Is She A Good'n?

So last time we met, we had narrowly escaped blowing ourselves up due to some seriously dodgy electrics.

As we drove home, I couldn't help but worry if Buttercup would turn out to be a bit of a liability. Looking back at my buying process I can see I really bought with my heart rather than my head. 

I'm the first person to admit that my mechanical know how is woeful.  Although to be fair, I stand a much better chance of being able to solve a problem on a old car than on a new computer operated one.  Back in the days of my youth when I drove a collection of motley vehicles that were bought mostly from auction for less than £400, I could change a tyre, change spark plugs and even have a go at doing an oil change.  But I've slept a lot since then and my cars have got newer...When I bought Buttercup, I had my limited knowledge of vintage cars (I used to own a Karmann Ghia, had regular access to a 1983 Mercedes 280SL and drove around Oz in a 1973 kombi) and other than having a feeling she was a good van, I didn't really have any hard evidence to go on.  GULP!

So having left her in the capable hands of MSC Prestige Garage  www.mscprestigegarage.com all I could do was wait for the verdict.  Mark at Prestige had agreed to give her a good look over and give us an honest opinion of her and the condition she was in.

A week later, the phone went and MSC flashed up on the screen.  Here we go, I thought, he's going to tell me, in the kindest way, I've bought a dud!  But thankfully, when I actually plucked up the courage and answered, the news was good!

According to Mark, she is a 'good, solid van'.  He'd gone over her with a fine tooth comb and besides a few little issues, nothing major is outstanding.  In his words "enjoy the season in her then book her in over winter to get the little bits sorted".  I can't tell you the relief.

More good news was to follow.  As mentioned in the second blog, keeping these vehicles undercover for the winter months is essential and the search for that holiest of grails, a garage in a city, had begun in earnest.  

Having advertised on gumtree and phoned every available rental garage, caravan park and private garage going we were starting to run out of ideas.  Everything was either already taken (which is obviously why the number of camper vans parked on the roads of Liverpool is minimal), too small height wise, too expensive or too far away.  Eventually, my wonderful other half found somewhere.  The only thing was we needed to have the van with us in order to check the height restriction.

Let me tell you that co-ordinating a visit to a possible garage when the firm's staff are based in Manchester, we are in Liverpool and the van is in Southport or Formby is like a military exercise.  After one aborted attempt when Buttercup's battery ran out, we finally found ourselves on the way to test the garage at a time that was convenient for all.  Phew!

Anyone who has driven a van or indeed, any vehicle that is taller than your average car will tell you that sloped access to garages, car parks and drive ways are the bane of their lives.  These slopes can make entry impossible and are far more effective than a barrier! Having measured the entry on a visit without Buttercup, we knew there wouldn't be much room to play with. Leaving me to negotiate the slope (well she is mine so I should take the responsibility if I plough her into the car park), Dom stood frantically waving hands, showing thumbs and generally being encouraging.  And I won't deny, my heart was in my mouth as we edged our way down the slope and under the lowest point of the ceiling.  But....we were clear!  She fits!

I felt like Cinderella with the glass slipper!

So now, not only do we have a lovely old van, but we have somewhere to keep her dry in the winter.  Hurray!  If only it was as easy to keep us dry in winter, life would be peachy!

Next time - A nearly domesticated goddess!

First Night in the Van...

So now we come to the first night we spent in Buttercup.

We had imagined ourselves in an idyllic pastoral setting, with birds tweeting merrily and the sunset glinting off the chrome.   A nice level place, preferably near water where we could enjoy a glass of red and sigh with contentment. Well plans are made to be changed...

The gist of the plan was as follows.  Drive to Formby, collect Buttercup, return to Liverpool, pack the van and set off.
This, however is what really happened.
Drive to Formby - check
Start Buttercup - Houston we have a problem!

Unfortunately one of us had left the radio on and because it hadn't worked, we'd forgotten to turn it off.  Result, two VERY flat batteries and a van that refused to budge an inch. We hooked her up to jump leads but she was having none of it. It soon became very clear that we would have to leave both the batteries on charge overnight and hope against hope that the problem would be fixed.

Camping trip cancelled, we returned to Liverpool a bit on the grumpy side.  The reason we'd decided to try her overnight was due to an appointment we had the following Monday.  This would be the day we would introduce Buttercup to the Camper Shak www.thecampershak.co.uk who are doing her face lift.  We really wanted to try the bed, the layout etc before discussing possible changes with Mike and Diane (more of them later). We decided the next best thing was to stay in her on Sunday night before heading straight to the Camper Shak the next morning.

Luckily, Buttercup started and we took her for a pootle around the local area just to make sure she was running ok. And so the first night of camping in her arrived.  Not the quiet countryside we had imagined but the driveway of a respectable bungalow in Formby.  But hey, at least the toilets were practically ensuite!

The next morning we arrived at the The Camper Shak with Buttercup where we met Mike and Diane Marsland.  What a lovely couple!  As a customer you really feel as if you matter. Cups of tea are the first thing on the agenda before settling down to discuss our requirements.  Nothing is too much trouble.  We are given lots of advice and Diane makes a list of all the things we have to source for the van and even emails the product codes over as well.  We are shown around the workshop, see units of all kinds, meet their apprentice and are generally made to feel very welcome.

The attention to detail is fantastic.  It is obvious that Mike and Diane are passionate about Camper Vans.  But as well as passion they have knowledge, experience and above all empathy with their customers. They realise that to us these vehicles are not just a van, they are, in fact, part of the family.  Two hours easily slip by and we leave there safe in the knowledge that Buttercup will be in safe hands.  

From here, we head straight to www.mscprestigegarage.com .  When we bought Buttercup we knew she had something weird going on with the electrics.  The engine had to be started with a rocker switch in the engine bay and when you switched the ignition off it kept going until you turned off the switch again.  Very odd! So on Mike's recommendation "we take all our vans there, you couldn't do better" we booked her in with Mark.

Again, the customer care was brilliant and the passion for vintage cars was apparent. Mark was keen to have a look at her straight away.  So my partner (who did electrical engineering at Uni) and he had a chat. Dom had already told me that the wiring was really not right and needed to be sorted.  As he was explaining this to Mark, he lifted up the bed to show him the leisure battery. This is the bed where we had slept very comfortably, last night.  We certainly weren't expecting what happened next.

Mark stepped back and said "mmm there's a live wire in there. It's arcing against the metal there. Oh and it's right by your fuel tank.  Do you know what, we'll get that out right now!"

I'll just point out again, that the fuel tank he's talking about full of highly flammable petrol and next to the live wire was right underneath us last night!  
And we thought life in a vintage camper meant life in the slow lane...

Thankfully, Mark sorted the wire within seconds. As we drove off in our modern Polo having left Buttercup there to get the rest of her electrics done we reflected on our first night in the van.  

Ok so it wasn't in a beautiful location,  we didn't see the sunset, we didn't hear the birds cheeping.  But hey, we didn't blow up either and that is more important.  And on that almost literal bombshell I'll leave you to check any loose wires you may have hanging around!

Next time...Did we buy a goodun?

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Tempted to get your own Buttercup?

The first blog described my fascination with VW camper van's and how I came to own Buttercup.  Words can't really describe how made up and excited I am about this adventure. This is a genuine dream come true and one that I would urge anyone to try.  That said, owning a 40 year old van has many plus points but before you rush out and embroil yourself in the vintage car and vehicle world there are a few things to be considered.

STORAGE - these vehicles are old and they like the sun.  They do not like being left out in the rain.  I am lucky enough to live in Liverpool. Great city. Fabulous city. Innovative and creative city.  NOT a year long dry city!  And being so close to the Mersey and the coast, the rain is not just wet but salty too.  This is yet another thing that vintage vehicles hate! The solution is a garage.  Easier said than done.  Frankly, finding a garage in this city has been like finding hen's teeth.  So she has been living at parent garages which are dry but also 25 miles away! Very convenient for a spur of the moment camping trip...

TIME - You have to make time for these vehicles.  Don't buy one just to look pretty on your driveway because all that will happen is the rust will set in and the vehicle will get harder and harder to start.  Perhaps more importantly with the time issue, don't expect to just get in the van and go.  Sometimes, the van may just say no!  So with that in mind ALWAYS allow extra time to get anywhere. But let's be honest, if you've bought one of these lovely old vehicles you've already accepted that life in the slow lane can be just as much fun as life in the fast lane.

MONEY - a bit like horses, it's not the initial outlay (although that can be staggering depending on the age and spec of the vehicle, remember the £48,000 camper on George Clark's amazing spaces the other week?) that can cripple you, it's the upkeep including Road tax, MOT, storage, petrol and insurance.  Well what's so different from any other car I hear you say?  Nothing apart from the fact you have to have a contingency fund for repairs.  At any time things may go wrong.  Old vehicles need new bits. That is just a fact.

A TRUSY MECHANIC - these vehicles can't be hooked up to a computer for diagnostics. They need someone with a real skill and passion for vintage vehicles.  Like finding a trusted hairdresser, it can be traumatic searching for a mechanic who is honest, knowledgeable and affordable.  We have struck gold... www.mscprestigegarage.com 

And so if this little list hasn't put you off and a camper is your dream - go for it!  It certainly didn't put us off and we certainly haven't regretted it. Instead we are looking forward to the great Camper Van adventure which started with a little trip to Formby beach...cup of tea and icecream.  We couldn't have been a more British cliche if we tried!

Next blog...Near Death Experience!