Thinking about buying a 1990 T25 2.1Li Auto

[frenchie]

Hi guys,

The Intro:
I am new to this forum so excuse me if at this stage I am making mistakes when "talking technical" / asking for "stupid question".

My girlfriend and I have been fancying a camper for a while and are thinking about a T3 / Wedge, because they are cheaper that bay or splities and also because we like them (we are both child from the 70s) ... My first cars when I started driving were 3 GolF GTI Mk1, and for me it looks like the Wedges "has been made from the same mould".

We leave in London and "are used to old cars:: my girlfriend has been running for the last 3 & 1/2 years 1991 Nissan Figaro (1L Turbo - brilliant car for someone looking for an "alternative", fun, convertible, small car, really well built and reliable...) and I have a toy 1996 TVR Chimaera 500 (5L V8, huge fun, as long as the road stays dry...) that we use for weekend trips to the country side and occasional fun on the track....

We have been trying to start a family and hopefully in the next 9 - 12 months will be needing a "sensible car" and where thinking about maybe running a Wedges as a family car. We live in London and the Wedge would be use for every day drive when going to super market, visiting friends, etc...while she'll be off work looking after the little one and it will be used for going away at weekend as our main car (you cannot fit 3 in the TVR), but also to camp and go holidays (in UK and abroad (I am French)).


The Wedge and questions:
- the one I have my eyes on is a 1990 Caravelle 2.1 Li, so a 2.1 L water cooled automatic, power steering and other bits and pieces and here are my questions (has been converted from 7 seaters to camper).

1) What are your thoughs on using in as an "every day car" in London?
(I guess if it does not suit us after a while we can always sell it or store it at my partners parents (30 miles from here) and use it only for weekend away, festivals and holidays... and get another family car, or sell it...)

My girlfriend thinks that they are "too bulky" / will be a nightmare to park, etc... (after ll, they are not much bigger that most estates for the early 2000, which is what we would get...).

2) How thirsty are they:
Again, talking about the 2.1 petrol automatic

3) What are the good things and bad about the engine:
This particular Wedge has 140k miles,and I know that all depends on how well the engine has been looked after (and I am not sure how much service history is available...).

What are the particular things to look for when buying.

4) What are the good things and bad about the gearbox:
I am looking at an automatic as this particular van is nice and my mrs, who would be the main driver has been driving the Figaro for almost 4 years and it is auto. She loves auto since and I guess if you have a kid with you and a bulky car, having and auto, in London, might make it slightly easier...

Is this auto gear box know to be weak?

5) Pre buying inspection:
Do you guys know someone that know wedges & would be able to do a pre buy inspection for me in Wiltshire (ideally next week or the week after). Of course I will pay for this service.

I know one thin or 2 about cars, but I am fr from being and expert and do not know anything about Wedges.

6) Putting a pop up roof / extra bed:
This particular camper has a 3/4 R & R bed, but as i mentioned it, should be parents soon, so what are the options for a 3rd bed:

- I believe, but not sure, that there is a way of putting a bed (3 metals bars and cloth) on the top of the driver and passenger seats. Is this a good option? How much?

Pop up roof:
The particular camper has a factory sun roof (about 1m20), so I guess it would be a good base to fit a pop top?
How much would i cost to have this added?

7) GPL conversion:
I do not remember if GPL conversion can only be done on diesel engines...? If not, cold i convert this 2.1 petrol in GPL and what costs are we looking at?


I guess so far that's it, so please if you can, share your experiences with us, reply to one or all of the above, ay answer / suggestion will be welcome.

Thanks is advance, and hello, buy the way.

Eric / Frenchie

[Silky]

Bonjour and welcome!

Hi guys,


I am new to this forum so excuse me if at this stage I am making mistakes when "talking technical" / asking for "stupid question".

I'm not so new now but still ask stupid questions so don't worry about that. As it is, your questions all sound quite reasonable.

With regard to using the van as a day car, Travelling Chick lives in London and uses her van as the main mode of transport, I guess it all depends too on where you live and parking restrictions. I would say though that, without power steering you do have to use a lot of muscle power if parking in a tight spot - this may be something to consider if your girlfriend hasn't got muscles like Popeye

My van is 1.9 petrol and I find it fairly thirsty - as much as a 2.4 diesel in my bigger LT. I'm not scientific about this - my measurement gauge is a little/a lot/bloody hell, but I'm sure you'd find it a huge hike up from the Nissan. LPG conversions are possible and those that have them are very enthused, obviously the way to go if you've a grand spare.

You can fit a bunk across the front cab, you can also retro fit a pop top. At this time of year though prices of vans seem to be lower and it may be cheaper to buy a van already with a pop top? Have you looked at many vans yet?

Mine's a manual gearbox and I've had a few linkage issues but they've been easily sorted and she's running very smoothly at the moment. I don't know much about automatics, I'm sure someone will come along soon.

Anyway, I'm sure you'll be making the right decision getting a T25, I really don't know why I waited so long for ours....

Silky

[1664]

Howdo, welcome to the club

What are the particular things to look for when buying.

Have a really good read of this https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Mi ... yers_guide" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[edoh]

and this - if it is different from the above -
http://www.vwcamperguide.com/html/vw_t3 ... guide.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
worth taking your time with

[ermie571]

Hi mate,

The t25 is not your nippy round town motor. But it fits into standard parking bays - its bulky yeah, but its easy to park...even easier with auto and power steering. Turning circle less than some modern cars, and with no bonnet to worry about, easy to turn round.

Yep - you can LPG it. I have a 2.1 manual on LPG. Expect around 17/18 mpg mixed use....any more is a bonus. I tell you this not to scare you off, but to be realistic. But the price of LPG means you get 30-36 mpg equivelent...and show me a modern car that allows you to camp, eat, sleep and have fun on 36 mpg!.

Have had both high tops and pops....one of my vans started out as a caravell, then went to pop top, and is now high top. Look up timbertechs on google for an idea of prices to convert to high top (and personally, with a little'un I think that would be the way to go...or you spend all your time shifting stuff around....but there are others who love their pops!

Mine are dailys - I have 2, both 2.1 manuals, and I wouldn't change them for the world.

Em
xx

[Aidan]

autobox is basically an audi unit , pretty strong , used in Audi 100 and 200 and porsche 944, but needs to have fluids changed periodically, if looked after they sem to be pretty reliable and those that drive them seem to like them

[frenchie]

Dear all,

Thank you for your replies so far.

I am going to have a look at the camper tomorrow...

Could anyone recommend someone that could inspect it for me... I do not mind paying...

The idea is to have a look at it tomorrow, see inside the engine bay, have a look underneath, get it started and go for a drive.... but i might would like to have it checked out by someone that knows those cars properly (I do not) before spending my cash....

Can anyone recommend someone for an inspection in the Salisbury area....?

Cheers,

Frenchie (07796 178 257)

[ermie571]

Print off and take with you the buyers guide from the wiki (click the hammer icon ^^^ up the top.

ask for a demo of everything internal.

em
xx