Used camper as a daily?
Discussion
I am currently two and a half years into a PCP on an M135i, which is a fantastic everyday car. We have a family workhorse (XC90) so do not need any more practicality. However… I have always had a thing for VW campers.
I used to take my eldest camping every year from about 3 years old. We both got a lot from our trips. He is now 17 but my youngest is coming up to 3 soon and I would love to do a similar thing for him. Thing is, I’m 44 and the thought of putting up tents in the rain and the general inconvenience of it all is putting me off. Now my 17 year old loves the BMW and I must admit, I will miss the performance but I fancy going down the camper route for my next car.
I went to this year’s mighty dubfest, I have been looking around a lad at work’s van (brand new California Ocean) and a friend’s high-end conversion, and I have caught an obsession about having a camper van. Something I can escape the stress of my job and take my little one away for adventures.
If I can get one, I plan to keep it for a long time but the thing is, I will not have a lot of budget and it would have to be my only car. I currently only do about 7,000 miles a year and plan to add three or four weekends away with maybe a break now and then to tour the Highlands, etc.
As much as I would love a Cali, I am looking at either an older one or possibly a conversion. There are a couple of places local to me who do them and they look great inside. I am not sure if that is a good idea given stories of pop tops rusting, etc.
Therefore, a few of questions for those who are more clued up…
1. Will I kill it long before I can pay it off if I start with a 5 or 6 year old van with maybe circa 50,000k on the clock? Circa £400 a month means I’ll have to extend finance over more years than I'd normally like.
2. Do others on here use one as their only car?
3. Are conversions to be avoided at all costs? (I have been looking at all the season’s leisure conversions, which are newer and look great but maybe better to go for an older proper one)
Any tips/thoughts?
Thanks
I used to take my eldest camping every year from about 3 years old. We both got a lot from our trips. He is now 17 but my youngest is coming up to 3 soon and I would love to do a similar thing for him. Thing is, I’m 44 and the thought of putting up tents in the rain and the general inconvenience of it all is putting me off. Now my 17 year old loves the BMW and I must admit, I will miss the performance but I fancy going down the camper route for my next car.
I went to this year’s mighty dubfest, I have been looking around a lad at work’s van (brand new California Ocean) and a friend’s high-end conversion, and I have caught an obsession about having a camper van. Something I can escape the stress of my job and take my little one away for adventures.
If I can get one, I plan to keep it for a long time but the thing is, I will not have a lot of budget and it would have to be my only car. I currently only do about 7,000 miles a year and plan to add three or four weekends away with maybe a break now and then to tour the Highlands, etc.
As much as I would love a Cali, I am looking at either an older one or possibly a conversion. There are a couple of places local to me who do them and they look great inside. I am not sure if that is a good idea given stories of pop tops rusting, etc.
Therefore, a few of questions for those who are more clued up…
1. Will I kill it long before I can pay it off if I start with a 5 or 6 year old van with maybe circa 50,000k on the clock? Circa £400 a month means I’ll have to extend finance over more years than I'd normally like.
2. Do others on here use one as their only car?
3. Are conversions to be avoided at all costs? (I have been looking at all the season’s leisure conversions, which are newer and look great but maybe better to go for an older proper one)
Any tips/thoughts?
Thanks
Thanks for all the comments. I did look into a motor home but I'm not sure how much use it will get and I don't want to run anything too big for normal driving. I suspect anything I do get will be used mainly for a short commute and the odd shopping trip but just having the ability to grab some beach towels and escaping for a few hours up the coast or doing a weekend in the Lakes if work is getting me down really appeals. My other half really isn't into the idea so it would be primarily for me and my youngest.
I like the idea of keeping my car and getting an older van to use on occasions to keep the costs down. I have the drive space but I'm a mechanical idiot and I'd be no good spannering to keep it on the road.
I'm toying with the idea of hiring a California for the weekend and seeing what the experience is really like (I'm not normally an outdoors person so the novelty or reality might put me off anyway!)
I like the idea of keeping my car and getting an older van to use on occasions to keep the costs down. I have the drive space but I'm a mechanical idiot and I'd be no good spannering to keep it on the road.
I'm toying with the idea of hiring a California for the weekend and seeing what the experience is really like (I'm not normally an outdoors person so the novelty or reality might put me off anyway!)
Coin Slot. said:
I've got a T6 LWB that I use daily, it's got all the silly boys toys like big wheels, spoilers, coil-overs etc.
Lovely looking thing! The company who do conversions near me have a beauty in although the price can't be far off a similar mileage/age Cali. https://www.allseasonsleisure.com/vehicle/volkswag...Twice my budget unfortunately
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