Hi (Rough costs for first purchase)

Discussion in 'Introduce Yourselves' started by Jools., Nov 17, 2015.

  1. Jools, use the forum search facility and type first impressions
     
    chad likes this.
  2. Baysearcher

    Baysearcher [secret moderator]

    Quality!
     
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  4. Flakey

    Flakey Supporter

    If you can't weld and want a bus to use in less than a year , import one.
    If you want to learn to weld and spend 3/4 years working on one buy as cheap as you can find,
    Either option will end up costing you around 15k
    If you want to buy a resto and pay someone else to do it say goodbye to 25k+
    If you want to tell us what your budget is for a finished article we'll give you the benefit of our collective experiences and point you in several possible directions.
     
    its ted, chad and mgbman like this.
  5. I think the underlying message here is that none of us want to admit to how much we have spent on our vans, the basic principle is the van will cost £30,000
    So spend £6000 on van and spend another £24,000 restoring it ( more if you go to a dedicated restorer)
    Spend £10,000 (wisely) another £20,000 restoring and you have the van
    Or as others have said get a decently restored one and drive,
    If you are still intending to buy a van , I could possibly be tempted to part with one of mine, as I have a syncro on the way
    PM me
     
  6. So Jools, do you have a bottomless pit of money? The figures quoted here should worry you.
     
    chad likes this.
  7. Flakey

    Flakey Supporter

    The OP doesn't want to tell us his budget so why should we, nerr :p
     
  8. Work out what type of van you want first. ?
    Go and look at some for sale, even at shows you may be disappointed by the quality of finish or how much they had paid or wanted to sell it for.
    My advise would be to buy a RHD import so that there will be little or no rust (like I did.)
    I didn't care about the interior as was going to do my own and also planned to do a Subaru Conversion before even buying one.
    I can weld, do my own electrics and mechanics so no cost there.
    I tried to work out how many panels or bits would need replacing or fixing etc when viewing vans, so most I never even went to see.
    Then even when you do buy it you will notice more when you get it home (Rose tinted glasses removed)
    After a while you will get to know the normal rusting places and how much parts cost and depending on who does it a rough price for fixing it but as others have said you never know how much it will fully cost until all the rust, bodges and other sh1t are removed.
    so any quotes would be open ended to some extent.

    Spend as much as you can on one with rust free good and straight bodywork all the rest you can fit or bolt on at a later stage.
    " You will find this forum interesting and helpful I did and still do."

    Cost of van, plus conversion and re spray in a few years should be @ 12k in total. (hopefully)
     
    mgbman and Miss Rosie like this.
  9. Welcome Jooles :)
    There is some great advice on here with everyone willing help or point you in the right direction. I have just been to see a bay with my best friend, and the owner wanted £8000 for it and it was a bag of sugar :-:) I posted on here as i am new to the Bay scene and there was loads of advice http://thelatebay.com/index.php?posts/1026547/
    So have a price in mind and then go looking for a bus in your price range, you will get an idea of what's available for your budget and also if you a capable of doing any work that's involved. post pics on here if you need advice :)
    I paid £6000 + part chopped my Karmann Ghia project that was in bits, so £8000 in total. The previous owner painted it in the colour of my choice. but there was nothing inside apart from one manky seat. but that's what I wanted, a blank canvas that was good mechanically and with good body work. Up to now it stands me at about £10, 500 and mounting :) :) and i love how its turning out, doing all the work myself where i can .
     
    mgbman and its ted like this.
  10. It's all about the journey in my humble opinion and personally I don't regret a penny/ grand
     
    chrisniclia1 and SCOO-BAY-BLUE like this.
  11. welcome to the site, good luck with your search. Price will be very varied, go and look at as many as possible before you commit, and you will get a good idea of the various conversions available as well as average price
     
  12. Pudelwagen

    Pudelwagen Supporter

    It's like buying a Rolls Royce: If you need to ask how much it costs, don't do it!
     
  13. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    My landlady at work's dad has a Roller - much cheaper than a bay. Until it goes wrong...
     
  14. He must "have done one" ...

    You lot should have just gave him a straight answer...:hattip:
     
    Bigdaz and chad like this.
  15. Baysearcher

    Baysearcher [secret moderator]

    Reminded me of @wizard.
     
    lost-en-france likes this.

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