surlyoldbill
Well-known member
I've been keeping an eye on new and used Transit and Promaster prices, as well as Sprinter.
I see that NEW Promaster cargo vans can be purchased off the lot in many places for $25k, and that's the advertised price, no telling how much lower they are after dealing a bit, or how many add-ons you could get for no additional price. Around where I live the sticker is closer to $30k.
Transit base cargo seems to be starting at about $29k, but most are around $33k. Again, this is the advertised price.
Sprinter base cargo at just under $40k. For some reason, there are 2015 Sprinter passenger vans asking for $60k on ebay. The 4x4 is also on ebay for a little under $60k.
Ford has some interesting discounts; $1500 incentive when you use their financing (0.9% for 36 months! 1.9% for 48), and something called a "conquest incentive"; if you currently lease a non-Ford, they give you $750 off. I'm not sure if it is only if you LEASE a non-Ford, but that's what it read. There are other $500 discounts if you are in armed forces, college or the police force, but they don't stack.
Remember, if you equip the ProRam or Transit like a base Sprinter, you add $6000-8000 for the diesel. Similarly equipped, the Transit and Sprinter are basically the same price, and the Promaster is about $5-6k less.
For used vans, I've seen a few Promasters with less than 5000 miles selling for $22k or less. Used Transit is very hard to find, so prices aren't typical, but I've seen a few in the low to mid $30k range. There is one diesel window van (no rear seats) with 41 miles that they are asking less than $34k, and a low roof with 15 miles for $25k (autotrader).
So, my timeline of a 2016-2017 purchase of a low mileage used van looks like I'll be easily spending less than $20k, and I should be able to get $8-10k for my van in California, even though it may have close to 300k on it.
I'm spoiled by the 24-25 mpg, I don't know if I could go down to 16-17 of a gasser without complaining. I just have to remind myself that the extra cost of a diesel buys a lot of fuel, and the maintenance is less costly...but by the time I buy, any bugs may have been exposed and dealt with on the diesels from all manufacturers, and a used diesel might make sense. Especially if it's a Ford 4x4 diesel.
I see that NEW Promaster cargo vans can be purchased off the lot in many places for $25k, and that's the advertised price, no telling how much lower they are after dealing a bit, or how many add-ons you could get for no additional price. Around where I live the sticker is closer to $30k.
Transit base cargo seems to be starting at about $29k, but most are around $33k. Again, this is the advertised price.
Sprinter base cargo at just under $40k. For some reason, there are 2015 Sprinter passenger vans asking for $60k on ebay. The 4x4 is also on ebay for a little under $60k.
Ford has some interesting discounts; $1500 incentive when you use their financing (0.9% for 36 months! 1.9% for 48), and something called a "conquest incentive"; if you currently lease a non-Ford, they give you $750 off. I'm not sure if it is only if you LEASE a non-Ford, but that's what it read. There are other $500 discounts if you are in armed forces, college or the police force, but they don't stack.
Remember, if you equip the ProRam or Transit like a base Sprinter, you add $6000-8000 for the diesel. Similarly equipped, the Transit and Sprinter are basically the same price, and the Promaster is about $5-6k less.
For used vans, I've seen a few Promasters with less than 5000 miles selling for $22k or less. Used Transit is very hard to find, so prices aren't typical, but I've seen a few in the low to mid $30k range. There is one diesel window van (no rear seats) with 41 miles that they are asking less than $34k, and a low roof with 15 miles for $25k (autotrader).
So, my timeline of a 2016-2017 purchase of a low mileage used van looks like I'll be easily spending less than $20k, and I should be able to get $8-10k for my van in California, even though it may have close to 300k on it.
I'm spoiled by the 24-25 mpg, I don't know if I could go down to 16-17 of a gasser without complaining. I just have to remind myself that the extra cost of a diesel buys a lot of fuel, and the maintenance is less costly...but by the time I buy, any bugs may have been exposed and dealt with on the diesels from all manufacturers, and a used diesel might make sense. Especially if it's a Ford 4x4 diesel.