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1.2K views 32 replies 12 participants last post by  Kelster  
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#1 ·
Hi everyone!

I'm looking at buying a new campervan and joining the club!

Van 1
I've fallen in love with this one
It has 200k miles on the clock though.... Its a 2012 T5 2 L TDI 140 bhp 6 speed and spent its life as a council van and was converted only in 2024 to a really high standard.

The milage frightens me a bit, I want something reliable. Its up for 27k but I was thinking of offering 25k


Van 2
Not so inlove with this but its a newer 2016 (66) VW T6 Transporter 2.0L camper Euro 6
much lower 125k millage

Up for pretty much the same price 27k will offer 25k as 25 is my top budget.


I would really appreciate peoples thoughts on this? Is the T5 reliable enough with 200k on the clock or should I go for the newer T6?

Thank you :)
 
#2 ·
Hi and welcome

Probably depends whether you intend going into any city ULEZ zones as Euro 6 is generally exempt.

And we all know they will be adding more as time goes on...

So personally I would go for the T6 rather than the T5.1 on that reason alone. ( we have the postponed Manchester zone hanging over our heads....)

Some folk prefer the look of a T6 over a T5.1 and vice versa. Some say the T5.1's are better built....

The T5.1 140 6 speed is usually the most desired. Commonly comes with AC and tailgate which are also coveted items.

Air Con is something I would always look for.

Very difficult to say though without seeing the vans themselves. Links or some pics?

Mileage is generally fairly irrelevant on these so long as they have a GOOD stamped service history. Low mileage is always nice though.

I wouldn't trust anyone who says "I did my own servicing" so no stamps.

Quite a few talented folk on here do but it means nothing in a sale unless it's from a forum member to another.

I don't trust any verbal from any seller. No proof of services, no sale.

Hope you get one, there is no going back!! (y)
 
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#3 ·
Orion said:
Hi and welcome

Probably depends whether you intend going into any city ULEZ zones as Euro 6 is generally exempt.

And we all know they will be adding more as time goes on...

So personally I would go for the T6 rather than the T5.1 on that reason alone. ( we have the postponed Manchester zone hanging over our heads....)

Some folk prefer the look of a T6 over a T5.1 and vice versa. Some say the T5.1's are better built....

The T5.1 140 6 speed is usually the most desired. Commonly comes with AC and tailgate which are also coveted items.

Air Con is something I would always look for.

Very difficult to say though without seeing the vans themselves. Links or some pics?

Mileage is generally fairly irrelevant on these so long as they have a GOOD stamped service history. Low mileage is always nice though.

I wouldn't trust anyone who says "I did my own servicing" so no stamps.

Quite a few talented folk on here do but it means nothing in a sale unless it's from a forum member to another.

I don't trust any verbal from any seller. No proof of services, no sale.

Hope you get one, there is no going back!! (y)
Click to expand...

Wow thank you for such a detailed response, I didn't even think to look for Aircon i've always just assumed it would be there!

These are the two vans:

Van 1: Pardon our interruption... (This one has stole my heart) Doesnt mention aircon.

Van 2: Pardon our interruption...


My girlfriend has a little hybrid for the city trips. The biggest thing for me really is reliability, I don't want it to break down. We plan to be doing some big trips. Scotland 500 and in the future some europe trips.
 
#4 ·
27k for a 2012 t5 is too much IMO. Mayne in peak covid madness but now the price has settled down a lot. I'd want a t6 at least for that. There's a few folk on here struggling to sell their similar vans for over ~20k. But I'd say that 20k is the ceiling to what I'd pay for a t5.1 st the moment. As orion mentions, servicing is key. It also depends on the miles. 200k of start stop city traffic can be hard where as motorway cruising might not be too bad. But fundamentally, buying a 13 year old vehicle with 200k is always going to carry some level of risk so make sure you have a few quid contingency leftover.


But do get one 😀
 
#7 ·
Also I think aircon was standard from t6 onwards (the 2015 update). Prior to this, startlines (base models) don't have it as standard. Doesn't really bother me apart from maybe a few summer days each year. That said, for me to part with 27k it would need to have it, be low mileage, and full service history t6.
 
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#8 · (Edited)
Van 1 seems to be converted to a very high spec and I love the look of it. Van 2 seems to be the more sensible choice. I've checked MOT history and both have always passed. With regards to reliability, would one likely be more reliable than the other?

I'm worried about breaking down, going somewhere and needing recovery.
 
#9 ·
Mots arent a service. So you need to consider sevice history. As for reliability, some componants wear with miles, some fail randomly. But conparing two identically looked after and driven vans, one thats older and higher mileage, you're statistically more likely in to encounter wear related failures. You're further along the failure curve.

What's 'high spec' about the conversion? Bear in mind much of the additions most people want van be added later. You seem to be fishing for 'it'll be fine buy it' type advice, but i don't think you'll get it.

For that cash I'd wait a bit and find a higher spec t6 you like, or get a cheaper t5.1.
 
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#10 ·
Van 1 is done by a high end by a conversion company. The conversion was in 2024 by CamperWorx Ltd - Join the outdoor revolution I like the interior a lot. The cabinets and intergrated blinds. I looked on their website and the conversion alone is quite expensive.

Van 2 seems to be a bit more of a standard conversion. It's a more sensible option as a vehicle I think. That said, van 1 spent its life as a council van can just did a europe trip, I expect it's been serviced and looked after.
 
#14 ·
ANG1 said:
Van 1 is done by a high end by a conversion company. The conversion was in 2024 by CamperWorx Ltd - Join the outdoor revolution I like the interior a lot. The cabinets and intergrated blinds. I looked on their website and the conversion alone is quite expensive.

Van 2 seems to be a bit more of a standard conversion. It's a more sensible option as a vehicle I think. That said, van 1 spent its life as a council van can just did a europe trip, I expect it's been serviced and looked after.
Click to expand...
Personally, i got the best base vehicle i could. Whilst nicer cabinets and blinds are nice, they're no good when it's on the back of a towtruck.

I'd wait. You'll get a decent spec t6 woth low miles for what you want to pay.
 
#16 ·
That T5.1 camper is not a crappy homebrew / homemade conversion like a lot out there.

It is a very nicely converted camper with top quality equipment. CamperWorx is very nice furniture ( I have it fitted in my van )

The RIB bed is the best you can buy ( I also have the same one ) and has a topper. The pop top is also high quality.

It has a quality side awning. It is nicely lifted and has decent wheels and AT tyres / wheels. It has a tailgate which almost certainly means it has Air Con.

( ignore the people on here saying you don't need air con. Take the van abroad in summer and believe me you will ! )

All this adds up to a lot of money. Just the 200K miles would put me off at £27K.

I think it's worth probably around £23 to £25K now the season has started.

While we are not in COVID mad times anymore quality vans are still selling.

My mate sold his 2010 T5.1 camper last February for £28K, no problem at all. However quite a few are struggling to sell, it's strange times.

If someone falls in love with a van then it's worth whatever price they feel is right.

At the end of the day £20 to £30K is still quite cheap for a VW camper when a California is £75K new. :eek:


VW buses still hold reasonable resale value too compared to other campers.

As mentioned above my mate bought his van for £30K, had it for 2 years, loads of use inc Europe trips and sold it for £28K. Not bad drop for any vehicle.


BTW, If you like a Swamper style camper ( like that T5.1 ) have a look at mine. I am considering selling to fund a new van project!

 
#26 ·
Fingers crossed. Mines a 2015 140 too. 🤞

If you want some decent interior MTB based furniture and fittings then this Piggl stuff is great.

A few MTB / biking folk on here have it fitted. Much, much nicer than a homebrew bodge job IMHO.

piggl.co.uk

Flat-pack Furniture for VW Transporter Campervan Conversions

PIGGL CAMPERVAN is a UK designed and built, flat-pack campervan furniture system including Piggl BIKE-BED; a bed, bike rack, seating and storage solution, alongside the slimline Piggl KITCHEN. Maximise space inside your VW Transporter campervan conversion. VAN - LIFE - STYLE.
piggl.co.uk piggl.co.uk
 
#28 ·
Orion said:
Fingers crossed. Mines a 2015 140 too. 🤞

If you want some decent interior MTB based furniture and fittings then this Piggl stuff is great.

A few MTB / biking folk on here have it fitted. Much, much nicer than a homebrew bodge job IMHO.

piggl.co.uk

Flat-pack Furniture for VW Transporter Campervan Conversions

PIGGL CAMPERVAN is a UK designed and built, flat-pack campervan furniture system including Piggl BIKE-BED; a bed, bike rack, seating and storage solution, alongside the slimline Piggl KITCHEN. Maximise space inside your VW Transporter campervan conversion. VAN - LIFE - STYLE.
piggl.co.uk piggl.co.uk
Click to expand...
Bought , another ex AA van . Need to change the front seats. Son can't seat on the bench seat ,his knees going into the dash ( he's 6 4 and 17!!). And the drivers side is a tad soft. Like the kit in the link
 
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