Should I buy? Rust behind bumper!

[eel]

I've been to look at a 1991 holdsworth 1.9 with a pop roof. Really like it but not sure about the price. The owner wants 5800 to 6000 but I'm not sure if this is a fair price?

It is in good condition internally and there are a few small rust spots on the outside plus a little bubbling on one of the seams. Seems to drive nicely too. However, when viewing I found quite a lot of rust behind the front bumper right across the front of it.

Is this something to worry about? How easy/costly would it be to sort out?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers

[Ian Hulley]

Hiya, welcome to the club

Ian

[Pepperami]

I have the same bus. I also had the problem at the front it's common as the rain water just sits there. Schofields do the panel £50ish (or did) look at least £150-£200. It's not a hard job. I do think the van on first impression sounds too expensive though.

[CovKid]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzA_xCEw0JQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[kevtherev]

No hello?

welcome... hope you find what your seeking

[eel]

Hi,

Thanks for the tips. The U tube video was good to see.

The front panel problem doesn't appear to difficult to sort out. I guess its just a case of whether we are willing to pay the price that is wanted by the seller.

[eatcustard]

For the money they are asking I would walk away

and welcome

[Pepperami]

I wouldn't I would try to get anything between £500-£1000 Off due to the rust issues.

[eel]

thanks folks.

ONly problem is it is on ebay and the price is already 5600. I reckon the seller is going to hold out now until after the auction. He wanted 6000 and I thought I could get him down a little with an offer.

Think your advice means I've probably made a good decision not making the offer although most nice vans I've seen available at the moment seem quite overpriced. Almost all of them are also on ebay and it is hard to negotiate on their.

Frustrated!!

[purplecrocs]

You'll find most vans in the real world people on here seem to say are overpriced (no offense to anyone!), fact of the matter is unless your prepared to wait a long time and or/and are lucky to get one at a 'reasonable' price, thats the sort of money they seem to go for... market demand I suppose, if thats what people are paying then thats what they sell for.

Doesnt sound from what you said its in too bad nick... when I was looking last year I saw a couple of holdworths and people were trying to get 7 - 7.5k for them... now that sounds over priced!

[CovKid]

Fact is, there are increasingly less of them around to meet the growing demand for them. Plenty get dismantled that for sure. T25s always seem to hold their price and generally go up in value if looked after.

[tetleysid]

I'd rather have a scabby T25 than no T25 That example does seem top price though

[72BUG]

Sorry, I missread the title thread. "Should I buy rust behind bumper?"

I've got plenty you can have for free.

[clartsonly]

the bus is worth what someone will pay for it, if 5K is your budget and you like it, buy it, my budget was 3K I bought one for that.

I should have gotten a T2 for 4K Buy it now, with all the bits I have had to do with my t25 already done.

so many t25's are now 1000's.

[ghost123uk]

Almost all of them are also on ebay and it is hard to negotiate on their.

Frustrated!!

Hi Eel

First rule is be patient

I personally wouldn't buy a van of this type off eBay, esp at this time of year.
Look for a simple private sale, where you can wave £ notes under their noses to temp them to come down from the asking price. Or look on here, good ones often come up for sale

A good idea too is to take someone with you who knows about these vans.
Where to look for rust, like in the voids on each side behind the rear wheels for instance, and around the lower corners of the windscreen. Also, at the sort of money you are talking about, you don't want much, if any signs of seem rust. Seem rust usually is much worse than it looks on the outside, esp around the sills - Also your "tame expert" can show you what to watch out for on the engine, like water jacket seals weeping on the WBX engines and cracked heads on the Diesels. Exhausts esp on the WBX engines can be a BIG issue, not just the cost, but the pitfalls that can come along when removing them !! (broken studs = major hassles, etc etc )

The right van at the right price will come along

Where in the world are you ?