Need help with a 2nd hand van purchase

5_speed · 29-07-2010, 10:13 PM

Hi Guys,

Looking for a bit of advise on a 2nd hand van.
The budget is up to $4K.

I have no idea about vans. What is good? What is to be avoided?

The van will be used to carry musical instruments, so it'll basically be a load carrying vehicle, no seats required in the back.

Auto / manual doesn't bother me (although I suspect they will all be manual?)

Also where's the best place to look for them? I've been to a few auctions, but they have many been filled with cars, not commercial vehicles.

Thanks for any advise.

duaned · 30-07-2010, 12:04 AM

Look for something with a diesel preferably, like a mercedes MB100. They just keep on going. But you may also have to do that with your budget to get a good clean example.

XR Martin · 30-07-2010, 12:13 AM

Old commercial vans at that price will be pretty rough, and try and avoid a Transit. They can get costly real quick. Id be staying away all the Euros IMO.

Hiace, Econovan, Express/L300 is really your only choices. Plenty still around, plenty of parts and easy to fix.

Other options could be minivans like Nimbus, Starwagon, Tarago, and just pull the seats out.

But in the end of the day they are about as unsafe as you can get....

What about a Falcon wagon? Get the rear seats removed and put a cargo barrier behind the fronts. $4k would get you into an AU.

Another option is get a trailer made up.

5_speed · 30-07-2010, 09:11 AM

Thanks for the advise.

We looked at a L series van, but it had so much rust it was unlikely that it would pass rego. I'll keep looking.

Thnaks for the suggestion, but the wagon wouldn't really be an option. This thing has to be able to carry timpani for an orchestra.

mik · 30-07-2010, 09:48 AM

i would also be looking at mini buses, with the seats removed they would be pretty good room wise, some have side access as well as rear.

SVTVNM · 30-07-2010, 10:33 AM

At that budget mate your only real options are early to mid 90's Japanese vans, dont get me wrong I drive a 91 Express dual fuel as a daily, your bigest issue will be how good is it really goin to be if your budget is only about 4k. You will end up with a money pit, having to throw money at it to keep it on the road. LWB express or hiace would be Ideal probably thye most reliable.

russxr67 · 31-07-2010, 09:43 PM

Toyota Hiace would be the pick of the bunch here but 4k ain't gonna get much.

I sold my 1999 Hiace at the beginning of the year for 7k and that had 170,000 clicks. That was a good price considering some are still advertised for a lot more. Bottom line is they are probably the most reliable van of their time.

4K is gonna get you something mid 90's with a few more k's