In the end of the day it’s a Van! If you get a SWB it’s no bigger than a Galaxy or other big people carrier as has been mentioned before! Yes they cost more than other brands there’s a brand tax on them with out question. Reliability wise you can find horror stories about any vehicle, we has a new S-Max that would turn the lights off, of its own volition when you were driving at night….fun on the motorway I tell you! So you’ll find a pup anywhere you care to look! Kampers ( #fanboi term!) are lush but do you want to be hauling around the literal kitchen sink to Sainsbury’s? Another option is to go with a Kombi, it’s a huge estate car, you can sleep in the back if you want it’s easy to pack a stove to cook under the tail gate, or just take a tent,but you maintain the practicality of a bike, boat, kit transporter
Plus sides if you get parking sensors it’s as easy to park as a big car, (if it’s a tight space, you can exit through the sliding door!) if you go away a lot it’s a dream to pack, SWB Kombi you’ll need to lose a wheel to get bikes in. Unless you lose the single seat then four bikes is easy to do with riders!, It’s not bad to drive as is made out, a 140 on the motorway will sit a 80 happily, it will take longer to warm up inside in winter with the heaters, if you line it inside it does dampen down the road noise, but it’s a good drive if you wanted a sporty performance you won’t be choosing a Van of any kind.
In the end it comes down to choice, like buying a car, you could get a Ford, Vauxhall, VW BMW, Merc, you choose with your heart as much as your head! I’d wanted aVW van for abut 20 years I’d walk past one on he way to school! the stars aligned and I was able to pull the trigger on one last spring, within six weeks it had been to Cornwall, Wales and the northeast, northwest, all with two kids a massive dog, bikes and a tent that wouldn’t seem out of place on a scene from MASH! I know lots of people who push the button on a big Audi, or BWW one couple who tightened their belt massively so they could get a MERC A class sport thing. It’s what you fancy really.
Yes it’s an expensive toy, but it does the job brilliantly for us as a family, it makes me smile and I’d always wanted one, it’s great to be able to sweep the boot clean after a muddy sandy weekend! Could I have got something else or cheaper yeah I’m certain I could but in the end I’ll keep it forever now, unless it gets killed in a crash, and our seven year old is already talking about reprinting it red when it’s his! 😆
I think it’s a great bit of kit, I definitely bought a badge, but I in noway think it’s a 1960’s bay window bus either!
See if you can test one let the OH drive it especially if it’s going to be her main run about. I’ve not regretted swapping a car to a Van at all.
