My simple common sense guide before buying a Type 2 Van (camper)

Discussion in 'Buying a VW Camper' started by Stan, Aug 12, 2011.

  1. I know there are plenty of guides telling you what to look for when buying one of these vehicles but people tend to overlook the more down to earth practicalities.

    I dont want to put anybody off but you need to be aware of all the aspects not just the technical before you invest a lot of money.

    Ask yourself why you want one against say a modern bus with all its mod cons?

    Dont forget you will be effectively driving a warmed over 1940's design with 1940's level of tech? It will no doubt be blasting out 'we'll meet again' from its wireless! ;)

    If you have never driven or owned an old car (classic) before, then buying a van like this as your first one is a big step.

    You will need to get used to:

    Old car stopping distances (not all have power brakes)
    Interesting handling on corners and in the wet
    Poor wipers with no intermittent wipe or heated windscreen here
    Poor fuel economy
    3000 mile service intervals, meaning regular maintenance and health checks
    Poor heating system, no aircon, damp inside and generally cold
    Noisy on the road and subject to cross-winds on the motorways
    If an early Devon poptop for example- is likely to leak and they are expensive to fix/replace
    Campers will have old chipboard furniture that after 40 years has its own aroma (read :Damp and Blackspot)
    Cushions will need to be changed as they will be saggy - not cheap
    Cab seats split with age , frames break and the whole thing sags not doing your back any favours
    Seatbelts may need to be fitted in the back - not cheap to do
    Poor electrics compared to modern vehicles, with dim lighting, and long runs of cabling which after 40 years has high resistance due to oxidisation and damp causing voltage drops
    Oil consumption is higher than watercooled vehicles
    Bodywork obviously will suffer and the cost of repair is high
    They are small inside compared to modern offerings
    Size wise they wont fit in most garages

    If you are not mechanically minded or not prepared to get your hands dirty - DO NOT BUY ONE!
    I cannot emphasize this point enough!It will cost you a fortune to constantly take to the so called VW specialists that crop up every year! Good ones are few and far between (as we have found out on this forum) You really need to be able to look after them yourself or costs will spiral. If you cant look after them yourself then consider one of the more modern watercooled versions I have listed below.


    So think hard before parting with your cash. Do you want to buy one because its cute looking, trendy at the moment, sentimental value, or like me an old aircooled head, for my family to enjoy holidays together in a van that I can maintain myself. ;)

    Have you considered the other VW's ?

    The Wedge T25 is in my opinion superior all round vehicle to the Bay, it does'nt have the cute looks but it has its own 80's period Germanic charm which I like (easy to drive and more space inside).

    The best van VW ever made is the T4
    (yes watercooled but dont be a snob!) Get the last ones 1.9TDI (ensure its got the I for injection the TD ones are dog slow) but rock solid , my old one still passes its MOT with flying colours every year!

    Current range of T5 vans
    (although early ones suffered from the generic VW electrical problems - they are learning from Renault!) they are a good van just a bit dull to look at however prices are dropping for the earlier models to convert to campers.

    The new
    Bay - Brazilian models
    still made today. They are shipped over to the UK by a few companies then converted to campers. You can get them as Panel vans or Minibuses. They are Left Hand Drive with slightly modified interior and a marginally higher more angular roof, but with a radiator in the front panel - yes horror of horrors they are Watercooled Polo engine powered (ironically with more power than our old Bays). http://brazilianvwbay.forumotion.com/ Here is the owners club for more info.
    On paper and in the right hands they make the most sense if you must have a Bay van but with new metalwork (you need to seal and repaint yourself soon as its over here), the quality is perceived to be lesser than the old German ones. You can get a fake front wheel covers to hide the radiator so it looks old school. The Polo engine is ok but ironically you get no heating! (Well they are for the Brazilian market!)
    The one factor you must consider the alarming price of these vans buying ready converted- average price is £28K up to £40K!!! For that cash you can get a lot of other campervans!! Its up to you.


    Please think about these points. We have seen too many people buy them then sell up shortly afterwards with of course a loss in money!

    Reasons why you should get one!

    You dont want to drive just any old box van!
    They are very easy to drive and fun
    You cant stop grinning when your in it
    People wave and smile at you, Kids love them
    You dont get any agression from other drivers at all - its the only car like that!
    They are very simple to maintain and service yourself
    Parts are plentiful and there is a long supplier list (although some parts are expensive and quality varies)
    The VW scene is still strong and its worth going to the various shows around the country
    Joining this forum is a sensible move - there are plenty of friendly knowledgeable people on here willing to help.
    They relax you as your never going too fast anywhere?
    Generally they are very reliable if you keep on top of them. I have done 20,000 trouble free miles in the last 12 months.
    Sizewise they fit in normal carpark spaces without issues
    Part of the fun is customising them to your own needs and ambitions
    Dont forget to flash and wave at other Bays/VW's as you pass.
    They are affordable compared to Split Screen vans still but certain to rise in value as time goes on.
    So what are you waiting for?

    Hope this all makes sense - I am sure others will add to the points in case I have forgotten something? :)
     
  2. Really usefull post - thanks Stan.

    If I had read this before I bought, I might not have gone ahead (as we are both mechanically clueless, and not loaded with cash).

    Having said that, I'm glad that we did it - because it's boring being sensible all the time.
     
    Van Quish likes this.
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  4. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

    Now that Stan , is agood write up :D
    Karma ;)
     
  5. dean_butler

    dean_butler TLB Design Guru

     
  6. Thanks for the nice comments :)

    Please note if you are prepared to get your hands dirty and have a go then your halfway there - the rest will come from books and help from this forum. 8)


    Nobody taught me any of this , first thing I ever did on a car was change the exhaust on my first Beetle (parked half on curve so I could climb underneath) took me all day but I did it! Of course I was very skinny at 18 ::)
     
    albertbus likes this.
  7. Karma coming for a great post
     
  8. I changed a fuse that had blown today !
     
  9. hailfrank

    hailfrank Admin esq.

    great stuff stan :)
     
  10. A good little read thanks.

    I'm about to take the plunge into the air cooled world (when I find a bay a I like and can afford) and I think i'll cope. I currently have a mk2 Scirocco that i've rebuilt the engine 3 times last year, and its going strong.
     
    Stan likes this.
  11. The best van VW ever made is the T4

    you need to go to specsavers... ;D

    good write up.. O0
     
    Stan likes this.
  12. Invaluable advice Stan

    Many many thanks for an excellent post.
     
    Stan likes this.
  13. Hey man think i need ten beers and a rock after your doom senario...i am mad.......but like someone else said its not about common sence but
    you need need to get your hands mucky its not like having a mini you just buy a new one and do nowt.
     
    Stan likes this.
  14. Now you bloody tell me!!! Lol ;)
     
    sANDYbAY and Stan like this.
  15. Will aft to sort me pipes out next for breathing, darn sod they are......i smell like a fuel tank after being int he hulk miester.
     
  16. oh eck has this guide been resurected from the old forum? :)
    They are a commercial vehicle that served millions of people the world over. Like Beetles they were cheap motoring for the masses and I love them, the entire early VW range. I dont want to put gloom on them but come on, your cutsey bus will in 'All cases' have rust on it somewhere.
    Smell the full fat coffee before you consider spending a lot of money buying one.
    I have mainly driven Classic cars or aircooled VW's most of my driving life and a lot have been flights of fancy, I spent so much time on them , fixing something, changing oil etc etc it got to the point where I had enough. I have seen so many people get ripped off (me included) so I dont want anyone else being ripped off (hence the real life guide).

    Buy one because you really must own one, because you will keep it for years. It will serve you well and be reliable. Dont skimp on servicing, its peaseay weasy.
    I purchased mine (not the best on the market) with 54000 miles on the clock in 2010. It is now on 90200 miles. I use it daily to work and back , the odd VW show and all over the place for trips out. It has only ever broken down once, as the points in it failed. Ironically has been more reliable than the last few modern cars I have had.
    The 18 previous owners have erm altered it to their own tastes complete with interesting bodges but it passed its MOT every year (fingers crossed next month it will again) I will eventually redo the bodywork which frankly is pants but I want to use it and not spend the rest of my life restoring it to perfection. I dont want to win a show I want to use it for the fun reasons I purchased it.

    So please be careful dont let your emotion get in the way of your common sense - the bottom 6 inches rot on these full stop. Mechanics are fairly cheap and simple but bodywork is expensive to repair, and bottom line the bodywork is the important thing here.

    Good luck with your search, as I said a lot of friendly helpful very knowledgeable people on here to advise, dont let them sit bored in front of the computer screen ask questions if you are unsure.:cool:
     
    albertbus and Lofty like this.
  17. Soggz

    Soggz An inquisitive supporter

    Great write up,but i must say that the type 4 1700 to 2000 engines are better than the normal 1600 or 1641's.
    They just dont seem to need as much maintainance over longer distances, in my humble opinion. ;)
     
  18. they are a load of ***** dont buy one, no dont, itl keep the prices down. Thats the last of the whisky darn.
     

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