I just bought a silver 2010 Connect XLT passenger van with 59,000 miles here in NH for $4,700. I bought it from the first owner and he drove it about 3,000 miles a year for a one-man service business for a few years then as his back-up car to do errands to the transfer station, lumber hauling, and errand running. He had seat covers from day one so the seats look and feel brand new. It was serviced at a Ford dealer for most of that time but for the past few years he had oil changes and service done at an independent garage once a year despite the low miles. The tires are good and not outdated. There was lots of rust on the back bumper which I am replacing today and about half way along the pinch clamps of the rocker panels. No rust through. After a complete under body wash which I have done, I plan to treat the rust with an impregnating oil and wax based undercoat as well as some underneath areas that surface rust has affected. I do not plan to drive it in winter any more. It will help me transport my wife who has Alzheimer’s since she find’s it hard to get up into my 2001 Tacoma 4X4 which I need here in the snowy hills and dirt roads.
The long term plan is to build it into a one person travel van. I’ve built out a succession of campers and will make the bed and cabinets modular and removable. I’m willing to put up with a bit of rust to get a very low mileage vehicle which has a stellar service record. I’m solving lots of little issues that a 14 yo car will have. The spare wheel is being changed out for one on the right rear once that one is repainted, the hood’s prop rod clip has been replaced, I’ve touched up a few chips in the paint, cleaned it well which it badly needed and straightened the antenna.It’s getting a wax job for the first time in many years too. I bought TPMS sensors to get the dash light to turn off as proper pressure didn’t fix it. I expect the batteries to have died.
I welcome your input about service now that it is approaching 60K miles, about the rust treatment, the future conversion, and using it for transporting a person with limited mobility. Thank you.
