Auckland - Buying a Van

The most important thing for us to sort out upon landing in Auckland, New Zealand, was to find a place we could live for the next year or so. In short, we needed a van. A camper van to be precise. One of these contraptions would save us having to get hostel beds wherever we went, and if we didn't total the thing over the next 12 months, we could probably sell it on for a similar price.

Our first port of call was the Backpackers Car Market. Here our dreams were shattered. You see, over the past few weeks, we had created this image in our minds of the perfect camper van. It was to have a double bed. It was to have a mini kitchen, complete with stove, oven, fridge, sink, toaster, microwave, blender, etc. There was to be a small dining area with table and chairs. There was to be a toilet and a hot water shower. It was to have electrical power sockets. It was to be spanking new and sparkly clean. We had 2000 GBP to spend, and we naively assumed that this would be enough to purchase our perfect van.

We arrived at the Car Market. There were 5 vans on display. All were just under the 2000 GBP asking price. All were complete heaps that wouldn't be seen dead in a scrap yard. We quickly dismissed 4 as being uninhabitable. Each barely had enough space for a bed, and were absolutely filthy inside and out. The last was a 1985 Toyota Hiace, said to be a very reliable brand of van, and just on the verge of acceptable. The tout at the market said that this was a popular choice and it would definitely go quick if we didn't book it in for a mechanical check. After much debate, we shelled out the $140 for the check, knowing this would take the van off the market for 24 hours, then we could back out if we found something better in that time.

We then searched hostels, the internet and local noticeboards, frantically trying to find an alternative to the one we'd just seen. One in particular caught our eye on the internet. It was a Hiace again, this time from 1987, but with a much nicer interior. No toilet, shower or electricity, but it did have big bed that converted into seats with storage space underneath – as well as a table and a double hob gas cooker. It even looked vaguely clean. What luxury ...

The previous owners were a French couple who had just finished what we planned to do - travelling round New Zealand for a year. They were actually very emotional about selling it on, and were having problems eating and sleeping because they had to part with it. I'm not sure whether our standards had dropped having looked at the other vans, but as soon as we saw it we knew it was perfect. We pretty much agreed to buy the thing then and there for the asking price of 1800 GBP (foolishly I didn't even haggle) subject to a mechanical check. It passed (well – close enough to a pass anyway) and I shelled out the biggest amount of money I have ever parted with – in cash. The van was ours!

We waited with trepidation for our first night in it ...