Turtlerock Forum

I am looking to buy a van to cart gear around in, something old and cheap preferably... Anyone have any advice on vans? Hiace? Liteace? WV? Before I head down Paramatta road to get fleeced I wouldn't mind some idea of what to look for

I recently sold our 1988 LWB diesel Hiace to a tradie who does hundreds of KMs a week, it's still going strong, my Missus sees it on her way to work most mornings.

We bought it off a tradie, it had 360,000kms on it, we had to put a new fuel pump in it soon after we got it (Expensive! $1000) but the mechanic reckoned the van still had years of life in it. Bought a few years ago for $2400, sold a few months ago for $2400. Other than the fuel pump we never had to put a spanner on it.

Thirteen wrote:I am looking to buy a van to cart gear around in, something old and cheap preferably... Anyone have any advice on vans? Hiace? Liteace? WV? Before I head down Paramatta road to get fleeced I wouldn't mind some idea of what to look for

Toyotas are good but cost a bit more than the "cheaper" brands - Mitsubishi L300s aren't too bad (other than timing belts...) and the Kia vans are being used by a lot of tradies now.

I know a guy with one of the new VWs and he said the small engine diesel is too underpowered.

How much gear / how many kms do you need to travel are the deciders - it's better to spend a bit more up front as the last thing you want is to break down with a load of gear on board.

I'd like to put in a vote for the Falcon Panel Van. Not as roomy as a Hiace, but much more like driving a sedan and with the addition of an LPG tank, cheap to run. I was going to sell mine some years ago but when the best offer I got was $500 I decided to keep it and it has now passed 600,000 kms on the original motor and slush box, however, it does get serviced regularly and it has had a few repairs over the years. If I need more room I just hook up my enclosed trailer and the old XF pulls it like it wasn't there.

Did I mention that my teenage daughter loves it................ NOT. She hates it when I drop her to the school bus it it, "Sooooooooooooooo embarrassing"and if I really want to stir her up I tell her she can borrow it once she gets her licence.......

stosostu wrote:I really want to stir her up I tell her she can borrow it once she gets her licence.......

Careful.

By the time she gets her licence, she may feel differently about that...

I just went down this road 6 months ago.
After extensive looking and comparisons, I went with a 10 year old Mercedes Vito 113 diesel.
The 108 is not as good from my research - 112 or 113 is great
Incredibly economic on fuel.
I also think that you are better off with a diesel - whatever brand you choose.

Oh yeah
one more thing - avoid the mitsubihi's - they are total crap and everyone I know who has bought one regretted it. So much money spent continually fixing them/replacing engines, and they are gutless pieces of shit.
Toyota /Merc /VW - much more reliability

Steve I bought an Isuzu van on Parramatta Rd in 1990 for $5K. About a month after buying it... It started having all sorts of problems until finally the head gasket cracked and that was pretty much the end.
Try to get a 3- 6 month parts/labour type warranty from the dodgy dealer. Otherwise walk away...

Good luck.

You can get a NRMA detailed check on most dealer cars - used to cost $35 - but the report will tell you if there is any problems with the motor - test the rings condition etc and just about everything else major that may need $ in the near future.
Good luck!

Thanks for all the tips guys... Sounds like maybe a Toyota would be the safest bet.... I would love a WV or Mercedes, but they are the kind of vehicle that mechanics refer to as "German sh.tboxes"...Until something goes wrong, and then they call them "Expensive Continental vehicles".