Ok van pros... another question

[JeanInaBox]

2002 Ford Econoline. 1700.00 over 200,000 miles. Runs drives good according to add.

I’m looking for something to use for the rest of the year until I buy new.

Comments, advice... knowledge of any kind appreciated.

Thanks

 

[nature lover]

I try to stay away from that high of mileage however I have know of some fleet maintained vehicle with mainly highway millage than go over 300,000 miles without major problems. Not much help in my answer???

 

[B and C]

How many miles do you plan to drive in the year and what type of miles (city/highway) will help in getting the best answer.

 

[JeanInaBox]

I’m guessing about 15000 miles tops. Thanks for helping out guys.

 

[JeanInaBox]

Oh .., highway miles mostly.

 

[user 423]

Have a link to the ad?   It's impossible to evaluate with such little info.  A 20 yo vehicle with over 200k miles can either give you good service for the next year or cost you thousands in repairs. 

Find a friend who is knowledgeable about cars and have them take a look. Hire a mechanic to check it out before you buy.  The cost will vary.

Good luck.

 

[JeanInaBox]

Yeah you all are right on each point.
I’ll skip it. Might as well just stick to the minivan until later this year unless I find something way more promising... at which point I will borrow somebody’s husband to check it out.

Thanks again..

 

[obeynoone]

you can hire a mobile mechanic to do a full check up of any vehicle you plan to purchase. will probably cost you about $100, but this person will travel to the vehicle and give you a professional opinion. never used one myself, but once when i was thinking of buying a minivan i wasn't sure about, i brought this idea up to the seller. their reaction gave me the answer i needed.

 

[DKNZ]

You can drive this over 300K miles, why still not using it?

 

[riptorn]

One thing no one brings up, is with that much time on the clock, nickel and dime things will start to ware out (even a well maintained rig). 
Ujoints, door hinge bushings, elec. injectors, door gaskets go bad (wind noise, increased dust). Little things we wouldn't think about like a sun
visor that, all of a sudden doesn't stay up any more.
De pending on your abilities and expectations.  passing this might have been a good thing. Either way be patient, another one will come along.

 

[JeanInaBox]

Patience vs Persistence... hmmm
I struggle with the former more than the latter.

Solution:
I’m going to use my minivan. And when it dies, or by December this year...whichever comes first ...buy a brand new van....

So... This is what I’m leaning towards getting.
New Chevy express extended V8... at some point adding high top and rear locker.

Who agrees? Who doesn’t .. why?

I’m concerned about not having front wheel drive when traveling in the winter on the east coast. But I’m not sure of the reliability of the Promaster.. not to mention repair costs, mpg, and how long they last.
Would a Nissan NV3500 be better?

I need to borrow a knowledgeable husband to give me advice please!

 

[nature lover]

I like to fantasize about a brand new van. If you can afford it go for it - driving without fear of major problems sounds like heaven to me. My vehicles have always been so old that I carry the title in the glove box and and only add equipment and accessories that can be transfer to another vehicle easily; in case I had to leave it in a junk yard somewhere. The pro-master high top with a gas engine would be a great place to start. Just my opinion - and I am the best expert on my own opinion.

I occasionally think about a small pickup like the Nissan frontier (lightweight cap over the bed) with a very simple tab trailer if for nothing else the better gas mileage. Being able to travel twice as far on the same dollar and being able to set up camp with the trailer and take off with the truck from time to time sounds good to me.

 

[B and C]

Not a fan of lightweight front wheel drive components for things other than snow. Chains to go and neutral to stop has always worked for me with rear wheel drive.

 

[riptorn]

I need to borrow a knowledgeable husband to give me advice please!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hears 2 cents worth, 3/4 ton min, larger v8 ( I get better millage with my '16  6.0 than my '05  4.8 with or without a trailer ), stay away from unibody, lockers are great if you know how to drive with one. If your heavy on the throttle in turns you'll eat up rubber. same with sweeping turns on ice. One free wheeling tire (normal differential) will help anchor the rear in highway turns. That said a full locker (Detroit) would be the ticket. I wouldn't go with an ARB (they are the best selectable locker but with the air compressor & air line you'll have extra maintenance that you won't know about till you need it. I know,  got one on the front of my toy, Detroit on the rear.   The euro stile vans are nice but give me my Express2500. Extended is sweet (extra 22'' of space), But I've always leaned to standard wheel base just for getting around.
 That said I've driven into the ground a '95 e150 (had a factory limited slip) and a '05 express2500 (bare bones) into the ground. My present '16 express had 22 miles on the odometer when purchased in March of '17. 
If your going to wait till December to perches, try waiting till after the new year. I walked in with cash (they didn't want cash they wanted to finance)  The window sticker said 35,000.oo, I offered them 25,000.oo. they laughed me out the door. 2 days later they called me up and said 26,000.oo. The next day a friend drove me the 55 miles to the dealer and I drove it home for 25,000.oo.   
  Never van dwelled but done a lot of sleeping (vaca, camp, stoned & drunk (don't drink no more)).
Now the hubbys can chime in and put you on the right track.

 

[JeanInaBox]

The husband/ boyfriend borrowing pool must be running low. Lol.

The score... Chevy Express 1- Promaster- .5 for snow only- truck and trailer... honorable mention.

Chains to go, and neutral to stop... I haven’t heard that in a long time. Lol.

Any votes for Nissan NV3500 V8 over the Chevy Express?

 

[JeanInaBox]

@rip Wow that was a great explanation of your vote. Thanks

Express pulls ahead with another vote.

 

[riptorn]

Chains to go, and neutral to stop... I haven’t heard that in a long time. Lol.
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First winter up here (e. c. S. Dakota) from S. Fla. I had a cross chain snap and beet the stuff out of the bed of my truck (29 yr ago). The neutral to stop works incredibly well (never tried it with ABS). But was always aware , A little slip and its new trans time.