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Taking the plunge...

calibeach76

calibeach76

Messages
452
Location
Pembrokeshire
Vehicle
T6.1 Coast 150
Been a member for a while, sold a Beach late 2020 for what we paid a year before but regretted it in many ways ever since. Have ummed and arred for a while between a return to the VW fold (Cali and conversions) as well as smaller c 6/6.5m coachbuilts. Have held off for a number of reasons, global uncertainty, Covid restrictions, inflated prices and fear of buying at the top of the market etc. Reality is we want it to replace one of our cars so we have flexibility rather than buying and running as a third vehicle again. Compromise is lack of shower v coachbuilt but pros are that it really can be used as a daily driver. Question is, do I still hang around and wait for prices to fall? Take the plunge...? I'm looking at a 21 reg Coast for £57,999 with 12k miles. Is this crazy money? Reality is we would keep for at least 5 years, kids currently 6 and 4....
 
I think that the lack of new vehicle supply will stall the price drop due to the many staycation Campervan Buyers going back to package holidays over the next year.

Overall my foggy crystal ball indicates no change in prices over the foreseeable future with demand for quality campervans remaining. (lot of help-not)
 
Thanks Bjg. Kind of what I have concluded in my own mind but unsure if desire to get another including my judgement especially watching currency markets right now. My head tells me to put it all in gold!
 
That price (almost!!) seems reasonable!
What options does it have?
 
Cheers Sad. Cherry red same as yours, black awning rail

Cherry red
Privacy glass
Reversing camera with park assist
Comfort mattress
Heated front seats
Mud flaps front and rear
Roof bellows with panorama window
Bike rack
 
calibeach76 said:
Cheers Sad. Cherry red same as yours, black awning rail

Cherry red
Privacy glass
Reversing camera with park assist
Comfort mattress
Heated front seats
Mud flaps front and rear
Roof bellows with panorama window
Bike rack
Click to expand...
Sounds like a good deal to me, considering what prices we've seen for similar...
 
How do you find the red in the flesh? I had acapulco blue before on my beach.
 
calibeach76 said:
Been a member for a while, sold a Beach late 2020 for what we paid a year before but regretted it in many ways ever since. Have ummed and arred for a while between a return to the VW fold (Cali and conversions) as well as smaller c 6/6.5m coachbuilts. Have held off for a number of reasons, global uncertainty, Covid restrictions, inflated prices and fear of buying at the top of the market etc. Reality is we want it to replace one of our cars so we have flexibility rather than buying and running as a third vehicle again. Compromise is lack of shower v coachbuilt but pros are that it really can be used as a daily driver. Question is, do I still hang around and wait for prices to fall? Take the plunge...? I'm looking at a 21 reg Coast for £57,999 with 12k miles. Is this crazy money? Reality is we would keep for at least 5 years, kids currently 6 and 4....
Click to expand...
If you buy it as an investment is difficult to tell the future, if prices will go up or down. You could wait one or two years and save a couple of grands, maybe. But you will never recover the time wasted, the two years worth of experiences/adventures, your kids certainly will be not waiting and remain at 6 and 4, they will miss out 2 years on Cali holiday and long weekends.
In those two years you will also suffer the depreciation on the second vehicle.
 
It's a bit more than the new one I'm picking up soon but not outrageous given the continued delays for new vans, demand and price increases that keep coming. I saw one recently that had 28k on the clock, 2 years old and asking over £58k. You never know just how much some of these high priced vans eventually sell for but some folks must have had a good 2 or 3 years worth of use and then selling at a profit. That's why I ordered new. Can't really afford it but the used prices just made no sense to me. I don't think the market will be the same in 5 years but likely to still be strong depending on advancements in electric options and diesel prices etc.
 
They’re very expensive because they are the best you can get and demand has been increased by an unexpected event.
I personally think they are fantastic with young kids. We bought ours in 2009 when my wife was first pregnant. Our daughter has just turned 12 and our son is 8. We can take all the stuff they want. Assuming your wife likes camping in a 5m van (not all do) I can’t see what is holding you back. We have 13 photo albums as I do one after every summer, and they’re full of our family smiling.
Just driving it makes me feel like I’m on holiday.
1648660713558.jpeg
Spain 2016 when our kids were 6 and 3. Running to the playground. The memories are priceless!
 
Last edited:
Lambeth at Stoo24 thank you!

Yes, I take all of these and hadn't really factored in depreciation on the alternative.

In terms of best you can get I totally agree. We have looked at loads and I mean loads of conversions. In some ways they are more "trendy" in terns of spec but they are still a converted van, many no type approval so a safety concern and many based on basic engine versions and 5 speed manual. Auto 150s sell for more than California's do. O also think resale will be much lower as how does someone book value a conversion?

Will sleep on it tonight. Could have it this time next week...
 
People regularly say, when asked what was the best part of their life, “when the children were little”. I would say that’s true for me and the California holidays have absolutely enhanced those years. Priceless. The kids will always have those memories.

I also remember holidays on Isle Noirmoutier and camping opposite a couple in their 70s having dinner in the warm air, outside their van, drinking wine and then playing cards or reading. I’ve seen the same scene repeated dozens of times. For me when the kids do leave, that’s what I’ll be doing. In my 2008 California. Which will be 30 odd years old and still working.
 
That price sounds ok to me. Given that you can no longer buy a Coast new, the replacement would be an Ocean. That’s going to cost £64k+ new even with discounts.. with goodness knows how long to wait! If I were looking for a Coast, that’s about the price I would expect to pay. All just my opinion though :)
 
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calibeach76 said:
Been a member for a while, sold a Beach late 2020 for what we paid a year before but regretted it in many ways ever since. Have ummed and arred for a while between a return to the VW fold (Cali and conversions) as well as smaller c 6/6.5m coachbuilts. Have held off for a number of reasons, global uncertainty, Covid restrictions, inflated prices and fear of buying at the top of the market etc. Reality is we want it to replace one of our cars so we have flexibility rather than buying and running as a third vehicle again. Compromise is lack of shower v coachbuilt but pros are that it really can be used as a daily driver. Question is, do I still hang around and wait for prices to fall? Take the plunge...? I'm looking at a 21 reg Coast for £57,999 with 12k miles. Is this crazy money? Reality is we would keep for at least 5 years, kids currently 6 and 4....
Click to expand...
If you can afford it go for it and enjoy it now.
It may be a cliche but life really is too short.
 
Lambeth Cali said:
They’re very expensive because they are the best you can get and demand has been increased by an unexpected event.
I personally think they are fantastic with young kids. We bought ours in 2009 when my wife was first pregnant. Our daughter has just turned 12 and our son is 8. We can take all the stuff they want. Assuming your wife likes camping in a 5m van (not all do) I can’t see what is holding you back. We have 13 photo albums as I do one after every summer, and they’re full of our family smiling.
Just driving it makes me feel like I’m on holiday.
View attachment 90977
Spain 2016 when our kids were 6 and 3. Running to the playground. The memories are priceless!
Click to expand...
Lambeth Cali. That's lovely. Your post had us both in tears. I couldn't not buy it after that...!
 
calibeach76 said:
Well... I've just paid the deposit.... thanks Cali family
Click to expand...
I really wanna know where you found that bargain!!! lol We're in almost exactly the same boat as you - only difference is that we've never owned a camper before.

After much too-ing and fro-ing and weighing up our options, we've decided to just go for it. These above posts are really encouraging and back up our ultimate reasoning. My husband says - we're not buying it as an investment - we're buying it to use it, to live and for all the memories it can give us. I think that is the right way to look at it :) ENJOY!
 
BusyLizzyBee123 said:
I really wanna know where you found that bargain!!! lol We're in almost exactly the same boat as you - only difference is that we've never owned a camper before.

After much too-ing and fro-ing and weighing up our options, we've decided to just go for it. These above posts are really encouraging and back up our ultimate reasoning. My husband says - we're not buying it as an investment - we're buying it to use it, to live and for all the memories it can give us. I think that is the right way to look at it :) ENJOY!
Click to expand...
100% but we all like to know we are t pouring money down the drain too. As you can see from above we've agonised over this but finally pulled the trigger. My girls are still young and I want them to have those special memories money can't buy. Hope you find what you're looking for! I had a dealer find mine but I'd been registered a while before this came up! Good luck
 
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