Should I buy this van?? Any help appreciated.

Post by **'hanish-boy** » 13 Mar 2008, 00:36

Hi folks,

I've been snooping about here and other VW forums for a short while
(but not long enough to be fully conversant with all the techie bits!) and I'm hoping some
of the nice people here might give a perhaps-soon-to-be-proud-first-time-owner
some help making the right decision.

I'm going to see a van this Saturday & have been frantically trying to cram all the appropriate 'new buyer'
wiki info into my pickled excuse for a brain but I'd feel better equipped to make a decision if I had some feedback from
members here.

If anyone would care to read the info that I have about the van then leave some comments I'd be very grateful.

Oh yes, nearly forgot...I live in Glasgow and the van's in Lincs.
How much would you bet that the van gets me home without incident? (311 miles!)

Here's the content of the advert:

LHD VW T25 CAMPERVAN REIMO CONVERSION.1982 WITH 31/2 MONTHS MOT.
BRAND NEW CLUTCH LAST WEEK.
TOURED EUROPE LAST YEAR ,DIDNT MISS A BEAT.
INSIDE TIDY FOR AGE,UPHOLSTERY GOOD,
NEW CARPET FITTED LAST WEEK.
REIMO PORTAPOTTI CASING WITH PORTAPOTTI,VERY HANDY! AND SERVES AS EXTRA SEATING.
ROCK AND ROLL BED,CUPBOARDS AND PLENTY OF STORAGE IN FRONT AND REAR ROOF,
DRIVE AWAY TUNNEL AWNING
FULL SET OF SILVER SCREEN FOILS,
CURTAINS,
3 WAY FRIDGE,2 RING BURNER ,SINK WITH FOOT PUMP,.
240V HOOK UP ,MAIN BATTERY PLUS LEISURE BATTERY,
ZIG UNIT TO POWER 12V SYSTEM ETC.
2LTR AIR COOLED ENGINE WITH TWIN WEBER CARBS FOR A LITTLE EXTRA GO
TAXED TILL END OF MARCH .
ORIGINAL REMO CONVERSION,
READY TO ROCK AND ROLL

BAD POINTS.
SOME SMALL AMOUNTS OF RUST ON BODY
PAINT WORK A LITTLE DULL AND SOME SCRATCHES
MINOR DENT IN REAR DOOR
SIDE DOOR HANDLE NEEDS ATTENTION ONLY OPENS FROM INSIDE
SOME RUST AROUND WINDOW FRAMES

And the MOT history (thanks wiki!!)

Registration mark:
Make/Model: VOLKSWAGEN / CAMPER
Colour: WHITE / RED
VIN/Chassis No:
Approximate date of first use: 31/12/1982
Type of fuel: Petrol

Date of test: 29/08/2006
Certificate issue refused (Fail)
Odometer reading: 37,970 Kilometres

Test class: IV
Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
Nearside headlamp aim too high (1.6)
Offside headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside (1.6)
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.2a)
Nearside Rear flexable to backplate brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Offside Rear flexable to backplate brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
No Advisory Notice issued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date of test: 29/08/2006
Certificate issued (Pass)
Odometer reading: 37,970 Kilometres
Test class: IV
Test expiry date: 28/08/2007
No Advisory Notice issued
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date of test: 21/06/2007
Certificate issue refused (Fail)
Odometer reading: 42,015 Miles
Test class: IV
Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
Offside Rear brake hose leaking (3.6.A.1) **DANGEROUS**
Nearside Front brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)
Offside Front brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)
Nearside Rear brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)
Offside Front front brake binding (3.7.A.2a) **DANGEROUS**
Offside Rear tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.D.1)
Nearside Rear cracked tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.C.1a)
Offside Rear sill suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.2)
Advisory Notice issued
Front tyres cracking
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Change of details
Make/Model: VOLKSWAGEN / recorded at time of test on 21/06/2007
Colour: WHITE recorded at time of test on 21/06/2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date of test: 25/06/2007
Certificate issued (Pass)
Odometer reading: 42,020 Miles

Test class: IV
Test expiry date: 24/06/2008
No Advisory Notice issued

And finally, here's some info supplied by the seller:

rust under windshield -- 2 small holes on passenger side
non on wheel arches or sills
window frames are intact,some rust ,but are water tight
dont know if paint work is original,log book states it is white so probably the red isnt
tyres,spare serviceable.1 front tyre has small amount of side wall cracking,others ok 2 new ones for mot in june
my son aquired vehicle 7.4.08 (I presume that's a typo and she means 7.4.07)
milleage when he mot it was 4220km he didnt use it much before
mileage now is48862km.
mot expires june 24th 2008
it is stored at our house
my son used it from july to nov
new flexible front break hoses for mot in june plus service
not been in accident since my son has had it
there is a book of receipts from previos owner

Any comments much appreciated. (Esp the bet about me getting home!)
Sorry for the lengthy (first) post.

Thanks,

'hanish-boy

Post by **clartsonly** » 13 Mar 2008, 07:58

dont cram all the information into your brain write down a list and check each one when you get there.

you will either love the van or hate it you should know after a few minutes of meeting him/her. pretty much ignore the list of things wrong with it previously, it is bound to have several problems occur even if it is perfect when you pick it up.

Post by **1664** » 13 Mar 2008, 13:33

"rust under windshield -- 2 small holes on passenger side"

water may run down the bulkhead behind the dash under the rubber matting and will sit there rotting the floorpan through

"not been in accident since my son has had it"

Hmmm....not sure if that sounds comforting or not

Post by **Ian Hulley** » 13 Mar 2008, 14:51

If you choose to proceed I'd request a full MOT, perhaps offer to pay for the test itself (it's only an extra £50 IF it passes) ... especially given it's past history of critical tin worm and high emmissions.

Sorry but I'd hold out for something a lot newer and MUCH less rotten. When these vans start to go boy do they go.

Welcome to the club BTW

Ian.

Post by **Ye Olde Syncrospares** » 13 Mar 2008, 15:36

dont buy it,get a later water pumper or a t4,cj.

Post by **'hanish-boy** » 13 Mar 2008, 16:26

Thanks for the comments!

One of the reasons I'm considering this van is the asking price. (have a guess!)

I'm desperate to get out and about this summer and am thinking that life is too short to spend another year saving up.

Why not strike now, hope it gets through the summer months, then spend the winter tinkering and getting ready for spring '09?

Or I suppose the worst case scenario is it breaks down on the way home and takes ££££££ to rectify

Seriously though, what kind of price would you pay?

Thanks again for any input.
And thanks for the welcome, it's nice to be here

'hanish-boy

Post by **clartsonly** » 13 Mar 2008, 17:16

£4 K ?

with the new carpets are they on the ceiling as that is where the rubber would have rotted and crumble into your eyes.

Post by **chippieshaun** » 13 Mar 2008, 17:42

I spent ages looking for mine and got a grasp of what you should and shouldnt pay. I would say that the rust situation does not look good. Under the windshield is a bit scary! Around window too. Bodywork , generally , sounds but 'iffy'. Engine has done a few miles (if original).
Going on the imformation given i wouldn't go near 3k.
I saw some pretty good campers go for 3.5k.
Would have to be a bargain.......then again , if you get a good feel for it, take a punt....is always a bit of a gamble!!
Good luck with it anyway!
Shaun

Post by **'hanish-boy** » 13 Mar 2008, 18:36

clartsonly wrote:£4 K ?

with the new carpets are they on the ceiling as that is where the rubber would have rotted and crumble into your eyes.

Thanks again for the replies.

Admittedly I haven't prodded and poked my way round the classifieds, honing my 'is-it-a-goer?' skills but this is the first van I've seen that is in my budget and isn't a total resto job. (Or is it?

)

So...the hole under windshield would need to be fixed, obviously, to stop any (further) water ingress/erosion problems. I'll be diving into the wonderful world of wiki later tonight but how much hassle/£££ would it cost to rectify that type of problem?

And if I had £4K I wouldn't be considering this van

Post by **chippieshaun** » 13 Mar 2008, 18:56

so what is the asking price?

Post by **'hanish-boy** » 13 Mar 2008, 19:02

Post by **chippieshaun** » 13 Mar 2008, 19:04

is worth looking at then.

Post by **'hanish-boy** » 13 Mar 2008, 19:18

Thanks.

If it all goes well I'll be one happy 'hanish-boy

Needless to say that I'll be posting photos and loads of (dumb) questions if I buy it.

such as:
Are twin carbs standard issue on vans this age?
Or should I be wary of

"2LTR AIR COOLED ENGINE WITH TWIN WEBER CARBS FOR A LITTLE EXTRA GO"?

What are the repercussions of badly fitted/badly working carbs? If working now can I expect them to continue working properly?

and:
Is rust around the window frames considered terminal? Or can anyone point me to some info about how to fix it?

Thanks.

Post by **futurecut** » 13 Mar 2008, 19:22

Mate, i'm from glasgow too, recently sold my t3. Don't bother going. listen to syncrospares guy and get a later waterboxer. Better still a t4. Once these old buses get the tinworm it's a losing battle. Its a long way to go- your head will be wrecked by what ifs before you get there. My own opinion is that 2k t3's will usually be "pooh", will have lots of concealed "pooh" or soon turn to "pooh" when you've bought them. But if you're good with a welder........btw i know a good welder in the westend who is is up for a t3 project. PM me if required.

probably shouldn't say so on this forum but...
T4's don't have the same character but they're just better, except when your newly garage fitted timing belt snaps when you've just got to Austria and "feck" your entire engine. Cost so far 1350 quid..............

Post by **chippieshaun** » 13 Mar 2008, 19:27

Get what you pay for but if you cant afford a T4 , then you will have to stick to a 2k T3.....Just expect to be busy with it!