Viewing a van in Watford

Discussion in 'Buying a VW Camper' started by RuthieRoo, May 9, 2022.

  1. you type's quicker than what I does Mr Monkey
     
    theBusmonkey likes this.
  2. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    How very rude?
     
  3. Thank you for taking a look. Okay, good to know- sills and wheel tubs…And thanks for your thoughts on the seam and taking a look inside…
     
  4. What effect will that have had on engine?
     
  5. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Missed the link. :rolleyes:
    "Suspension has been professionally lowered to improve drivability." Hmm, well, maybe that's what he told the wife. lol What he meant was "to look cool".
    Shame about the carb.
    Overall looks good for the price I reckon.
    Funny old world. Lefties used to be cheaper, tin tops used to be cheaper, converted panel vans used to be cheaper. Not so much these days? If LHD = not rusty or not total renovation then fair enough.
     
  6. The mileage on the MOT history online is 79,363…and ten years ago when it was imported it was 57,746.
     
  7. MorkC68

    MorkC68 Administrator

    That's reasonable for the year assuming its not 179,363 (our '77 westy has done 120,ooo documented miles) so if it has the service history for all / most of its life thats a big plus
     
    RuthieRoo likes this.
  8. Not meant to be, Just a question. When I was looking LHD was cheaper than RHD.
     
    theBusmonkey likes this.
  9. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    @RuthieRoo it does pay to look hard and know what you're getting. Here's mine.
    IMG_20200426_122210678.jpg

    Looks rather nice I like to think, but the front arches, bottom 9" of the sliding door, all the sills, all the outriggers, the cab doors, the engine lid, the panel below the engine lid, 9" under the windscreen, the front deformation panel, the bottom 12" of the rear arches and rear corners to halfway up the lights were all replaced. The signs are there if you know what to look for and where to look but I like to think you'd have to look pretty hard. Is that a bad thing? Not it you know what you're getting. Yes if you thought you were buying a survivor with a lick of new paint.

    I'm not suggesting the one you're looking like has been restored to anything like this extent because the main reason to import US buses is that the vast majority of them are survivors, but parts of it might have been.
     
    RuthieRoo and theBusmonkey like this.
  10. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    I know lol. Us lefties can be a little sensitive..:rolleyes:
     
  11. I guess it's about condition, I suspect Chip is probably worth twice what Desmond is, Chip having an engine an all (even if you do have to drive from the passenger side :D).
     
    theBusmonkey likes this.
  12. Razzyh

    Razzyh Supporter

    Shame I didn’t see this earlier, only down the road.

    If your going again…

    My advice is don’t buy anything freshly painted unless you can see pictures before & during paint job
     
    Lasty, RuthieRoo and PanZer like this.
  13. single carb on a type 4 is the least desirable. , can have drivability, starting and other issues as no warm air function and the long runners . , you usually get a feeling after checking the usual places , beam , battery tray , gutters , jacking points , sills
     
    RuthieRoo likes this.
  14. Razzyh

    Razzyh Supporter

    It’s a bit like marmite, Some people hate single carb some people like it. Personal, mine was great apart from a flat spot, but once a changed the dizzy for a 123 the flat spot went away and I wouldn’t worry so much about single carb.

    The warm air issue is only a concern in winter mostly and let’s be fair, how many people use their van in the winter anyway.
     
    RuthieRoo and Dicky like this.
  15. Razzyh

    Razzyh Supporter

    check mot history, nothing on there about rust so that’s a good start.

    MOT runs out within a month so I’d insist on a new MOT to go with it.
     
    RuthieRoo, PanZer, Jack Tatty and 2 others like this.
  16. It’s always going to be a fudge .. how the magical 123 can fix the long runner and other issues is beyond me . It’s a Marmite carb always will be on a VW .. I know every one raves on about the 123 but it’s still a mechanical device driven off a worn crank gear
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2022
    RuthieRoo likes this.
  17. If you can somehow have a new MOT verified by someone on here i’d recommend that.

    I insisted on an MOT pre-purchase, which it passed almost perfectly…a few months later I was told it shouldn’t have passed that MOT - and should’ve failed almost completely.

    It then got another MOT, lots of work done, and further down the line (having hardly used the van so nothing new cropped up), it was pointed out by the good folk on here that it should never have passed that second MOT either!


    If I had my time again I wouldn’t buy a campervan without someone confident and competent from this forum giving it a thumbs up and a heads up on what might need doing.

    I was pretty darn unlucky though. So my cautionary tale is not to put you off...just to buy wisely.


    www.transmission610.com
     
    RuthieRoo, theBusmonkey and Zed like this.
  18. 28mpg from my progressive around Spain and Portugal tells a tale! Dells are much nicer to drive but I certainly don't get that mileage plus the progressive started on the button without any pedal pumping shenanigans in the middle of winter (choke is helpful). That said i probably wouldn't go back. Anyway.... im not actually sure as to whether this would , or should put anyone off buying it. May effect price and if you anal about originality then you actually a nut job on a 40 plus year old bus as it wont have westy air in the tyres lol. As for price then if our buying you want the best you can for the least possible cos you will need to spend something on it. Im in awe of immaculate buses but happy with my rotbox "survivor" for now!
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2022
  19. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    It shouldn't, but worth knowing that you might want to change to twins in the future? It would annoy be if the van was top dollar, but it seems reasonably priced so not really a bother and as you say, certainly not a deal breaker!
     
    RuthieRoo, Dicky and PanZer like this.
  20. Wow, thanks everyone for your replies and help. What a great forum.

    I asked him yesterday if he’d be happy to put a new MOT on and he said yes.

    What do you think my next step should be? Visit again with someone from this forum?

    Razzyh if you’re just down the road that would be ace, I’ll message you!
     
    rob.e, Zed, scrooge95 and 2 others like this.

Share This Page