Ford Herald cab

Just want to put this out there and see what people think.

Have a 1996 Ford Herald, engine is sound (only 42,000 miles), habitation part is sound (no leaks, no damp), but the cab has a lot of (patched up by previous owner) rust.

Took it to a bodywork repair guy to take out windscreen, rebond and refit it as it was leaking. He's done a great job on it by the look of it.

I asked him to look over the cab while he had it to see what the cost of tidying it up would be.

When I picked it up today, he said his advice would be to keep running it as is until it falls apart (or fails it's test) and then put a new cab on it!

I was cold, wet and tired when he told me that and couldn't really be bothered at that moment to ask!

Anyone any idea why he may have said this?

Think it may be beyond rustproofing.

It has a new bonnet, grill and bumper which are all sound, but the doors and wings are badly patched up with filler and the bulkhead(?) under the bonnet/windscreen is rotten.

I'll get some photos and post them up.....

Mk5 "Smiley" Transits seemed to rust even more quickly than the previous Mk4 (non Smiley grill). If the windscreen has been replaced previously, it is likely that the surround underneath will have been rusting away beneath.

The doors and wings can still be bought although sound ones will be harder to source. The bulkhead sounds like the bit that needs welding/fabrication to maintain the structural integrity of the cab.