are there any nice condition smiley front Transits left?

[redvanman]

Currently looking to change my van from a 98 Ducato LWB which I've had for 10 yrs, put 100k on the clock and its hardly gone wrong in all that time apart from whats now consigning it to the scrapyard - its rusted out and beyond repair.......

Been looking at a 57 plate Ducato today for 7K but cant bring myself to spend this amount of money on something that will basically commute 8 miles a day. (I need a load carrier about 3 times a month)

The new shape Transits year 2000 on seem to be from around 3K for a decent one but am pondering going back to a really nice example smiley front transit perhaps turbo, metallic paint and PAS - saving a load of money (which will put toward a nicer car for the family) and also then having a vehicle which I can fix myself at low cost as I hate modern vehicles that cost a fortune to fix....

Any thoughts?

are there any nice rust free examples of smiley fronts still out there or are they all scrappy now?

[ginsambo]

There's an '05 plate Mk6 on Ebay at the mo. for £999 + Vat - knackered injection pump.

If you want a cheap Mk6 in good nick might be your best way forward and put a Di in it? - Looks good but runs like an oldschool battlewagon.

I do think Mk5's are structural stronger than Mk6's and 7's, but honestly you might have more luck getting a MK1 in better condition than a MK5 these days.

[MrMPuk]

You must love rust.

[redvanman]

ok, ok I get the message an early rustfree mk6 then perhaps? err is the Mk6 relatively rust free????!!!

[ginsambo]

Heh! They all rust! Remember that Mk5's are at least 10 years old now eh!

They are about, its just finding one from a suburban microclimate where they never salt the roads and it didn't do many miles! I found one. OK, so it was a dodgy VIN altered spec. 'Grey' Malaysian Import from Croydon with a knackered motor. But I still found one in good nick! Too bad its started to rust to pieces in just the last 9 months.

[ginsambo]

ok, ok I get the message an early rustfree mk6 then perhaps? err is the Mk6 relatively rust free????!!!

Absolutely....not!