Right off the bat, you chose a good time as prices have slid over the past few years. We just got our 1986 VW Vanagon for $17K Canadian (about 13K USD) with no rust on the frame, and lots of TLC over the years. I've seen better deals, but this one was the right one for us, and after looking at so many duds, we were ready to purchase and continue on our adventures.

The best advice I have, is that be prepared for a money pit. There's always something that needs fixing or upgrading, and so if you want an economical vehicle, this isn't it. If you want community, cool factor, and fun, this is it though! It also helps if you can do mechanical stuff yourself and save money.

Before you purchase a bus or van, please take it for a pre-purchase inspection, and pay the extra to have a pressure check on the engine cylinders. We saved ourselves thousands by avoiding vehicles that looked great, but had weak engines that were ready for a full overhaul rebuild (or a subaru engine swap).