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Old 05-12-2014, 06:07 PM   #1
evy
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2008 E350 6.0 Diesel vs 2006 E250 4.6 Gas HELP!

Hi guys,

So I still haven't chosen my van yet for my DIY campervan conversion project.
I've been searching the classifieds in my area (Montreal, Canada) for an extended van with a high top.

I almost bought a 2001 E350 7.3 Diesel but bailed out at the last minute.

Right now I'm looking at these two van's I recently discovered and wanted your expert opinions.

They are both white, extended, high tops and they seem to look ok on the pics, no apparent rust or dents.

No.1 = 2008 Ford E350 6.0L Diesel, 75 000miles 11 500$

No.2 = 2006 Ford E250 4.6L Gas, 139 000miles 4 995$

I will be inspecting them myself (amateur) very soon but in the meanwhile if you have any comments? favorites? notes? specific things for me to inspect? etc...

Please don't hesitate!!
Thanks!

P.S. this is not a GAS vs DIESEL thread!! I just want to know which one is the best deal and why, thanks!

P.P.S. Yes I have heard some bad reviews about the 6.0 Diesel engine, but were the last models as bad?

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Old 05-12-2014, 06:14 PM   #2
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Re: 2008 E350 6.0 Diesel vs 2006 E250 4.6 Gas HELP!

Here's some videos of the 6.0L van, tell me what you think.
The engine seems to run ok but the seller had left when I took these videos.
I want to get an engine compression test asap


video no.1 (outside)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=TwN48hcpmPg

video no.2 (under, passenger side)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=ExjOk0gf1fI

video no.3 (under, rear)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=XYUhvLs-g7A

video no.4 (under, engine)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=oE3JpUDwKiU

Notice some oil under the transmission, should I be worried or just some O ring thingy?
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Old 05-12-2014, 06:20 PM   #3
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Re: 2008 E350 6.0 Diesel vs 2006 E250 4.6 Gas HELP!

Can you provide some insight as to what your conversion plans are (extent of cabinets, fridge, water, propane...), and how you plan to use it (street use, snow covered roads, fire roads, rough dirt roads) and if you plan on towing?

Trying to get some understanding of the required load you're going to have and how you'll use it. Those are two very different animals IMO. To be safe, I'd expect to put about $4000 into the 6.0L if no bulletproofing has been done.


Herb
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Old 05-12-2014, 06:36 PM   #4
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Re: 2008 E350 6.0 Diesel vs 2006 E250 4.6 Gas HELP!

And here's the AutoCheck report

I'm having a hard time reading this for a couple of reasons.
-2 accidents? I'm guessing fender benders because after looking at the videos there's no bent frame or anything and I did noticed bad paint touche ups.
-but it's the Odometer check that worries me, 1 year of usage 29 000km (18 000miles) then nothing, now after 6 years of usage it's at 120 000km (75 000miles), is that fishy? Why isn't there any other odometer readings?
-What are these numbers about? 88 81 69 ? in the beginning of the report under "odometer reading"

2008 Ford E350 Vans Econoline
Extended Cargo Van 3D 6.0L V8 DI


Report Run Date: 2014-05-11 10:22:48.102 EDT
VIN: 1FTSS34P28DB11732
Title and ProblemCheck: Your vehicle checks out!
OdometerCheck: Your vehicle checks out!
Vehicle Use and EventCheck: Specific vehicle use(s) or events reported
Full History: Detailed information available
Calculated Owners: N/A
Calculated Accidents: 2
Last Reported Odometer Reading: 28,629

88

81

69


AccidentCheck

Not all accidents / issues are reported to AutoCheck.

Accident No. Reported Date Location
1 12/02/2011 MONTREAL, QC
2 12/10/2012 MONTREAL, QC


Title and ProblemCheck

0 Problem(s) Reported: 15 Title/Problems areas checked:
No abandoned title record
No damaged title or major damage incident record
No fire damaged title record
No grey market title record
No hail damage title record
No insurance loss title or probable total loss record
No junk or scrapped title record
No manufacturer buyback/lemon title record
No odometer problem title record
No rebuilt/rebuildable title record
No salvage title or salvage auction record
No water damaged title record
No NHTSA crash test record
No frame/unibody damage record
No recycling facility record


OdometerCheck

0 Problem(s) Reported: Mileage Date Reported
28,629km 05/01/2009


Vehicle Use and EventCheck

0 Event(s) Reported: 6 Vehicle uses checked:
No fleet, rental and/or lease use record
No taxi use record
No police use record
No government use record
No livery use record
No driver education record
1 Event(s) Reported: 9 Vehicle events checked:
2 Accident record(s) reported through accident data sources
No corrected title record
No duplicate title record
No emission/safety inspection record
No loan/lien record
No fire damage incident record
No repossessed record
No theft record
No storm area registration/title record


Full History

Event date Location Odom reading Data Source Details
04/16/2008 Independent Source VEHICLE MANUFACTURED AND SHIPPED TO DEALER

05/13/2008 SAINT RAYMOND, QC Motor Vehicle Dept. CANADIAN RENEWAL

05/01/2009 QC 28,629km Motor Vehicle Dept. ODOMETER READING FROM CANADIAN PROVINCE CANADIAN RENEWAL

05/01/2009 MONTREAL, QC Motor Vehicle Dept. CANADIAN RENEWAL

02/22/2011 QC Motor Vehicle Dept. CANADIAN RENEWAL

12/02/2011 MONTREAL, QC Accident Source MINOR ACCIDENT OR VEHICLE DAMAGE REPORTED: FRONT CENTER

03/22/2012 QC Motor Vehicle Dept. CANADIAN RENEWAL

12/10/2012 MONTREAL, QC Accident Source MINOR ACCIDENT OR VEHICLE DAMAGE REPORTED: REAR CENTER

12/12/2012 MISSISSAUGA, ON Accident Source MINOR ACCIDENT OR VEHICLE DAMAGE REPORTED: REAR CENTER

03/14/2013 QC Motor Vehicle Dept. CANADIAN RENEWAL

03/31/2014 QC Motor Vehicle Dept. CANADIAN RENEWAL
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Old 05-12-2014, 06:48 PM   #5
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Re: 2008 E350 6.0 Diesel vs 2006 E250 4.6 Gas HELP!

Quote:
Originally Posted by BroncoHauler
Can you provide some insight as to what your conversion plans are (extent of cabinets, fridge, water, propane...), and how you plan to use it (street use, snow covered roads, fire roads, rough dirt roads) and if you plan on towing?

Trying to get some understanding of the required load you're going to have and how you'll use it. Those are two very different animals IMO. To be safe, I'd expect to put about $4000 into the 6.0L if no bulletproofing has been done.

Herb

This was my first post, I added my preliminary drawings to this thread. If you look at my more recent posts in this thread you will find a more detailed floor plan.
http://sportsmobileforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=13421

Mostly street use, no towing, might be driving in the snow (to get out of it) and head down to warmer weather spots compared to our cold Canadian winters.
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Old 05-12-2014, 07:55 PM   #6
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Re: 2008 E350 6.0 Diesel vs 2006 E250 4.6 Gas HELP!

FWIW, if AutoCheck is like CarFax, what it tells you can be of value, but frequently there's a lot of missing information. CarFax only reports criteria if the information is available in the data sources it uses. Accident repairs in most non-factory repair shops will likely not make it into the appropriate data sources.


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Old 05-12-2014, 11:03 PM   #7
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Re: 2008 E350 6.0 Diesel vs 2006 E250 4.6 Gas HELP!

Between both engines, I wouldn't hesitate to choose the 6.0. It's a good price for what seems to be a good shape. Torque of the Diesel engine makes it really pleasant to drive and it already has the high top. I would have been happy to find one at this price...
Is it to sale by a dealer? Is it a warranty?
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Old 05-13-2014, 08:09 AM   #8
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Re: 2008 E350 6.0 Diesel vs 2006 E250 4.6 Gas HELP!

My 2 cents and it's not even worth that......

Quote:
Originally Posted by evy
....cut.....

They are both white, extended, high tops and they seem to look ok on the pics, no apparent rust or dents.

No.1 = 2008 Ford E350 6.0L Diesel, 75 000miles 11 500$

No.2 = 2006 Ford E250 4.6L Gas, 139 000miles 4 995$

....cut.....
I agree with above comment about these two choices being quite different. In my opinion almost to the point of not being comparable as to which is a better value (assuming same condition which we can't know).

Anyway, my only recommendation is to consider whether you should keep looking a little longer. Not saying you should pass on these but to look at options.

I personally would avoid a 6.0 diesel, particularly if not planning to tow or drive very high miles (which most campers don't). And because the van is the foundation of your camper, and you seem willing and able to spend up to 11,500$, then why not take a little extra time to find a newer (2008+) van with lower miles?

You found these two in a short period which shows you have the ability to find them. And for what it's worth, I don't know what year or mileage of van up to 11,500$ can purchase.
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Old 05-13-2014, 10:14 AM   #9
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Re: 2008 E350 6.0 Diesel vs 2006 E250 4.6 Gas HELP!

I'm guessing the 69 81 88 is the range and score that Autocheck assigns each vehicle. 69 is the low end, 88 is the high end and 81 is most likely how they score it. I'm not sure how they come up with those numbers but they're on every autocheck report that I've seen.
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Old 05-13-2014, 03:50 PM   #10
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Re: 2008 E350 6.0 Diesel vs 2006 E250 4.6 Gas HELP!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chance
My 2 cents and it's not even worth that......

I agree with above comment about these two choices being quite different. In my opinion almost to the point of not being comparable as to which is a better value (assuming same condition which we can't know).

Anyway, my only recommendation is to consider whether you should keep looking a little longer. Not saying you should pass on these but to look at options.

I personally would avoid a 6.0 diesel, particularly if not planning to tow or drive very high miles (which most campers don't). And because the van is the foundation of your camper, and you seem willing and able to spend up to 11,500$, then why not take a little extra time to find a newer (2008+) van with lower miles?

You found these two in a short period which shows you have the ability to find them. And for what it's worth, I don't know what year or mileage of van up to 11,500$ can purchase.
Actually It's hard to get your hands on a van for sale with a high top already installed around here.
Buying a high top alone and having it installed is 3 000$.
So finding a used van with a high top on it is a big bonus and a good way to save time and money, simply because the sellers don't seem to ask for more money because of the high top.
I've been looking around the classified ads every day for the last month or so, in my area with a good radius and as of now I've seen only 3 vans for sale with high tops.
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