Is this Campervan worth the advertised price?

[Dave A]

Hi all,

Long-time lurker and now first time poster!

Firstly, can I say what an incredible forum this is! It's full of so many helpful people who are very knowledgeable and best off all, people are allowed different and contrasting opinions which is so rare on the Internet thesedays. And thats what helps makes this such a great place. So thank you!

And now, we'd like to turn to you good folk for help navigating the wonderful world of secondhand campervans.

We are a family of 4 with two young boys and are looking to upgrade our camping trips with a VW Camper. Over the last 10 years we've hired Californias and come close to buying twice but found that the time wasn't quite right. Now in the post-covid, hyper inflation world, it feels that if we wait for prices to come back down, we'll be waiting ages with no guarantee they will to return to historic levels.

So after months of research, we have found 2 campervans that meet our requirements but pose slightly different compromises. One is older with a higher spec conversion, the other is newer with less extras. They are both advertised at the same price and come with swivel driver & passenger captain chairs, a RIB bed & tailgate.


T6 Startline 102hp
2019 with very low miles
Air con
Heated rear window with wiper
Body work upgrades (colour coded bumpers, front splitter, rear spoiler & side bars.)
19 inch alloys

Cons
No MFSW
No cruise control
No SatNav or App connect
Only rear parking sensor

Conversion
High quality conversion from small reputable company (~£25k build cost)
Webasto diesel heater and thermostat
Reimo Pop top roof with integrated bed
Double gas hob and sink

Bonus items (good to have but not a priority)
Solar panel
Hot water with shower outlet
Removable tow hitch (we'd use this for a bike carrier)

Cons
Pop top isnt a scenic canvas


T6.1 Highline 110hp
2021 with very few miles
Usual T6.1 Highline spec inc. MFSW, adaptive cruise control and front & rear parking sensors etc
App connect

Cons
Standard T6.1 with no bodywork upgrade
Standard 16" alloys

Conversion
Bespoke conversion from more than one company (basically a self managed build to suit previous owner)
Drivelodge pop top roof with scenic canvas

Bonus kit
Additional over bed storage
Memory foam mattress

Cons
Diesel Wallace hob & heater (we're nervous about this as we're familiar with blown air diesel heaters)
Build quality looks good but not in the same league as the T6 above

Both would meet our requirements, but each with compromise. The van would be my daily driver as I'll be selling my Audi A4 Black Edition to help fund it, so I'm keen to have something smart looking to drive. However we're at the top of our budget and won't have the funds left to upgrade the T6.1

Thank you in advance to anyone who feels like sharing their thoughts on our conundrum.

Newer van. My Highline is still on the original 16" wheels which are fine for the rough and pot holed roads I drive on, plus in the Yorkshire Dales much of the tarmac on the edge of the narrow roads is broken away and can damage wheels and tyres in a second. I'm careful with the wheels but I'd be really worried with expensive alloys. Wheels can be changed and sporty kit added when you have settled in with the van. You could keep the 16" for winter tyres.

 

[Mule]

Thanks everyone. It does seem pretty unanimous.
Fingers crossed it doesn't sell before I get chance to visit and test drive it.

 

[Northernchimp88]

Hi all, I’m new to this forum and new to T6 for that matter.

I’m about to purchase a T6 2018 SWB TRANSPORTER T28 S-LINE TDI BMT 1 owner from new. Manual gearbox

I’m paying £37,995 and it’s done 42k miles. Fully kitted with Onyx Edition interior, fridge, external water feed pretty much everything to get me started on the camper journey.

The only downside is no Air conditioning, reverse cam and parking sensors.

As this is my 1st could anyone give me some guidance around if this sounds right for the price ?

Thanks all
Liam

 

[Chippie1]

Highline comes with air con and reverse sensors as standard

 

[Pete C]

No aircon and no parking sensors sounds odd for a Highline.
Most importantly, you haven’t mentioned the engine power and gearbox (5 speed, 6 speed, DSG ?).

Pete

 

[Northernchimp88]

Sorry guys failed right off the bat, corrected above. It’s a TRANSPORTER T28 S-LINE TDI BMT 1968 cc Manual

 

[Sackmycook]

Startline is the basic of the 3 equipment levels, Trendline is next up followed by Highline.
Some Startlines can be factory specc'd to include aircon and sensors.
Desirable items are tailgate and aircon.
42 k miles is good for a 2018. Colours can affect value too.

Good news is there are lots of ways to upgrade your van.

 

[Northernchimp88]

This is the van, white and black which is just right for me as I’m not a huge fan of colour . I have been looking at the retrofits people have done and happy to invest in the van.

 

[Sackmycook]

Sounds like you've answered your own question then.....

 

[Northernchimp88]

Yeh I kinda did, sorry… think I’m just nervous due to the differences in prices I’m seeing. I know in the T6 world £38k is small change but just want to make sure I’m not heading in the wrong direction

 

[Mule]

I'm not trying to put a dampener on things but just want you consider everything (which it sounds like you want to do) before pulling the trigger.

But have you considered how important Air Con is to your purchase?

I assume you currently own or drive a car at the moment, so ask yourself how often the air con is used?

For us, it was an essential, but we live in the south east and regularly holiday in Devon and Cornwall so knew how much we'd miss it in the heat of the summer.

 

[Northernchimp88]

No dampeners at all it’s good to talk to people that know the vans.

So I have an EQC and a Golf R (soon to be sold Golf R) and TBH I never actually use the A/C on either especially the EQC as it eats the battery life plus living up north we don’t get that lovely southern sun as much.

So thinking about it, it’s not a huge downside… opening the windows/turning on the fans is usually good enough.

 

[Northernchimp88]

Also I appreciate your comments, it’s helping a lot I don’t really have anyone that I can talk to about VW T6 vans.

Main thing is I don’t want to buy something that’s not worth the money

 

[DB42]

Also I appreciate your comments, it’s helping a lot I don’t really have anyone that I can talk to about VW T6 vans.

Main thing is I don’t want to buy something that’s not worth the money

I would personally go for a highline with aircon and other bits but maybe a higher mileage vehicle (meaning lower cost), but that’s just my opinion and depends on how much you value air con and other bits. The van you’re looking at is stunning on the outside, but just make sure that the looks aren’t swaying your judgement versus the interior. Boring feedback I know, but hopefully helpful.

 

[Rioja John]

That’s a stunning looking van have you any interior photo’s.

John.

 

[Alster]

That is a good looking van but the lack of air con would be a deal breaker for me and it’s very hard to retrofit as well.

 

[Northernchimp88]

Hi all, I’m currently sat in a car park after seeing a T28 2018 2.0 Highline 101 BHP with full professional new conversion.

The asking price is £41k and has done 64,758 miles

Can anyone tell me if the price is right for that mileage

Spec

 

[Skyliner33]

Hi all, I’m currently sat in a car park after seeing a T28 2018 2.0 Highline 101 BHP with full professional new conversion.

The asking price is £41k and has done 64,758 miles

Can anyone tell me if the price is right for that mileage

I would be more concerned about who did the conversion, what conversion it is ie spec. to determine the price rather than mileage. The limited information you give makes any meaningful answer impossible.

 

[Ads_Essex]

Hi all, I’m currently sat in a car park after seeing a T28 2018 2.0 Highline 101 BHP with full professional new conversion.

The asking price is £41k and has done 64,758 miles

Can anyone tell me if the price is right for that mileage

Spec

Finished in Candy White with Two-tone grey
Leather upholstery. 20 inch bronze alloy wheels.
New four berth conversion, Sportline front
bumper, Reverse parking sensors, Black side
bars, Air conditioning, Night heater, Cruise
control, Bluetooth connectivity, Wireless
charging, Entertainment system with touch
screen display, Front swivel passenger seat,
Solar panel, W.C, 230V Hook Up, Bronze pop-top
roof, USB and 12v power points, Refrigerator, Gas
Hob, Microwave, Sink unit, Water Storage, Lots
of storage compartments, Under bed storage,
Leisure battery, LED Lighting system, White-
gloss handmade units, Grey-gloss worktop and
table, White-gloss splashback, Milan Scurro
flooring and Grey curtains.

There are so many variables - what make pop-top, what make suspension, has it been sound-deadened and thermally insulated and if so to what level, what quality are the glossy handmade units, what make heater, what are the wheel and tyre specs, the overall exterior condition…
Have a look at campers listed for sale on the forum for an idea - they usually attract a bit of attention if they’re priced reasonably (and a bit of attention if priced a little too high, too) - just click this tag.

camper conversion

www.t6forum.com

 

[Chippie1]

Thread '2018 (68 plate) T6 SWB Highline (6 speed) 150bhp Indium grey day van/camper. £30k'
For Sale - 2018 (68 plate) T6 SWB Highline (6 speed) 150bhp Indium grey day van/camper. £30k