Tremelune

Right, so this is a bit of a stretch...I'm driving across country soon and my plan is to buy a solid (if ugly) work van (no windows, no interior) for about $3000. There's a bazillion of them online and I was just wondering if there was a solid resource that could tell me the difference between a Ford, GMC, Dodge, or Chevy work van besides options...Maybe the '96 Ford V6 has been known to blow up and the motor in the '92-'95 Chevy will never die...Stuff like that...The only American cars I ever dealt with were Jeeps; I know nothing about the drivetrains in the rest of them.

Do any of these kinds of van come with manual transmissions? Maybe I'm over thinking this, but I'd like to keep the van afterwords to haul music gear and maybe kidnap a few kids.

shiners780

I'm a contractor, and I've had a Dodge, Ford, and now a Chevy full size work van. I'd take the Chevy over the other 2 any day.

The Dodge didn't drive well and had no room in the front drivers area. The Ford went through brakes and suspension components continually. The Chevy has been great so far with 65,000 miles. It's still got the original tires and brake pads! No problems, drives well, everything works.

Just my personal opinions, I'm sure others may vary.

JimV8

GMC or Chevy vans, preferably with auto. I have a 2001 Savana and it is good on gas and has never had a problem with 225,000 kms on it. These vehicles, other than 84 diesel benz may be the best modes of transport ever created.

KuHL 951

I still have my 85 Chevy 3/4T van. It has ever been in a shop yet. All I've replaced so far are brake pads, water pump, 1-rear axle seal. I've towed a 24' travel trailer all over the West. It still bows cold R-12 AC. It even has the origianl rotors @105K. Here'e my take on my other friends van problems;

Ford - early rotor/brake wear, heater cores, bad front ends, electrical ghosts
Dodge - AC failures, warped rotors, early body and interior deterioration, fuel pumps, whinny rear ends