The Plan.
Buy a fully restored VW Campervan and tour Europe, live where we like for as long as we like.

Anyone got real first hand knowledge of how reliable these Surfer busses are to undertake such a trip?

Maybe £10 - 15 grand to spend on a good example, how practical is the idea?

Anyone done it or have the same plan?

some lads where i worked tried to do it in a new (ish) shape transporter (t reg)

cant remember where it was that they were, but they broke down and had to be towed by some donkeys for a few miles

my adive: buy a toyota hi-ace

fully restored? so i guess you mean a T1 or T2? they're very reliable and easy to maintain. main problem is rust, even on a recently restored example, and especially on the front end behind the dash. tbh rust is a problem pretty much everywhere, but that wont stop you touring europe.

Thanks for the advice Joshua, I was hoping the VW Camper would be a bit easier to look after myself if it broke due to its simplicity, (air cooled well proven technology etc) but I do appreciate the reliability of the Jap motors. A road-trip like I have in mind would I know be frought with challenges and thats half the attraction TBH. Those VW's can probably be fixed anywhere in the world I am guessing should I not be able to cope lol!

as long as you have good mechanical knowledge lol

and there should be loads of bits everywhere for them.

i wish you the best of luck

For 10-15k you should be able to get a really good campervan second hand. The VW T4 or T5 Transporter (the van they convert) is generally a reliable van, regular servicing helps. I've seen VW vans with 250,000 + miles on the clock, get someone who knows about engines to check it out for you before you invest your cash.
If you're talking about a 60's or 70's VW bus / campervan make sure you see all the restoration bills and get someone who knows to check the thing out. I know that those old air cooled VW's had rust problems with parts of the chassis but the engines were simple, top speed of around 50-60mph so don't count on getting anywhere fast.

jug said:

fully restored? so i guess you mean a T1 or T2? they're very reliable and easy to maintain. main problem is rust, even on a recently restored example, and especially on the front end behind the dash. tbh rust is a problem pretty much everywhere, but that wont stop you touring europe.

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Cheers Jug, I would hold out for a properly sorted example, saw a TV prog recently and saw how the bu**ers rust,
As these things are usually cult vehicles I would be looking for one that has been well sorted body wise and properly rust-proofed, with some decent living features inside. There are some interesting engine and running gear mods for these too, they benefit a lot from some subtle lowering and 150Bhp seems realistic reliably from a modded motor, along with Porsche brakes etc etc.

Theres a very big scene for the VW van, ive seen alsorts of conversions, scooby engine, rover v8, porsche engines etc

10-15k will get you a really good one, if you go for the cult 'splitty' 10k will probably be an uncompleted resto job, 15k will prob be a almost complete if not complete job.

Immaculate (and i mean not a mark anywhere) original splitty vans are going for over 30k now!

You would probably get your money come resale if you chose to.

My advice is to explore the vw van forums, they can point you in right directions towards sellers, restorers, parts specialists etc

I would


buy a shell that has been proffessionally restored/stabilised against rust, t1/t2 whatever takes your fancy. £3-4k

then spend the rest of the money on a MODERN engine conversion, like the vag 1.9tdi (whatever fairly modern one 1999>) and g'box conversion (proffesionallly again, maybe 2-3.5k max).

spend what ever you like furnishing it and painting it.

and you will have a VERY practical classic there, thats totally drivable, economical, and reliable enough to drive all over the continent no worry


or you could just buy a t4 camper fully loaded with the LEGENDARY 2.4tdi and a'c for around £8-12k mint