Campervan

kg1448

Hi all!

Is it a crazy idea to consider buying a VW diesel campervan now? The cost is about £16,000. We have been looking to buy a campervan for several years now. Diesel vans in general are more reliable and cost effective for fuel. Our budget will not stretch to buying a newer less polluting engine anyway, so the choice is between an older diesel or older petrol van (the newest we can afford is about 2004).

What do people think?

Thanks in advance for sharing your wisdom!

onomatopoeia99

Only problem you are likely to face is charges for taking it into some cities, so from next year central London might become a no-go area with the expansion of the ULEZ.

Other than that, VW vans hold their value in a way that those of no other manufacturer do, and if you buy a T25/T3 it's likely to go up in value - though at that age I guess you're looking at a T4 or T5.

jk0

A petrol camper will have you weeping on the forecourt at the cost of filling it, so go for diesel IIWY.

AdrianC

jk0 wrote: »

A petrol camper will have you weeping on the forecourt at the cost of filling it, so go for diesel IIWY.

OTOH, a camper is likely to do a very low annual mileage, so the marginal difference in fuel is going to be negligible.


More of an issue is going to be finding a petrol T5...

sevenhills

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

Only problem you are likely to face is charges for taking it into some cities, so from next year central London might become a no-go area with the expansion of the ULEZ.

The OP is thinking about spending more than £15,000; how many times is he likely to incur these types of charges?


I am thinking he will be visiting coastal resorts.

kg1448

Thanks all!

We actually LIVE WITHIN the London ULEZ - so would probably look to keep it for a couple of years until October 2021 when we would incur a charge of about £100 just to drive out of the driveway - unless we move house or store it elsewhere!

This is one of the reasons we have deliberated for so long about buying a campervan. But would need an enormous budget to buy a van that complies with the ULEZ rules!!

Thanks again for all your advice!

AdrianC

Have you considered if it'll make more sense to just rent one when you need it?
Or to pay for storage outside London?

jk0

AdrianC wrote: »

Have you considered if it'll make more sense to just rent one when you need it?
Or to pay for storage outside London?

That's a good idea. Have you got some relatives with a place in the country to store your motorhome?


My father lived in Jersey, and used to bring his over to England at Easter & keep it behind a friend's hotel in Swanage until October. This saved lots of expensive ferry journeys.