Suggestions please

Robin-o'-the-Hood

Hello. I'm thinking of a car/vehicle to use for camping, if I ever can. It would need to be spacious and have a high driving position (I work in the ambulance service and really like being higher up)  I would prefer manual and a diesel engine. I would also like the ability to have enough space to sleep on it overnight if need be, so the back seats would need to fold flat or nearly so. 4 seats as a minimum. 
A Defender fits the bill but too expensive for one that doesnt need welding and yet more welding. 
My budget is limited. Any ideas appreciated. 

Paula_Smith

Mazda Bongo - Japanese Import. We had a couple of them and they were great. Much cheaper than a VW. The seats fold flat, you can get a factory fitted pop top, air con etc. 

Check out Japanese importers for similar vehicles such as the Nissan El Grand or Mercedes Vito.

Herzlos

4 seats because you need the space or 4 seats because you need to take 4 people?

Would an ex-ambulance for the job? Or even just a transit sized van?
You'll struggle to find anything that isn't van based that's going to be vaguely comfortable for anything beyond the odd overnight.

If you're set on a car, you'll need to find one where the rear seats fold completely flat or come out entirely.

Kattekwaad

The longest estate car out there at the moment is the Skoda Superb.  Think it would take a bit of ingenuity to get the back level for sleeping  but not insurmountable.

AdrianC

Big estate, if you really want just the occasional crash in the back.

Something unfashionable like a Mondeo, Insig, 508 would be cheaper or newer-for-same-price compared to a Superb.

Failing that, there are camper van bargains out there, but there's a lot of massively overpriced rubbish. If you can DIY, it'll be a lot cheaper to convert a bare van.

Goudy

Fiat Doblo is long enough to sleep in.
Van or car version cheap enough, but the car version will be cheaper to insure and tax.

There's even companies converting them into campers, but there's plenty of others have have done it themselves and posted their progress online.
https://www.matthewdthornton.com/blog/my-fiat-doblo-camper-conversion-a-guide/

Kattekwaad

You say limited budget, how limited is that?

Would be heck of a lot cheaper just to buy "a car" and tent (some of which go up very quickly and easily these days)

MinuteNoodles

Goudy said:

Fiat Doblo is long enough to sleep in.
Van or car version cheap enough, but the car version will be cheaper to insure and tax.

Just keep well away from any model that doesn't have a turbo. Saying the non-turbos are gutless, even the 1.9, would be doing them a favour as they're well beyond gutless. If you enjoy the journey more than the destination then the non-turbo Doblos are the ones to go for because it'll be one hell of a long journey.

Robin-o'-the-Hood

Some good suggestions. At the moment toying with the idea of some kind of van (for the driving position) 

MinuteNoodles

Renault Trafic/Vauxhall Vivaro/Nissan Primestar - they're all the same van. Depending on age avoid the 2L engine on the Trafic because if anything needs changing on it it usually means the whole front has to come off to get access unlike the 1.9.

Not going to mention Ford Transits because even with the current ones still suffer with the same premature rust issues they've always been plagued with.