First Motorhome - VW 2.4D 1994 Auto-sleeper

[kevnewcastle]

Hi Folks. I'm looking to get my first camper, on a budget. I've for my eye on a 1993 VW autosleeper 2.4 diesel, with 90000 miles.
It has been well looked after, and I would plan to keep it looked after, with regular servicing and usage and tlc/money spent. Realistically though, can someone advise, what level of trouble/breakdown/expense I should expect from a 30 year old vehicle? Thanks very much. Kev.

 

[FrankNicklin]

Has it had one careful owner and several not so careful owners. You will never know the true history unless the current keeper has been the only owner. As vehicles get older, spares become more problematic, the saving grace is likely that VW/Fiat/Peugeot are common around the world so in theory spares should be available but might require some digging to source. Who knows about trouble and breakdown expense. You might be lucky, but equally unlucky that just after you buy it something breaks. We took a punt on a 21 year old Ducato based Swift with 45K on the clock.

 

[Spriddler]

For the past 11 years I've had a 1995 Compass Navigator (I paid a dealer £13,000 for it) on the T4 VW 2.4 diesel automatic base vehicle , now with 80,000 miles . Apart from annual servicing, routine cambelt replacement and a new starter motor it has been faultless. It has passed every MOT without having even one Advisory. It's booked in for MOT again tomorrow.

 

[kevnewcastle]

Thanks for your replies. It has had a few owners, but the last owner has had it a long time. It's selling for around £13000. If I am unlucky and I encounter problems and get fed up, I suppose the worst case is I pay for repairs and sell it on. Might make a bit of a loss but nothing worse? Does that logic stack up or am I deluding myself? )

 

[Spriddler]

Thanks for your replies. It has had a few owners, but the last owner has had it a long time. It's selling for around £13000. If I am unlucky and I encounter problems and get fed up, I suppose the worst case is I pay for repairs and sell it on. Might make a bit of a loss but nothing worse? Does that logic stack up or am I deluding myself? )

Buying any used vehicle is a gamble. Even new ones aren't without problems, but at least they're under a warranty.
Don't use a main VW dealer as they will charge much higher prices for repairs and servicing than an independent garage.
With older ones rusting and corrosion can be very (the most) expensive to fix.

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[headlight]

Thanks for your replies. It has had a few owners, but the last owner has had it a long time. It's selling for around £13000. If I am unlucky and I encounter problems and get fed up, I suppose the worst case is I pay for repairs and sell it on. Might make a bit of a loss but nothing worse? Does that logic stack up or am I deluding myself? )

Check the MOT history.
At that age my main worry would be rust.

 

[FrankNicklin]

Thats our hope. We had a very limited budget but wanted to move from seasoned campers to a MH. To be honest reading these forums there are lots of new vans experiencing far more serious issues than those of 15 to 30 year motorhomes, some costing many many tens of thousands of pounds with long waiting lists to fix, so either way there is a gamble. The hope is that any repairs are relatively minor and not too costly in the overall scheme of things I guess.

 

[rod_vw]

kevnewcastle, our first 'water cooled' Volkswagen was a 1993 2.4l (AAB series engine) LWB and it served us well. It was definitely no sports car but a good slogger confirmed by us taking it over the Furka Pass in Switzerland. It was fitted with a high roof so had more 'drag' than a pop-top. We did 76,000 miles during five years, it that period it returned an average of just over 29MPG and cost very little except normal maintenance. We sold it in 2001 at 92500 miles (approx) but it's still on the road according to VoSA. You may find it interesting to look at its MOT history from 2006 which is on-line, the registration mark was K618 BUJ. What has been necessary to that may give you an insight to what was necessary to keep that van on the road for thirty years over and above normal service requirements.

 

[Spriddler]

It was fitted with a high roof so had more 'drag' than a pop-top. We did 76,000 miles during five years, it that period it returned an average of just over 29MPG

Crikey, that's good! Mine's (also an AAB engine) a high-top (overcab bed) and even though I'm never in a hurry I only get about 22mpg. Maybe it's because it's an automatic, although the relatively poor mpg doesn't really bother me as it's insignificant compared with the freedom to adventure o'er hill 'n dale.

 

[SpeedyDux]

I found the VW T4 forum was a very useful resorce including members recommending a local independent T4 specialist workshop not far from where I live.

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[kevnewcastle]

Thanks so much for the replies guys - its really helpful. Is diesel the way to go on these oldies?

 

[FrankNicklin]

Thanks so much for the replies guys - its really helpful. Is diesel the way to go on these oldies?

Depends. Diesel should give more MPG and better torque to get moving. You dont need top speed in a MH. Also trying push a wardrobe through the air isn't exactly aero dynamic so that will reflect in the MPG. Our 1.9 Diesel some say is under powered but will happily cruise at 60/65, ok slows on hills but thats down to driving style and traffic to get the best from it. I get about 24 MPG I would image petrol to be considerably less. Haven't had the van long so still getting used to the accelerator/speed balance but would hope to get higher 20's MPG taking it easy.

 

[rod_vw]

I found the VW T4 forum was a very useful resorce including members recommending a local independent T4 specialist workshop not far from where I live.

T4 Forum

Crikey, that's good! Mine's (also an AAB engine) a high-top (overcab bed) and even though I'm never in a hurry I only get about 22mpg. Maybe it's because it's an automatic, although the relatively poor mpg doesn't really bother me as it's insignificant compared with the freedom to adventure o'er hill 'n dale.

View attachment 834036

Ours was a high roof not a coach built.

 

[rod_vw]

Thanks so much for the replies guys - its really helpful. Is diesel the way to go on these oldies?

Petrol T4s are very few and far between and thirsty although I have a good friend who has one.

 

[headlight]

Depends. Diesel should give more MPG and better torque to get moving. You dont need top speed in a MH. Also trying push a wardrobe through the air isn't exactly aero dynamic so that will reflect in the MPG. Our 1.9 Diesel some say is under powered but will happily cruise at 60/65, ok slows on hills but thats down to driving style and traffic to get the best from it. I get about 24 MPG I would image petrol to be considerably less. Haven't had the van long so still getting used to the accelerator/speed balance but would hope to get higher 20's MPG taking it easy.

My 2.3 litre similar van to yours returns 32mpg average.

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[Spriddler]

Thanks so much for the replies guys - its really helpful. Is diesel the way to go on these oldies?

Yes, diesel's certainly the way to go. Very robust and the torque at low revs is ideal for motorhomes. I doubt you'll find many petrol engined ones.

 

[davidbaldam]

Hi and welcome to FUN.

 

[gus-lopez]

 

[kevnewcastle]

I really appreciate all your comments guys. I have an update. The motorhome has been inactive since 2020 and stored in a barn. It’s clean and tidy however last mot was match 2020. The guys Im talking to have restored it to good working order eg timing belt, fuel pump, injectors. They’ll have it MOTd soon. They seem like genuine caring good guys. I notice on MOT in 2012 lots of advisories around sill and wing rust which it has obviously survived. I guess the fact a van can last 30 years means it’s all doable? I’m going to see it at the weekend.

 

[FrankNicklin]

Well worth a look. Rust can be an issue but if it is well repaired it can be better than the original steel. Car restorers do it all the time. You don't see many MH's in scrap yards and spares for old vehicles are a premium because people are keeping the older vans on the road. Good Luck, hope it works out.

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[rod_vw]

kevnewcastle when you next see the T4 have a critical look under the battery tray (engine bay left hand side) at the suspension top, likewise on the right hand side under the air filter box. That's a known rust location the left side being the least accessible.

I don't know where it and you are but if by chance you are in the west of the West Midlands and want a second opinion please feel free to give me a call and will be happy to join you.

 

[kevnewcastle]

Ah thank you so much for the offer rod_vw that’s super kind of you. The MH is in Middlesbrough so a bit far away. I will ask them to reveal the areas you’ve pointed out though. Thanks again!

 

[headlight]

Ah thank you so much for the offer rod_vw that’s super kind of you. The MH is in Middlesbrough so a bit far away. I will ask them to reveal the areas you’ve pointed out though. Thanks again!

In case you're not aware you've used up your 5 free posts.
Membership of the forum is only £20 and if you join you will be able to continue getting advice.

 

[Spriddler]

For the past 11 years I've had a 1995 Compass Navigator (I paid a dealer £13,000 for it) on the T4 VW 2.4 diesel automatic base vehicle , now with 80,000 miles .........It has passed every MOT without having even one Advisory. It's booked in for MOT again tomorrow.

Well it sailed through the MOT again this morning. It hasn't had even one Advisory in the past 12 years.

I had a browse underneath whilst it was up on the lift and remarkably there isn't a trace of rust or corrosion on the chassis or suspension - clean as a whistle.

 

[kevnewcastle]

That sounds amazing! That’s what I want !!

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[kevnewcastle]

Would I be wise to increase budget and look at newer, like 20 years old? Or is it a bit of a lottery? Do any other makes of 20+ year old MHs stack up against the VW?

 

[headlight]

Would I be wise to increase budget and look at newer, like 20 years old? Or is it a bit of a lottery? Do any other makes of 20+ year old MHs stack up against the VW?

Yes plenty lol.
A member sold a 2007 Citroen Relay yesterday for £4,000.
It was fully fitted out including large solar and battery bank, just needed a little tidying up inside.
The VW's tend to be dearer as there is a "scene" associated with them.
What is your proposed use for the van ?

 

[kevnewcastle]

I think I’d like a weekend van. Even pitch up for a day at the beach with family hence would like more roomy vehicle. Occasionally do a longer road trip spanning week or two.

 

[kevnewcastle]

Something that’s not too big or long. With a toilet/shower. And ideally twin beds which convert to a double.

 

[FrankNicklin]

Something around 6m long. Ours is an old swift 590RS is a 5 birth with 4 seat belts (Important if travelling with family), has a rear bathroom and kitchen and dining area that converts to a double and a single alongside on the long bench seat. Other double is above the Cab.