What do you look for when you buy a CF

[hammers_spanners]

What are the things you would be looking for when buying a CF?

[eddy]

a bargain!

[ben]

i look for spare parts and stuff..

i look at the van and decide if all else goes bad could i wreck it and get my money back on the parts.. thats just me tho..

thats just for cheaper ones thou i guess.. more expensive ones id say rust is big deal..

[BusyKiwi]

Rust would have to be the biggest thing, rather not if it has any but how much it does have - paint, bog, fibreglass ... can hide heaps

If I was to be real fussy, would be things like:

• window regulators - if they wind up and down all the way (they chew out the end teeth)
• door hinges - play in them
• Radiator - rooten fins
• Motor - if 2.3 how bad the oil leak is (they all leak), if other then motor condition, engine g/box mounts ... and also if diff been changed.
• Extras - mags, sunroof (seals or leaks), tow bar (chassis not torn).

Other things that often break/get broken are:

• door handles (inner and outer)
• miss matched keys/locks
• indicator/horn switch
• shifter
• sun visors
• seat bases (split around bolts)

[Jock]

Get on your knees, then get on your back, then get under the van.
Check everything, exhaust, engine (for leaks), transmission (for leaks), diff (for leaks), Body (for rust), just have a
good look for anything that may look suspect, dodgy fix it jobs etc

As far as rust is concerned it is hard to tell sometimes but you will get a good idea of how much it has by checking
the general areas - gutters, door sills, anywhere that water runs to and then sits... If paint is bubbling or cracking alot
and the bubbles/cracks are large then the rust is there - how bad it is you won't really know until you take the paint off
and have a good look.

I would say that rust is your biggest risk. Finding a beddy with none is impossible.
Just buy the one that has the least.

Jd

[Jock]

I might add - You will get a good idea of how truthful the seller has been while you are under there....
Ask lots of questions and tap and bang things - make a bit of noise, if they get nervous and start asking
you what your doing or their voice changes from when you first met them OR they start to tell you about
a few of the "not so good" elements of the van - then you know they are full of shit.

When you re-surface from under the van you can now look them in the eye and judge how honest they
have been. If they are nervous or compensating for the "bad points" then smash them on the price.

Jd

[hotrod]

Lots of spare cash in my wallet 

Or better yet someone elses wallet

[Dano]

Yep I'm with you Busy (good To hear seeyou on the site) Body straight up ..........if you v'e had the pleasure of being around them enough, you get to know the "real" body profiles and generally know straight up if they (the sellers)know what there talking about, then you can determin the real price, but I still feel there coming of age and are being realized at that, I mean you get what what you pay for .....

[Lyndon]

i bought a lemon first & sold it to buy this blue beast, look for rust & bog as its common on bedfords sadly, mainly around the rear end at the bottom.

[maria]

about this rust at the rear end thing. what's the deal? has anyone paid to get this rust done or just done it yourselves? i'm going to look at a van that has a rusted rear end but how do i know if it's too much? well, i guess i will know, but if it ticks the other boxes...