Gonna look at this van this weekend -- opinions please?

[DiamondDog]

<p>Hey guys! So, I joined a while back, but now I'm getting closer to being in a financial position where the Vandwelling lifestyle is closer to a reality than a fantasy for me. I've already downsized and am living with some family for right now, saving up. I don't plan on hitting the road until at least the fall, maybe even next spring.</p><p><br>However, I have been looking around at vans for some time now, and came across this van:</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>http://1999forde250van.weebly.com/</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Link contains photos and some basic info. I emailed the owner of the van and obtained this additional info:</p><p><br>-179,000 original miles on engine (these are the original owners)<br>-gets about 10-12 towing, 14-16 in town, and 18-20 highway mpg</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I'm going to go take a look at it sometime this weekend. I'd love to hear everyone's opinions on this vehicle and what I should look for. I own a small sedan and have driven box vans, Jeeps, etc. but never a conversion van before, so I'm not quite sure what I should be looking for when I test-drive it and such.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Thanks everyone!</p>

 

[ZOFCHAK]

Looks like a nice van, but I don't believe their MPG claims one bit!&nbsp; The 10-12 towing MPG might be correct depending on the load, but it'll never see 18-20mpg (Not even going down hill with a fleet of mushing dogs pulling it <img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">).<br><br>&nbsp;I have a 5.4 in my van and it averages about 12-13 around town and maybe 14 on the freeway if I baby it.&nbsp; If it was the 7.3 diesel you might be able to squeak 18-20 out of it, but you would also be looking at a much higher asking price and higher costs per gallon.

 

[caseyc]

Looks nice.&nbsp; Is the interior really as immaculate as the pictures look?&nbsp; Is the middle captain chair able to swivel?&nbsp; If so, very cool.<br>I like the Fanstic fan, very nice.&nbsp; Plus the extended length is useful too.&nbsp; I have a 1995 Ford&nbsp;E150 standard length conversion van myself.

 

[user 423]

It looks like it's in good shape but any van nearing 200k that has done much towing has to be thoroughly checked out for mechanical problems by a qualified mechanic. With all those windows the blurb about insulation doesn't mean much.

 

[wagoneer]

if that had a diesel i would buy it myself. nuff said

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;Here:&nbsp; http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Powe...odel=E250 Econoline 2WD&amp;srchtyp=ymm&nbsp;

 

[Cubey]

Cool. I spotted a Ford extended van with a conversion style high top at a used car dealer around here.<br><br>It's a crying shame, but I also saw a 90's GMC Safari (aka Chevy Astro) with a high top.. in a salvage yard. I bet that sucker got 20mpg easily. I'm not a GM fan but even I would't mind having one of those if I didn't want a Class B like I have (which gets about 1/2 the mpg of a Safari). They are less long than a Ford but that also means less parking headaches at times. The body wasn't wrecked at all so I guess the engine or trans went out and they scrapped it. It still has the overhead TV and VHS player in it even last time I looked.<br><br>Very similar color interior and trim as this. Same cabinets (except the salvage yard one has cabinet doors) and TV:<br><br>