Best place to buy a tidy bus?

OK, I've seen all the negatives for buying a new camper from Danbury (primarily cost; it is a lot of money) but want to buy myself a "new" bus. Trouble is, I've also seen loads of horror stories about unscrupulous traders only to willing to part you from your cash in exchange for a dubious quality rust bucket coated with a thin layer of paint to make it look shiny and appealing. So I'd li,e a pointer to a place where I could possibly shop with a degree of confidence.

My requirements are simple
Needs to be reliable - this will be my main runner. Can't run two vehicles.
Needs a raising roof and bed "upstairs" for my girls
Good engine. Modern and water-cooled. Happy to stick a 1.9TDi in if it fits but open to other economical suggestions
Appropriate camping stuff downstairs - fridge, oven, twin stove, leisure battery, heater (this will get used in winter), mains hookup etc

Anyone able to tell me who I can talk to. Money is obviously not unlimited and as finance is probably not going to be as easy as I've been offered, probably c.

 

Buy any new car is a bit of a gamble. You ca't guarantee reliability but if you get it from a garage you will probably get some form of warrantee.

I see you want it watercooled are you looking for a Late Bay with a conversion of something altogether more modern?

 

Yes, looking for a late bay with conversion. I appreciate the risks, I suppose, which was why a Danbury had a degree of comfort, with a warranty. Just when you add it all up, it's so chuffin expensive.

 

If you've got

 

After years of frustration and viewing one rust bucket after the other in the UK, I found myself on eBay Australia one night. I clicked the Buy It Now button and 2 months later my bus arrived at Southampton docks, free of rust, rot and in top nick, as if she were only 10 to 15 years old. That was a year ago. It cost around 7 grand all in (inc shipping, taxes, blah, blah, blah). That was a year ago and I've noticed bus prices rise in Oz, plus a worsening exchange rate, making it more expensive now. Mind you, you can still find a diamond in the rough if you look long and hard enough.

I'm currently fitting a water-cooled Subaru engine.

 

For circa 20k, why not split it and have a cheap car as a daily and a T2 too ? is there a reason it has to be the daily ?
If the above is an option, then I would say go with an import for rust free body then get it mechanically sorted when over here if things need doing.


The guy I had mine off comes across campers all the time, rickyrooo1 also had his from the same guy and a couple more on this forum too, he's legit and caters for all budgets, he is also english so knows our MOT requirements.
wstcstauto@aol.com
John is his name
http://www.westcoastautosport.com/docs/frameset.htm

 

Sweet Jeezis, Sugar. Arizona/Utah/Nevada is like the classic car cryogenic system and it is all near me in Houston. Just keep an eye on Ebay. When you find a good one, ship it to the Houston port and import it. According to DUBious in here, importing is only about 1500 EUR. Shipping to Houston is about 300-400 EUR.

 

In the long run a second car will be cheaper than running the bus as a daily. I'd love to use Barry as my daily ride but at 19mpg around town the GTi's 30+ is streets ahead and I've saved so much. Mk3 Golfs can be bought for very little money. Mine cost £1000 in total with insurance, a service and MOT.

By the way, what are you going to be studying??

 

a water cooled bus won't be guarateed to be more reliable IMO . If your looking at 20k Id buy a top notch 15k bus and spend 5k on a profesional engine conversion with warranty

 

Agree with Birdy ^ would love to drive Bolly all day everyday but it's auto trans 17-20mpg? and my £900 Fiesta diesel is 55-60mpg.....no brainer, i sold up my lovely TD5 Disco to live the dream just wish the fuel price would drop to let me live it all the time.......

 

Get a t4

 

i see GODSGOOD on here is putting up some tastey and very keenly priced buses from usa on here and price includes delivery , owen nw : :-X