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Topic: First time buyer....

kerand

05/2/2021 at 1:18pm
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Hi all....about to dip my toe in! :)

Looking for a 2nd hand Autosleeper conversion - preferably a Peugeot Symbol or Symphony as I love the lines / layout / size...budget of around 18k

Problem is almost every affordable vehicle i see on eBay or Autotrader - while looking great in the ad and description - when I check the MOT history out they're invariably beset with a history of rust problems?...I don't really know much about vehicles but know enough to know that once rust starts it's hard to stop! - so when i see numerous faults like:

'Offside rear vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) Major (i)'

or

'Nearside front suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength inner step (5.3.6 (a) (i)) - Major'

it makes me run a mile! - even though the problems have obviously been rectified to get through the MOT - and then appear to be ok in the subsequent MOT - I can't help worry that if the vehicle has a history of rust like this then the problem hasn't really gone away?

Am i being unduly cautious and is this what I must expect from vehicles that are of the age that my budget allows?...or should i keep looking until I find one that appears to be in a much better condition?

would be grateful for any advice - thanks

Keeley

saxo1

05/2/2021 at 2:18pm
Location: None Entered
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I think if you are at all uncertain then walk away, I personally would not buy a campervan/motorhome that has had structural problems unless the repair was the replacement of the faulty part with a new part, suspension components etc.
It's quite easy to get an MOT even if any welding has been done but that doesn't guarantee that it won't fail in the future unless it was done by a bona fide welding company.
Keep looking!
saxo1

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Fiona W

via mobile 05/2/2021 at 2:56pm
Location: Ayrshire
Outfit: Auto-Sleeper MHs

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Welcome to UKCS, Keeley.
What’s your budget?
We had an Autosleeper Clubman (loved it) on a VW cab and sure, we had to spend money to keep on top of rust: seatbelt attachments, door sills etc. The cab had several resprays. But it was a 93 reg, cost us £10K in 2005 and we partXd it for £6K in 2018 when it was 25 years old, so it didn’t owe us anything. I think at that point it had an advisory on the cab floor pan. But the Clubman monocoque MH body never leaked. And inside cupboards etc were more solidly made than newer Clubman models we looked at.
There’s a free Autosleeper forum that you can join (and also one that costs to join). You might get more specific advice there about the model you’re interested in. Good luck.
PS at the moment, with staycations likely due to Covid, there’s a strong market for MHs - so you may be seeing higher prices for what you’re interested in, but you should also sell easily if it doesn’t work out.

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2024 = 20 sites / 41 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.

Colin21

05/2/2021 at 3:30pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail

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Unfortunately this is the time of year when prices tend to be at their highest. The best bargains tend to be around in the run-up to Christmas. As Fiona rightly says, with Covid this is adding to the problem for bargain hunters as probably more people than ever are looking to join us on campsites in Britain.

If something is very rusty or has major structural problems, definitely walk away unless you fancy spending many hours and a lot of money doing it up. If you are determined though, keep looking as you never know what is round the corner. Someone may have a personal reason for selling up unexpectedly and you could just pick up a real cracker. I wouldn't worry too much about problems that are in the past as long as they have been properly repaired by someone who knows what they are doing. When you think you have found THE one, get an expert to check it over just to confirm. One of the motoring organisations can probably do that for you. Best of luck.

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Best Regards,
Colin

kerand

via mobile 05/2/2021 at 6:08pm
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Thanks everyone 👍 - wasn't aware of the motorhomefun forum so will have a look on there. Just spent another afternoon browsing eBay and finding great looking vans only to see the same old rust history problem on the MOT check!...feels a bit like needle in a haystack trying to find a goodun at the moment! 😮😁 Will keep looking though, I'm nothing if not patient 😎 K

dartgirl81

via mobile 13/2/2021 at 10:57am
Location: Sunny Leigh On Sea
Outfit: Itineo (Rapido) 720cd

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We purchased a 7.5 metre Rapido motorhome, sold our house and toured and lived in it for a year and had an absolute ball.

My advice, be very, very wary of Ebay, there are so many scammers on there its known for it and Ebay can't take the listings down quick enough.

My go to Web site for help and advice was Motorhome fun, ok you have to pay, but for the information, buying guides, help and advice it was invaluable.

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