1972 Volkswagen Type II Dormobile review from UK and Ireland

The engine that was in the van had to be replaced. With new engine very reliable and just one breakdown (below). It is an old van so constant maintenance is required, but I use it to drive to work every single day all year round and it is as reliable as any modern car - it gives you plenty of warning when it needs a service or some other work - it never just conks out. The only time it let me down was when the coil failed. I had a spare one in my toolkit, but I didn't have a clue what was wrong. A local mechanic popped in the new coil, charged me ten euro and I was away.

Very comfortable, very reliable, great head turner, cheap to maintain and look after, but very heavy on juice (22mpg). You can easily travel a few hundred miles a day in comfort in one of these, and then sleep in it later!! This van is a way of life and I love it. If you are reading reviews to decide if you should buy one then really you are taking the wrong approach - just get the best one you can afford, learn as much about it as you can, and then enjoy it. You might be lucky and get years of trouble free motoring (a lot of people do) or you might be even luckier and get a troublesome beast that will force you to learn all sorts of mechanical skills you never knew you were capable of. Just do it!!!