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The brave souls who bought a used, 340k-mile rental camper van

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Re: The brave souls who bought a used, 340k-mile rental camper van

#31

Post by fingerlocks »

metalforever wrote: post #28
retired wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most new vehicles can be driven to 100k kilometers without significant issues. Back in the 80s that was just unheard of. Most cars needed significant repairs before 100k and even require welding and sealing to prevent the floor from falling out. Material quality, paint, bearings, tires and fluids were of significantly lower quality back then.

i have a running 80s vehicle with over 400k kilometers (its a VW T3)

I had one too!

Mine had a Subaru engine, Mercedes wheels, Audi Drive train, a Porsche suspension, and brakes from a Toyota Highlander.

How did you keep your Volkswagen running?

Re: The brave souls who bought a used, 340k-mile rental camper van

#32

Post by mikestew »

retired wrote: post #22
Helmut10001 wrote: post #13

Our VW T4 from 2002 has 300k km on it. I consider this half it's total possible mileage, if not less. I wish they would still build reliable cars like these today.

Most new vehicles can be driven to 100k kilometers without significant issues. Back in the 80s that was just unheard of. Most cars needed significant repairs before 100k and even require welding and sealing to prevent the floor from falling out. Material quality, paint, bearings, tires and fluids were of significantly lower quality back then.

100K kilometers? Even a Chevy Chevette could make it that far without major trouble. 100K miles, that’s about when 80s cars started to become more trouble than they were worth, IME.

Re: The brave souls who bought a used, 340k-mile rental camper van

#33

Post by ryukoposting »

dmoose wrote: post #20

I picked up one as well and even after flying to pick it up and fuel for driving 700 miles back I'm in it less than $4K. My theory was fleet maintenance to some extent mitigated the 330K miles and even if it takes a crate engine to keep it running I probably still get enough value to be worth it. Turns out I got 19 mpg on the drive back and the only thing I've found wrong with it so far is dead battery in a tps. Wrap…

When properly cared for, and owned outside of the rust belt, these vans will go a million miles. Hell, I've seen a Chevy Express van in the rust belt with over 500k (that's 800k if you're French).

They're so simplistic, and parts are so easy to find, that frame rot is really the only thing that can permanently kill one. It's really a shame that the Express is the last van of this breed that's still hanging around. The stubby nose makes spark plugs a harrowing experience, but everything else is easy. They were built to be used indefinitely.

Re: The brave souls who bought a used, 340k-mile rental camper van

#34

Post by retired »

metalforever wrote: post #28
retired wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most new vehicles can be driven to 100k kilometers without significant issues. Back in the 80s that was just unheard of. Most cars needed significant repairs before 100k and even require welding and sealing to prevent the floor from falling out. Material quality, paint, bearings, tires and fluids were of significantly lower quality back then.

i have a running 80s vehicle with over 400k kilometers (its a VW T3)

Survivorship bias. Try doing that with an Austin Metro, Citroen Visa, Fiat Strada.

On average modern cars are significantly better than what we had in the 80s

Re: The brave souls who bought a used, 340k-mile rental camper van

#35

Post by retired »

mikestew wrote: post #32
retired wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most new vehicles can be driven to 100k kilometers without significant issues. Back in the 80s that was just unheard of. Most cars needed significant repairs before 100k and even require welding and sealing to prevent the floor from falling out. Material quality, paint, bearings, tires and fluids were of significantly lower quality back then.

100K kilometers ? Even a Chevy Chevette could make it that far without major trouble. 100K miles , that’s about when 80s cars started to become more trouble than they were worth, IME.

In Europe we were pumping out some very crappy cars in the 80s. And in the north-east cars would have structural rust problems within five years.

When is the last time you had a car undercoated? Because back then that was the first thing you did with a new vehicle.

Re: The brave souls who bought a used, 340k-mile rental camper van

#36

Post by dwd »

Back in `84 on a family holiday around Europe my parents purchased what was an ex-PostNL VW Combi converted into a camper. It had done a lot of miles. We drove it right around Europe with only one breakdown in a small town in Germany that fortunately had a VW mechanic.

But possibly the most memorable time spent in the van was when it came time to sell it.

Next to where the London Eye is now was what was known as "the strip" with a lineup of campers being sold on to newly arrived tourists. I spent two weeks living in the van next to the Thames, a short walk to Waterloo Station and a lot of time just wandering the streets of London alone (as a 14yo).

Re: The brave souls who bought a used, 340k-mile rental camper van

#37

Post by retired »

ragebol wrote: post #30
retired wrote: post #23

> random Dutch families who drove it across the US I’m wondering how much that van has contributed to the population increase of The Netherlands.

> families IDK about you, but traveling with a family would be an effective anti-conception for me (also Dutch) And effective for my folks as well when they took my siblings to tour the west coast in an RV when we were teens, AFAICT. Traveling with just my SO OTOH...

I can tell you from visiting French campsites that Dutch parents have no problem copulating with their children nearby. Or just send them to the pool or the kids club.

Re: The brave souls who bought a used, 340k-mile rental camper van

#38

Post by ragebol »

retired wrote: post #37
ragebol wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> families IDK about you, but traveling with a family would be an effective anti-conception for me (also Dutch) And effective for my folks as well when they took my siblings to tour the west coast in an RV when we were teens, AFAICT. Traveling with just my SO OTOH...

I can tell you from visiting French campsites that Dutch parents have no problem copulating with their children nearby. Or just send them to the pool or the kids club.

But not while all inside a van right? Plz...

Re: The brave souls who bought a used, 340k-mile rental camper van

#40

Post by mikestew »

retired wrote: post #35
mikestew wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

100K kilometers ? Even a Chevy Chevette could make it that far without major trouble. 100K miles , that’s about when 80s cars started to become more trouble than they were worth, IME.

In Europe we were pumping out some very crappy cars in the 80s. And in the north-east cars would have structural rust problems within five years. When is the last time you had a car undercoated? Because back then that was the first thing you did with a new vehicle.

Ah, got it. I have tried very hard to forget about 70s/80s Fiats. :-)

When is the last time you had a car undercoated?

I take your point, but the real answer is “when I lived the U. S. Midwest”, where they salt the roads. Since we moved to the milder climate of Washington state, even our ‘81 VW’s body is in great shape. But, yeah, in the 80s: straight from the dealer to the undercoat place.

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