Vans milage question?

[TopTrumper]

fellas,
I am in the process of looking to buy a van, i have seen ones with high milage, at what point (in miles) should i not go near it??

 

[johnb80]

The mileage isn't that relevant it's the service history thats important. My current transit (2001) has 350,000 miles on the clock and drives like new, starts first touch of the key every time.

Regards - J

 

[^neo^]

Depends what van it is......... VW vans go on forever, Merc's aren't quite so good and fords/LDV's are just plain crap!

 

[johnb80]

Depends what van it is......... VW vans go on forever, Merc's aren't quite so good and fords/LDV's are just plain rubbish!

You are of course entitled to your opinion, I run 6 vans in my business and I've done the rounds. VW are way, way too expensive on parts and often parts are not available. Their depreciation is also high. Merc Sprinters are very, very fast, reliable, depreciation not too bad but expensive to buy. Then there's the good old Transit, not a bit of trouble, does the job and it's nice to drive. Servicing cheap, parts available as and when needed so in my humble opinion YOU'RE WRONG

Just out of interest, what experience have you had with vans?

Regards - J

 

[Belle427]

im in the same situation,its difficult because most have been thrashed to within an inch of their lives,what sort of budget do you have?

 

[Multifinish]

I run a renault kangoo. W reg with 80,000 on. Its a proper work horse. Parts seem to bee easily available and its never let me down..... touch wood. its horses for courses really. All my plastering gear fits in the back and the roofrack is ideal for plasterboard.

 

[^neo^]

Depends what van it is......... VW vans go on forever, Merc's aren't quite so good and fords/LDV's are just plain rubbish!

You are of course entitled to your opinion, I run 6 vans in my business and I've done the rounds. VW are way, way too expensive on parts and often parts are not available.

The question here was about high mileage vans, which i would say is over 75k.
Don't know where you get you VW parts from but i've never had any problems getting parts. As for price, they're a hell of alot less than Ford parts.

Merc Sprinters are very, very fast, reliable, depreciation not too bad but expensive to buy.

Yeah, they're good all the time they're running. High mileage ones are a no no. Because they do go like stink, most of them you find will have been abused and thrashed.

Then there's the good old Transit, not a bit of trouble, does the job and it's nice to drive. Servicing cheap, parts available as and when needed so in my humble opinion YOU'RE WRONG

Parts cheap! Ha! Ford have got to be one of the most overpriced for parts ever!

Just out of interest, what experience have you had with vans?

A little. Over the years I have owned and looked after VW's, Maestro's (eugh!), Transits, Escorts, Sprinters, Renault Masters, LDV's, Seat's and Vauxhalls.
Yeah, i agree that Ford's aren't too much trouble engine wise, and the good thing is there is plenty in the scrap yards, it's just everything else that's attached to the engine that you have problems with!