts.

The computer only controls fuel injection and ignition and will deliver 10L/100klm economy at 100 to 130 klmh on the highway every day of the week.

Cruise around Australia 20 times with this Classic Aussie Camper Van.






Edit:- Will include the dome, camp chairs and table, cooking gear and Engel fridge/freezer for an extra $600.
I will advertise it here and on Gumtree soon when I have put the finishing touches on it.

Another alternative if you dont mind a bit of DIY.

Pick up an ex Aussie Post [or similar] transit van with a dead motor or transmission.
There are lots of these dead vans around and going cheap, as they are horribly expensive to repair.

Get the V6/auto trans holden conversion kit from castlemain rod shop or one of the other crews in the eastern states that handle this type of stuff.

Buy early model Commodore V6 and auto,[very little electronics to worry about].
Have it converted to dedicated LPG, which means no emmission controls needed = runs much better than dual fuel.

Bolt all the good bits together, sell the leftovers to subsidise the conversion.

stephen

Buy a good one pre filled with toys

Don't sell it Cisco!! Its awesome..

Tarago , or Delica. Both have what you want.

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Chris6791 said..

psychomub said..
I bought a 2000 Hiace SBV a couple of years ago for $5500.. It had 250000km on the clock -which is "just run in" for the 2.4 Toyota engine. Runs perfectly and never given me any trouble.

No air bags, ABS, traction control, electric windows or mirrors = nothing to go wrong.

Great van, and being a LWB model, I have a queen bed in the back with plenty of space to spare.

I don't get the logic of no safety equipment = nothing to go wrong? It kind of reminds me of the anti-vaxxer thread in HW, a conscientious objector, until you wish you had it to save your arse.

I once had a Jeep (don't bag me) and that had electric everything. When I brought it I thought it I thought it was the best thing ever until all of the electrics stoped working. Windows wouldn't open etc. I once had it on the bogged on the beach and it wouldn't engage 4x4, keep pressing the button and nothing= Bad day.
Very next day went and traded it for an older Nissan patrol, all mechanical, lock in hubs, manual 4x4 transfer. I now know that's in 4x4, not relying on a 50c solenoid.

So to answer your statement, technology is not always better

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Chris6791 said..

psychomub said..
I bought a 2000 Hiace SBV a couple of years ago for $5500.. It had 250000km on the clock -which is "just run in" for the 2.4 Toyota engine. Runs perfectly and never given me any trouble.

No air bags, ABS, traction control, electric windows or mirrors = nothing to go wrong.

Great van, and being a LWB model, I have a queen bed in the back with plenty of space to spare.

I don't get the logic of no safety equipment = nothing to go wrong? It kind of reminds me of the anti-vaxxer thread in HW, a conscientious objector, until you wish you had it to save your arse.

Yep agreed, definitly want airbags and I dont mind spending a bit of extra cash to have relatively modern safety features.

Thanks for the advice everyone and the offer on the panel van, but I have devided that I am going to get either a Hiace (newer than 2005), Transporter or iLoad.

For a Hiace with 200000km on it, does anyone know what sort of issues I am likely to have, and the required worst case scenario to rectify said issues.

Likewise for a transporter, they seem to go forever IF nothing goes wrong, but if something needs fixing, I have read stories on the internet of requiring work to the order of $12000, and I am just wondering what the chances are of a dud that will require a significant investment to keep it operational.

Nissan El Grand. Reliable Jap made car. Cozy as!!

My last car was a T5 4motion. I added 40mm raised springs and bigger all terrain tyres and the thing was a beast. Got me out to bears a few times and to the beach at Boranup with ease. i bought it at 60,000ks and sold it at 160 and only ever did tyres and regular services. Although it was the best car I've had I'd never buy another cause if you ended up with a lemon you'd be paying through the nose. Parts are extremely expensive and the engine is awkward to work on. My mates Multivans transmission went and the bill came to 17k

hi ace over 200k I would expect to replace front hubs (sealed non serviceable) as a min (I have had to do this to all mine) Other than that I have only had to change pulleys on most and a upper control arm and a small cooling pipe (ally)that goes over the engine on one.
Actually the hubs have been over 250k on most.