Anyone selling or sold their campervan?

Anyone selling or sold their campervan?

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troika

Original Poster:

2,021 posts

165 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
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Anyone selling or sold recently? What was your experience? Asking prices seem stratospheric and they seem to be shifting. I’m tempted to sell the California.

SS2.

14,601 posts

252 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
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We ran a 2010 T5 camper for a couple of years.

Put it up for sale last Autumn and we were inundated with calls & messages.

Sold it full asking to the first guy who came to see it.

It's further increased in value now, no doubt.

Trevor555

4,692 posts

98 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
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troika said:
Anyone selling or sold recently? What was your experience? Asking prices seem stratospheric and they seem to be shifting. I’m tempted to sell the California.
Give VW dealer a call and enquire about a new one.

I suspect they'll tell you about long waiting times.

If that is indeed the case your Cali might be going up in value whilst they have supply problems for new ones?

The trick will be knowing when to cash out.

troika

Original Poster:

2,021 posts

165 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all
SS2. said:
We ran a 2010 T5 camper for a couple of years.

Put it up for sale last Autumn and we were inundated with calls & messages.

Sold it full asking to the first guy who came to see it.

It's further increased in value now, no doubt.
Mine’s an early T5 California (2009). Even that age they seemed to have jumped £5K in the last couple of months.

troika

Original Poster:

2,021 posts

165 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all
Trevor555 said:
Give VW dealer a call and enquire about a new one.

I suspect they'll tell you about long waiting times.

If that is indeed the case your Cali might be going up in value whilst they have supply problems for new ones?

The trick will be knowing when to cash out.
Yep, you’re looking at 9 - 12 months. Mine is 12 years old so not the same market but the prices have been pulled right up.

austinsmirk

5,597 posts

137 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
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Can’t speak for motorhomes but I’ve been watching prices on campers for a while and they’ve gone bonkers. Just search Vw campers on autotrader and it’s insane as to values and to be honest what junk is out there. Ditto look at Vw caravelles or kombis given they’re a popular base to convert

Having said that I’ve just bought a Vw from a local dealer, deciding value, spec etc was actually a really decent deal. They honestly have stock flying out of the door: I cannot believe the demand and just how many customers were turning up

I suspect like many, the reality is abroad holidays are realistically a waste of time, expensive and fraught with difficulties

robuk

2,506 posts

204 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
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Topical - be careful https://north.wales/news/police-issue-warning-over...

Deposits paid... no camper!

troika

Original Poster:

2,021 posts

165 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all
austinsmirk said:
Can’t speak for motorhomes but I’ve been watching prices on campers for a while and they’ve gone bonkers. Just search Vw campers on autotrader and it’s insane as to values and to be honest what junk is out there. Ditto look at Vw caravelles or kombis given they’re a popular base to convert

Having said that I’ve just bought a Vw from a local dealer, deciding value, spec etc was actually a really decent deal. They honestly have stock flying out of the door: I cannot believe the demand and just how many customers were turning up

I suspect like many, the reality is abroad holidays are realistically a waste of time, expensive and fraught with difficulties
You’re right, there is some real dross out there for insane money. Lots of people must have absolutely no idea what they are buying.

LincolnLovin

2,971 posts

232 months

Thursday 24th June 2021
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I've just put a deposit down on one, in full knowledge that it was at the top of the market. I've skipped the transporter/bongo class of vehicles as they are crazy priced for the condition (and lots of dodgy conversions as well) and gone for a Westfalia Transit based Nugget.

The theory is there will be a glut of smaller camper vans on the market next year and those that have got the bug may want to upgrade to a slightly larger one - regardless we will be aiming to keep it for 5-10 years for holidays with the kids.

Trevor555

4,692 posts

98 months

Thursday 24th June 2021
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LincolnLovin said:
The theory is there will be a glut of smaller camper vans on the market next year
I've been thinking this for a few years.

Once enough have been built/sold for there to be plenty of used ones available the prices will eventually come down.

It was the same with the Jap imports in the 90's, strong prices for fresh imports, the dealers made very good, easy, money.

Eventually there was enough used examples coming up that it affected the profit margins for the fresh imports.

But at the moment, silly prices that seem to just be heading skywards.

A friend of mine recently got 10k for a knackered old Bongo!!!!

A few years ago he'd have got 3k..

troika

Original Poster:

2,021 posts

165 months

Thursday 24th June 2021
quotequote all
LincolnLovin said:
I've just put a deposit down on one, in full knowledge that it was at the top of the market. I've skipped the transporter/bongo class of vehicles as they are crazy priced for the condition (and lots of dodgy conversions as well) and gone for a Westfalia Transit based Nugget.

The theory is there will be a glut of smaller camper vans on the market next year and those that have got the bug may want to upgrade to a slightly larger one - regardless we will be aiming to keep it for 5-10 years for holidays with the kids.
There will also be plenty who have a really unenjoyable camping experience and bail. Can’t really go wrong with a Westfalia. Does the Nugget have a loo / shower?

Yes, there are some truly awful conversions out there, I’m amazed people buy them at such daft prices. That’s the thing with a California (and Westfalia), people know exactly what they’re buying.

LincolnLovin

2,971 posts

232 months

Thursday 24th June 2021
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It comes with a porta potti thing, as its the SWB it doesn't have the fixed loo/shower.

I hope its the right decision as it was a decent chunk of change (but not as expensive as a new Ford Nugget), and as its my first camper (and first diesel) I don't want to have bought a pup. It does come with a 6 month warranty at least.

troika

Original Poster:

2,021 posts

165 months

Thursday 24th June 2021
quotequote all
LincolnLovin said:
It comes with a porta potti thing, as its the SWB it doesn't have the fixed loo/shower.

I hope its the right decision as it was a decent chunk of change (but not as expensive as a new Ford Nugget), and as its my first camper (and first diesel) I don't want to have bought a pup. It does come with a 6 month warranty at least.
Just enjoy it! A quality build such as Westfalia will always be sought after. It’s not like Fred in the shed chopping the roof off a knackered transporter, throwing in some dodgy cupboards and charging you a £20K uplift.

Dan_The_Man

1,119 posts

253 months

Thursday 24th June 2021
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Last few weeks we have had a few people knock on our door asking if we would sell ours (parked on the drive) so the market is clearly bonkers as they say they can't get a sensibly priced one anywhere.

LincolnLovin

2,971 posts

232 months

Thursday 24th June 2021
quotequote all
troika said:
Just enjoy it! A quality build such as Westfalia will always be sought after. It’s not like Fred in the shed chopping the roof off a knackered transporter, throwing in some dodgy cupboards and charging you a £20K uplift.
That was the thinking, currently I am in the "buyers have I made the right choice stress phase of purchasing", I am sure it will be good but it doesn't stop the worries.

troika

Original Poster:

2,021 posts

165 months

Friday 25th June 2021
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Dan_The_Man said:
Last few weeks we have had a few people knock on our door asking if we would sell ours (parked on the drive) so the market is clearly bonkers as they say they can't get a sensibly priced one anywhere.
Everything is for sale if the price is right!

Trevor555

4,692 posts

98 months

Friday 25th June 2021
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troika said:
Everything is for sale if the price is right!
Didn't someone say that to John Wick?

troika

Original Poster:

2,021 posts

165 months

Saturday 26th June 2021
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Trevor555 said:
troika said:
Everything is for sale if the price is right!
Didn't someone say that to John Wick?
Indeed! I’m now toying with selling now and placing an order for a new one. Long wait but to be honest, not too bothered about missing out on rammed campsites this summer and would prefer to do European trips once allowed.

Trevor555

4,692 posts

98 months

Saturday 26th June 2021
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troika said:
Trevor555 said:
troika said:
Everything is for sale if the price is right!
Didn't someone say that to John Wick?
Indeed! I’m now toying with selling now and placing an order for a new one. Long wait but to be honest, not too bothered about missing out on rammed campsites this summer and would prefer to do European trips once allowed.
If I owned a decent 2009 model I'd keep it.

Yes the newer T6's drive very well, and have far more "carlike" kit on them,

But....

They do have their problems, and often have to go to the main stealers to get sorted.

Just this last month I've encountered three Ad blue faults with new vehicles.

Last year it was battery faults, and rough running for the first mile or so.

Many VW dealers are booking two/three weeks ahead for workshop time.

The firm I move these motors about for also has an 11 plate T5 workhorse which is about to turn 200k, and it's been a very faithful van for the few years I've been using it.

Modern tech also means modern repair bills.

I wouldn't want to own one of these new T6's once it's gone out of VW warranty.

Sorry to come across a bit negative there, but some of these new T6's have been a headache, and dealing with the VW dealers more of a headache.

Pretty much anything that goes wrong with your 2009 can be sorted by a friendly, local, workshop who has VAGcom (think that's what it's called) or a decent scanner.

What I'd be thinking about now for your 2009 would be underside protection from our winter, salty, roads.

troika

Original Poster:

2,021 posts

165 months

Saturday 26th June 2021
quotequote all
Trevor555 said:
If I owned a decent 2009 model I'd keep it.

Yes the newer T6's drive very well, and have far more "carlike" kit on them,

But....

They do have their problems, and often have to go to the main stealers to get sorted.

Just this last month I've encountered three Ad blue faults with new vehicles.

Last year it was battery faults, and rough running for the first mile or so.

Many VW dealers are booking two/three weeks ahead for workshop time.

The firm I move these motors about for also has an 11 plate T5 workhorse which is about to turn 200k, and it's been a very faithful van for the few years I've been using it.

Modern tech also means modern repair bills.

I wouldn't want to own one of these new T6's once it's gone out of VW warranty.

Sorry to come across a bit negative there, but some of these new T6's have been a headache, and dealing with the VW dealers more of a headache.

Pretty much anything that goes wrong with your 2009 can be sorted by a friendly, local, workshop who has VAGcom (think that's what it's called) or a decent scanner.

What I'd be thinking about now for your 2009 would be underside protection from our winter, salty, roads.
Thanks for your insight, I know what you mean. Mine is very clean and I have a brilliant ex army mechanic who looks after it (he’s just done a full service). He said mechanically it’s more like a 40K mile van than nearly 3 times that! The 5 cylinder 2.5 pulls like a train with the 6 speed box. Will a T6 be as good as this when it’s older?! Unlikely I think. Aaaaargh!