T2 VW Camper van advice needed

[Robbi]

evening all,

i seriously thinking about buying an early '70s T2 VW camper to get out and about at the weekends with the wife.

does anyone have experience of these vans, tips to pass along, advice to give ?

MPG, insurance, maintenance, etc

looking for any pointers that will help me.

Robbi

 

[pastymuncher]

MPG= High
Insurance = Low
Maintenance = High

not to mention very very slow.


But I'm the last person to put you off an impractical vehicle, many of mine have been far worse.

 

[swotty]

I've had a couple but that was about 15yrs ago. They are fun and a lot more expensive now than they were then. They are small for a van. Easy to fix, which is good as they need to be as you will probably be fixing it often, expect to spend alternate weekends going away and the next covered in oil and / or rust
Bits are cheap, MPG is not good but then it is a heavy 1600cc flat four.

We managed to get engine removal down to 15 minutes at one point!

I had an old Type4 diesel (M reg) last year, it was cheaper to buy and much more reliable, have you considered one of those?

All said, they are fun and almost as cool as a Landy!

 

[Johnnyboy1971]

Go for a T4. Much more reliable and can be had for decent money. They drive better and the fuel economy if way better too I would recomend the 1.9 over the 2.5 as parts are cheaper and doesn't matter what folk say they aren't under powered. I sold mine last year with 269000 miles and engine and gearbox were mint. Look for specialist insurers like Adrian Flux if your thinking of modding it.

 

[woodstock]

MPG= High
Insurance = Low
Maintenance = High

not to mention very very slow.




But I'm the last person to put you off an impractical vehicle, many of mine have been far worse.

I think he has nailed it, I like to the point answers...I had one on 71 plate 16 hundred engine kids used to cycle past me up hills it was painfully slow, but it will take a porche engine

 

[Robbi]

The thing that sways me towards the T2 is zero road tax and very low classic insurance ( limited mileage ) so i'm not having lots of money just sitting on the drive if i don't use it for a month, maintenance is not too much of a problem, i reckon a bad back is on the cards anyway

 

[santaman2000]

Go for a T4. Much more reliable and can be had for decent money. They drive better and the fuel economy if way better too I would recomend the 1.9 over the 2.5 as parts are cheaper and doesn't matter what folk say they aren't under powered.........

Completely personal opinion:
The only way to determine "under" powered is if it won't pull the intended load. If you're not going to pull a trailer or overload the cargo area, then most available engines SHOULD be powerful enough. After all, it's a VAN, not a racecar.

 

[Trunks]

I'd go for the type4 diesel camper. Lower mpg, reliable and great for pootling about in

 

[peaks]

Plenty of info on the VW + camper van forums. Subaru engines might be an option? As might conversions to LPG?
I've got a 1990 T25 - 1.9 watercooled. MPG 25ish. Is definitely sluggish when loaded or on hills - but its ok. Ticks along at 55+mph on motorways. Cheaper and more reliable than the earlier versions? T4 diesel is the way to go if you aren't fussed about driving a classic. Am definitely thinking about LPG for mine.

 

[Bodge]

I have had type 2 campers on and off since the 1990's. A good solid early bay window will set you back 1000's. I have a 1968 Danbury at the moment which has had minor restoration and nearly ready to go back on the road, I have since bought an ugly white motorhome with all mod cons and dont think I will use the vw again. It is the coolest vehicle I own but lacks comfort and has poor fuel economy and needs plenty of tlc. Having said thay I do like it and have fond memories using it. Mine should sell for about 15k as it is all original interior down to the untouched first aid tin. Good luck with your search.
Try earlybay.co.uk for info.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[Andy BB]

Having had VW engines(both 1621cc with twin webers) in a beach buggy and a trike - avoid like the plague! Sorta got into the VW scene as a result, and have to say the early vans were total rust-buckets - ok if you're gonna pay fortunes for dipping to eliminate the rust, then rebuilding 75% as the rust's eaten the rest............ Prices for good ones are ridiculous! Do yourself a favour and get a T4 or T5 with a diesel engine - unlike the earlier models they're reliable, much more fuel efficient and don't crumple like a beer can in an accident.

 

[Robbi]

jeez, thanks for the encouragement !

i'm looking at one at the moment 1979 bay, 74k miles, most panels replaced within the last 2 years and full respray, waxoiled every year, reciepts etc, years MOT, driveaway awning, good condition interior with rock n roll bed etc..............8k

 

[snozz]

jeez, thanks for the encouragement !

i'm looking at one at the moment 1979 bay, 74k miles, most panels replaced within the last 2 years and full respray, waxoiled every year, reciepts etc, years MOT, driveaway awning, good condition interior with rock n roll bed etc..............8k

That won't be tax exempt though... I had a 1970 type 2. Set on fire and insurance job.

They are fun for a while as you romance about them but very slow and fuel hungry. But if you have the ££ then go for it!

 

[Andy BB]

You can led a horse to water, but you can't make him drink........

If you're taking the family, make sure the kids are in the middle area, so when you hit something, and those up front get folded up like papier mache dolls in warm water, they'll be a bit safer. Unless of course it's a side impact, in which case they will become hood ornaments.....

 

[Robbi]

present owner says it's tax exempt as over 25 years old.

sorry, i lied, it's 1976

 

[Robbi]

You can led a horse to water, but you can't make him drink........

If you're taking the family, make sure the kids are in the middle area, so when you hit something, and those up front get folded up like papier mache dolls in warm water, they'll be a bit safer. Unless of course it's a side impact, in which case they will become hood ornaments.....

cheerful sod !

 

[Andy BB]

present owner says it's tax exempt as over 25 years old.

He's either lying or ignorant of the rules. (unless they've changed in the last few years and I missed it!) s far as I'm aware, car had to be built (NOT sold) pre 1973. It used to be 25 years or older, but that got stopped a decade or so ago - Mr Brown, I do believe...

 

[Robbi]

He's either lying or ignorant of the rules. (unless they've changed in the last few years and I missed it!) s far as I'm aware, car had to be built (NOT sold) pre 1973. It used to be 25 years or older, but that got stopped a decade or so ago - Mr Brown, I do believe...

you're absolutely right mate 1973 it is.............have to reconcider this one now i think.

 

[vinnyp68]

Get a Landrover rob, lol

 

[Biker]

MPG= High
Insurance = Low
Maintenance = High

not to mention very very slow.


But I'm the last person to put you off an impractical vehicle, many of mine have been far worse.

+1 on this.

I had a 1971 T2 bay window withthe 1600cc engine. Bought it with the idea of romance and breezy weekends away with my young family and we did, sorta.

Drove to Cornwall from Kent once and managed a blistering 25mph up one hill on the A303... but we had clear roads ahead. Cost us more to drive to Cornwall than it did to spend the week down there for campsite, castle entry and lunches out each day. Very juicy to run though. Bear in mind a gallon of petrol when these were made was about 4p with 5000 green shield stamps so everyone was a winner.

Have it if it's going to be a project, but for a user ... I'd advise against it. Mine was tax exempt but the running costs alone didn't make me feel as though I was saving anything on that sweetener.

Sorry to add to the downer, but use your head, not your heart when buying something like this.