Ford Fiesta Diesel Van 51 Plate

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

Buying advice, 170,000,ish miles,t and t end of year,3 owners, no service history,very clean in and out apart from minor rot on rear arch's. I can own it for £400, which looks cheap.

 

Apart from budgeting for cambelt replacement, WCPGW. Sorry no pics.

[twosmoke300]

What model is it ? mk1 focus shape or the older one ? If its the early one then rust between front and rear number plates and front suspension arms .

[Cavcraft]

They always smell of diesel and a horrible sort of damp plastic and death aroma.

If you can manage more than a few days without wanting to give up on life you've done well.

[Richard]

If it looks like this it's got the arse end of a Renault Extra on it.

 

 

My father in law had the older "sad face" version. I found it quite unpleasant to drive, heavy steering with no feel, but it might have just been that one.

[twosmoke300]

They always smell of diesel and a horrible sort of damp plastic and death aroma.

If you can manage more than a few days without wanting to give up on life you've done well.

In my experience they , like all fords , smell of burnt metal , seam sealer and shultz

 

They were all dire to drive . The courier as pictured above at least was a decent size . There was a car deprived version too . The 1.8 d was soooo slow and the low blow td wasnt any better tbh .

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

 

What model is it ? mk1 focus shape or the older one ? If its the early one then rust between front and rear number plates and front suspension arms .

Its this model.

[vulgalour]

I like that you're asking for buying advice on a Festervan and you signature reads 'I must not buy any more cars'.

 

I can't presently think of a better use of £400 of your money, so I suggest you purchase.  It's not my fault if it all goes wrong.  Feel free to praise my encouragement if it turns out to be the best purchase you've ever made.

[Bobthebeard]

Its this model.

That looks very similar to a KA, so will probably dissolve within a year. If you buy it, don't come moaning to us when you go out one morning to find just a brown stain on the drive where the van used to be....

[Felly Magic]

Also it has NO TAX on, tax is no longer transferable.

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

 

Also it has NO TAX on, tax is no longer transferable.

 

I thought that only applied to the new tax laws, not vehicles that were taxed before october 1st.

[Cavcraft]

I can't presently think of a better use of £400 of your money, except perhaps shoving it down your undies and setting fire to it. Or perhaps getting addicted to WD40 and walking round Halfords in a pair of track suit bottoms and a big thick coat with the hood up in the middle of summer, muttering away to yourself about one last fix as you shoplift everything in site. Actually, I can't really think of a worse use of £400 than buying a Fiesta van.

 

 

 

EFA'd that for you.

[twosmoke300]

Those arches look wob tastic to me . Dont do it unless you have shares in BOC

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

 

Those arches look wob tastic to me . Dont do it unless you have shares in BOC

 

I'm a welder/fabricator by trade,a few before and after pics of one of Metro's and my Land Rover

[Richard]

 

 

I thought that only applied to the new tax laws, not vehicles that were taxed before october 1st.

 

You'd think so, wouldn't you? Unfortunately it's not the case though, even if there is a disc it's not transferable to the new keeper.

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

 

You'd think so, wouldn't you? Unfortunately it's not the case though, even if there is a disc it's not transferable to the new keeper.

 

Thats a bit of a nuisance.

[Matt]

How much different are they inside than the 3-door hatches?

[Felly Magic]

TBH, £400 for one of these with short test and a bit leggy, with no history, walk away

[Spiny Norman]

The last place I worked offered me one as a company vehicle. I carried on using my Alfa.....

[dugong]

I thought that only applied to the new tax laws, not vehicles that were taxed before october 1st.

No.

[Vince70]

I know the fiesta van can make good money as I had the car derived van in the same shape and also in white as the one your thinking of buying and sold it after about 20 minutes of putting online in the local Friday ad for £500.

 

Mine had only done 48000 though but it was a 1.3 petrol which was rust and wob free but I wouldn't buy another one as it's just not practical enough, but it was only bought for the tips runs while I did the house up.

 

Where I live I couldn't use it down the local tip unless I had a pass and you really couldn't get much in the back of it and in the end I just didn't use the thing and would borrow my fathers old estate which could take 3 times the amount of junk..

 

So my advice is buy an old estate for £400 instead something along the lines of a old 405 or Audi A6.

[Cavcraft]

TBH, £400 for one of these with short test and a bit leggy, with no history, walk away

Yeah, service history on a £400 motor is vital.

[Felly Magic]

Come off it, £400 for something with virtually no test, that is 13 years old?? The lack of any history points to one thing, at some point in it's life it could have well been clocked, and knowing how quickly these Fiestas rust from personal experience, it will already have a patchwork quilt underneath.This van is worth little more than bridge money, its the sort of thing that would go through the block at about £100 on a good day. And that 1.8D lump will be very tired, they only last about 200k on a well maintained example before needing a rebuild.

[AnthonyG]

For some strange reason, vans always seem to be worth more than the equivalent car.

 

This sounds absolutely horrible, as years of attending farm machinery and vehicle auctions in Wales have taught me what to expect of a £400 small van.

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

Went to have a look and drive it today, but unfortunately no one answered the door or phone.I've left a message on the sellers mobile and posted a note through the letterbox,so I wait and see.

 

Thanks for all advice and comments people.

[sierraman]

I hope you like welding. The one I got rid of was rotten as a peach, Its almost as if I'd washed it on a daily basis in sea water.

[oman5]

Well, vans by their nature tend to get the crap thrashed out of them regularly. With this in mind plus the rust potential the mileage is too high to make it worthwhile; yes it's cheap, but it's still a bugger if it were to blow up the day after you bought it.

Don't these have two timing belts? I remember them being a PITA to change.

Just think, you could get a decent volvo estate for the same money. Not that I'm biased, you understand.

[r.welfare]

Just think, you could get a Toyota Avensis estate with 11 months' MOT for less money. Not that I'm biased, you understand.

 

EFA