Van suggestions? - Choice and mods
 

I'm on the lookout for my first car, and lo and behold it's going to be a van. Looking for the wisdom of the board here for suggestions as to what model to go for, and what mods could be applied to improve efficiency.

Budget is $1000-2500 AU, I can go higher if there's a real value gain but I'd rather not.
These are the options I come across most often:

2000ish Ford Transit
1994ish Volkswagen Transporter
1994ish Mitsubishi Express
1994ish Ford Econovan
1992ish Toyota Hiace
Gasoline and Diesel vans are available in equal measure here. In my price range these'll be ~200,000km (125,000mi)

So there's my common choices, but let me know if I should keep my eyes open for a standout I haven't considered. When it comes to mods I'm very mechanically inclined, so don't hold back, I'm just not sure which of the common mods on this board would apply to what is essentially a flying brick :p

Thanks all,
Eric

There's also the Mazda Van, which looks like a copy of the Ford EconoVan (or more likely the other way around).

You could do the usual mods :

- (partially) Block the grille , starting with the upper opening, and keep a close eye on coolant temperatures. You can have more blockage in winter, less in summer depending on ambient temps.

- Fit an air dam under the nose. Extend it as low as the lowest part protrudes underneath the chassis.

- Fit a belly pan so it gains a smooth underside.

- Ditch all excess weight.

- If you're really committed : fit a boat tail to the big squarish van tail.

- Change your driving style to be more economical - or adopt an economical driving style right away. ;)
Read through the 100+ Hypermiling / ecodriving tips & tactics for better mpg - EcoModder.com and try to apply as many as you see fit / deem safe / are practical for you.


Given the high mileage, I'd look into the diesels for this kind of vehicle, and see wether they'll take B100 biodiesel. These are still simple, sturdy diesels.

Thanks for your response.
For some reason I'd discounted boat-tailing due to the extended surfaces on a van body, but then there's many posts on here showing them used on Semis. Maybe I should play with CFD once I've narrowed my choices :D

Depending on what you're hauling a wagon/estate could work well, too (smaller frontal area). My parents use theirs to haul wood chips and horse feed.

Euromodder, the EconoVan is a rebadged Mazda Bongo.

I don't know about many of those vans because we didn't get most of them in the US. If the VW has a VR6, check the timing chain maintenance. I believe T4's had torsion bar front suspension, if that makes a difference.