Why I have a bay

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Dicky, Sep 3, 2015.

  1. I cant actually recall what started the process but in my early 20s i had been into the scooter scene since I was old enough to ride one and was drawn towards older vehicles. I didnt drive a car but my girlfriend suggested a beetle. A couple of beetles later and wanting something i could use for work (leccy) and to go away at weekends and transport scoots about a van seemed a good idea so why not a camper as i kind of knew how vws worked it was a no brainer. I think that was around 87or 88Any way ive run one ever since indeed up until about 12 years ago it was my daily but by then i was married with growing kids and ran a car and a bike too.

    I wonder, if i was starting out and wanting a camper now then what would i buy. Im guessing possibly not a bay but then again why would i be attracted to anything other than an air cooled vw. Inmight as well buy a non vw. I, like others toy with the idea of trouble free motoring and commuting combined with a holiday orvweekender vehicle rather than a motorhomenandvtaking the T4, t5 route but would i be happy taking it to the garage all the time to have someone fix it for me. I spose if theres no car then thats not sping the funds...

    Tbh im not motivated or inspired by the newer vehicles but i am actually drawn to the benefits, however each time i see one, and im noticing them much more now, i cant imagine that driver being me!! Ricks move makes good sense and had a chat with woody at TE and i quitevlijed it but..... I spose my bus doesnt stand me at much really and its worth what ive spent on it but it does need work so who can tell whats around the corner.


    Why do you run a bay?
     
  2. Razzyh

    Razzyh Supporter

    Afraid no story like yours but do it for the freedom & the holidays + it was cheap when I brought it
     
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  3. I went to the market today with the ole lady . Got two thumbs up from drivers in cars , a bunch of little kids jumping and waving , and a old guy who says how he missed his bus from years gone by . A quite atractive blonde in the parking lot looking at me with a . Id like to be in that bus look..
    All in a five minute drive . Its a special thing .
    And thats just the ones i saw , funny though .you dont see them around here much , and im in bavaria ...
     
  4. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

    I bought a real tidy bay for £900 in the late 70's and loved it. We did all our holidaying throughout the 80's in that one and a newer one. But unfortunately Lou can't camp in a cramped space any longer, hence we have the LT these days!

    I am still on the lookout for a resto tin top though.
     
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  5. CollyP

    CollyP Moderator

    When I were a lad!!!!

    I couldn't understand the mates with beetles. I thought they were slow (they were (mates and beetles)).

    I wanted POWER so bought a mk1 manta as a second car. Bought an RS2000 mk1 as a third car. Lancia delta turbo came soon after.

    BUT - there was a triumph herald convertible in between.

    Bearing in mind I passed my test in '88 most of these cars were already old when I bought them. The herald the oldest and perhaps the most fun.

    I've always liked the older car - in older times they were my only and daily. Now I have enough money to have two vehicles, I chose a bus because of the space and versatility to take the skids away for a day / weekend / week.

    I still believe that life is a journey and if it was all about the destination I wouldn't go!!!
     
  6. I've probably told this story before, but I was brought up with VW's. When I was about 2 we had a Bay Window Devon tin top for a couple of years, followed by a Type3 Fastback. After a brief foray with a Triumph 1500 (the only car to break down on the motorway enroute to Cornwall) in 1975 my dad bought another Type2 a 1971 Devon which we had for the next 9 years. All of my early childhood memories were about going places in that van and in adult hood I really wanted one o my own. When I was able to afford one I bought one. I ran it a few years, then sold it (as I thought it would cost me too much in repairs). A few years later I realised that I missed the van, the freedom it gave me to go out for the day or weekend or week etc with everything I needed and I missed the 'familiar feeling' of being in one of these machines. Having one of my own was like moving back to a house I once lived in, everything was familiar an friendly.
    I use my van for trips out and for trips to the shops if I need to buy large items. I use it as a pleasure / leisure vehicle as it really wouldn't be that practical to be a daily driver. However I like to use it as much as I can because I enjoy driving it. I like the elevated seating position and I like the sound of the engine. Somehow having the bus just 'feels' right...
     
  7. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    We got soaked with water running through a tent while the airbed slowly went down.
    Meanwhile my mate and his family in a camper didn't.
    A good camper was £1500...
     
  8. Just about sums it up. It makes no practical sense to own one, but...they're so nice...
     
  9. rickyrooo1

    rickyrooo1 Hanging round like a bad smell

    up until a day ago.............
    i had been into landrovers since i could drive
    had a caravan from an early age and loved camping.
    always wanted a campervan - not a vw, just a camper of sorts.
    at 42 decided to go for it after watching "one man and his campervan" (seriously).
    knew because i'd miss "the scene" that landrovers had i should get a van with "cult" status.
    Got the bay.
    5 years later got over the bay.
    Still like camping.
    what will happen next?
     
    paulcalf likes this.
  10. Always wanted a camper but could never justify owning one, due to cost and well it would never get used.

    But due to career changes and kids that all changed, I live for getting home on a Friday, packing the kids in (and the wife) and setting off for a night or more. It's great fun. Smiling and waving at fellow owners. The best moment was having our photo taken as we passed through Corfe Castle by some Japanese tourists, it makes you feel great to own something special.
     
  11. I bought my first'project' bay last year for many reasons. The longer I own it, the more reasons I find to keep it. I've no idea if or when I'll start to find reasons to sell. But for now it's fun to have. The body shape is an iconic design. Owners tweak the look to personal preference but bays remain unmistakably bays. Air-cooled rear engine? Crazy but simply ingenious. Too many common defects to list but all fixable with patience and learned skills. And plenty of conversation starters too. If you're inclined to be part of 'a scene' then there's a healthy scene on your doorstep. Camping or trips to the local tip become doable. Good short term investment? Doubtful! Long term? Very possible. There are plenty of other vehicles on the road (and in mid resto) that I'd love to own. An E-Type, DB4, TR4, Jag MK1. The list goes on and on. But for now, I want to get 'Snooze' back on the road.
     
  12. Silver

    Silver Needs points/will pay!

    My Mrs told me to get one:( I always do as I'm told!
     
  13. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    But you got a broken converted panel van, so not quite what you were told. :)
     
    Richard W12 likes this.
  14. My Mrs has always had a thing for "splittys" so for her 40th birthday I hired Battenburg from O'Conner's campers and we had a long weekend struggling with gears, doors, steering etc etc. On our return I looked very seriously into a T5 to convert then a Vivaro as they seem to be better value all the while Hayley was very unexcited about it all.
    When we spoke about it it turned out that we both thought that it was the fact that the split was different that made it fun, a happy place not just another eurobox. The split was just too small and cramped to drive so we thought about a Bay. I work with @fatfastroger on here and I went to look at his and that was it. So for us its about smiles an hour. I drive a company car a lot for work so it had to be different.
    The search began and Desmond came along being a rust free and right hand drive microbus he fitted the bill so we bought him. We wanted an unconverted bus so we could convert him and make him ours.
    Pretty boring really and not steeped in when I was a lad history, then I came on here for help and inspiration and you lot seem to be a cynical load of moaning, ******* taking, sarcastic, helpfull, friendly,generous and genuine bunch. Just my type of people and if the rest of the "scene" is as friendly its got to be better than a lonely life on a caravan club site in a vivaro, hasn't it??
     
  15. Initially was after a split but didn't want to spend 13k on one that needed the same amount of work as a 7k bay. Then wanted an early but couldn't find one sensibly priced at the time. My Mrs found my bay on the interwebs and the slightly ratty look of it appealed to me so I bought it. Had a couple of summers in it but now off the road for welding up and early facelift.....i will have my early looking bay, albeit the hard way lol
     
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  16. Exactly ...
    If I want to get there fast I take the car .
    If I want luxury I get a hotel .
    If I want fun I take mi ol' van ...

    :hattip:
     
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  17. Lazy Andy

    Lazy Andy Supporter

    I fell into the VW scene in the mid 90's with my first car... a terrible mint green beetle, which was ultimately rotten as a peach! Anyways uni can and went for 6-7 years, I'd sold the beetle to my brother who was actively turning it into a beach buggy and I kept in touch with a few of the shows. The idea of owning an aircooled never strayed too far from my mind,mainly because I hadn't owned an aircooled to the full potential of learning to restore /maintain them properly as I relied too much on my dad for that. I couldn't a) afford to run a second car or b) justify an impractical Ghia or Beetle at the time so by the time i turned 30, i started putting by a bit of cash for a van that would be able to do all of the thirtysomthing tasks of shopping / days out / camping / DIY trips / mountain biking courier / occassional commute....

    At 37 we're into our fourth year with the van. We have given more than it's given us back to date (i think it's cost about £1000 per camping trip to date!) but as 2016 pokes it's head up over the horizon there is new impetus for for the van to earn it's keep with a new addition to the family due it's been drafted into regular commutes, the interior will be finished very soon and we're both looking forwards to family days out in her!
     
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  18. Not to hijack/offtopic/advert.....but. Ill be in florida ,usa next month . .... And hunting for some busses ,,,,,,,,!
     
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2015
  19. Sort of stumbled into bay ownership five years ago, in my late 40s. Never had or even particularly liked air-cooled. The wife was keen and I'd always fancied the idea of a camper van, not necessarily a bay though. Now we use so we can take our son, dog and us camping (or on picnics) without having to rely on tents, the only problem is that my wife thinks its too cramped, so this year on our only camping trip she slept in a tent whilst the rest of us slept in the van. Really need an awning, sometimes feel I would like something newer so didn't have the same reliability issues, but having done quite a bit of work on the van myself, its now become a challenge to keep it going and as rust free as possible with minimal outside help, that sort of takes me back 30 years to my early 20s and fixing up cars, there is a certain sense of satisfaction. We also used it for our wedding 4 years ago so it has some sentimental value now.

    I've got a couple of friends who have bought T5s since we got our bay, sometimes wish we could get to places as fast as them but can't have everything. Great for picnics with a 5 year old too. The other thing is other peoples reactions, waves, thumbs up, chats with random people about the old days and another Japanese tourist incident in the Morrisons car park Fort William. And finally one of the guys I cycle with has a Fiat Ducato a soulless van conversion, when the lads all meet up he gets the ******* ripped from him, whilst they think my van is great "a proper VW". Off for my hip op two weeks today and hoping that I can continue doing the work on it after, still plenty to do.
     
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  20. Over the years (many of them now) have been wild camping, sleeping in cars overnight etc, towed caravans and wanted to fulfill a love of campervans from years ago when they were hip, so on retirement we bought ours. She gives makes me smile every time I go out in her. Hoping she does again as we are off to WEYFEST music festival in Farnham today, all the artists playing are similar age to me so this should bring back a few more memories. Rock On. Now where did I stash the weed?
     
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