New member from Scotland

Hi,

First things first I don't actually own a new type 2 yet, so I hope you don't mind me signing up for this site!!

I have in the past owned a few Vw's lastly a T4 camper which I fitted out myself. I've always wanted a t2 and the Brazil models seem to be just what were looking for.
I've got my pennies together so hoping to buy a used but well looked after camper in the next few months. I am currently researching everything about them now, so please expect a few questions!!

Jeez I'm dead excited, been wanting a nice t2 bus forever!

Cheers!

Welcome
This is a brill site & any questions you may have will be answered to the best known knolage for sure.
Best of luck with your search for a Brazilian T-2 Bay.
I can recomend them whole heartedly as the reliability is so very good.
Along with all other obvious conciderations.
Hope you soon find the van for you.
Very best regards.
Pipestrangler

Thanks Pipestrangler.

Glad you can recommend the bus, I must admit as it's a lot of money for me to spend on a vehicle I hope I am making the right choice!

I am not expecting the world though, just want a bit of character in a vehicle these days.

Rust is my biggest worry but im like that about rust! Paranoid even....

Hope to contribute to the site in the near future.

Hi are you after air or water cooled

Still trying to decide on that one just now....heart says air, head says water.

Probably buy on price and condition in the end.

Suppose it depends on how many are for sale out there....just started looking again after 5 years!

Hello and welcome to the forum. Good luck with your search, hopefully you'll be driving with a big grin soon

Big grin guaranteed! I had a drive in my mates '56 spilt, managed about 1 mile then the big grin appeared.

Thanks for the welcome.

Welcome Daymo.

Was exactly the same before I got my Bay, 'It's a lot of money am I making the right choice'.
I haven't regretted a day since I've got mine, one of my better decisions.

Good luck with you purchase

hi.. welcome. I'm currently converting an 07 Panel van and can understand your worries about the rust... but dont be put off.
Just pick a good one a when you get it get straight onto the waxoyling !! I have been crawling all over mine the last couple of weeks and rubbing down the seams and treating the rust with smoothrite and waxoyl underseal. as long as you adress the seams at the bottom and any stone chips you should keep the rust at bay !!! 70's motoring all over again !!

Its a great time looking for your van, enjoy it !!

chairboy_paul thanks for the welcome.

I hear you about the waxoil, best buy shares in waxoil soon!

When you say your rubbing down the seams, are they starting to rust already? This really surprises me. But hey if you want one you want one eh? As far as I see its better to start with a nearly new one with some problems than an old one with lots. As much as I'd love an old one too!!

In saying that my T4 was mint 1 owner 46k on an 02 plate, and even that had some slight marks coming through. It started life as a panel van too, and I made it into a camper. 'suppose if its well waxed in the important areas I can handle a little surface rust now and then. I'll be doing the same as you with the fine tooth comb approach.

Your t2 panel looks ace, if I didn't have a 2 year old who needs to see out of a window when travelling Its a panel I'd be going for. Don't show me any big pics of it now, you'll have my head spinning on what to buy....

i've toyed with keeping it a panel but to be honest its not a late bay and with that tall roof just doesn't cut it in the pretty stakes !! therefore the windows are going in.
I would love an early panel. I think they look great as well.

The issues I see with the seams are poor fitting panels and p**s poor welding and painting.water gets under the welds and between the panels and lifts them. I have just taken mine back and rust painted them. I am getting a lower half respray soon so they can be painted over in one colour. Its not gonna be a show car but I figure the more protection for those seams the better.

Its not too scary but my rear valance is a mess!! quite holey at the back I have slathered on the underseal and rust killer to keep it at bay !! but accept that some fabrication may be needed in a couple of years !!

you are so right about a good starting point. I have seen some absolute horror shows of vans which look great on the outside.. but once you start peeling back the layers you wind up with nothing left !!

You are just the kind of guy I'd like to buy my van from.....

Can I ask the age of your van and how many miles's its done?

So from what you saying even if it was a brand new bus and you kept on top of it from day one, the main concern is the build quality letting it down....poor paint quality and panel fit etc.

Great info and this let's me know what to expect, it doesn't really put me off (entirely!) but its better to see this now than turning up to see a bus and expecting it to be perfect in every way. Expect a few imperfections.....

Go on spoil me with some big pics!!!

its 07 reg and has 47000kms. Dont worry to much I feel I may have over egged the build quality. its not that bad, but you can see all the little bits where the paint hasn't covered properly and water gets in.

I brought my van from VW KAMPERS and they have lots of nice vans for sale, but I must admit I was put off a little by the niggly little bits wrong with my van but when I compared it to the others it stood up well, and now I have it I am really pleased with it.

When you are used to a gav. dipped modern body going back to this is a bit of a culture shock but you soon adjust. The smile factor is well worth a couple of rusty stone chips!

The graphics have gone now and it will be getting a dark green bottom half, I have some nice chrome europa bumpers in the garage ready and loads of other goodies waiting to bolt on. gonna line out myself and have ordered some interior parts from Vanwurks, they have great interiors imho and bespoke is best in my book.

I concur with the bits about build quality. You cannot compare the Kombi with something modern. The BraziBay is built as a cheap mpv/van for the locals in Brazil where the climate won't have such an effect on it as the British one will. Find a Bay that ticks as many of your boxes as possible and then Waxoyl it like crazy. Most of all, enjoy owning it.

Thanks for the info guys...all good advice and I appreciate the help!

Lovely panel mate....not even slightly jealous ok?