My New Van

Y

YellowHound

Photographer
VIP Member
T6 Legend
Thought I'd post a thread to follow the progress of my van. I'll add to it as I have something noteworthy.

A bit of background. I am a professional photographer currently specialising in animals (dogs, horses,etc) and drive aBMW 5 series saloon. My wife has a 5 series Touring and we have two labradors. Why is this relevant? - well it has driven my choice of a van. It has proved to be a pain not having two cars that can cope with both the dogs and the kit I frequently have to carry, particularly for events.

For the last few years I have cast envious glances over various Californias whilst recognising that I could not afford one. Seemed like the perfect vehicle too me - can function as a van, can be accommodation when I'm at an event or doing some location photography, can work in it, can do the day to day and can take us all away for short breaks.

Fast forward to this January and some discussions with my wife. We have some cash coming our way this year and my wife encourages me to seriously look at a more appropriate vehicle for my business (I've driven my 5 series from new but it now has an intergalactic mileage - i.e. getting on a bit!). A visit to a VW dealer sparks the realisation that a California isn't really the right vehicle - it's better to start with a van and create something bespoke to my specific needs. The starting cost is lower so it starts to look like a possibility.

So, in January I placed an order for:

VW Transporter Highline Kombi T32 SWB 150PS 6spd manual
Blackberry metallic
Comfort dash & cab carpet
Powerfold door mirrors
All weather tyres
F&R parking sensors including camera
2+1 rear seats
Additional door seals
Heated front seats
Heated washer nozzles and level indicator
Mudflaps

I think I've probably made some mistakes with the spec. but I'm told it's too late to change. For example the headlights (but nigh-on £500 for H7 bulbs as opposed to the std H4s!!) and maybe leisure electrics. I had set myself a limit of £30k after discount for the van and extras.

Why did I buy new? Well, purple is a theme in my business so the colour was important and I really wanted the EU6 engine.

I'm not expecting delivery until May.
 
Hi @YellowHound Sounds like a nice spec you have there. Maybe the lights would have been a good upgrade as i am sure you have read on here there not great, i would be insisting on a change/upgrade spec or i would cancel and reorder ;).
I have the euro 6 150ps and am very please with it so far :thumbsup:
 
Sounds like a good plan, and a reasonable spec. Even though I am team white, got to say I really like Blackberry.
I know its an expense but I think you will regret not upgrading the headlights.
 
Sounds good; welcome (eventually) to VW camper club! We've also got a BM too; great cars (mostly).
Used ours as a mobile office before; works really well.
 
Now that is a bit of a lucrative profession photographing horses & dogs but you went for the right choice with a Kombi. I have a Cali Beach and it is fine for what I want it for but if I specked one up to that similar of a Beach the cost was just as much. Good thing is you can get all the gear you have to carry around in the back. If you can go for it get the H7 headlights or LED ones if you can afford it
 
Hello and welcome :thumbsup:
I've had a variety of BMW's and Mercs but am very happy driving my Van now.
I will be even more happy when it's been converted and "The adventures of ChopVan" can commence properly....
 
Welcome @YellowHound you will not regret the choice of van but the headlamps you might! I've got LEDs on mine and they are a revelation. I thought my Q7's were awesome but these take the biscuit!

Still a great van though :)
 
Roadrunner said:
Now that is a bit of a lucrative profession photographing horses & dogs
Click to expand...

Please tell me where I'm going wrong! I started photographing professionally about 2 years ago and it's an (expectedly) long haul to becoming established and having a +ve income stream!
 
Bringing things a little more up to date.

I have been poring over various websites, magazines and forums looking for ideas and inspiration. Recognising that I simply don't have the time (or indeed the knowledge and skills) to undertake conversion work myself one of my main objectives was to decided on who to trust.

With a career mostly spent in and around aerospace and a 'do it once, do it right' mindset quality of work was more important to me than price. I wanted a company that showed almost OCD levels of attention to detail and a passion for creating innovative practical solutions. With no prior experience of van ownership or use, and a need to get something bespoke tailored to my needs, I also wanted a company that could provide plenty of experience-based advice.

I first heard about Slidepods on this forum and from what I could see the company felt like it could be the one for me. Last week my wife and I went down to visit Jonny and his team to talk through our needs and get a feel for the company and its way of doing things. Jonny was very generous with his time and talked through plenty of options and ideas. We also got to look around the workshop and see his innovative Slidepods in production. Jonny's attention to detail and thoroughness impressed us both. Driving away from the workshop I was pretty much sold on placing the conversion work with Jonny there and then.

So, after visiting another company this week I have made my decision to have Slidepods create my multi purpose van.

I would love to get all of the work done at the same time but largely out of financial necessity, and a desire to let some of our own experience living with the van shape its future form, have decided on a 2 phase approach. Phase 1 will give me a useable van, able to fulfil its duties but in no way 'optimised'. Phase 1 will be an SCA 194 roof, full thermal and acoustic insulation, full lining, a very comprehensive electrics system to see my work needs, swivel seat bases, additional and upgraded loudspeakers, curtains, and tables.

Phase 2 will be floor rails and bed (possibly Caravelle items), quite possibly a Slidepod, heating and perhaps some bespoke storage.

The work is due to start in May with the fitting of the SCA roof but is unlikely to complete before early August due to the existing conversion bookings that Jonny has. The plan is for me to have the van back following the roof fitment do I can meet work commitments and then deliver it back in July.

Have to say I'm starting to get excited about the new van!
 
StudleyGlass said:
Hi @YellowHound Sounds like a nice spec you have there. Maybe the lights would have been a good upgrade as i am sure you have read on here there not great, i would be insisting on a change/upgrade spec or i would cancel and reorder ;).
I have the euro 6 150ps and am very please with it so far :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Cheaper to buy a pair of H7 headlights from the Forum shop than pay the upgrade price from VW than mess about with my order.
 
We (probably more like I actually) went through a similar process to you @YellowHound last year. Decision was made and deposit put down 11 weeks ago and time has passed slowly....

Only another 6 weeks to go...
 
YellowHound said:
Bringing things a little more up to date.

I have been poring over various websites, magazines and forums looking for ideas and inspiration. Recognising that I simply don't have the time (or indeed the knowledge and skills) to undertake conversion work myself one of my main objectives was to decided on who to trust.

With a career mostly spent in and around aerospace and a 'do it once, do it right' mindset quality of work was more important to me than price. I wanted a company that showed almost OCD levels of attention to detail and a passion for creating innovative practical solutions. With no prior experience of van ownership or use, and a need to get something bespoke tailored to my needs, I also wanted a company that could provide plenty of experience-based advice.

I first heard about Slidepods on this forum and from what I could see the company felt like it could be the one for me. Last week my wife and I went down to visit Jonny and his team to talk through our needs and get a feel for the company and its way of doing things. Jonny was very generous with his time and talked through plenty of options and ideas. We also got to look around the workshop and see his innovative Slidepods in production. Jonny's attention to detail and thoroughness impressed us both. Driving away from the workshop I was pretty much sold on placing the conversion work with Jonny there and then.

So, after visiting another company this week I have made my decision to have Slidepods create my multi purpose van.

I would love to get all of the work done at the same time but largely out of financial necessity, and a desire to let some of our own experience living with the van shape its future form, have decided on a 2 phase approach. Phase 1 will give me a useable van, able to fulfil its duties but in no way 'optimised'. Phase 1 will be an SCA 194 roof, full thermal and acoustic insulation, full lining, a very comprehensive electrics system to see my work needs, swivel seat bases, additional and upgraded loudspeakers, curtains, and tables.

Phase 2 will be floor rails and bed (possibly Caravelle items), quite possibly a Slidepod, heating and perhaps some bespoke storage.

The work is due to start in May with the fitting of the SCA roof but is unlikely to complete before early August due to the existing conversion bookings that Jonny has. The plan is for me to have the van back following the roof fitment do I can meet work commitments and then deliver it back in July.

Have to say I'm starting to get excited about the new van!
Click to expand...

Sounds good. With your background, how about folding wings for your van?
That would be fairly unique :cool:
 
I'm currently undergoing a conversion with slidepods in 4 phases.
Phase 3 is next, I'm waiting on material samples so I can choose the upholstery on the rib bed.
 
So today has been a bit of an up & downer.

The down started with the receipt of a very polite and apologetic letter from HNV (with deposit cheque attached) informing me that VW has stepped up its broker purge and my order had become a casualty.
Disappointed but not massively surprised given recent events and conversations.
I feel no blame on HNV and I would consider using a broker again in the future.

So, as of lunchtime I'm orderless - almost 13 weeks to the day from placement of order.
What are my options? - buy secondhand, look for a stock van or place another new order.

As I have a booking with Slidepods for May 15th out of courtesy I call Jonny first, who suggests a couple of contacts to call. Slidepods were due to fit an SCA roof as job one and I was concerned that the roof had already been painted blackberry, locking me into that colour. Given that blackberry is no longer available this would limit my options. Good news - roof not yet painted leaving my options open.

A quick search on the VW used van locator threw up a couple of blackberry vans at Listers Worcester with only nominal mileage. But they are both 204s and rather more than I want to pay.

Next I call one of Jonny's contacts and talk him through my requirement. I'd really like blackberry - I love the colour and purple is one of my business colours so I didn't really want to lose it.
I leave him my details and wait.

Possible result - he's located a blackberry Kombi Highline, 150, manual, SWB. It's new and unregistered and available from stock. It's a bit light on options but the price is doable, albeit rather more than my HNV order for a lower spec van. Crucially it has the 2+1 rear bench and single front passenger seat. Negatives? Well, no heated seats, comfort dash, rear view camera or any of the other items I originally ordered. But it's available, it's the right colour and it's not totally devoid of options (power latching tailgate, folding mirrors, LED tail lamps).

I think it over for a while, decided it's close enough and then decide to commit to it. Deal done.
 
Well played, way to go sorting out that pickle. Also, rear view camera can be retrofitted, as can heated seats, and if you're really brave you can alter your dash to accept the comfort dash pieces.
 
I finally had my new van delivered to me around lunchtime on Wednesday - yay!
Although I was forming the opinion that someone somewhere did not want me to have my van.....
The van was supposed to be delivered Tuesday morning but, and to cut a long & boring story very short, I didn't get it as the delivery driver spotted a significant dent and paint damage.
Fortunately the supplying dealer had an identical van in stock - well identical save for the dent - and swapped me into that one.

Initial impressions? Well, the pre-delivery prep was clearly rushed (don't think they bothered with the roof and the tyre pressures weren't even close) but no damage. Despite the damage to the 'original' van everybody reacted with my best interests at heart to sort it out. Special thanks must go to Mark Aston at Leasewell in Bridgend who kept ownership of the delivery process right through. He was recommended to me by Jonny at Slidepods when my order was cancelled. Very pleased I spoke to him and would wholeheartedly endorse him and his business.

I've done very few miles in it thus far. In no particular order it has been washed, waxed, and had a few bits & pieces fitted (Climair wind deflectors, World of Carbon bumper protector, Van Style grille trims).

Oh, and only the one pic: IMG_1870.JPG
 
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