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Complete summary of pros and cons per van
| Technical | Cargo & conversion | Euro van | Classic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Not too big Cargo: not a lot of storage Conversion: a bit more storage Not a lot of floor surface & curved walls | Euro: Can be pretty large Especially the 170" wheelbase Lot's of floor surface, curved walls Box: more space than you know what to do with | Recreational: small, not a lot of storage Little floor surface & curved walls Industrial: large, plenty of storage A lot of floor surface Mostly straigt walls (boxy) |
| Price | Cheap | Expensive | Expensive |
| Technical state | Plenty of good vans available, thanks to commercial fleet use | Plenty of good vans available,thanks to commercial fleet use | You can find well-maintained ones |
| Maintenance | Cheap Mechanics not too complex Durable You can do your own maintenance All mechanics can work these | Expensive Very complex mechanics Are notorious for failing electrical systems Not everyone can do their own maintenance Lot's of electrics involved Only dealers can work these | Cheap Very simple Durable Easy to maintain yourself Need a lot of work All mechanics can work these |
| Availability | Widely available | US: not widely available EU: widely available | Are less readily available |
| Parts | Parts are widely available Share a lot of parts with other vans Huge aftermarket for parts | Parts are widely available, though not in remote places Large aftermarket | Parts are mostly available |
| Mileage | Not the best | Very good | Terrible |
| Safety | Decent, if the van's not too old (> 1990) | Good | Terrible |
| Looks | Doesn't look very good | Euro: Looks great Box: Front looks as great, box van in forest looks odd | Best looks you can get |
Narrow it down
Now we get into the elimination process. Yes, this is definitely my favorite part of any decision.
Pick your top two priorities, and find which vans suit them best based on the table above.
For example, my main priorities are size and low maintenance. The best picks for these two are
- size: Classic Industrial van
- low maintenance: US Cargo van
Now, some questions:
Old or new?
There are typically two large eliminating points in the decision of going classic or modern.
- The level of comfort you need. If this is above average, all classic and old cars are no longer an option.
- Your maintenance budget & method. If you want to do it yourself, definitely consider a classic car. If you don't want to do it yourself, but don't want to spend a lot, get a fairly simple car that isn't too old.
So now you know whether or not you will buy an old car, a new car, or an average car. Great. That narrows it down quite a lot.
4 Buying tips
I won't go into detail on the more basic buying tips, as there are many out there already doing a great job of summing up all the things you need to check (tires, suspension, damage, and so on). Instead, I will try to give you some new tips and a fresh perspective.
Engine health
The most expensive part of any car is the engine, which is why you want to make sure the engine is worthwhile. There
Basic buying tips
To give you a complete overview, these are the most important basic checks:
- Check for leakages in the engine compartment. With older engines, some oil is acceptable.
- Also check the oil cap. If there's a thick white substance in it, it's most likely an indication of a head gasket leak. You don't want that.
- Check the fluids: your oil should be at the proper level. If it's black, it's old oil, which is an indication that the owner doesn't maintain the car very well. Also check the coolant fluid (with a cold engine). The coolant should be a bright red, yellow, blue or green.
- Check how the car starts and runs, listen for a healthy engine sound. There shouldn't be any nocks, ticks, or clicks. Top tip: check the engine type on Youtube to listen to a healthy sound.
- Check if the chassis is straight, and if the engine is at a straight angle to the frame. If not, the car might've been in an accident.
- Check the state of the tires and suspension.
Buying based on trust
Nobody can check inside the engine, not even mechanics. So buying a van is based on trust to at least some extent. You have to look the seller in the eye and check if you trust him or her. If you have terrible people skills, bring someone who can read people.
Don't be naive about it, but also don't ignore it if someone is telling the truth (which most people are most of the time).
Don't fall in love with a van you haven't driven yet
If you haven't driven it, you don't know it. You have no clue what's going on. Don't become invested in any vehicle before properly inspecting and test driving it. Be stoic about it, is my best advice.
Easily check the engine compression
You'll want to know how good the engine compression is. A simple DIY trick you can do on the spot, is opening the oil fill cap, and starting the engine. The more the cap bounces around, the worse the compression.
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