Which autosleeper?

Hello,
I have just joined as a complete novice. My husband and I have just started looking for a motorhome  and like the look of the duetto. We have just looked at a 1995 Ford Transit model, really liked it apart from a couple of things: the wheel arches and sills had a bit of rust which had been filled, is rust a real problem? Also can the steering wheel be adjusted as I am somewhat vertically challenged! What else should we look for?
How does the Transit base compare to other base vehicles?

 We only have about £14K to spend.

Hi and welcome to the forum from sunny Bridlington .
Boaby

Hi, don't rush into buying, have a good look round. Before buying mine I looked at dozens, many were in a terrible state. The transits are a better drive but the older ones will most likely have rust, Peugeots aren't quite as good to drive but seem to age better.Be very carefull of one that has filler, any rust should have been cut out and replaced with metal.I ended up with a symphony and love it. Then there are the VW's to consider. They all hold their price well but don't pay too much.
Good luck

Dave

Hello and from Leicestershire,

I also looked at a few travelling up and down the country, there were/are some terrible ones out there, rust buckets being the worse,  after doing lots of research I went for a VW base vehicle, first a Topaz a smaller MH, then went up to a larger one which is my everyday vehicle and will park in a car space,  suffer from rust less than others,  

When looking around apart from the condition of the MH do a damp test, damp meters are not expensive, monocoque`s  do not have damp problems as there aren`t any seams, but check windows.VW will be more expensive than others, but are reliable and economical .

Good luck and have fun looking, don`t rush in and let your heart rule your head, as it could be an expensive mistake. also imagine your living in it, can you move about if in case of bad weather you have to stay in MH, check out beds are comfortable and easy to make up.

Kind regards,
Margaret

and check all cushions to make beds are present, we've had several members asking where to get cushions after buying a motorhome, they just aren't available for older vans.

There,s a couple on ebay, a nice one in Broadstairs Kent. Steve.

14k should be enough to get a good one !!
I have 10k as my maximum.

We have a 1995 duetto and love it, yes the rust mainly on the arches is a problem and we will have them cut out and replaced sometime . The seat adjusts in height rather than the wheel and we have both found it comfortable to drive. Any questions just ask.
peter

Hi, welcome to the forum 
I have a 1999 Duetto and love it. The layout suits me brilliantly, easy and comfortable to drive.
as mentioned above, rust can be an issue, but all parts are available, and it is worth spending on the maintenance as these vans hold their value well.
I would caution against anyone advertising one with "no rust". That is probably unlikely, and may mean there is rust, but just cleverly hidden behind lots of filler. Better one that has had repairs so you can inspect the invoices to see what was done, and then gauge for yourself how well it was done.
Don't be put off, you will get many happy years from autosleepers 

Lots of Tridents about too. Parts availability is excellent and there's masses of aftermarket product and technical knowledge on the T4/T5 forum. There's also the social side with big events like Camperjam and Busfest if that sort of thing appeals to you

hi  i have a duetto and i think that it's a good choice  but to change the wheel arches it's a big job like the rust behind the carver cascade  i have no choice because a duetto on french plates  was hard to find   but the parts are cheap and it's easy for doing the services   the peugeot J5 or the citroen c25  could be a good choice  too but i think that the ford is more reliable    best regards   pascal

Hi. We also have a Duetto, a 1998 version. I agree with what has been said regarding rust and we have just had the bottom of the rear doors replaced (aparently that is normal for the old Transits) I would recommend a diesel engine for economy and also a thorough check that all the services work. (From experience as I didnt find out that the water will only heat on gas after purchase!) The Duetto has a great layout and is longer than some of the other similar models which can make a lot of difference. I have been told by my garage that the 2.5 turbo diesel engine is very reliable but to keep on top of the bodywork. Going in for MOT tomorrow so fingers crossed!

Cant recomend the vw topaz highly enough. Lovely to drive, doesnt suffer from rust as much as 90's fords can. May cost more in outset, but hold their value well. I can answer any topaz questions you may have.

jonny

Hi and welcome.
As relative newbies ourselves we have found a lot of help and advice on this forum.
We searched for a long time for a good Topaz (within our budget) but recently opted for a Symbol (Peugeot based) I believe very similar layout and size to a Duetto.
We recently did a week away and absolutely loved it.
I think a Symbol (or Symphony) could provide a suitable alternative.
Good luck,
Carver