How to know what's a good price when buying your first VW Campervan?

Looks a touch pricy for me that, mines only got 105k fully insulated/carpeted, Serviced every12months, cambelt/prop shaft and haldex all done recently, heated seats, diff lock, tailgate etc and I think I’d be lucky get 15k-16k.
Add a basic fit out and pop top to it and still wouldn’t get to the 25k mark.
Saw a nice velle for 29k you could add basic camping setup to that and still be way under your 40k??
I really wouldn’t be put off getting the best base van to start with, and make it your own.
Nice colour on that t5.1 😎
 
If you have 40 grand.........i'd be looking at a camper in the 30 grand region......remember you will need to probably get the cam belt sorted out(for piece of mind) and their's loads more things that you can do to make it "yours"..........They really are money pits!
 
Stay Frosty said:
I agree with the California holding it's price the best compared to even a Westfalia badged conversion but I have to say that of the ones we met on our trip around France the owners come across as borderline smug accountants and had bought their highly "individual" camper after reading a lovely article in the Observer/Guardian... it was that or a €1 village in Umbria that needed renovating.
Not that that's necessarily a bad thing, certainly for VW it's a good thing and the California driver is out there actually using the thing but there's just that little edge where, ahem 🤫 they think they're just that little bit better as they haven't actually had to do anything to their van, it came perfect. :whistle:
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The Cali isn't perfect........The kids in the back have to get out into on coming traffic..........put me off!
 
Adding to what @paulfr says since buying our camper conversion at the start of 2019 when it was 15 months old we've managed to spend just shy of £12,000 on her.
In all fairness some of that was on bling eg wheels, just the one set of 18" Momo and two sets of coilovers, B14s then H&R when the springs broke on the Bilsteins.
The beefed up leisure electrics swallowed £2,000 but everything else has been maintenance and trips to the VW psychiatrist for therapy.
Latest this week was rear right ABS wheel sensor and two corroded brake pipes, this on a 62,000 mile camper... it's like keeping a pet cat compared to a dog as unlike the dog with a VW the lovely returned is conditional. :thumbsup: 🤕
 
Just to throw something else into the search criteria which can have a bearing on build standards is whether the converter of the camper you are considering was one of the six companies in the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Motorhome Qualification scheme. Campervans produced by these UK companies command a premium and have better residuals as they will have been built on a new van base, are whole vehicle type approved, built to standards set by VW and the NCC, and will have been registered as ‘motor caravans’ with the DVLA from new. In many regards, they are on a par with VW’s own California and have bespoke features not found in VW’s own offerings such as hot water, off-grid electrics, updated suspension, etc. It’s worth looking at Jerba, Bilbos, Hillside, Rolling Homes, CJL and Bespoke NI’s websites to get a feel for their offerings.
 
The T5.1 i'm going to see is classed as a Motor Caravan on the V5. Am I correct in thinking that's good as car speed limits apply?

Thx
 
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Stay Frosty said:
Adding to what @paulfr says since buying our camper conversion at the start of 2019 when it was 15 months old we've managed to spend just shy of £12,000 on her.
In all fairness some of that was on bling eg wheels, just the one set of 18" Momo and two sets of coilovers, B14s then H&R when the springs broke on the Bilsteins.
The beefed up leisure electrics swallowed £2,000 but everything else has been maintenance and trips to the VW psychiatrist for therapy.
Latest this week was rear right ABS wheel sensor and two corroded brake pipes, this on a 62,000 mile camper... it's like keeping a pet cat compared to a dog as unlike the dog with a VW the lovely returned is conditional. :thumbsup: 🤕
Click to expand...
Sometimes wonder if I have deep enough pockets for this.

Previous camper I owned for 4 years was a 30 year old (1993) Toyota Hiace. Never missed a beat.
 
Captain Quick said:
Just to throw something else into the search criteria which can have a bearing on build standards is whether the converter of the camper you are considering was one of the six companies in the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Motorhome Qualification scheme. Campervans produced by these UK companies command a premium and have better residuals as they will have been built on a new van base, are whole vehicle type approved, built to standards set by VW and the NCC, and will have been registered as ‘motor caravans’ with the DVLA from new. In many regards, they are on a par with VW’s own California and have bespoke features not found in VW’s own offerings such as hot water, off-grid electrics, updated suspension, etc. It’s worth looking at Jerba, Bilbos, Hillside, Rolling Homes, CJL and Bespoke NI’s websites to get a feel for their offerings.
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Thanks for that information. The company (JAS Conversions) are not on the list and for whatever reason are no longer in existence. I googled the name and there were a good few very positive reviews from a few years back on various forums.
 
parxuk said:
The T5.1 i'm going to see is classed as a Motor Caravan on the V5. Am I correct in thinking that's good as car speed limits apply?

Thx
Click to expand...
Car limits apply to all "motor caravans", as defined by con and use regulations, regardless of their taxation class.

The only minor advantage in this case is that the exemption is automatic when it comes to non-human speed enforcement systems.
 
Just returned from seeing the £40k T6. Didnt start well as the seller quickly informed me that they would not be taking any offers and expected the £40k asking price. They were lovely people and as I had driven there I continued the viewing (having not seen too many LWBs). It was a lovely quality conversion and the van was in great condition, but simply not worth the asking price so I have dismissed it.

Additionaly the van was an early T6 (so euro 5) which would be chargeable for entering the Bristol or Bath CAZs near where I live. Was classed as a van with windows, not motor caravan (not a deal breaker). But the main concern for me was no record of the DSG ever having been serviced. The van had been serviced lots, but I dont think anyone ever realised the gearbox needed and oil change. Certainly the owner seemed surprised when I told him.

Going to see the blue T5.1 tomorrow. Also not CAZ compliant but I dont have to drive through either, and for £15k less I could take the occassional £9 on the chin.
 
I remember the bewilderment of choosing our van from the dozens of options out there, and the pain of the price on the windscreen! We were (and still are) in a different place, still doing a sizeable build/renovation on the house, so the van had to be a jack of all trades for a year or two.

We now have a different idea of what we want the van to do, so for us, buying a good base van then adding exactly what we wanted has made a lot more sense.

First trip in the 'mild conversion' is planned for August, it'll be interesting to see what we've got correct - and what we come back and change!
 
cossie said:
Looks a touch pricy for me that, mines only got 105k fully insulated/carpeted, Serviced every12months, cambelt/prop shaft and haldex all done recently, heated seats, diff lock, tailgate etc and I think I’d be lucky get 15k-16k.
Add a basic fit out and pop top to it and still wouldn’t get to the 25k mark.
Saw a nice velle for 29k you could add basic camping setup to that and still be way under your 40k??
I really wouldn’t be put off getting the best base van to start with, and make it your own.
Nice colour on that t5.1 😎
Click to expand...
Sorry if you've already mentioned it (I'm a couple of Margheritas in now) but is yours DSG and LWB? I think you said it was 4 motion? The seller has already reduced it from £30k. Seem to be a lot of dreamers out there???

Out of interest do you ever take advantage of the 4 motion? I feel like I would love to have 4WD, yet my Hiace had it and in 4 years I never used it
 
parxuk said:
Sorry if you've already mentioned it (I'm a couple of Margheritas in now) but is yours DSG and LWB? I think you said it was 4 motion? The seller has already reduced it from £30k. Seem to be a lot of dreamers out there???

Out of interest do you ever take advantage of the 4 motion? I feel like I would love to have 4WD, yet my Hiace had it and in 4 years I never used it
Click to expand...
You don’t know you’re using it, it’s not a selective system. It’s “always on” and kicks in automatically as & when required. So that wet corner/muddy field/gravelly lane that you’ve just driven down without any fuss or drama, is probably due to the 4mot doing its thing in the background.
 
As @Salty Spuds has said.
I have found I’ve only used the diff lock a handful of times in 5years.
But wouldn’t be without it, especially where I live, it was useful when I used to tow the caravan, and is the reason I kept the t5.1 over the t6 kombi with all the bells and whistles. Both great at towing.
Mine is manual 140bhp with a remap so good on Juice and sits well on the motorway, I had a 102bhp before a business pack and that was also fine.
I found the 204bhp dsg t6 was thirsty and yes the auto was really nice, I wouldn’t be brothered on gearbox choice.
The ulez is another thing, it doesn’t effect me so running a euro5 is fine and the times I do go in a city I just take the hit as per of the trip.
Oh and mine is a swb,
 
Won’t budge on £40k for that… that’s a £12k “van” and not a £28k conversion…

Can I just ask the obvious question, why do you want one? Don’t get me wrong, I’ve ended up joining the club and think it’s great, I’ve got 3 young kids (4,8,10) and we have loads of adventures.
But are you literally just wanting one because everyone else has them? Reason I ask is people completely fall for a Transporter camper thinking it’s their only choice, when in reality there’s loads of options. The fact you’re jumping between a T6 and a T5 makes me wonder if you’re “just wanting a VW camper because that’s what you do ain’t it?”
It’s a lot of money and I just want you to be sure it’s for you.

Plenty of other options out there, Peugeot Boxer (Fiat Ducato/Citroen Relay) conversions give you more space and are far cheaper for instance. Or if you are wanting to keep it small, dare I say it… Transit’s actually drive better…
 
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