Have some friends buying a Rapido A-Class van, Good---Bad? Ideas please.

ambulancekidd

ambulancekidd

Funster
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Swift Kon-Tiki 640
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Since 1964 Gosh that makes me feel old.
Hi folks I went along to cast an eye over a motorhome for my friends today.
The van is being sold by a neighbour of theirs who has been widowed, it's a 2004 Rapido A-Class, I think its 4 berth & has the dropdown bed over the cab etc.
The van is a 2004, it has solar, a satellite system, Gaslow & solar panel. I've been over it with my damp meter & its bone dry.
Condition is well above average & there is a full-service history, by & large the interior & exterior have been very well cared for.
A local dealer came out & valued the van at £15k & were very rude to the lady in the process, so she doesn't want to sell it to him.
She had mentioned this to my friends as they have a Mazda Bongo & asked if they would like to buy the motorhome?
She refuses to advertise the motorhome without giving first refusal to our friends at the price offered by the dealer.

I think at £15k it'd be a real bargain, so can anyone tell me what the rough value of this motorhome might be & as I have no experience of Rapido vans, so would greatly appreciate any advice?

TIA, kind regards...Robert.
 
What number is it, usually on the back, I had a 995…

It seems very cheep is it an auto..?
 
ambulancekidd said:
Hi folks I went along to cast an eye over a motorhome for my friends today.
The van is being sold by a neighbour of theirs who has been widowed, it's a 2004 Rapido A-Class, I think its 4 berth & has the dropdown bed over the cab etc.
The van is a 2004, it has solar, a satellite system, Gaslow & solar panel. I've been over it with my damp meter & its bone dry.
Condition is well above average & there is a full-service history, by & large the interior & exterior have been very well cared for.
A local dealer came out & valued the van at £15k & were very rude to the lady in the process, so she doesn't want to sell it to him.
She had mentioned this to my friends as they have a Mazda Bongo & asked if they would like to buy the motorhome?
She refuses to advertise the motorhome without giving first refusal to our friends at the price offered by the dealer.

I think at £15k it'd be a real bargain, so can anyone tell me what the rough value of this motorhome might be & as I have no experience of Rapido vans, so would greatly appreciate any advice?

TIA, kind regards...Robert.
Click to expand...

That’s half price in the current market.
 
If it’s as you have described, I would be transferring £15k asap and getting the sale done! Sounds like they would have absolutely nothing to lose, it they don’t get on with it, they will easily be able to sell at a profit…..but sounds like it should be a keeper!

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Just smiffy said:
What number is it, usually on the back, I had a 995…

It seems very cheep is it an auto..?
Click to expand...
It's a manual & yes, it is very cheap, it's certainly a bargain. The number of the van starts with a 9 (I think) & has a F at the end of the number. I'll check the actual model number tomorrow.
Below is the actual van.
IMG-20220807-WA0002.jpg

20220809_141439.jpg
GS 3.jpg
 
DDuffs said:
If it’s as you have described, I would be transferring £15k asap and getting the sale done! Sounds like they would have absolutely nothing to lose, it they don’t get on with it, they will easily be able to sell at a profit…..but sounds like it should be a keeper!
Click to expand...
Yes I think they would keep it. They love paddle boarding & use the Bongo winter & summer but could do with extra space & luxuries.
 
DuxDeluxe said:
Honesty is the best policy - I think that the vendor should be advised that it is worth quite a lot more and be guided accordingly
Click to expand...
I'd explained that to the vendor today, but she is adamant that my friends deserve to buy it.
 
DuxDeluxe said:
Fair enough. That is a bargain and really hope they fully appreciate how lucky they are
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My friend is one of the luckiest blokes that I know. He bought the Bongo for £700 about 3 yrs ago, the guy thought it wouldn't pass another MOT, but the wee thing is exceptionally tidy, sports a side kitchen & they've spent plenty getting the paintwork into show winning order.

He could fall into a river & come out with a salmon in his pocket, whereas I could fall into a barrel of boobs & come out sucking my thumb.

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ambulancekidd said:
It's a manual & yes, it is very cheap, it's certainly a bargain. The number of the van starts with a 9 (I think) & has a F at the end of the number. I'll check the actual model number tomorrow.
Below is the actual van.
View attachment 650983
View attachment 650984View attachment 650985
Click to expand...
Also nothing on the MOT history that would concern me. MOT is due end of August, so if it was me I’d budget for a major service at the time of the MOT with a garage that I preferably knew and then the new owners would have a good idea of its condition etc. Also would be good to know when the cam belt was last changed And budget for that if it is close to needing a replacement. Seems to have not been used in anger for a couple of years, so a good check of the tyres also. But if it was me, I’d be factoring in £2-3k on any work I.e. tyres, cambelt, service etc. and be very satisfied. Hope your friends buy it and enjoy it! 👍
 
ambulancekidd said:
I'd explained that to the vendor today, but she is adamant that my friends deserve to buy it.
Click to expand...
Your friends could be cheeky and contact the dealer to see what his thoughts on it were! You never know, he may have seen something that he thought warranted his valuation! I would think not, but may be worth a telephone call….
 
Does your friend have C1 as a Rapido A class I looked at didn't have much payload at 3.5 ton? It may well be played at 3.8.
But it's certainly a bargain! I agree a dealer would sell it for 30k plus.
 
paddymcc said:
Does your friend have C1 as a Rapido A class I looked at didn't have much payload at 3.5 ton? It may well be played at 3.8.
But it's certainly a bargain! I agree a dealer would sell it for 30k plus.
Click to expand...
Yes, my friends are fine, she has C1 & he has HGV Class one or whatever you call it these days.

The van is a 924F & we've spent the day trying to get it started. The battery had gone flat & was goosed, so we popped a new one in today, but the immobiliser was having a hissy fit. Does anyone know how to disable the immobiliser? We worked out that the keyfob battery was flat too, so that was replaced, so now we are trying to track down what might be a bad earth or a duff starter. My money is on the starter being a goner.

Oh, a bit more about kit. The van has a Gaslow system & air suspension.

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The poor owner has been widowed. After getting the issues sorted, if I was going to buy what looks like a cracking van I think I'd offer considerably more than £15k. Getting a bargain is one thing, being able to sleep is something else. ;)
 
ambulancekidd said:
Yes, my friends are fine, she has C1 & he has HGV Class one or whatever you call it these days.

The van is a 924F & we've spent the day trying to get it started. The battery had gone flat & was goosed, so we popped a new one in today, but the immobiliser was having a hissy fit. Does anyone know how to disable the immobiliser? We worked out that the keyfob battery was flat too, so that was replaced, so now we are trying to track down what might be a bad earth or a duff starter. My money is on the starter being a goner.

Oh, a bit more about kit. The van has a Gaslow system & air suspension.
Click to expand...
I was gonna say 924F as we looked at one many years ago at Newark show so I recognised the layout! Lovely MH but at the time we just couldn't get on with an A-class.
 
Some Rapido 924F's for sale and sold:

[Broken Link Removed]

motorhomesltd.co.uk

Rapido 924F (2004) - SOLD -

Rapido 924F (2004), fantastic A class 4 berth motorhome with 4 belted seats. This motorhome is in superb condition inside and out with luxury leather interior. The layout consists of a large overcab drop down double bed, a front lounge/dinette area which converts into a double bed or large...
motorhomesltd.co.uk motorhomesltd.co.uk

picclick.co.uk

2004 "54" Rapido 924F Fiat Ducato 2.8 Diesel 4 Berth A-Class Motorhome 6 Metre • £20,600.00

2004 "54" RAPIDO 924F Fiat Ducato 2.8 Diesel 4 Berth A-Class Motorhome 6 Metre - £20,600.00. FOR SALE! HELLO & WELCOME TO OUR LATEST LISTINGRE-LISTED DUE TO A NON RESPONSIVE AND NON-PAYING USER. EBAY FORBIDS NAMING AND SHAMING NON-PAYING USERS AND ALLOWS THEN TO BE LET OFF, WHICH IS A VERY...
picclick.co.uk picclick.co.uk



Broken Link Removed
 
Its a bargain for that price.I have a 2004 rapido 785f.Not A class but i believe that around this year was one of the best build quality vans of the time.The upholstery is called Bristol. It may have a sigma emobiliser on it as alot seemed to when i bought mine new.The fiat emobaliser can be a bit of a pain sometimes. If the orang padlock sign on dash wont go off that will be the problem.It can be disconnected. I believe Eddy van bits may have a diagram or something that shows you how.But Not sure on which model it was.Good quality wood furniture.
 
If the lady in question wants to sell her van, that obviously has attached memories, she should be allowed to sell it at the price she has decided on!
She doesn’t like the dealer, fair enough not many of us do like dealers, and she likes the couple so she wants them to have it.
Whats the problem?!?!

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An update on this motorhome.
We're still trying to get it started. It's been off the road since October & the cab battery had given up the ghost.
That has now been replaced & the engine still refused to turn over. We managed to work out that the batteries in the remote plipper were in poor condition, so those were replaced & the engine earths were cleaned up, so now it cranks over perfectly, but still refuses to fire up.
My suspicions lie with the immobiliser, so what I'd like to try is a direct power feed to the fuel pump solenoid to see if that would allow the engine to start? I'm really curious to know what the forum members think of this plan & can anyone help with information on how to go about this?
I'm not the one under the bonnet doing the work as I'm badly disabled, but my mate is reasonably savvy with mechanical stuff.

All assistance will be very gratefully received.
 
Obvious I know but is diesel getting through..?

If it’s been standing since October the fuel could be gummed up…?

Load of water in the filter..?

Pull all the fuses spray with contact cleaner..

Got to eliminate the obvious and easiest first…😎
 
Lovely van,absolutely great van. The dealer who offered her such a small amount is a very greedy and stupid man.
 
I’m sure between everyone the van will start….eventually And will probably turn out to be something simple!
Good luck.

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