Dipping my toe in to Campervan life with a Westfalia Nugget
Discussion
I've never been a massive fan of camping, driving somewhere to build your own home to sleep in has never really appealed. However with a growing family and a deep desire for "simple/low stress holidays" (we'll see if that is the case), has begun to change my mind.
So in typical PH fashion I've gone in at the deep end and bought a 2002 Westfalia Nugget 2 liter diesel, the logic for the purchase (such that it is) of a high top camper is that pop tops have a fixed shelf life if you have two growing children. This means the downsides (height restrictions) are out done by the positives (space and capability to have 4 adults in the camper).
It was one owner with 50k miles in good condition, albeit with some things I want sorted before I collect it, so hopefully it will be ready by the end of July.
I hope that this will be a good idea, time will tell....
So in typical PH fashion I've gone in at the deep end and bought a 2002 Westfalia Nugget 2 liter diesel, the logic for the purchase (such that it is) of a high top camper is that pop tops have a fixed shelf life if you have two growing children. This means the downsides (height restrictions) are out done by the positives (space and capability to have 4 adults in the camper).
It was one owner with 50k miles in good condition, albeit with some things I want sorted before I collect it, so hopefully it will be ready by the end of July.
I hope that this will be a good idea, time will tell....
this one?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384159947563?hash=item5...
T125 will really help, my 68bhp T4 is rather stately and struggles a bit on bigger hills
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384159947563?hash=item5...
T125 will really help, my 68bhp T4 is rather stately and struggles a bit on bigger hills
andburg said:
this one?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384159947563?hash=item5...
T125 will really help, my 68bhp T4 is rather stately and struggles a bit on bigger hills
Yes that be the sexy beast.https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384159947563?hash=item5...
T125 will really help, my 68bhp T4 is rather stately and struggles a bit on bigger hills
LincolnLovin said:
TBH we don't use drive throughs all that much, even in standard cars - so that had not even crossed my mind.
We do during covid, drive through and then sit in the back. The rings for cooking are pointless as I don’t want the whole van to smell.
Get one some forums, go to some rallies and pick up tips.
Soft airline second carryon luggage is brilliant for packing with.
Where is the first trip?
We've been looking at possible replacements for "Charlie" our T5 that we have had for 5 years. Prices are quite frankly daft at the moment, we have been offered just £5k less than he cost us 5 years ago!!!!!
Edited by CallMeLegend on Tuesday 29th June 13:15
Edited by CallMeLegend on Tuesday 29th June 13:15
With a young family we'd have to use the facilities anyway.
As for first trips it depends on when I pick it up, I may have to take a half day off work and get there in the late afternoon. This means I could try and do a night halt experiment on the way back from Portsmouth to Essex.
If I manage to get back same day I'll do an overnight on the driveway 2020 lockdown style, then we'll pop to a local campervan club site as an dry run. If all passes muster its on to Somerset for a festival wedding!
As for first trips it depends on when I pick it up, I may have to take a half day off work and get there in the late afternoon. This means I could try and do a night halt experiment on the way back from Portsmouth to Essex.
If I manage to get back same day I'll do an overnight on the driveway 2020 lockdown style, then we'll pop to a local campervan club site as an dry run. If all passes muster its on to Somerset for a festival wedding!
CallMeLegend said:
We've been looking at possible replacements for "Charlie" our T5 that we have had for 5 years. Prices are quite frankly daft at the moment, we have been offered just £5k less than he cost us 5 years ago!!!!!
The market is bananas, there are so many poorly converted vans flooding the market at the moment. Its my hope that going for the Nugget is a better 5 year plan than a smaller vehicle. I have no doubt that in saner times this vehicle would be 5-10k cheaper, but we are where we are. Edited by CallMeLegend on Tuesday 29th June 13:15
Edited by CallMeLegend on Tuesday 29th June 13:15
LincolnLovin said:
CallMeLegend said:
We've been looking at possible replacements for "Charlie" our T5 that we have had for 5 years. Prices are quite frankly daft at the moment, we have been offered just £5k less than he cost us 5 years ago!!!!!
The market is bananas, there are so many poorly converted vans flooding the market at the moment. Its my hope that going for the Nugget is a better 5 year plan than a smaller vehicle. I have no doubt that in saner times this vehicle would be 5-10k cheaper, but we are where we are. Edited by CallMeLegend on Tuesday 29th June 13:15
Edited by CallMeLegend on Tuesday 29th June 13:15
The Westfalia stuff is really well made too.
I found Advance Insurance to be the best cover, very competative & could not be more helpful. https://advanceinsurance.co.uk/
Every year I shop around, every year I end up staying with them.
Every year I shop around, every year I end up staying with them.
As mentioned there are a few, items that are being sorted before collection:
Replace - Cracked heated windscreen
Replace - Non functional Diesel space heater
Replace - Refrigerator non functional (compressor not switching on)
Repair - Rust at sill area
Repair - Slight rust at tailgate hinge area
Replace - Noisy Wheel bearing
Replace - Damaged Fly net
Replace - Leisure battery unable to power electrics
Refurbish - Bumper plastics
Refurbish - Wheels
Investigate - Small damp mark on headlining
Investigate - Water and gas was not able to be tested
It will come with gas & habitation certs as well.
Which is quite a list, in retrospect!
Replace - Cracked heated windscreen
Replace - Non functional Diesel space heater
Replace - Refrigerator non functional (compressor not switching on)
Repair - Rust at sill area
Repair - Slight rust at tailgate hinge area
Replace - Noisy Wheel bearing
Replace - Damaged Fly net
Replace - Leisure battery unable to power electrics
Refurbish - Bumper plastics
Refurbish - Wheels
Investigate - Small damp mark on headlining
Investigate - Water and gas was not able to be tested
It will come with gas & habitation certs as well.
Which is quite a list, in retrospect!
LincolnLovin said:
As mentioned there are a few, items that are being sorted before collection:
Replace - Cracked heated windscreen
Replace - Non functional Diesel space heater
Replace - Refrigerator non functional (compressor not switching on)
Repair - Rust at sill area
Repair - Slight rust at tailgate hinge area
Replace - Noisy Wheel bearing
Replace - Damaged Fly net
Replace - Leisure battery unable to power electrics
Refurbish - Bumper plastics
Refurbish - Wheels
Investigate - Small damp mark on headlining
Investigate - Water and gas was not able to be tested
It will come with gas & habitation certs as well.
Which is quite a list, in retrospect!
That's quite a list.Replace - Cracked heated windscreen
Replace - Non functional Diesel space heater
Replace - Refrigerator non functional (compressor not switching on)
Repair - Rust at sill area
Repair - Slight rust at tailgate hinge area
Replace - Noisy Wheel bearing
Replace - Damaged Fly net
Replace - Leisure battery unable to power electrics
Refurbish - Bumper plastics
Refurbish - Wheels
Investigate - Small damp mark on headlining
Investigate - Water and gas was not able to be tested
It will come with gas & habitation certs as well.
Which is quite a list, in retrospect!
Have you asked the dealer if it was a hire vehicle beforehand?
How are they going to deal with the rust?
If all they do is a quick rub down and paint, it'll be rusty again next year.
Sorry to be negative, but in my experience of vehicles like these the owners usually look after them better than that, and have faults rectified as they appear.
And from their advert ""Please Note Some of the bed photographs are examples, and not this actual vehicle.""
Why? That's worrying.
Have you seen this vehicle in the flesh yet?
Edited by Trevor555 on Tuesday 29th June 14:50
I’ve seen the vehicle in the flesh, which is why I picked up the issues. It hasn’t been rented as far as I can tell.
Ive asked for photos of the repair work to confirm the bits get done properly. If they can’t supply them I’ll walk away.
The pics just added in some stock photos whilst they were awaiting arrival afaik.
Ive asked for photos of the repair work to confirm the bits get done properly. If they can’t supply them I’ll walk away.
The pics just added in some stock photos whilst they were awaiting arrival afaik.
Edited by LincolnLovin on Tuesday 29th June 14:58
LincolnLovin said:
I’ve seen the vehicle in the flesh, which is why I picked up the issues. It hasn’t been rented as far as I can tell.
Ive asked for photos of the repair work to confirm the bits get done properly. If they can’t supply them I’ll walk away.
The pics just added in some stock photos whilst they were awaiting arrival afaik.
Good to hear, sounds like you're treading carefully.Ive asked for photos of the repair work to confirm the bits get done properly. If they can’t supply them I’ll walk away.
The pics just added in some stock photos whilst they were awaiting arrival afaik.
Edited by LincolnLovin on Tuesday 29th June 14:58
Ex hire vehicles would usually be in full working order, but I'd still be asking the dealer.
If they can get all those repairs done you'll have a nice vehicle there.
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