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A bit of a rabbling/thinking out loud/going around in circles post,this one...so bear with me...

We are looking at the feasibility getting a cheap(ish) but "tidy",mid-sized van/crew-bus to use as a multi-use,second vehicle...

We'd want it to be suitable for use as a basic "semi-camper"(..make-shift bed in back,with tarp off the side,Quechua base shelter etc)for when we're on music festival sites and don't want to risk trashing the MH(..it wouldn't be used on "ordinary" campsites). 

However, as well as being "my" runabout,it would also be used for fetching logs for the wood burner,stuff from the builders merchants,trips to the tip etc...So a "car-like" people carrier type thing,would probably be a bit too "refined"(inside the rear load area).

Initial we avoided looking at VW T4s because we thought that as they were still very popular(..and still considered a bit cool by the festival/surf dudes)we'd get a newer,less abused van for our money,by looking elsewhere.. 

But having looked, we feel that..

a) Transit sized vans - Bit big

b) Berlingo sized vans- Too small

c) "Scudo"s etc- Odd looking and just pig ugly!

c) Toyota Hiace- Very much in the running (but again,later models,ugly as sin..)

So,finally onto T4s..

Are there any particular models/engines that we should seek out?(or avoid!)...

How does the FWD cope when the going gets a bit muddy..?  I like the "idea" of a Syncro but apart from "bragging rights" (,) I'm not entirely sure that in reality ,for our usage,they'd really be worth the extra cost/complication/weight/mpg?/VED?..

Pound for pound...would folk choose a "newer" Hiace over and older T4..?

Anyone with any experience and/or thoughts,on any of my above witterings..?

Thanks..

Thanks for all of that..

I hadn't realised(or thought about)the cost and availablity of spares...and to be honest I would've assumed,wrongly,that getting spares for the older VW would've given  more problems..

They're certainly a better looking vehicle than the last couple of incarnations of Hiace..

So,preferably a 2.4,non-turbo(and non- Syncro!) it is then....

Edit: Just to ask...Are 1.9TD "to be avoided" then... ?

(..there seems to be  few about on ebay etc..)

Ah!..I see...

Avoiding something that had been "fiddled with" (..and been adorned  with dayglow surf related stickers & paraphenalia),was one of the reasons we initially overlooked T4s...

Thanks again...

Merc' Vitos were on our original list....but I came across some quite negative "feedback" about them on online forums..? (..although I suppose, that's the internet for ya'! )

 ..and apart from that,in our price range,we'd probably only be looking at knackered old builders/plumbers vans...

(..the two sliding doors wouldn't really be an issue,as we wouldn't actually be "fitting it out" as such..)

Hi pepe63,

We have aT4 campervan as our everyday vehicle, 2.5 tubo diesel,first reg was in 2002,and its done 170612 miles to date.

It does 40 miles per gallon,and we use it round town as well as weekends away,it will do 80 mph all day long very happely.

It will carry most things we just put a old rug down on the carpet first.

They don't have to fitted out like ours is,you can have only the inside carpeted/lino,bench seats at the back etc,if you wanted to use it as a camper for a few nights,put an air bed on the floor.They are not bad to drive go under most carpark barriers & fit in most parking spaces.

Thanks for the continued feedback everyone..

Although my better half has confused things still further,by throwing the idea of a tidy(non-bling!)pick-up into the mix..

(..giving us the "possibilty" of getting(knocking together?), a simple demountable/canopy....)...