Heya, I'm Vicki, 25, and can't even drive, but am going to look at a camper in a couple of weeks. I haven't the foggiest about anything to do with cars but am hoping to learn. Have always dreamed of owning a bay but never thought it was going to happen, but hey, never know. Buying it so me and my partner can go camping (she can drive haha). Just doing research at the moment and trying to get an idea of what sort of insurance I would have to fork out as a new/provisional driver (still having lessons), and how expensive it is to run/keep. Have heard some people say campers cost a small fortune to run/keep/in parts and others say it is so much cheaper because of what you save on insurance, road tax and because they're not built like a computer Anyway, hello and any advice you can give to a dipstick (don't even know where the dipstick is!) is always good
Go for it Vicki - you won't regret it. If you balance up the fun you'll have against the costs to run the expense weighs very little.
That should say "Hoping to buy it if it isn't a complete scrap job" (£2k for a bay worries me a bit). I keep getting told off for getting ahead of myself when I haven't even seen it yet What worries me is that I really have no idea about cars, let alone a camper and when I can't even drive yet a bit worried I might be biting off more than I can chew hahahaha! But at the same time sooooooooooo excited just to be able to go see it!
Welcome aboard Vicki! How much did you say, £2k - have you got any piccies for us to look at, it seems very cheap to me - it may (based on what has been on ebay etc) need a lot of work at that price!
Yeah that is what I thought. So far I have only seen a pic on someones phone, hence needing to go look at it. Apparently it is having welding work done on it at the moment so is going to be a couple of weeks until it is back locally. Partner keeps telling me off cos getting way ahead of myself and haven't even seen it hahaha. All I know is it's a bay camper, and it's got all the kitchen/rock and roll bed etc in it. Waiting for someone to text me all the details about it engine/year etc wise. Also have a friend coming with me who does work on his own car but has no experience of campers, but that's the best I have access to. He'll at least have more idea than I do about what I'm looking at. For all I know it could be held together with gaffa tape and paint
Hi shammii, Good luck with the find, it does sound cheap but their are still bargains out their where people who dont know what they are worth just want rid. Good idea to take someone with you, try and ask about its history ,ie previous owners, mots ,service etc if your lucky. If it has a current MOT thats a start. Their are peeps on here who will possibly take a look for you,if your close?? Good luck anyway and stay on here you will pick up lots of tips off the old boys lol. and make some great new friends too no doubt. 8)
hello and welcome, seriously you need more money or a different type of van. i'm not doom mongering here but you might as well burn the 2 grand and keep warm for a while.
Well we were gonna have a look at it, and if we decided we were serious, then get it looked at my a mechanic and see what work would seriously need doing, and what advice we could get. Apparently it is ready to use and doesn't have any serious problems which would need sorting before we could use it. Undecided if I would pay in bits and pieces to restore it, or use it for a couple of years and sell it on. Really have no idea what I'm doing at the moment, just excited and impulsive hahaha not a good combo! Appreciate all advice though including burn the cash and keep warm ;D I'm based in Stoke-on-Trent x
glad you didn't get the hump, but serious if you can find a rotter that is ready to go for 2 grand get me one
That's very kind, thank you I will go along with my partner, and if it doesn't look like a shell on wheels, I will ask here then and see if someone who really knows what they're talking about can come have a look at it hehe And rickyroo - I realise it is probably too good to be true, but I would love to own one and at that price I probably could............. If might be just a fancy decoration outside my house but still ;D hahahaha
1 year ago i came on here thinking i had plenty of money to get one (i had 3-4k) i was dissapointed even 6 granders needed more doing than i was prepared to do....if it's any consilattion none of us actually belive these old vans are worth the money they fetch but the market dictates stupid prices, 10 years ago you could find them for nothing but now they are silly money, you'd get a semi decent T25 for 2ish grand - a couple on here run them, we ain't fussy, we let anyone in on here so even if you don't find one straight off keep saving or sell your soul (like i did) to get more money and you'll find one, you've done right by asking before you buy anyway so good luck.
Shammii, welcome to the site first and foremost. For advice - take someone that is a distinct pessimist with you - we have all fallen for this at some point (me, I was 18, it was a 'bargain' 1275 GT Mini - I fell in love with it at first sight and decided that nothing wasn't fixable, ignored the bubbling filler, the smell of petrol etc etc). Cost me a fortune, never ran right - but was 'perfect' before I owned it. You need someone to keep you down to earth (fair play to your partner, but we have all been there too wanting our other to be happy and being pulled along with the glee). I'd go with a mechanic you can trust and who is recommended (not someone from the phone book who will stand to get a lot of work out of you and the van). There are bargains out there - but anything you look at will be 35 ish years old or older - if its nice then it has inherent value, so why is the seller literally giving away thousands if it is indeed a good one? Not saying it doesn't happen. As for a first car - have a drive of someone's first as I do think you can use them daily, even as a first drive, but they are certainly different to anything modern you may be learning in! Its fantastic you are enthusiastic, if you take onboard some of the hard won advice of many on here hopefully the reality can live up to the dream!
Thank you for the kind replies and help. I guess I will just have to wait till I can view it for now in a couple of weeks and hopefully nab some pics of it to post on here for you guys
Hello and welcome to you and your partner Im afraid stoke is a bit far for me to travel otherwise id come and look at it for you Two grand for a camper would normally buy you a rotten bus in need of a full restoration but there are still one or two hidden gems out there If you can post up as many pics and info as possible when you get them then im sure we can advise you accordingly
hello you sound as excited as i was ( and still am) about owning a bay I don't think anyone has mentioned the other thing to check is that is that at £2000 this maybe a scam. There has been a lot of copied ads about. Do you know the person selling ? if so that makes it a bit easier but if not then just be aware. Although i'm not the best person to advise on impulse purchasing yes if you can get photos on here that would be a good start. and if you can just afford £2000 for a van to start with then you are more than likely going to spend a lot more on it than that. we have already spent more than that in 2 years. bek - sorry rushed response apologies if it's twaddle.
Well the place that is selling it is a well known VW workshop. From what I hear they have a good reputation, but also means the van is prob a wreck cos would've thought if anyone knows what a van is worth it would be a VW garage! lol
hun i get a run away feeling when i hear a well known dub garage is selling a good bus for 2k Ill reserve my opinion for now though untill pics You sure its not a scam?
