(very) high milage transit - good buy?

[owen]

I currently own a '94 transit for my business (joiner) and am looking for something newer, as my current van is starting to look very scabby. I was looking for a LWB semi-hi top, around 98-99 ish, with a budget of around 3k. However, took a test drive in a new shape last week and am wondering whether i should stretch my budget a little.

So, i have found on autotrader a new shape MWB semi high X reg for £3500. Full service history, but - wait for it - 313k miles!! Is it an absurd idea to buy a van with mileage as high as this?

I'm not put off my high mileage vans in general, my current one has 135k on it and has had no major problems. Also, i only do around 7-8k miles a year. I've had quite a few high mileage cars in the past with few problems, but nothing anywhere near this high.

[dan@dsfplumbing]

you'll pick up a 99 V reg one like mine in good clean shape for around £2.5K. I'd want history and low mileage though. And beware of ones in auctions etc that are very very clean. been resprayed or worse.

I'd steer clear of the new shapes unless you are a die hard transit fan with ear plugs. Reliable and all that but the're not a patch on the vivaro and the like when it comes to life in the cab.

Check out the autotrader van site for loads forsale.

[Wild_Paul]

313,000 miles - is it still on the origanal engine at least you know it hasn't been clocked

[madmark]

the problem is ,it could be a good one to do that sort of miles,or it could be at the stage its about to go wrong! to find a cleen lwb smiley will be hard as most have bad wheelarches and back doors! i was oferd a T reg the otherday tidy ish van 173k on the clock for £1600 but the arches were going and the bottom of the back door was missing !

[Andrew-v4]

To dear with them miles, pay just a little more and you will find one with
under 100K.
Thers plenty about plus you will find it hard to shift it when the time
comes to selling

[john leeman]

I would not bother with A vivaro, some of the fish sales lads have had some spectacular failures with these, although thrashed within an inch of there life. I dought a 300 lwb hi top 51 plate ex parts van from my local ford dealers 18 months ago, no trouble 28,000 miles on, just come back from IRELAND, good on fuel comfy fast good payload what more could you ask for, OH quiet too. I also have for sale my own 80 swb smiley face van 2.5 di 86,000 miles genuine, full service history from me m.o.t. till nov 06 & taxed, white in colour. photo on dunton - southampton run 17/7/05 on TRANSIT VAN CLUB web site offers around £1,800 no vat.

[PMeyer]

I bought a W reg with 145K on the clock and its had its problems along the way but I've had it just over a year now and its doing ok, although I'm due a new rear axle, duel mass flywheel(?) and my clutch feels pretty spongey....

I do a lot of mileage though its now on 211K so maybe these problems are just due to normal wear and tear.

Maybe a nice low mileage van is a better way to go. but who knows.

[owen]

thanks for all the advice, i decided that 313k was just too much mileage, and even if there were no problems with it, it would be a nightmare to sell on.
Going to see one tomorrow, 95k on the clock and up for £4200, a more sensible choice i think.