State of the Market for older Vans

[Dionysius]

I'm looking to buy a van budget £15-30k. Have been looking for a while but had to postpone buying for a year due to my mother being ill for a very long time but ive been following various prices of vans Im interested in.

For the last year prices have been in my opinion artificially high for even rusty and high mileage older vehicles, and vans selling very quickly, so quick in fact theyve gone before I can contact the sellor.

My question is therefore....

With the impending cost of living crisis, winter/xmas coming, fuel and mortgages rising steeply, and now half-term is over many families have had their last holiday of the year, will prices return to a more reasonable level at the lower end of the market ?

I'm sure for new/nearly new stuff if you can afford £70k+ on a new van these costs probably arent much of a worry, but lower down the food chain ?

Have people noticed a slow down and prices dropping ?

 

[john prince]

None. £22k was paid, for MH with inclusive 12 month warranty, MOT etc.

 

[gpat]

I don't think the prices will drop unless the current craze for motorhoming passes. IMO, the COVID has had some impact no doubt, caused by temporary demand and under availability of parts. However I believe it was heading in this direction anyway before COVID. That's because it's a great hobby and lots more people want to get into it. Basically there are more people wanting to get into than there are vans. Seller's market. Prices go up

 

[pampam]

 

[pampam]

I think this is a nice van for the money………but im not a mechanic and someone let him down,so did they find something wrong with it do you think?

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[Dionysius]

I checked the advert and the number plates been covered up - you cant check the MOT history from the number. This woukd be a red-rag for me not being able to do that.

What are they trying to hide ?

 

[Just smiffy]

I checked the advert and the number plates been covered up - you cant check the MOT history from the number. This woukd be a red-rag for me not being able to do that.

What are they trying to hide ?

I alway ask the seller for the plate so I can check mot’s never been refused….

 

[Just smiffy]

All the recent motorhome tv series spurs on sales too…

 

[pampam]

Yes i thought that too

 

[Wack]

When where is this show ?

Ive been following some vans, there are about 4x Duettos on ebay & autotrader that are between £18-21k and a similar no. 9f Clubman and Talisman/Executive that have been on sale since September, at same prices - Not sold. So why not ? Sadly they are all at opposite end of country to me so difficult to go along and assess them.

Theres a dealer in reading has a low mileage 2006 Duetto we went to look at but at £27k we felt it way overpriced. Also had alow mileage 2006 Talisman for £25k but it had rust in cab sills we thought again overpriced and they wouldnt budge on price. So we walked. Theyre still for sale a month later despite their ads saying "very popular models be quick these will be gone in days".

As far as I'm aware fiat chassis pre X250 (2007 on) aren't galvanised so if you're looking at a fiat chassis the X250 with the swooped up headlights is where you want to be.

You'll probably get a better deal in a private sale but the money has to be right as it's yours as soon as you drive it away so it'd be worth an inspection.

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[jongood]

As far as I'm aware fiat chassis pre X250 (2007 on) aren't galvanised so if you're looking at a fiat chassis the X250 with the swooped up headlights is where you want to be.

You'll probably get a better deal in a private sale but the money has to be right as it's yours as soon as you drive it away so it'd be worth an inspection.

Need to be careful with 2007-9 2.3litre X250's, remember juddergate and all the clutch failures? Not quite as expensive as comfortmatic though.

 

[glastry]

I don't know, you will know better than me but it's almost 20 years old just now so in 10 years it will be almost 30. On average they don't last that long. Googling seems to suggest the average is 20 years. I would hope it's longer than that.

My van is now 37 years old and it drives well! So you think, it is scrap??(99

 

[IRHP]

My van is now 37 years old and it drives well! So you think, it is scrap??(99

No that's not what I said. When there's an average some will last longer some will last less. That's how averages work.

 

[jollyrodger]

1999 Hobby in fine fettle completed a 3000 plus jaunt around a few months back .
And reg plate covered, as lots of cloners about no other reason

 

[Wack]

Need to be careful with 2007-9 2.3litre X250's, remember juddergate and all the clutch failures? Not quite as expensive as comfortmatic though.

That's a fixable mechanical issue though , rust in the chassis can be much more expensive than a new clutch, transits and sprinters look like Swiss cheese at 15 years old

I bought an old fiat MH as a fixer upper before I bought the x250 I have now, the guy had spent £3000 on welding, looked new underneath though.

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[Rapido925M]

That's a fixable mechanical issue though , rust in the chassis can be much more expensive than a new clutch, transits and sprinters look like Swiss cheese at 15 years old

I go under my 20y old Sprinter when it’s up on the lift at every MOT. Perhaps Swiss cheese plants have changed since I last had them?

Gordon

 

[chaser]

I checked the advert and the number plates been covered up - you cant check the MOT history from the number. This woukd be a red-rag for me not being able to do that.

What are they trying to hide ?

Well there is a phone number, just ask.

 

[sonny]

No rust on my 2003 sprinter original paint work

 

[SpeedyDux]

I don't think the prices will drop unless the current craze for motorhoming passes. IMO, the COVID has had some impact no doubt, caused by temporary demand and under availability of parts. However I believe it was heading in this direction anyway before COVID. That's because it's a great hobby and lots more people want to get into it. Basically there are more people wanting to get into than there are vans. Seller's market. Prices go up

A seller's market for used caravans too, I expect. I admit don't know much about caravans, but I saw a piece on TV featuring a 2016 Swift priced by a dealer at £22K. I thought WHAAAAT?

 

[Wack]

I go under my 20y old Sprinter when it’s up on the lift at every MOT. Perhaps Swiss cheese plants have changed since I last had them?

Gordon

must just be the vans then, I've never looked underneath one, I have however seen plenty that look like this on the top

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[Rapido925M]

must just be the vans then, I've never looked underneath one,

So why did you mention “rust in the chassis”?
It’s always good to get helpful advice BUT it needs to be accurate.

Gordon

 

[Soycd]

Just been through some old paperwork and came across some old motorhome docs. We sold our LHD 2001 Adriatik 670 DK in 2003 to get a Buerstner 747. I advertised it for £25.000, I think we got £23.750.
The same model/age of motorhome is currently being offered for sale on an Italian website for Euro 18.999 (about £16.700) There are a few more around but a few years younger up to Euro 25.000.

 

[gpat]

must just be the vans then, I've never looked underneath one, I have however seen plenty that look like this on the top
View attachment 702250

That doesn't look too bad for a sprinter

 

[StephandJohn]

Ours is a 2007 Swift Firebrand. VGC We might decide to sell it later this year(hope not) due to health problems so I hope the prices stay good.

 

[Wack]

So why did you mention “rust in the chassis”?
It’s always good to get helpful advice BUT it needs to be accurate.

Gordon

Checking any vehicle for rot is always good advice, just because yours doesn't have any doesn't mean a thing, especially if youre buying something that's been in Scotland or near the coast.
Sprinters and transits are known to rust and there's a lot of converted vans out there

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[Coolcats]

So you are predicting that my very serviceable N&B Arto 2003 will be worth scrap value in 5-10 years? How much do you want to.bet?

That very much depends on 2030 and the end of new ice vehicles and the cost of road tax insurance and low emission zones rather than it being n N&B one can only hope common sense prevails and fuel availability and tax’s etc won’t price a classic out of the market.

 

[Wack]

That very much depends on 2030 and the end of new ice vehicles and the cost of road tax insurance and low emission zones rather than it being n N&B one can only hope common sense prevails and fuel availability and tax’s etc won’t price a classic out of the market.

That'll be the killer of older vehicles , low emission zones, the Manchester one has been put on the back burner but should it come in my 2007 diesel would attract the daily charge, thankfully only if I were to visit burrs country park or any other site in Greater Manchester but if you live within the boundary you'll be paying every time it leaves and returns to your drive, say it's £20 a day that's £40 on top of every trip

 

[pampam]

 

[pampam]

This is more “modern” and you could add to it .it looks like a converted ambulance or medi van

 

[pampam]

No shower so id give it a miss,cos im not handy