Thoughts on this van?

[Cheli]

I haven't bugged you guys in a while for input on a van I'd like to look at so I'm overdue.  hahaha

I know it's hard to give thoughts on price for my specific aread but in general is this a decent vehicle, engine etc?

It looks in great shape and it only has about 77k miles which I think is good for the age.  But it also seems pricey for the age but I don't know if that's what these fully loaded conversion vans go for.  It's a little more than I want to spend but I'm also having a hard timing finding that even balance of reliability and affordability.

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/ctd/5743377836.html


It's about an hours drive from me so if someone says it's a crap engine or something I'm not going to bother.  But it's a holiday weekend so thinking I might be able to play with the price a little.

Thanks again. 

 

[Almost There]

My first question is 'do you really want a van that's been converted for multiple passenger comfortable travelling'?

The Mark III conversions are IIRC the top of the line as far as what they were meant for but that's why it's pricey.

If you're going to end up removing the extra seating and alll the fancy woodwork/lighting/accessories then this might not be the way to go.

Oh, and it won't give you standing height unless you're even shorter than I am.

BTW I do like my 5.7 engine, it's got enough pep to handle the hills and the weight I have in the van.

 

[steamjam1]

The 5.7L is a great engine.

Its a conversion van so your gonna have to do some fab work to make it all work as a van dweller

 

[cyndi]

Too much money. I got my 97 for $4200, with just 30,000 more miles on it.

Did you look at the NADA guide?

 

[DannyB1954]

My opinion on old low mileage vehicles is that once you put a few miles on them, they are just another old vehicle. If someone runs into it, the insurance isn't going to say we will give you double of what blue book is. Most conversions do not have a lot of insulation. You may have to redo the interior to make it livable. It already having an interior is pretty much of little value.

I looked up the value of a cargo van same year and miles and the highest retail value was $5,000. http://www.nadaguides.com/Cars/1999/Chevrolet/G1500-1-2-Ton-V8/Cargo-Van-135/Values
If you bought one of those instead could you fix it up with another $10,000?

 

[Cheli]

My first question is 'do you really want a van that's been converted for multiple passenger comfortable travelling'?

The Mark III conversions are IIRC the top of the line as far as what they were meant for but that's why it's pricey.

If you're going to end up removing the extra seating and alll the fancy woodwork/lighting/accessories then this might not be the way to go.

Oh, and it won't give you standing height unless you're even shorter than I am.

BTW I do like my 5.7 engine, it's got enough pep to handle the hills and the weight I have in the van.

I was thinking that any conversion van has been built for multiple passenger travelling, but I see a lot of van dwellers that get them and rip the extra seats out.  Maybe sell them on CL?  I know it does seem like a waste to spend the money for something that was built for that then rip it apart but I've seen a lot like that. 
I'm just having a hard time finding reliability and affordability.  And I keep going back and forth from a cargo van to a conversion van.....I'd be able to work with either one if I can find the right one.
And I think any van will be a height issue for me since I'm 5' 10".  LOL
Thanks for your input, food for thought. 

 

[Cheli]

My opinion on old low mileage vehicles is that once you put a few miles on them, they are just another old vehicle. If someone runs into it, the insurance isn't going to say we will give you double of what blue book is. Most conversions do not have a lot of insulation. You may have to redo the interior to make it livable. It already having an interior is pretty much of little value.

I looked up the value of a cargo van same year and miles and the highest retail value was $5,000.  http://www.nadaguides.com/Cars/1999/Chevrolet/G1500-1-2-Ton-V8/Cargo-Van-135/Values
If you bought one of those instead could you fix it up with another $10,000?

Great point.  And that's why I keep thinking I should go with a cargo van.....empty shell to convert as I need.

 

[Cheli]

Too much money. I got my 97 for $4200, with  just 30,000 more miles on it.

Did you look at the NADA guide?

Good to know, thank you.  I'm not going to waste my time on it then.

I think I need to stick with the cargo van route since I keep going back to that in my head. 

What is the NADA guide?  (feeling stupid)  hahaha

 

[Almost There]

If you're planning on converting any van for full-time or mostly full-time living I really recommend starting with either a cargo van or a passenger van if you want all those windows. OTOH, you can use a cargo van and add RV style windows quite easily.

Any of the conversion vans that you see with the fully loaded interiors like this one have minimal insulation, almost zero amount of usable storage and an interior finish that reduces the inside dimensions by almost a foot in width. People pay good money for them and within a few weeks are stripping all that neat stuff out so that they can put their own interior in it....why pay the price for the fancy one if you're going to remove it!

Here's the NADA guide link for you - http://www.nadaguides.com/

And here's Kelly Blue Book - http://www.kbb.com/

both are used for determining the average price with variations for conditions/buy/sell/dealer/non dealer/region. It pays to play with them when you're looking at possibles to figure out what you want to offer/what you're going to have to pay to get what you want.

 

[Gary68]

yea,about $6-8k of that price is for the conversion stuff

had a quick look in that area and what the heck do they put on the roads there? sulfuric acid?
http://hartford.craigslist.org/cto/5690052310.html
i mean what the heck,saw a couple older hightops ready to turn to dust

some other stuff
http://hartford.craigslist.org/cto/5725858480.html
http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/5746246781.html
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/cto/5734191681.html
http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/5751131070.html

 

[DannyB1954]

If you are going to live in it, I would skip the 1/2 tons. By the time you get them good to go, they are too heavy for their rating.

 

[Almost There]

The second Hartford one has the high top already installed. Cheli, you'd be able to stand up in that one no problem!

A six banger isn't the end of the world!  Too bad it's only a 1500, you'd have to really watch your weight in that one.

And Gary - it's called road salt!! By the ton!

I always figure in some money for body work when I'm looking at a vehicle.

 

[poprouge]

Good information! replying to keep track of this for future.

 

[highdesertranger]

not much to add. Danny, Cyndi, and Almost There pretty much said it all. highdesertranger

 

[cyndi]

Chel, A cargo van was my preference but I ended up with a conversion van. After 2 years of looking, I was willing to adapt. I've been really happy with my conversion van and renovating slowly. It was great to move into and already have a bed. That's been torn out, now and a more comfortable bed has been built. Hopefully in the next few weeks some of the storage will be renovated and the stupid and useless stereo system will be torn out, giving me more room.

If you haven't already, check out Ilovemyvan's renovation on picasaweb.

OMG!!! It's gone. I'll PM her and see if the pictures are stored elsewhere. I wanted to show the friend who is doing my upper cabinets.

Also, you might find van prices (all prices) cheaper in areas outside of Boston.
http://worcester.craigslist.org/search/cto?hasPic=1&auto_make_model=van&min_auto_year=1997

 

[29chico]

If you are going to inhabit the East coast primarily once you go nomad you may as well buy a van from the East coast,

However, if you plan on spending a fair amount of time in the West, particularly in the Southwest in winter,
you might want to consider buying a van from somewhere that does not salt the roads.  You could end up owning and enjoying an unsalted van a whole lot longer.

I vote for a cargo van also.

 

[Cheli]

Thank you everyone, all excellent input.

I keep saying I need to go with a cargo or passenger van so don't know why I keep looking at the conversion vans. It is a waste of money since the conversion vans cost is mostly for crap that I'd rip out anyway. That's it, I'm sticking with a cargo van. I just need to keep looking for something right because I don't want a car payment when on the road. If I can find something under $10k and I can get out of my apartment to stay with my sister I can keep working and pay it off in several months.

And yes Gary, road salt everywhere around here during the crappy New England winters. That's why I need to get out of here, can't take another winter. LOL

 

[Cheli]

If you are going to inhabit the East coast primarily once you go nomad you may as well buy a van from the East coast,

However, if you plan on spending a fair amount of time in the West, particularly in the Southwest in winter,
you might want to consider buying a van from somewhere that does not salt the roads.  You could end up owning and enjoying an unsalted van a whole lot longer.

I vote for a cargo van also.

Nope, I'm getting the heck out of here and heading West.  haha

 

[steamjam1]

Nope, I'm getting the heck out of here and heading West.  haha

I don't know why, but when I read this, the Pet Shop Boys "Go West" popped into my head and I haven't been able to stop playing it on loop head-wise. (did I just date my old-ness?)

 

[Cheli]

Then I guess I'd be dating my old-ness too. hahaha