Purchase time nears

[mothercoder]

Thanks to some unexpected windfalls, I now have enough cash without having to sell my car to buy a van in what I consider my minimum buy range ($3000). 

But now that the time is here, I'm finding it a little intimidating looking at all the options.  What were your "must haves?" 

Also, the likelihood of finding a van near my trusted mechanic so he can take a quick look at it will be slim.  Do you just pick mechanics at random near where the seller lives to look at it?

 

[highdesertranger]

ask your mechanic if he knows somebody in the area that can look at it. you can also ask people who own fleets in the area, or government agencies where they take their vehicles. both of those groups don't put up with shoddy work or dishonest mechanics. highdesertranger

 

[Gary68]

give us the lowdown,van? high or standard top? 3k max? area? and i will pm you what i see with a couple "out of the box" type rigs

 

[wagoneer]

Yah a bunch of us retired guys will be riding scout for you. "The crazy dozen" get ready for some marks

 

[mothercoder]

You guys are awesome! Thanks so much.

Non-negotiables:

side barn doors
V-6 (but will consider V-8)
Windows on rear doors
150k miles or less
No rust
Plain white (but would consider another color if it's an awesome buy)
Chevy, Ford or GMC

Preference:

Extended
High top
Window in back on driver's side
Fleet sale

I would also consider a conversion so long as the interior isn't mauve - that color gives me a headache.

I'm in the D.C. Metro area. So long as I don't have to tow it, I'm will to put a couple thousand into mechanical work if otherwise it is a solid buy.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

My family has always had good luck buying ex government vehicles at auction.  I've done a couple of threads here talking about it.  We've bought more than a dozen ex county and state vehicles over the last twenty years, and every one of them has been a great purchase.

I see that the Federal Government disposes of vehicles via GSA auctions, and there's a place in Bel Air MD where they regularly do this.

http://www.bscamerica.com/public-auction/gsa-auctions/

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Looks like Baltimore is having an auction TODAY:

http://transportation.baltimorecity.gov/towing/auction-listings

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

and apparently the state of MD uses this site:


http://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/all,md/browse/cataucs?catid=406

 

[Gary68]

you can get a steal at an auction if you know what to look for

heres some craigslist stuff
1-http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/cto/5922822316.html
2-http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/cto/5922823899.html

it'a a ford,it's a chevy but it's a gmc???
3-http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/cto/5922890741.html

4-http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/cto/5906839693.html
5-http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/cto/5901150218.html
6-http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/5898788307.html
7-http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/5886249427.html
8-http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ctd/5922401269.html
9-http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/cto/5919339497.html
10-http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/5909723429.html

come back with"like this but..."

 

[29chico]

You guys are awesome! Thanks so much.

Non-negotiables:  

side barn doors
V-6 (but will consider V-8)
Windows on rear doors
150k miles or less
No rust
Plain white (but would consider another color if it's an awesome buy)
Chevy, Ford or GMC

Preference:

Extended
High top
Window in back on driver's side
Fleet sale

I would also consider a conversion so long as the interior isn't mauve - that color gives me a headache.

I'm in the D.C. Metro area. So long as I don't have to tow it, I'm will to put a couple thousand into mechanical work if otherwise it is a solid buy.

Not a lot of good v6's in vans but the 4.3 liter GMC/Chevy v6's are solid.  Found in the midsize GMC Safari/Chevy Astro vans.  Also found in the full size GMC Savana/Chevy Express but can be a bit under powered for a built out dwelling van. 

Don't discount the famous Ford 300 straight 6 AKA the 4.9 liter I six.  If well maintained, they last a very long time.  Not fast but good torque.  The other Ford motors to look for, up to the late '90's are the 5.8 liter v8 and they are good.  The big block ford 460's run forever & have lots of power but are very fuelish.  I don't recommend the later Ford Triton modular v8's and v10's.  If a Ford has the E4OD auto trans avoid it unless it has been pro rebuilt & updated with a receipt.  A Ford c6 trans, while old school & w/o overdrive, is very durable.

The real problem with the above described Fords is that they are only found up to the late '90's.  The ones with the c6 trans are only found up to the mid '90's.  So rather old at this point.

I think that you would be much better served with a '98-'03 or so Express/Savana full size van with a 5.3 liter v8 if you can find one.  Good mileage and durable.  The 5.7 liter GM engine is very durable also, just not as good on gas.  The 4L80E auto trans that is found in the Express/Savana vans and the Astro/Safari vans is very good.

The Safari/Astro midsize vans could be a good choice for you if you are sure that you can live comfortably in the lesser space. 

Don't waste your time or inspection money on a van that has rusty/dirty neglected coolant.  Run away. Screaming optional.

 

[mothercoder]

How difficult is it to remove a handicap lift?

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

How difficult is it to remove a handicap lift?

Well, you won't need a degree in Mechanical Engineering to figure out how to do it.  It will be fairly obvious and straight forward.

On the other hand, depending on how long it's been in, the nuts may be solidly rusted in place.  Sometimes it really is easier to cut them off with a torch or angle grinder.

Finally, something designed to safely lift several hundred pounds is going to be fairly heavy itself.  A couple of minions with strong backs and weak minds will doubtless be highly desirable.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Not a lot of good v6's in vans but the 4.3 liter GMC/Chevy v6's are solid.  Found in the midsize GMC Safari/Chevy Astro vans.  Also found in the full size GMC Savana/Chevy Express but can be a bit under powered for a built out dwelling van. 

Depending on the vehicle's weight, a small V8 can give you better mpg's than a six will.  The smaller six just has to work too hard to move the bigger, heavier vehicle.

 

[ArtW]

How difficult is it to remove a handicap lift?

Contact a wheelchair van upfitter, they'll likely do it for you, in exchange for the lift

 

[mothercoder]

Well, you won't need a degree in Mechanical Engineering to figure out how to do it.  It will be fairly obvious and straight forward.

On the other hand, depending on how long it's been in, the nuts may be solidly rusted in place.  Sometimes it really is easier to cut them off with a torch or angle grinder.

Finally, something designed to safely lift several hundred pounds is going to be fairly heavy itself.  A couple of minions with strong backs and weak minds will doubtless be highly desirable.

I found a thread on this and it does seem as though the weight is the biggest issue to contend with.  Since I don't have any strong-backed minions in my circle and I don't want to pay someone $1000 to remove something like that, I will avoid vans with lifts.

 

[TooManyDogs]

Use it as a bargaining tool: I told the dealer that I didn't want the lift but he could probably sell it for some money. He agreed to take it out for me and to knock $400 off the van price. It probably helped that he'd just gotten the van at an auction and was just looking to make a quick sale.