Being realistic with a budget

[BoggyB]

Hello! I've wanted a T2 for a good few years now and earlier this year I finally read up enough about avoiding engine bay fires to not be terrified by the idea of driving one. Unfortunately I'm not swimming in money so I've got a maximum budget of about £10,000 to play with.

I've been to see a few vans in the north (I live just outside Sheffield and there aren't a whole heap of them around here it seems) around this price point and they're generally very rusty with worrying looking undersides and iffy engines, probably needing a few thousand in repairs to get them solid again.

I'm not holding out for a rust free, perfect looking, centrefold example or anything but something that isn't a complete shed would be nice. Right hand drive with a tin top would be lovely too.

Am I expecting a bit much from my budget?

Sorry for the total newbie question, by the way.

 

[Graham L]

10K should get you a usable & legal bus that might need some cosmetic attention but I wouldnt expect a bus costing 10K to need welding.

 

[Lee C]

Mikey on here has a nice looking Cali bus for £9250 looks canny & description reads good!!!

 

[BoggyB]

That's what I was hoping to hear, Graham, so that's good.

Just had a look at Mikeys ad and it does seem really good. Not sure about LHD driving but I'll see if I can get over that.

 

[Lee C]

I had a young lass come to view my last bus, she said she couldn't do LHD so she went & bought a RHD British bus.
I've not seen it in the metal because, in her words " she's too embarrassed to come & show me it!!!"
I do know she's had it up to Paul Weeding's for an estimate to fetch it up to standard, which came in at £10k!!!!!!!

 

[BoggyB]

Ha, from what I've seen of British ones so far that doesn't surprise me.

I'm going to try giving a LHD bus a drive to see how I fare. Shouldn't be too hard, should it? Overtaking isn't going to be an issue after all.

 

[Barkafer]

You'll not be disappointed with a solid left hooked & you'll soon get used to being in the gutter! ;-)

 

[thejinx]

Nothing wrong with a LHD as long as it's solid. Just like driving a RHD in France. You get used to it. You could go RHD but make sure it's a good one. I have a RHD and it has cost over 10 grand to sort and so far 6 years.

 

[Alex VW Heritage]

LHD actually ends up feeling more natural, shifting wise from 2nd to 3rd is far more natural in LHD than a RHD.

 

[Graham L]

Totally agree Alex, I think LHD buses are far nicer to drive in terms of gear lever location etc,

 

[Mrs Chutney]

There was a really decent looking LHD Bay on FBIVW recently, US Import, unrestored and looked pretty good in the pics. Not much over the 10k mark iirc.

Ryan

 

[StinkBomber]

Just had a look at Mikeys ad and it does seem really good. Not sure about LHD driving but I'll see if I can get over that.

I reckon that's got to be worth investigation. Looks like a load of good work's been done... Just needs a trip to Graham, to close up that wheel to arch gap a bit! :lol:
There was a link to a few more pics on his Vzi ad: http://s570.photobucket.com/user/Earlybay/profile/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You'll get used to LHD in no time - Visibility is so good in a microbus. I've only done a couple hundred miles in mine so far but it feels completely natural already

 

[MisterListerSir]

Funny that, I was in the same boat but I must admit I now prefer LHD. Please don't let it put you off.

 

[BoggyB]

I'm not put off by the LHD issue anymore. I learned to drive RHD quickly enough, switching seats shouldn't be too hard...hopefully.

I'm trying to get my head around the whole import procedure right now. I can't tell if I'm meant to be paying VAT (I don't think I should be since the vans already registered within the EU, but I wouldn't like a surprise 20% addition). That and getting to Ireland to check it and getting the bus back to Sheffield.

Nothing like jumping in at the deep end when buying a classic.

 

[Lee C]

Just gan for it!!!!
Sort the finer details out later!!!!
That's what I'm doing!!!! :lol:

 

[BoggyB]

Ha! I always start out with that sort of mentality but if I go more than three days without actually going through with whatever it is I'm wanting to do I start thinking. Thinking ruins fun things.

 

[Marshy]

Go for it, not driven mine yet but I think my van is amazing and can't wait for him being on the road.

 

[BoggyB]

I'm moderately convinced I won't be paying VAT now so I think i'll be going for it.

 

[Marshy]

Great! As you practically next door you gotta let me view your purchase!

 

[Dave.P]

As the owner of a rusty Brit RHD bus and constantly looking for "the new non rusty one" I'd say if I had 10k to spare I'd be going to see mikey s bus. I love it.
I'd say go for it, before I sell mine and buy it off him :lol:
( I'm too attached to mine after 8 years now to flog him off cheap though) :roll:
The only three words that put me off a bus are "rust & end float " ,got neither of those and it shouldn't cost you much to sort out how you want it !
Good luck, take a 2nd person who knows about them to view if poss, then enjoy the shit out of it .