89s rule
Adventurer
I test drove and looked at a '98 E250 EB last night. 5.4, 180K miles, 15 pass with higher roof and wheelchair lift in the rear. Lady owned the last 10 years and 80K miles. I felt that it had plenty of power, although not built out inside it does have a wheelchair lift and cargo barrier installed, both of which I would remove and sell / donate. Lady is older but seems very honest. $3K is her bottom dollar and she is not open to offers.
.
Here are a few observations and questions:
.
Driving it around 15-20 min (10 or so miles from stop and go up to 55 ish. I couldn't get up to more speed b/c of traffic.) was fine, my wife was unable to drive because we brought the kids along, but overall I felt like a van "fit" fine.
- Needs some consmetics, topper clear coat is flaking and looks like a few cracks/spiderwebbing in the fiberglass top at 2 points near the top from a limb or?? Side rubber strip around the top to cover the screw holes is missing/damaged in a few areas. Some windows do not open in the rear? Second barn door did not have a way to open it. Can you adapt the rearmost windows to open or buy window that would open?
- No major rust, which is one issue I have run into in my price range. Only rust is in rear above where back doors were extended, it is surface and shoudl not be a problem to repair and reseal/caulk around bottom edges.
- Trans pan looked wet, I think its just a pan gasket. I will post pics this evening.
- Random tapping noise when sitting still, definately came from the front, almost like something was bumping. Really not sure as this was really the only "noise" while test driving.
- Brakes had a good bit of play and when pumped could almost hear them pump up but not really any more pedal when done. I would say 4"? or so of play before they really grab. I havent driven a full sized van in maybe 3 or 4 years and even then they were newer rentals.
- Buzzer for the door stayed on when door was open and key was out of ignition. Is this normal? It quit buzzing at one point when I moved the ignition switch around, but not sure if this was a timing thing or what??
- Engine temp stayed low, oil pressure guage on dash stayed at ~ 3/4.
- Good bit of paperwork for repairs. This showed me a few things.
----It has not been driven much over the last 2 years, maybe 800 miles?
----New radiator ~ 15K miles ago (4 yrs?) , upper and lower BJ ~10K miles ago (3 yrs?), AC compressor maybe compressors can't remember replaced a few years back. Front and rear AC and heat seemed to work well with no wierd smells.
---- She has had a electrical drain issue and mechanic seemed to fix it a few years back report said it was dome light/door sensor related?? There were two wires hanging under the dash that were taped together. I am wondering if this is the issue of the iginition switch? She recently replaced the battery and mentioned having to get AAA to jump it off a few times. (Which if it has not been driven but cranked some that might have killed a battery anyway?)
Van does not have a tilt wheel, I believe it is a XL model. I totally forgot to check on Cruise control, I do not think the van has it and I asked her before and she could not remember. If it do add CC how much am I looking at, every thread I find on retrofitting OEM CC doesnt lead me to any companies that are open or offering such now. Could this all be fixed by swapping to a tilt wheel?
I am reminded that I cannot expect anything to be perfect at $4K or less. I do not want to get into an issue where I am way upside down on a vehicle. Again to each his on on this, but I would say I am outside the norm on Expo and have been able to break even or close to it on the last 5 or 6 vehicles I have owned over the last 8 yrs or so after driving them 20-40K miles.
What costs does it sound like I am looking at for CC, Brakes, or any other things that might have stood out to you?
.
Here are a few observations and questions:
.
Driving it around 15-20 min (10 or so miles from stop and go up to 55 ish. I couldn't get up to more speed b/c of traffic.) was fine, my wife was unable to drive because we brought the kids along, but overall I felt like a van "fit" fine.
- Needs some consmetics, topper clear coat is flaking and looks like a few cracks/spiderwebbing in the fiberglass top at 2 points near the top from a limb or?? Side rubber strip around the top to cover the screw holes is missing/damaged in a few areas. Some windows do not open in the rear? Second barn door did not have a way to open it. Can you adapt the rearmost windows to open or buy window that would open?
- No major rust, which is one issue I have run into in my price range. Only rust is in rear above where back doors were extended, it is surface and shoudl not be a problem to repair and reseal/caulk around bottom edges.
- Trans pan looked wet, I think its just a pan gasket. I will post pics this evening.
- Random tapping noise when sitting still, definately came from the front, almost like something was bumping. Really not sure as this was really the only "noise" while test driving.
- Brakes had a good bit of play and when pumped could almost hear them pump up but not really any more pedal when done. I would say 4"? or so of play before they really grab. I havent driven a full sized van in maybe 3 or 4 years and even then they were newer rentals.
- Buzzer for the door stayed on when door was open and key was out of ignition. Is this normal? It quit buzzing at one point when I moved the ignition switch around, but not sure if this was a timing thing or what??
- Engine temp stayed low, oil pressure guage on dash stayed at ~ 3/4.
- Good bit of paperwork for repairs. This showed me a few things.
----It has not been driven much over the last 2 years, maybe 800 miles?
----New radiator ~ 15K miles ago (4 yrs?) , upper and lower BJ ~10K miles ago (3 yrs?), AC compressor maybe compressors can't remember replaced a few years back. Front and rear AC and heat seemed to work well with no wierd smells.
---- She has had a electrical drain issue and mechanic seemed to fix it a few years back report said it was dome light/door sensor related?? There were two wires hanging under the dash that were taped together. I am wondering if this is the issue of the iginition switch? She recently replaced the battery and mentioned having to get AAA to jump it off a few times. (Which if it has not been driven but cranked some that might have killed a battery anyway?)
Van does not have a tilt wheel, I believe it is a XL model. I totally forgot to check on Cruise control, I do not think the van has it and I asked her before and she could not remember. If it do add CC how much am I looking at, every thread I find on retrofitting OEM CC doesnt lead me to any companies that are open or offering such now. Could this all be fixed by swapping to a tilt wheel?
I am reminded that I cannot expect anything to be perfect at $4K or less. I do not want to get into an issue where I am way upside down on a vehicle. Again to each his on on this, but I would say I am outside the norm on Expo and have been able to break even or close to it on the last 5 or 6 vehicles I have owned over the last 8 yrs or so after driving them 20-40K miles.
What costs does it sound like I am looking at for CC, Brakes, or any other things that might have stood out to you?
