Looking at a van
- Thread starter Snoopy11
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dazza1975
Well-known member
whats your budget???
If it's a RHD UK camper then the main thing to watch out for is rot. Watch out for repairs that may cover dodgy work.
Your best bet is a South African or Australian import, but there are well restored or good OG UK one about. Most RHD in good condition carry a higher premium than LHD buses.
Your best bet is a South African or Australian import, but there are well restored or good OG UK one about. Most RHD in good condition carry a higher premium than LHD buses.
Avoid vans with fresh underseal all over the bottom. If I had a good one to sell I'd show it first, then underseal it for the purchaser, or let them do it. There's only one reason - cover up the rust - unless you have RECENT rennovation pictures avoid.
Look everywhere it's hard to look - look whether the doors shut flush and the gaps around are even. Catch the light down the side and see how straight the panels are. Check all the seams go right to the bottom.
It's a dodge to cover crusty lower 3" with stone chip then paint. Best to avoid.
If it's empty "blank canvas" put aside £2k or more to fill it up. A set of quality interior panels alone could cost you £6-800.
Look along the gutters - they should be straight - they often dip at the front for the length of the cab door - this is a sign of bad workmanship at some point - again avoid - the cab doors won't fit well.
There are lots of buyers guides if you search the forums.
Look everywhere it's hard to look - look whether the doors shut flush and the gaps around are even. Catch the light down the side and see how straight the panels are. Check all the seams go right to the bottom.
It's a dodge to cover crusty lower 3" with stone chip then paint. Best to avoid.
If it's empty "blank canvas" put aside £2k or more to fill it up. A set of quality interior panels alone could cost you £6-800.
Look along the gutters - they should be straight - they often dip at the front for the length of the cab door - this is a sign of bad workmanship at some point - again avoid - the cab doors won't fit well.
There are lots of buyers guides if you search the forums.
The best thing you can do is take someone who knows what they are looking at with you, maybe find your local vw club or maybe a kind soul on here who is local can help, its a massive mine field buying a bus and no small investment, buying a bad one will cost you ALOT
Pete
Pete
Shorty
Well-known member
petegee56 said:
And make sure it is someone who will give you a fully honest opinion.... Don't take a friend who will tell you what you want to hear!!!
And what town is you in ?????
Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,, :mrgreen:
Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,, :mrgreen:
You could take `me' and we`d buy all of them :lol:
Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,, Bit of a sucker for the busses :mrgreen:
Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,, Bit of a sucker for the busses :mrgreen:
pauldee
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My absolute number one piece of advice when looking to buy a bus:
Make sure you know what you're doing, and if you don't know what you're doing, take someone with you that does.
There's bound to be a VW specialist who will accompany you for about £50, and failing that there's the AA who do classic car (not VW specific) inspections. £50 is a very small amount of money to shell out compared what you could lose if the scammers see you coming. And they will see you coming if you're not armed with knowledge or an accompanying expert.
It's very easy to fool an inexperienced person with some filler and some shiny paint. I know this from bitter experience.
Make sure you know what you're doing, and if you don't know what you're doing, take someone with you that does.
There's bound to be a VW specialist who will accompany you for about £50, and failing that there's the AA who do classic car (not VW specific) inspections. £50 is a very small amount of money to shell out compared what you could lose if the scammers see you coming. And they will see you coming if you're not armed with knowledge or an accompanying expert.
It's very easy to fool an inexperienced person with some filler and some shiny paint. I know this from bitter experience.
jacks906
Well-known member
you could go and look at one that needs lots of work doing to see were there bad bits are, just go and view as tho your a potential buyer, or be honest if there a true dubber they'd help you out
also dont rush to buy the first one you see
if your near me/find one near me give us a shout an will come have a look round
also dont rush to buy the first one you see
if your near me/find one near me give us a shout an will come have a look round
Quite a decent guide here...
http://www.vwcamperguide.com/html/bay_window_buyers_guide.html
Saying that I picked mine up about 10 days ago, never had one before, no contacts who could help, never set eyes on it, went by the advert and got the train down as a complete novice
It got home ok anyway! Also had 2 weekend trips in her so far
The advert was a good one though, but think the videos of the bus actually driving on the day of the advert helped. At least I knew it went... :?
Must be the most detailed selling pitch I had seen
http://www.crocodileproductions.co.uk/tillie/description.html
She is booked in for a service and a good look over next week though, have found a contact local who works on the buses...yayyyyyy!
http://www.vwcamperguide.com/html/bay_window_buyers_guide.html
Saying that I picked mine up about 10 days ago, never had one before, no contacts who could help, never set eyes on it, went by the advert and got the train down as a complete novice
It got home ok anyway! Also had 2 weekend trips in her so far
The advert was a good one though, but think the videos of the bus actually driving on the day of the advert helped. At least I knew it went... :?
Must be the most detailed selling pitch I had seen
http://www.crocodileproductions.co.uk/tillie/description.html
She is booked in for a service and a good look over next week though, have found a contact local who works on the buses...yayyyyyy!
Sydney1
Well-known member
Blimey. Don't know what you paid for that but looks a good en. Seller was a bit of a character too.
Sydney1 said:
Originally I thought I would be getting a lovely shiny bus for about 6k....
Started looking and found I could get half way to what I wanted for that but would have to spend a few thousand on top to do interior etc
Bit of negotiation and we agreed on £10900 which I was happy with as she was pretty much everything i wanted :?
You are going to tell me its not worth it now aren't you
Seller is a lovely bloke and still happily answers my thicko questions!
Graham L
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Snoopy11 said:
Not sure where you are in the country but happy to offer FREE advice on a potential purchase or if its close enough to me me happy to go and have a look, I've seen most bodges so know what to look for :lol: :lol: :lol:
As above avoid fresh underseal and make sure all the panel join lines are there and not covered in filler as I've seen all too often, the only reason for doing this is to hide bad repairs that have been done in the past,
dubscum
Well-known member
you won't go wrong with this lot, there like extended helpful, kind and very knowledgeable family with drink problems all my help and advise and parts (sometimes free :shock: ) are from these lot
Don't be fooled by shiny paint. When I sold the bang bus I pointed out all the rust, I also sold it about £2k then I could off and explained it would need new arch's and a valance soon. This put the first buyer off and I know the shiney bus he bought for more was worse.
all my help and advise and parts (sometimes free :shock: ) are from these lot Don't be fooled by shiny paint. When I sold the bang bus I pointed out all the rust, I also sold it about £2k then I could off and explained it would need new arch's and a valance soon. This put the first buyer off and I know the shiney bus he bought for more was worse.
