How much would you pay for a van?

[citytravelfotos]

How much would you be willing to pay for a van?  For ones who already have a van, assume that you had to buy another van for whatever reason, how much would you be willing to pay?

 

[adi]

For the feature(s) that I want, up to ~$12k.

Diesels with low mileage are somewhat rare, so unfortunately I won't find a cheap runner to start with. When I bought mine, it was 1 of 2 diesel Econolines on the west coast. A quick look now shows a lot more options, but most are 6.0 diesels with 150-200k miles, which I would never take even if it was given to me.

 

[AltTransBikes]

Kind of a tough question, it would depend largely on one's budget and what you wanted. For me it's a question of finding value. I'd pay more for a newer vehicle with less miles in clean shape and each of those things if I ended up compromising on would detract from the price. It could also be a matter of expediency. If one has the time frame, with patience a longer search and a better deal might be found. You know how they say not to go grocery shopping when you're hungry? lol

 

[MrNoodly]

If I had the money, I'd buy brand new, maybe a Nissan NV high roof. So that's in the $30k range.<br><br>But $10k is my current limit for a really clean, low mileage van.

 

[Vern M]

How much would I pay for a new van? I wouldn't. All newer ones are filled with bells and whistles and electronically monitored and managed systems you don't need really. Also have "modern" features like plastic radiators and their need for special fills rather than good old ethylene glycol.<BR><BR>My van is a 1994 GMC Vandura 2500. I have had it since it was two years old. Sought out the original owners before I bought it off of a used car lot in a town of 12,500 where you might find a truthful and honest&nbsp;sales person. And, since I've owned it, it has never had any major work done on it -- which really has been limited -- by any other than the same mechanic at the same GM dealership, monitored by the same service representative. And I never have had an incident or a thought of any break down or trouble. Tires the same way, always (two sets now) by the same Michellin small business. Total mileage is nearing 140,000 which isn't that much any more, but it represents continued service when the book and dealer says it is needed and care in use, which has taken me from coast to Continental Divide and Canada to the Mexican border.<BR><BR>Works for me. And I could have been in debt for a couple of new ones that likely will never be as reliable or easy to work on. <BR><BR>For details of the conversion, see the web site's tabs for "Easy Van Conversion", I think it is, and "Stealth Solar..."&nbsp;

 

[DarthMuerte]

I would love to find a ~1979 ford E250(or 350/150) with a C-6 tranny, a 300 straight 6 engine, and a high top for ~2,000 though I would pay more if it was in excellent condition.

 

[Ballenxj]

I usually keep my purchases under $2K. I would go as high as $4K for the right deal. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> <br>I know, I'm cheap. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> <br>-Bruce

 

[my_vantasy]

I am looking to buy a minivan for around $3000. In my area, I have seen several 1996 or newer with less than 150,000 miles on them. My guess is that I will need to put another $1000 into it (tires perhaps, maybe a tune up, etc) and then an additional $1000 to create my living space, making my total investment $5000.

I have an envelope marked "Minivan Fund " taped to my closet door so it is always there in front of me. I won't embarrass myself by saying how little money is in the envelope!

 

[idn88]

I have figured a vehicle costs about 15 to 20 cents a mile however you want to look at it. &nbsp;I use this to try to figure out what vehicle to buy - looking at total ownership cost vs. up front.<br><br>If you buy a new car for $30K, drive it hundred thousand miles and it shouldn't need anything other than basic maintenance, then sell it for 12K, you just spent 18k/100 000 = 18 cents a mile<br><br>Someone buys that van for 12K, drives it for another hundred thousand, probably puts 5000 in repairs along the way, then sells it for 2K = 12+5-2 - 15/100000 = 15 cents a mile<br><br>Next guy buys it for 2K, maybe drives 30K miles and if lucky spends only 3K in maintenance = 17 cents a mile. &nbsp;<br><br>If your handy, you can save some money on the middle one, and really milk the last one for a lot more miles and get your cost well below a dime a mile. &nbsp;But if you need to pay someone to fix your car, then the numbers above might be low, and the new vehicle might actually be the best deal for you. &nbsp;Fixing your own car is one of the most cost effective things you can do to save money. &nbsp;Most small things are very easy to do with a little research and patience.<br><br>So you can use the same rough formula to figure out what to pay for something - cost plus estimated repair cost / number of miles you think you might get should be under 20 cents, preferably closer to 15, or its time to look elsewhere.<br><br>Or at least thats how I do it.<br><br><br>

 

[highdesertranger]

idn88 don't we need to figure in the cost of fuel, oil changes, registration, insurance, tires, batteries, financing cost, etc.&nbsp; into the cost of any vehicle to get a true cost per mile.&nbsp; darthmuerte i ran a repair shop for a courier service they had that type of ford van, toyota corollas, and dodge dusters.&nbsp; the fords were one tough van and by far the easiest&nbsp; of the three to keep on the road, next were the toy's, and the duster's we were lucky to keep on the road.&nbsp; these vehicles were driven by pin heads and really took a beating.&nbsp; highdesertranger

 

[idn88]

The 15 - 20 cents per mile is the basic cost of owning and maintaining a car. &nbsp;Yes, there is fuel, registration, etc - but you make a basic assumption that a new car and old car those are about the same. &nbsp;Not quite true - the new car might get better mileage, and the old car might be cheaper to register, but in general they are somewhat close, or minimally&nbsp;different&nbsp;compared to purchase price.<br><br>Oil Changes, tires, etc are roughly in the maintenance - and again, there about the same new to old. &nbsp;If you don't like my numbers, make up your own for that. &nbsp; Of course if you only have x dollars, then it may not matter. &nbsp;But lets say you have 10K to spend. &nbsp;Is it better to spend $10K on something newer, or $5K and do the maintenance. &nbsp;This might help you figure that out for yourself.<br><br>The question was how much would you pay for a van. &nbsp;This is my way of figuring that out. &nbsp;Not saying its perfect, but its what I use.&nbsp;<br><br>

 

[Ballenxj]

Curious OpenMinds, Why not white? <br>-Bruce

 

[my_vantasy]

OpenMinds: I have a rough mental diagram, but nothing on paper until I know which minivan I will end up buying. Most of my thoughts come from what I have seen on the cheaprvliving site. The ideas and pictures of what others are doing are great!!

At this point, I'm just going to be a weekender or parttimer, so my needs will be different from fulltimers. I'm a girlie girl, so think lots of pink! LOL but true!

 

[my_vantasy]

OpenMinds, thanks for the info! I just checked it out and loved it even though it was nothing like I was planning. Good thing I'm flexible and my plans can change. Thanks again for the help!

 

[kristina2011]

Hi! Same as yours, with my growing family, I chose it was about time we got a minivan so we could have room for everyone in one car. Everyone can spread out on trips, and it is much nicer. I got a fantastic deal and the best <a href="http://www.cardealexpert.co%20%20m/auto-loans/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">car</a> loan rate at a website I came across. I really satisfy us! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[Ballenxj]

Oh WOW! OpenMinds, I didn't even think about that. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/eek.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> Thanks for the reply. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> That makes sense.<br>I would prefer a white van only for the lesser heat in the summer. <br>-Bruce

 

[Simran]

<p>I'm with Bruce on this one. No matter what you pay, in the end, it is all potential junk. Why pay more than you have too. That's my motto.</p><p>I paid $1500.00 for the one I have and I put 28,000 miles on it in 2012. I'd pay more now to replace it. Only because I know vandwelling is for me. I wasn't sure when I bought this one.<br><br>gus<br><br>

I usually keep my purchases under $2K. I would go as high as $4K for the right deal. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> <br>I know, I'm cheap. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> <br>-Bruce

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