What about vans from a University Maintenance Dept?

[vanman2300]

Any opinions about low mileage older vans used by Universties? There's a few E250s in the 2005 - 2008 year models coming up on the market that have 38k to 70k mileage so they haven't seen much highway driving. I already have seen them before being reconditioned and theres no rust, just some small dents.

I'm wondering if the lack of highway miles might be off set by the fact that these have been maintained so well by the University?

 

[John61CT]

Highway miles are the good kind.

Stop and go, such short trips are at least five times harder on the drive train.

Absolute worst, along with heavy towing, is idling time, which doesn't show on the odometer at all, why used cop cars are dicey.

To me it would all depend how conscientious the dept was, really all maintenance and repair records should be available and meticulous.

 

[djkeev]

Many drivers over many years, work study students, part time help, no sense of ownership, just passing through, an I don't care attitute often equates a beat vehicle, often abused and mistreated.

Dave

 

[AbuelaLoca]

My Club Wagon was used by a non-profit on very short trips, stop and go, and it's a '93... 73K miles when I bought her... she's AWESOME!!!! If they have the maintenance records, I certainly think it's worth it! YMMV

 

[eDJ_]

What djkeev is saying.  

I used to hear the mechanics I worked for (who had maintained fleet vehicles like this)  saying things like,
"Everybody's Horse is Nobody Horse". 

Accumulative neglect, abuse, and indifferent operation takes it's toll quickly and is a harder life than most would imagine.  This may have sit around idling for hours of each day to be a heated or air conditioned retreat for those
maintenance workers.  

This is the life of a lot of Fleet vehicles that have been "Run hard and put away wet" also.

If you were just to use a Van like this for week end camping trips to a State or National park an hour or so away, or the Day Trips a couple times a month....it may be OK.   I wouldn't set out on a log trek in one though.