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Looks to me like if the van can come really cheap, it would be worth buying as a beater, neutralizing the rust, hitting it with some spray bombs, and driving it. It looks like it has been used for a while with the existing damage.
If there are issues with the door, get a boneyard door. If there are issues with the door frame, it gets way worse. If you need to start cutting and splicing sections out of the body and roof, I dunno if you want to go there.
What is the price of the van and what would the price be if it is repaired? I would shop around, but would be wary of investing in repairs unless the return on investment is good. With the age of the van, I would go for a "workmanlike" repair that makes the van function, keeps the rust at bay, and is not too pricey.
They are asking $1,000 for it - I have offered $600. The thing is, I'm not too handy, so I would have to pay to have any work done... and I am wanting to make a camper van / mobile apartment out of the thing due to my profession being mobile
So the big question is whether the door closes and locks solidly in which case the damage could be considered "cosmetic but pretty bad" or if it does not, the van has a security problem and that is bad and immediate. It is obvious that you should not invest $5k to do cosmetic work on a $1k van.
Also, how is the drivetrain, miles, etc? This damage is certainly distracting, but might that indicate that other maintenance was not done, etc? Don't let the focus on the damage distract you from evaluating what else you have (like a bad transmission, etc...)
Trucks (and I include vans) are like blue jeans. Trucks that have rust/dents are like jeans with holes in them and are just fine in that state if you are seeking function. A tuxedo with a hole in the knee is like a Cadillac or high end BMW with body damage--the function of those things is to look perfect.
This might be the best buy for a body man with a few spare hours on his schedule...
The doors do shut fine, and I did test drive it, seems okay except the steering wheel was shaky and there was some slight sputtering (it was about 35 degrees)
I would honestly be happy to get rid of the rust spots and straighten out the roof (I want to have a vent and mount solar panels) but if the price is right would like to have everything look as new as possible.
How much are you willing to put into it? If you buy it that cheap, you could probably find a compatible donor with a blown engine or something being parted out, and do a complete body swap for way way cheaper than the 5-7k the body shop is quoting you.
My 2 cents say avoid this one, and spend the 3k on something better. I looked for four months before I found my 97 E350club wagon. And even that one, I watched the guy go from 3500 to 3000 to 2800 to 2500 to 3200 and back down to 2500, on craigslist over that entire 4 months....before I snagged it for 1800.
I offer without any hesitation or reservation AVOID THIS ONE at any costs. Even if it were a gift its NOT in any way a feasible option for someone not mechanically inclined.
Having once owned a body shop specializing in heavy hits its easy to see there is a lot more work involved than meets the casual eye.
If this van can be bought for $600 and simply driven as-is for nothing more than a "beater truck" then go for it---I would. A 2000 E350 without knowing its engine or actual mileage that needs so much repair is a very, very bad investment.
Agreeing with the idea spending any anticipated purchase and refurbishing costs towards a VGC or better early model well maintained van better suited to your needs and eventual goals.
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