Has anyone ever regretted buying their van?
- Thread starter Bish
- Start date
Congratulations! Looking good
P
Phil_G
Guest
Love two-tone dubs 
I was just coming back to this thread to flag this same point!!!
I’ve owned 49 vehicles (cars, 4x4s, vans and motorbikes) since passing my test at 17. I usually get itchy feet at about 3-6 months and change it for something else. Shortest vehicle ownership was 2 weeks and longest (apart from the T6) was 3 years.
I’ve wanted a Transporter for many years and almost bought one a couple of times - in the end I talked myself out of it and bought something else, sold it shortly after and lost money!
2 years ago (December 2018) I bit the billet and dropped almost £22k (£5.5k px caddy) and £16k from my savings on a 2016 T6 140 DSG panel van - I’m not telling you this to boast because clearly lots of people have spent 2 or 3 times this amount, but more to put into context the personal financial commitment and to highlight that it was the most expensive vehicle I’d ever purchased outright.
2 years on and I’ve spent two or three thousand more on ‘modifying and converting’ it - these vans are one of those things where there is such a huge aftermarket the possibilities are endless.
Anyway, my point is, it has clearly got under my skin as I have no thoughts of selling it and when we do get to go on adventures in it we have some amazing times - yes I’ve regretted many other vehicle purchases but not my T6 even if it is a bit of a driveway ornament during lockdown
I’ve wanted a Transporter for many years and almost bought one a couple of times - in the end I talked myself out of it and bought something else, sold it shortly after and lost money!
2 years ago (December 2018) I bit the billet and dropped almost £22k (£5.5k px caddy) and £16k from my savings on a 2016 T6 140 DSG panel van - I’m not telling you this to boast because clearly lots of people have spent 2 or 3 times this amount, but more to put into context the personal financial commitment and to highlight that it was the most expensive vehicle I’d ever purchased outright.
2 years on and I’ve spent two or three thousand more on ‘modifying and converting’ it - these vans are one of those things where there is such a huge aftermarket the possibilities are endless.
Anyway, my point is, it has clearly got under my skin as I have no thoughts of selling it and when we do get to go on adventures in it we have some amazing times - yes I’ve regretted many other vehicle purchases but not my T6 even if it is a bit of a driveway ornament during lockdown
Absolutely! I wish I’d bought mine earlier. The only regret is how much I spent on “flash” cars beforehand!I’ve owned 49 vehicles (cars, 4x4s, vans and motorbikes) since passing my test at 17. I usually get itchy feet at about 3-6 months and change it for something else. Shortest vehicle ownership was 2 weeks and longest (apart from the T6) was 3 years.
I’ve wanted a Transporter for many years and almost bought one a couple of times - in the end I talked myself out of it and bought something else, sold it shortly after and lost money!
2 years ago (December 2018) I bit the billet and dropped almost £22k (£5.5k px caddy) and £16k from my savings on a 2016 T6 140 DSG panel van - I’m not telling you this to boast because clearly lots of people have spent 2 or 3 times this amount, but more to put into context the personal financial commitment and to highlight that it was the most expensive vehicle I’d ever purchased outright.
2 years on and I’ve spent two or three thousand more on ‘modifying and converting’ it - these vans are one of those things where there is such a huge aftermarket the possibilities are endless.
Anyway, my point is, it has clearly got under my skin as I have no thoughts of selling it and when we do get to go on adventures in it we have some amazing times - yes I’ve regretted many other vehicle purchases but not my T6 even if it is a bit of a driveway ornament during lockdown
Had mine 2 years at the end of this month and I don't regret it all. It replaced a very nice last run defender 110, did almost have second thoughts when the buyer came to collect the defender but glad I didn't. Been fun getting it the way I want it and its just such a versatile, comfortable and being a 204 it doesn't hang about when you need to shift. The last mod will be a re map once the warranty runs out
I will share my thoughts, had my 1st ‘customised’ van 40 years ago, bit of a passion wagon at that time lol shagpile carpet deep buttoned upholstery it was not as technical as like today but some of the best laughs. Many years passed and tons of nice cars later I have a T6 Caravelle, to be honest my friends and family thought I’d gone mad but now they love it. Yes the flash cars a great a buzz and some even made me feel like I’d ‘made it’ in a sad sort of ego tripping way, as much as I can appreciate nice cars (still have one, not that flash anymore) just a car, very respectable lol.. A van is much more and weirdly I feel more attached to my van than the car! Our van has a name, wife loves him also, she loved my 1st van (happy wife, happy life). We are planning a big adventure. Over the years I’ve leaned that even if our big adventures don’t quite come off, the planning, the dreaming is priceless. Imagine sleeping in our van, can’t wait Hoping to turn our pipe dreams of whizzing away into reality. Even this forum, truth seekers, numpties like me, experts and those with Van experience glad to offer advice, in fact I think a new TV show is called for and it can be called the ‘Van Whispers’ imagine
Early days for me with my van but life is very short and me, well, I’ve got too many should have, could have what if only thoughts from the past.
I would enjoy your van, hey 40 years on i still smile about the laughs in my van.
once this Covid is out the way and years from now you won’t remember any of your concerns about buying it.
Early days for me with my van but life is very short and me, well, I’ve got too many should have, could have what if only thoughts from the past.
I would enjoy your van, hey 40 years on i still smile about the laughs in my van.
once this Covid is out the way and years from now you won’t remember any of your concerns about buying it.
Just to make you feel better, ask anyone who has owned a boat what they feel about boat ownership, a reply might be
“two happiest days of my life,
the day I bought the boat and
the day I sold the boat”
Be glad you didn’t buy a boat lol
The only time you get the money back on a boat is on the insurance, massive hole in the pocket. That said the windows don’t leak and there‘s no EGR system to nurse.
Jimjo
Member
Hi Jasper
Just thought I’d make contact. We got our Danbury Surf King in July 2019 - cost an awful lot and despite numerous issues in the first year we really enjoy it now and can’t wait to get out again. We are retired and have already managed to get around most parts of the country and have lots of trips planned for the future. Have made a few modifications since we we purchased it and now boast new seats, led lights and radio/speakers. Hope you are still enjoying yours
Regards
Jimjo
Jasper
Member
Hi Jimjo, we are love our Danbury too, we’ve had no issues and hope that continues, yes it was a lot of money but like you, we are retired and intend to keep it, no mods as yet, still as in the original photos posted other that a few more layers of polish. Hopefully we’ll all be able to get away soon. Keep safe
My financial thoughts when buying my Van....
I had a BMW 335d on lease for 2 years that was £320 a month with a 2k deposit, great vehicle and a very nice drive. Over the 2 year it cost me about 10k. Handed it back with nothing to show. Seen it advertised for 32k on a auction site and was originally a 47k car if you bought it outright. So I could have lost 15k if I bought it. Felt quite lucky. Didn't have any extras as I felt no point and was scared to eat a bag of chips in it for fear of a cleaning bill at the end of lease.
So way I see it, If you buy a VW for 47k over 5 years, it'll still be worth 30+ at the end. That's 17k depreciation over the term or about £280 per month it's cost me, and at the end of it I'll still have a 30 grand lump on my drive that does everything I need and more!
So for me buying a van was a major expense but in the long term actually quite a good move if you think about the other options. And compair that depreciation to any other vehicle.
I've also bought a few 2nd hand cars thinking it's a good deal that have cost me a fortune. Turbo blowing and a runaway diesel springs to mind but you learn the hard way. Also can't beat a long warranty and peace of mind. That in itself pushed me to buy new.
Only regret was I didn't get a webaso heater as Im going to travel the country and camp up all over. Can't do that in a 335d!
As long as it doesn't fincialy cripple you, I think it's a very good long term purchase.
I had a BMW 335d on lease for 2 years that was £320 a month with a 2k deposit, great vehicle and a very nice drive. Over the 2 year it cost me about 10k. Handed it back with nothing to show. Seen it advertised for 32k on a auction site and was originally a 47k car if you bought it outright. So I could have lost 15k if I bought it. Felt quite lucky. Didn't have any extras as I felt no point and was scared to eat a bag of chips in it for fear of a cleaning bill at the end of lease.
So way I see it, If you buy a VW for 47k over 5 years, it'll still be worth 30+ at the end. That's 17k depreciation over the term or about £280 per month it's cost me, and at the end of it I'll still have a 30 grand lump on my drive that does everything I need and more!
So for me buying a van was a major expense but in the long term actually quite a good move if you think about the other options. And compair that depreciation to any other vehicle.
I've also bought a few 2nd hand cars thinking it's a good deal that have cost me a fortune. Turbo blowing and a runaway diesel springs to mind but you learn the hard way. Also can't beat a long warranty and peace of mind. That in itself pushed me to buy new.
Only regret was I didn't get a webaso heater as Im going to travel the country and camp up all over. Can't do that in a 335d!
As long as it doesn't fincialy cripple you, I think it's a very good long term purchase.
