Just about to pull the preverbal trigger and spend the family savings on a long wanted T6 2014, and just wished to get some reassurance for the purchase. As with most of you, I’m sure....I have been scouring the ads for the right van. It’s a T6 conversion, (no pop top yet) , the standard fit out, sink, fridge, cooker, rock roll bed and leisure battery etc......very clean and tidy. A 2016 plate, had the mass fly wheel done at 76k, full service history with 90 k on the clock, private sale not vat, and is wanting 24k, of our very hard earned, sound ok ?
Having a mechanic check it all over before committing / paying, but am in desperate need of or a . Thankyou guys & gals, hoping to join you all soon
Fully agree with what others have said.
Firstly.... slow down... dont let the excitement overtake your rational thinking - this in my experience is the biggest mistake buyers make, they get all excited and just throw money at a van that looks good.
Think in terms of what's right for you - If the bed/seats aren't crash tested and made by a reputable company, and you're going to put your kids in them?
Would you put your kids in seats that weren't crash tested?
Secondly,
I don't support the theory that if the conversion was done privately its not as good as a trader, I could name plenty of traders I know/have met over the years who's work is absolute shite, rushed and quality at the lowest cost/highest profit - but because its shiny and people are excited they buy, and I know a number of excellent one man bands who's work is thorough and of a very high standard - to draw that comparison is just snobbery on the part of people who pay others to do the work because they can't do it themselves.
Interior fit out is largely irrelevant - its all the same lightweight ply or MDF, however much you pay for it - camper interiors are all much of a much, usually when I have a customers van in for a some work, I can tell you what the interior looks like before the door opens, colours vary, quality and fit out are largely the same.
Have you considered the option of sourcing a van and having the fit out done to your own satisfaction by someone you've been to speak to? to a spec that suits your families needs.
You can always add to a conversion as you go along - a lot of the time people will tell me they want this and that fitted, because everyone else has got it/is talking about it... only to find its completely unsuitable for their needs.
Finally, it doesn't matter how great the van looks, you're only concern should be is it mechanically sound - I can assure you a replacement engine, gearbox or a frazzled electrical system will soon make the laminated ply took pretty useless.
And something else to consider - where are you going camping at the moment?
Relax....get your checks done.... do your research.
Its amazing how many people on this forum buy a van without a single scrap of knowledge on how to maintain/ repair it.
VW are great, but believe me, they are not indestructable. And even as a builder, I've had to ask about things I've never come across before on the mechanical side, despite 20 odd years in classic vans and classic minis.
If your vehicle is out of warranty... are you prepared to maintain it? can you afford to repair it?
