Your Thoughts Please...............

[Bookwus]

Hiya All,

It certainly is interesting for me, on this side of the pond, to listen in and contribute once in a while to discussions that reflect a European viewpoint. Now I may have the wrong impression about a few things (just my background here in the States) and if so, I'd appreciate your input.

Over here, the premium of the Type2 variants is the Single Cab or, even more so, the Double Cab. But judging from the ads I see (there appear to be a number of these vehicles that folks in Europe are dangling in front of US buyer's noses) they are not as highly regarded Europe. Is that an accurate impression? And for what it's worth, it seems that these Single and Double Cabs are overpriced here in the States. I'm thinking that, while many over here oooooh and awwwww over these vehicles, not many are willing to shell out the money for one. What's it like over in your territory?

And.............it seems to me that quite a few of you Brits are buying Busses out of the States. Is that because there are no (or few) busses in GB? How much are people willing to pay for an early bay in reasonable shape? I'm thinking that it's quite a bit more than I'd be willing to pay for a similar vehicle in my area (the Pacific Northwest). Around here one could purchase a relatively complete Bus, running, minor rust problems (but still a fixer-upper) for less than a 1000GBP.

I'd be interested to know how it's going over there in Jolly Old England.

 

[currylager]

I think campers are more popular in the UK because of the crap weather we have here, beats sleeping in a tent anyday :wink: . Imported busses are also popular over here because of the damp climate, most UK busses have their fair share of corrosion/filler, imports are usually more Solid, rust free and require less welding etc :wink:

 

[frag]

Hi there,i think it`s fairly safe to say that the big reason that crewcab/single cab pick ups don`t command such interest or high prices over here is simply down to the form over function aspect.
Most people buying a camper are into the scene but want something they can drive to a show and camp in/use for holidays also......
If like me you have a family/children also a pick up is a bit limited in use.

I love the look of pick ups & prefer double cabs to campers :?(always wanted one) ,but i find it hard to justify that kind of cost for something with fairly limited use.....

In answer to the reason so many buses are being shipped in from Sunnier climbs,come over on holiday & sample some of our lovely weather & you will realise why even the latest bay window built is now likely to have been recycled into dog food cans.
Coupled with our need for gritting/salt on the roads in winter,most uk buses are subject to the dreaded tin worm,it is now cheaper to buy a "rust free" import needing usually a paint/trim job than pay someone ££££££ to weld a new shell from panels.

Value is slightly affected for some people who struggle with l.h.d,but in general most imports shame our resident buses that have either been or need full resto`s....

 

[frag]

I think campers are more popular in the UK because of the crap weather we have here, beats sleeping in a tent anyday :wink: . Imported busses are also popular over here because of the damp climate, most UK busses have their fair share of corrosion/filler, imports are usually more Solid, rust free and require less welding etc :wink:

Took me an extra 13 minutes one finger typin to say what you did :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Araon]

The reasons for importing are well covered and simple to understand, the reasons for the bus over pick ups well a little more complex I suppose and one which you'll never really get a full answer to, the american love of pick ups goes back a long way no matter the make/model, here in good old blighty I suppose it wasnt so well recieved again partly due to the weather and the need to keep the goods enclosed.

From my point of view I got an import as I couldnt face another bus with more holes than panels, and I wanted the tin top as her who must be obeyed wasnt happy with a DC that and I could'nt see the dog fitting on the rear bench and he'd crap himself riding the flatbed (greyhounds really are cowardly dogs, sleep, eat, ****, little walk and back to sleep).