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The Ford Transit is one of the best and most versatile vans, thanks to its huge choice of bodystyles and load weights. This means it's a sound choice for used van buyers, with a Transit for sale to suit all budgets and business needs.
Backbone of Britain, best selling van for more than 40 years, a byword for light commercial vehicles. Call it what you like, the Ford Transit is the van by which all others are judged. If there isn’t a Transit that suits you business need then the chances are you either don’t need a van or should be buying a much heavier vehicle.
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Browse forums and there is lots of discussion about the Transit’s diesel engine. Up to 2003 it was a conventional turbodiesel, Ford adding a high-pressure common-rail turbodiesel to the line-up. These are badged TDCi over the earlier TDI units.
Early common-rail Transit models can be problematic, though most of the problems are due to fuel contamination. If that’s the case the entire system will need flushing, new injectors, a replacement pump and pipes. Do all that and you’ll face a bill in the region of £1700.
Other engines in the line-up included 2.3 petrol and a 2.4-litre TDI for rear-wheel drive models, with outputs ranging from 75PS to 145PS, the arrival of the facelifted mk4 Transit bringing some changes to the engine line-up, as well as some sheet-metal revisions and taller headlights.
Inside it featured a far neater dash layout, more driver’s seat adjustment but still no height adjustable steering wheel. The engine range consisted of a 2.2 TDCI with power outputs of 85, 110 or 135PS for front-wheel drive derivatives, the rear-wheel drive retaining the 2.4-litre unit with three power outputs ranging from 110 to 140PS.
Ford continued to offer the Mark4 with a 2.3-litre petrol, while a 3.2 TDCI with 200PS was also offered on some rear-wheel drive models.
The earliest Transits are now over 20-years-old, so don’t expect plate-glass dealer sales and warranties. A few hundred quid will buy you one, but it’s unlikely to give you an easy life.
Spend £5000 and you'll get a 2012 Transit in mid-spec with around 80,000 miles on the clock, while £8000 will secure one of the 2014 run-out models with modest mileage and a comprehensive dealer stamped service history.
Do not be afraid of Ford Transit vans with 100,000+ miles on the clock, these workhorses were designed to cover huge distances and higher mileage examples will most likely be in a better mechanical condition than parcel drop city vans that have been used for repeated short runs from cold.
As always, history is the key to getting a good Transit, and with so much choice on the used market there is really no excuse to accept a van that's not sold with a folder full of old MoTs and receipts for repairs and maintenance.
Be wary of the oil light, you need to get the engine shut off quickly if it pops up. If you don’t it will likely seize the engine. Blame the oil pump, which can fail without any notice. On 2006 - 2012 models the engines often require a new vapour valve. It's not a tricky job to fix, though the engine needs re-coding afterwards. You'll be looking at a bill of about £200. You’ll know if it needs doing if the van cuts out at idle or hunts around for revs.
Dual mass flywheels can be troublesome, it's not uncommon for these to have been changed to solid units. Ford makes a conversion kit, a new one for the six-speed manual with clutch costing around £500, a five-speed one costing around £60 more.
Rear-wheel drive models eat propshaft bearings, any knocking should be investigated. The best advice with the rare automatics is to avoid them, if they go wrong you’ll be looking at bill that’ll be as much as the vehicle’s worth, or more.
As with any vehicle, buy the best you can afford and make sure it’s been regularly maintained. Signs of abuse or neglect will cause you headaches in the future, and with plenty to choose from there’s no need to take the gamble.
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