How would a late model 150 be for a daily driver? Specificly a panel van possibly 4.9? I need something that can haul a dirt bike and gear (gear bag, gas can stand etc...) securely and still be able to haul me back and forth to school every day. There are alot of late models going for reasonable sub-$10k prices, a mix of 4.9 and V8's. What was the last year for the 4.9 and how does it compare with the 4.2 of later years?

 

Should work fine as a daily driver. I drove my Clubwagon daily for a month a couple of years ago when my girlfriend was using my car. Not much different than driving a pickup truck daily.

I would always recommend getting a V8 instead of a six. The gas mileage is about the same with a 5.0 or 4.6 and either of the sixes and of course you get more power and much smoother operation.

The I6 is a good motor around town but lacks power for highway use and will be quite buzzy at highway speeds. The 4.2 V6 is smoother than the I6 and feels a little stronger. Torque is about the same but the V6 revs smoother as its a more modern engine.

Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT

 

Yeah, I've known a few people with 6cyl trucks, couldn't stand it and sold them quickly, didn't get any better milage because they had to be hammer down on them all the time to keep up.

 

Maybe, but my 81 E100 I6 was used as a "daily driver" by it's original owner up until a couple of years ago around Phoenix. That and added trips to Show Lo . He bought it new and used it for commercial water delivery and off work. I dont know what his views were about it's handling, but from what he told my friends, he liked it well enough. Just finally decided to buy a newer van and put this one up for sale.

My friends bought it to convert into a camper, but the wife was going in for surgery early last year. So those plans were put on hold. Later they found out I was interested in getting a van and told us about this one. The husband drives a 90s F 150 with a 4.9 all over Phoenix ...the last year Ford built one with that engine....to work as a heavy engine mechanic and off. He loves the 4.9 and why they bought the van in the first place.

He went over the van's engine and transmission thoroughly before we made the trade. All original and still in very good shape despite it's age and use. Runs just fine on my rural highway. I do not drive it on a daily basis, at the moment, but often enough during the week.

No, it's not like driving my 79 Cordoba but have grown to like driving my "new light truck" whenever possible instead.

 

I used my '90 E-150 conversion van as a daily driver for about 7 months. The worst part was the 15 mpg gas mileage... at today's prices, I'd be dumping about $100 into the tanks every 4-5 days with my 100 mile round-trip commute...

All of the rear seats in my van have been removed so it's essentially a cargo van with extra windows and a raised roof. I've used it to move a friend's DR400 a few times. Loading the bike made us very thankfull for the raised roof. I tied it down to the front seat pillars and rear door hinges. If I were hauling bikes more often, I'd remove the [already stained beyond belief] carpeting and put down a rubber floor and a install better tie-down set-up. The added headroom is also nice when changing into/out of riding clothes.

The rear heat was welcome on cold riding days and nothing beats old-school American A/C blowing at full-blast after riding in 100 degree heat.

Another nice thing about a conversion van: Nobody gives them a second thought that it might not be a passenger vehicle, so the contents (which in my case were often worth much more than the van) are a bit more secure.

Lastly, the van was surprisingly decent in snow. I had on half-worn all-seasons and rarely had issues. Of course, you have to pay attention and give yourself plenty of stopping room (often at the expense of people cutting in front of you), but forward traction was pretty good due to lack-luster 5.0 power pushing a 5,000 lb brick. There's a lot of weight in the rear of a van compared to a 2WD pick-up.

 

I drive my E150 daily.I have no complaints with my 4.9 C6 3.08 8".
Maybe overdrive, the higway driving has a pleasant buzz, not to pleasant at the pump!

 

I used my 4.9 E-150 conversion van as a daily driver before I retired. Don't drive as much now, but still like it a lot.

It's been to FL several times, and have no problem cruising the speed limit or more. It gets 14 mpg with the C-6. Maybe could get a little better with the AOD type trans.