Trident 1.9d... should we??

Hi All
We are looking at a trident 1992 1.9d. they are asking 8.5K, 132,000 miles, very clean inside and engine looks good!! although we are no mechanic!! On researching it seems a lot of people wouldn't touch the 1.9d as they are very sluggish....
if we are mainly going round Cornwall and Devon with a few long trips will the sluggishness! get the better of us?
also, the price seems a little hopeful! what would be reasonable?
Thanks for any advice.

Sorry I probably should have introduced myself!!! We are a family of 3 (well 4 but the eldest is nearly 19 and wouldn't come campervaning if you paid her!!). Looking at buying our first ever campervan which is both exciting and daunting! Look forward to getting some advice. From sunny Cornwall!! Emily and Sean x

Hello & welcome from S/Yorks.

Sorry but I know nothing of the van above, but I'm sure if you post in the relevant section, someone will know.

Only you can decide what is reasonable performance...the answer is to have a test drive in it. As you're an obviously serious buyer and not a tyre kicker, nobody should object.
As it will be your first campervan there's nothing to compare it with - so I would guess that your enthusiasm and pleasure to be gained from it would outweigh the relative negative of the possible lack of performance, though you will find the driving experience totally different to a car, every journey is calmer, less stressful and generally just a very pleasant experience.
1992 was a changeover year for VW, the ending of T25 and start of T4. Some of the very first T4's lacked power steering, though Autosleepers have always been based on higher spec vans so unlikely to find one without. The test drive will reveal all.
Everyone looks at arches and sills for rust, T4's are prone to rust along the windscreen top, if it's serious it means the screen has to come out...and if it's a very old screen then it may not want to go back in again.
Try all the window blinds and flyscreens, I always found them fragile and delicate, complicated to repair, many fiddly small springs inside.
Have a look at the VWT4 forum, too, always plenty of good advice, particularly for mechanical problems.
Good luck. Don't rush into anything, the Trident was always AS most popular model, plenty about.

Welcome from Durham.