Ok well I started with thinking that I'll get myself a Classic VW combi, but the ones I can afford a rust buckets and money pits, and the nice ones are up around the 20K mark.
So I have been looking at tradie vans and the such but they are also more often then not absoletely knackered and expensive considering what you get. Also noted that the parking where I park in the city has a height limit that pretty much eliminates vans from parking unless I let some of the air out of the tires.
So now I am looking at people movers that I can pull the seats out of. Toyota Taragos, Kia Carnival etc... Low and long. Good thing is also that I can put some seats in and use it as a people mover if I want to go on a road trip with the family.
Interested to know if any of you are also using people movers? Whats the longest board you carry? any interesting conversions?
+1 for the Delica.
light duty 4x4 capable (sand tracks, beaches etc)
The LWB will carry heaps of kit and still plenty of room for camping equip and the Engel
Nuf said. Check out www.delicaclub.com
Lots of the WA guys like the Delica 'cos they get to drive on the beach and go to pretty rugged and remote sailing spots a lot of the time which is when a Delica really comes into its own.
Here in Vic we're a bit more metro around the Bay.
I've had a Hiace, Mazda E 2000, and currently a Ford Econovan. All have been long wheel base and great for fitting heaps of stuff in. The downside of the Kombi is the engine in the boot. Obviously this stops you being able to have a rear shelf that you can slide stuff under (masts, sails, booms, tubs, boards etc)
The Econovan's and E 2000's are all over the place and you can pick them up pretty cheaply. A mate of mine got a good one for $3K, and therefore he doesn't have to stress too much if it has salty water in it, gets sand blasted at the beach or gets a bit rusty.
Many of these are on LPG (50c/L), and mine certainly goes into all the multi storey car parks (although you do instinctively duck down in your seat as you first enter
)
Mine has a bench seat in the front, another in the back (seats 6) and still has enough length to sleep in the rear section if you need to.
Could be what you need.
I drive a long wheeled base Chrysler Voyager. Not the most reliable car but all 5 rear seats can be pulled out in about 3 minutes and can fit a swag load of gear. May not have the image you are after but a car the was.$60000 10 years ago can now be picked up for $6000. Give it a Wicked van spray job and some curtains and you will be living the dream!
Forgot to mention, I carry my 9' 6" long board inside the Voyager so will carry all modern sailboards.
I know someone who sells Kia Carnivals. He tells me to avoid all early model Kia Carnivals up to 2003 as they're absolute rubbish. Models 2004 and later are pretty good. Good luck!
Maybe LWB Fiat Scudo/Peugeot Expert/Citroen Jumpy...
Cargo space length is 254cm I think or 258cm,
Width 169cm,
Height 147cm I guess.
Most certainly cheaper than VW.
You could get a T4 for 10k easy. Height is (just) under 2m so should fit in most carparks.
a mate and i put a starboard start into a hyundai getz the other day. closed the hatch and all.
i carry 3 boards, 3 sails, one mast and one boom in my 2002 mazda 323. can even fit the mrs in the back seat or on the roof
what about a Ford Falcon Station Wagon as an alternative to a van?
Your in the wrong state, but I have a customer of mine (in Sydney) who is moving back to the UK and selling his Delicia, it's in mint condition and from memory he had around $14k on it. I think they are leaving thecountrly in the next week or two so it could be a good opportunity for a bargain!
The other option is a garden variety for station wagon. You can get a surprising amount of gear in with the seats down. I spent a month inone of these travelling in WA with 3 boards and many sails and other bits.
Man I am getting overwhelmed with this feedback.
So far there is huge support for a LWB Delica, Then regular tradie van, then Station wagon, christler voyager. I think I will ignore the hyundai getz - doesnt put me in any better situation that I am already.
What about the Taragos? These seem decent? Anyone use one of these? I have seen them for around 6k for a 2002 model.
delicas look a bit top heavy....
anyone had any problems cornering or blown over at the beach
ha ha i'd get one if i could
stick with my kangoo combie van..
5 boards , 7 sails, 1 sup and paddle, 2 dogs.... NO Passengers though ,,, and has a melt down even if it thinks about driving on the beach
Just checked out delicas on carsales and man they hold their value.
Pre 2000 ones are still over 10K (most). Not looking at that big an investment. Lets put a price cap of 8K on this.
So what can you get for 8K or less?
Taragos are really great cars and quite reliable. You would have to remove the middle row of seats permanently as they are not made to take out and put back in. The rear pair of seats you could keep in as they fold up on to the side wall, (but reduce your space width ways) I've owned 2 of them and was really happy with them. Had to sell as it could not tow my caravan.Wish I kept the 1998 model for windsurfing gear.
Must have read something wrong on the carsales site but there is no 2002 tarago available for 6k. Alternatively there are '92 Tarago for 4.7K.... Still tempting
+1 Kombi.
You can get good ones for 10k - it all depends on how fussy you are about the interior (which you're going to wreck with wet windsurf gear). If you want a great bay window kombi with a perfect interior, yes, you're looking at 20k. If you're looking for something solid and reliable with an OK interior, you're looking at 10k.
I've got a rare panel van, so the interior isn't an issue.
I get 240cm boards and two piece 430 masts in the back of mine with at least 20cm to spare.
In other news, if you want cheap wheels to get you around the bay to windsurf spots, I would suggest a Saab hatch - they're cheap as chips, the boots are enormous (particularly the early 90's Saab 900) and you can get a board inside dead easy (no passengers though).
They've got a shocking rep over here for some reason, but everywhere else in the world loves them, they're CHEAP and they're ridiculously solid.
In other news, would also check out a Volvo XC70 for 10k - Peter something garage on City Road in Port Melbourne has a couple of them.
www.kombiclub.com
Register for buy & sell.
East Coast site.
If you can't fix it yourself they are a money pit but that applies to most things.
I have 1974 Bay and 1960 Beetle Rag Top.
Deano
