Opinions needed, anybody have one?

[Grizzly708]

I found a 2003 AWD Chevy express 12 passenger van. It has 270k miles but appears to have been well cared for. They are asking $3,000 so I know there is wiggle room on price.
Anything good, bad, or ugly would be appreciated.

 

[VanKitten]

270k miles! It is just about at the end of its life.

I would find out if there is a new engine and when it was replaced. When was the transmission replaced. Etc.

If that is all original.. I would not take it even for free. ... .I would skip it. This would be due for some major serious work.

 

[John61CT]

That's a bit extreme.

There are lots much older, 3x the miles running around.

The question is are you bothered by major work, or even a DIY mechanic.

If it were cheaper (especially "free"!)and you could find a good price on replacement parts, *for some people* it would be a great project van.

Say you spent $6000 all up and knew it was ready to reliably go another 300k, that's not bad.

 

[John61CT]

I do suspect AWD makes the drivetrain more prone to failure and harder to find cheap/good replacements?

 

[jonsun]

if it's all you can afford it could be alright. It's got value in the AWD. Personally I'd take an old class C over it, though. You're going to spend a bunch of money and time just fixing up the inside.

 

[UptownSport]

Meh.

Engines will last that long or longer. The absolute worst thing is one that's been replaced for some reason*.

In short, how good are you with a wrench?

Echo John. AWD stuff is what I'd stay away from.
First, complication. More parts, more repairs.
Next, parts are more difficult to get- there's tons of 2wd vans, what's percentage of AWD?
MPG is always worse, and vehicle is heavier

Of course, if you must have one- rural delivery in snow belt- then you have no choice but to bear it.

Spent a lot of time repairing all different aspects of 4WD system on customers PUs.

Transmissions been fixed 2x by then.

* worked at a custom machine shop- what did i do? Repair Gopher and other rebuilds. 
New is new, and good is good

 

[DuneElliot]

It will cost around $3000 to replace the engine in most simple installations (anything fairly NON-computerized) so keep that in mind for the future and use it as a negotiating tactic.

 

[mr_elijah_gardner]

That's high mileage but the price isn't as insane as some I've seen. Do a compression check on it it see how it drives. It's worth consideration in my opinion.

 

[highdesertranger]

lots of miles. is this one of the rare 3/4 tons? is it 4wd or awd? highdesertranger

 

[Matlock]

Grizz, what part of the country is the van located? If it's coastal or in the north east then your gonna have undercarriage rust from the salt. Have your local mechanic look at the underside frame, under the hood and drive it. He will answer a lot of your questions. If it costs you $50 for his evaluation it's money well spent.

Just my 2¢

 

[Grizzly708]

lots of miles.  is this one of the rare 3/4 tons?  is it 4wd or awd?  highdesertranger

It's a 1500 awd. I am not familiar with the AWD vans. Are they always awd or can it be run 2wd until needed?

 

[Grizzly708]

Grizz, what part of the country is the van located? 

It is in the Spokane area, has a little paint bubble rust. I am originally from Michigan so a little rust is no biggie for me.....lol.

 

[DannyB1954]

I think that you can find newer / better for the money.
People don't consider that the suspension wears, and at that many miles everything underneath is pretty worn. I am talking A frame bushings and other things not fun to replace.

 

[BinDerSmokDat]

There are lots much older, 3x the miles running around.

There are even more than that which died before seeing 150,000 miles.
And quite a few that died before seeing 100K.

 

[breeze]

I found a 2003 AWD Chevy express 12 passenger van. It has 270k miles but appears to have been well cared for. They are asking $3,000 so I know there is wiggle room on price.
Anything good, bad, or ugly would be appreciated.

I'd be calling junk yards about low mileage 'same model' wrecks: they are most all connected by the internet. Then as a dual vehicle purchase, it would take some part risk out and add labor cost in. Of course you  could be left with 2 piles of junk too.  

 

[Gary68]

i believe this is the one he is asking about

https://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/d/2003-chevy-express-van-awd/6353784807.html


some others i found

1995 Ford high top van - $1850 (Spokane)
https://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/d/1995-ford-high-top-van/6340878784.html


1985 Ford E350 Horizon Van Camper - $3500
https://spokane.craigslist.org/rvs/d/1985-ford-e350-horizon-van/6351729058.html


1997 camper van - $2750 (post falls)
https://spokane.craigslist.org/rvs/d/save-price-drop-on-this1997/6319981880.html

1978 CHINOOK CONCOURSE CLASS B CAMPER VAN - $1500

https://spokane.craigslist.org/rvs/d/1978-chinook-concourse-class/6350252961.html

i had to spend 3k on my chinook but it's a chevy so worth it
https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-The-Fat-Van-rides-again

 

[Grizzly708]

i had to spend 3k on my chinook but it's a chevy so worth it
https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-The-Fat-Van-rides-again

Yep, that's the one. I got more info on it, passed......
Fords and dodges are not even being considered,  I like working on my own vehicles. ...but not THAT much!

 

[Weight]

An opinion. Evan Williams is better than Jack Daniels.

 

[akrvbob]

Unless you are a mechanic AND LIKE TINKERING WITH YOUR VAN, WALK AWAY. You're going to be spending a lot of time on piddling little problems that are still very annoying.

One way we get such great MPG out of these vans is that everything is as light as possible, which means its less rugged and durable. Just dropping in a new engine and transmission won't make it trouble free, it'll be a constant nickel and dime of oddball problems.

 

[Grizzly708]

An opinion. Evan Williams is better than Jack Daniels.

I'm a Jameson kind of guy.