1981 Mitsubishi Express Pricing and Specs

While the basic mechanical package of the Express was reasonably well-sorted, any reliability issues for any commercial vehicle 13 years on will almost certainly be down to how the van has been used and how it's been maintained.

Check the service history. If there is none, be very wary. Also, try to find out what industry the vehicle has worked in until now. Some tasks are far more likely to shorten a vehicle's lifespan than others.

Also, have a close look at what the vehicle is trying to tell you. Is the driver's seat damaged on the bolsters where a driver has made thousands of deliveries? If so, you might be looking at a vehicle that has spent all its life in urban running. Does the vehicle have a tow-bar fitted, suggesting it might have lugged heavy loads around. Don't ignore the vital sings, either; is the oil clean? Are there any mechanical noises? It's amazing what close observation can reveal.

Rather than concentrate on a particular brand, the best advice is to find a vehicle with a full service history and signs that it has lived an easy life. Too often, commercial vehicles like vans are bought by their first owner and used and abused. They’re nearly always purchased with a job in mind, and that job can often wreck them or at least shorten their lives.

Sometimes, the down-time associated with proper servicing means that maintenance is skipped, other times the sheer weight of the cargo being carried puts a lot of strain on mechanical components. A van that has been used by, say, a pool chemical company might have been exposed to highly corrosive chemicals every day of its life and could be hiding lots of rust. Even a florist’s van might have every nook and cranny filled with potting mix, waiting to become damp and start the rusting process.

Another good idea is to buy a van that has already been converted to a camper. This conversion is not an inexpensive process, so letting the previous owner spend the money is a terrific concept. Keep an eye on the classifieds for a van that has done a tour of duty with a grey nomad or van-lifer, and is now up for sale as the owner moves on to something new.

It's all bad news I'm afraid. With a private seller you have no comeback.

All you can do is to ask the seller to refund your money, or maybe cover the cost of the repairs. If he wasn't aware that the RWC was out of date he might be honest enough to help you out.

You could also consider taking him to VCAT, the Victorian small claims tribunal on the basis that he misrepresented the vehicle to you.