Hi from Glasgow

Hi, I'm Anne from Glasgow, Scotland. I'm looking to purchase my first Auto Sleeper and as I'm a female with little knowledge of these things, I thought I would join the forum and perhaps receive some useful advice before I part with my hard earned cash! Any good advice would be greatly appreciated.

My concerns are that there are so many makes and models and specifications! The prices vary so much and I'm not sure wether to get a good second hand van/older van for my first van, or pay a bit more for a newer one initially? I was also thinking of a VW van to start with, which I felt could be quite reliable and keep it's price etc.

I would also like to have more than two berths, so that I had options to take my daughter and granddaughter. A shower onboard would be fab too.
Another concern is how easy it would be to drive? As I mentioned before, I'm female and generally just used to driving my car and not something as big as an autosleeper.

Running and maintenance costs need to be considered too and I realise these will much depend on the age of the van and the size and engine etc.

If anyone has a few minutes to spare to give me some good honest advice before I buy, I would be ever so grateful.


Many thanks,

Anne :)

Welcome to the forum from North Wales

Anne,

Welcome to the forum,

Swings and roundabouts, I'm afraid ..... we all have different Auto-Sleeper types (and needs !!).

Our 'Clubman' is a small two berth "Monocoque" on the 2.4 VW chassis, so would not suit.

Good luck with your search .... and remember .... it must be an Auto-Sleeper

Brian & Chris

Hi Anne
A very warm welcome to the forum from sunny Bridlington,( wifes from Rossie)
Boaby

Hello Anne, think what you are looking for in a VW would limit you to a used AutoSleeper such as a 3 berth Gatcombe or Clubman Anniversary (two in the bed and a small person in the luton!!!.
Options really open up on the Pugeot base vehicles starting with the Nuevo variants and moving upwards in size.

Many people think some vans are larger than they are. We know of a couple who were looking for a Clubman until they realised the Executive was only around 1 foot longer and the widths about the same.

Our advice normally suggests looking round for a few months so you see as many models as possible and only when you have shortlisted start talking to dealers about prices. What ever you do it will be a major expense so dont be tempted to rush into anything

Thanks for your advice Roger. Much appreciated. So far I've just been looking online and I hope to get to see some soon, so no doubt I'll get a bit more of an idea once I've seen some and maybe even test driven one! I'll bear in mind what you've advised.

Cheers

Anne

Hi there,

Welcome from a cold but sunny Skegness.

I suggest that the smallest motorhome that has "everything" is the Duetto and it is very easy to drive, especially with cruise control and even more especially if you can find an automatic!!!! But I am a tad biased.

Incidentally, I was glad that you explained that you were from Glasgow, Scotland as a lot of people down here always thought Glasgow was in Wales.

Best regards,

Thanks for your reply Dutto, should I take it you were joking about people thinking Glasgow was in Wales!? It's good to know people here have a great sense of humour and it's making me wish I had my van right now so that I could actually get out and catch up with other owners.

Thanks so much for taking the time to pass on your views. Much appreciated.

The weather here is mild with heavy showers by the way.

Cheers

Anne

Welcome to ASOF Anne

You may find the van conversions like the Tridents & Symbols not really big enough for your needs as these are ideally suited to couples.. The Tridents do have a bed in the roof space suitable for small children but not sure about the Symbols (others will advise) The advice given so far is good, have a look around a few dealers or get yourself to one of the motorhome shows if you can, have a look at van conversions or the monocoques like the Clubman which really is a cracking motorhome.. plenty of help and advice on this site so just ask for any info you need, we are very lucky to have such a great bunch of really helpful members here who make everyone welcome in such a friendly way.

CC

Anne,

For "humour" read "sarcastic git"!!

Whole world seems topsy-turvy. Colder here in Skegness than Glasgow - as our friends for 25 years up near Tesco on the Kirkintilloch road have kept pointing out this year!!!

Now you have warm weather as well I can see the day when "Sunny Glasgow" will become the holiday destination of choice for the hordes of English people that currently head south to Benidorm and beyond. Luckily for me I will be dead by then!

Enjoy your search. They are great fun!

Best regards,


Ian

Welcome to another Scot.

BTW Roli - the Clubman anniversary only had the option of the luton bed - most appear to be 2 berth, although we can sleep 3 lengthways with ease on the settee beds if the weather is too cold to put junior outside in the awning!

Great advice and chat from all replies. Many many thanks. I'll look at all options before jumping in!

Cheers,

Anne

Hi Anne Glasgow

Welcome to the forum

PB

Hi PB,

Thanks for the welcome.

Anne

Hi Anne.


Welcome to the forum from Nottinghamshire.


Cheers. Whisky.

Hi Whisky,

Thanks for the welcome message.

Cheers

Anne

Hello Bulldog,

Many thanks for your welcome message.

Cheers

Anne

Hallorerrhowsitgawnthen, Annie

Thought I would welcome you in the Glesca parlance, just to make you feel at home.

Welcome to the Forum. I have had the Trident on the VW chassis, and a Duetto on the the Ford. Both these vehicles were great Campervans, but not suitable for anymore than two people( + maybe one small child). If you are only going to have more than two occaisionally (using the giant double bed), I think the Duetto would be better suited to yours needs, as it has a nice toilet and shower, and bench seat beds, so option of singles or large double, the Tridents bed layout is a faff. The Ford Transit engine is a great workhorse, and of course spares are plentiful and cheap, but do look out for rust around the wheel arches and bottom of the back doors.

I now have the Executive, mainly because my wife is disabled, and we needed a bit more space, but I love the layout.


What ever you decide, take your time and ask ask ask .


Orrabesthen

Andy

Hi Glasgow - Í bought an R reg. Clubman and it's a ladylike drive - I'm a bloke by the way - It's shorter than móst and that is handy when you need to park the thing. It's still longer than a car - Looking at the various motorhomes is fascinating but go outside and remember that wherever you go on a site no problem but if you go into the nearby town or village or supermarket YOU GOTTA PARK IT.. So think small is our advice - Me & the Wife - Have a test drive in a VW Clubman - It's a better drive than our car.. Good Hunting ....Cheers Wilf

Hi Andy,

That was a nice welcome. Thanks very much. And for the advice also. I'll take note of all you experienced
Van owners advices when I start my search. I'm so looking forward to being part of what seems like a very interesting hobby!

Cheers,

Anne

Hi Wilf,

Thanks for the advice. I'll probably need to travel a bit just to see as many vans as possible before I get an idea what would be suitable for me, but I'll certainly keep in mind what you've suggested. I've driven a Luton box top van before, so I'm sure I'll manage, although with a bit of trepidation initially. All part of the fun I suppose. Thanks

Anne

Just saw wilfenix slide a sneaky intro into this thread, Welcome to the forum. Before I saw your van was R reg I had sent you a private message, so you can forget it!

Hello all, just thought I would post an update on my previous welcome as a new member. If I should have posted this elsewhere, please let me know and apologies in advance!

Since I last posted, I've still been unable to purchase anything and I just missed what I thought might be a nice Van to get me through the summer, with the option of trading it in next year, or selling it to get some money back towards a newer van. I'm recovering from a leg injury and unable to get around as I'd like to right now, so I've been restricted on where I can buy or see a van that would suit my needs. I'm also only able to work two days a week at present due to my leg injury, so I've had to rethink my finances and commitment to costs etc.

I enquired about a 1990 Talbot Express Campervan with 55,000 miles on. I was told they were genuine. It looked really good for the year etc, with 4 berths and a shower. Someone put a deposit on it before I could get to view it, so I'll just keep looking for the time being. It's a little frustrating as I feel that I'm going to miss out on travelling this summer if I don't get something soon. I did hope to get a far newer van initially, but if I get a decent older one and look after it, it should be re sellable next year?

I would be really interested in any thoughts or advice on my plan of action, just to help me consider what to do for the best? Should I buy old and cheap now or hold off until next year for something newer and miss out on some good times just now

Happy travelling everyone.

Anne

hi
And welcome that's more like it more females girl power from Dora in very wet glasgow