What a bunch of snobs

I agree with the post about Brittany. In fact in my extensive travels in France this is one of the many qualities I have observed about the French. They do not seem bothered about status. In fact I believe to show or boast wealth in France is considered vulgar. Have a look around a French supermarket car park. all the cars are little Clio's and the like. No big BMW's or Audi's financed the hilt on credit like they are in the UK just so they can appear wealthier.

I wont get started about all the things I think is wrong with society in the UK but snobbery and status has to be one of them. We are obsessed with possessions and how we look to others. One of my friends main ambitions in life is to have an Aston Martin parked on his drive. Now I know he will never drive it or flog it round a race track and the main reason he wants it is to show off to the neighbours. What a waste.

My ambition in life is to get out of the UK for as long as possible and see the world in the van, meet people and experience life and places. Personally I wont care if you park next to me in a garden shed on wheels as long as you want to share a beer!
 
barryd

@ Barry, you hit the nail on the head. I totally agree with every point you made.

I hope we get to meet you one day to swap a few stories and have a beer or two.

:)
 
there are a few of the new m/home owners ,that think they are better than the rest ,i have met them and to tell you the truth they are the sad ones they dont mix with others there loss not ours . in all the time we have had our van that cost 2 grand 5 years ago and hasent cost more than a couple of hundred in repairs in the time we have had it we may have come across mr smell up his nose a few times and my answer is usualy we can all chukky our selves up to the hilt carnt we but mine belongs to me not the finance company that usualy shuts there bragging up thats if i can be bothered talking to them in the first place. you can usualy recognise mr look at me straght away, but as i say there arnt to many about that seem to wild camp ,they all seem to be engrosed strutting there stuff round a camp site :banana:
 
There is something that always makes me laugh on some websites if there is a facility for showing your motorhome details.

The snobs always put the exact model and year of their van if it is a swanky one. They are also the ones who have the BBQ, the top of the range satellite dish (automated of course) and all the other must haves. I am not against people having these (I can afford them myself but who wants every convenience known to man, I am a wildcamper). If someone has worked hard all of their lives (like me, and yes, I will get a few ribald remarks for that) then good luck to them. I bear in mind that most people are on a tight budget and motorhoming is not a cheap lifestyle.

I see some nice vans about and I admire a few from a distance. What I love to see are the old, well cared for vans that real enthusiasts keep in good order and use regularly. I cannot resist going over for a chat and admiring the van.
 
As a newbie, good thread! We are ex 'caravan' members of the CC, just because they had more CL's than the CCC. There is some snobbishness around but as said before if you make an effort most folks are pretty good really. I have just (finished yesterday) self converted our 'new' little Bongo and don't care what anyone else thinks , we are experienced outdoor people and decided that small, narrow and 4WD was just right for us! just the right size to park inside those stones at the summer solstice!!. Will probably join the CC again just for the CL network, and now of course we will be wildcamping too!
 
People been laughing at my little camper for years. But with the price of fuel rising every day, they aint laughing now!!!

Dezi

Homefromhome.jpg
 
fofeg101 said:
I just joined the C&C Club, I hope that isn't the snobby one......???
Click to expand...

We are C&CC members.
Just returned from from a Temporary Holiday Site (THS). All types of unit present from basic tents and caravans to high end MHs.
Excellent value at £4.50 per unit.
We have stayed on all types of sites, Club Sites which are a bit more expensive but very well equipped, Certified Sites which are usually smaller with basic facilities. THS are always a favourite for value. Never encountered any snobbery. It really is a friendly club.
"maingate" is right in saying not everyone speaks, this happens everywhere, some people are more private than others but that doesn't make them snobs.
People are more important than status.
 
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we bought a transit conversion in 2009 and we joined the ccc just to pay a little less on sites really, and i must say we havent come across any snobbery even when we parked next to the posh MH people with a hoover! we have just bought a newish MH with a garage so that my hubbie can sleep easy knowing the motor bikes are locked up rather than chained to the back of the van. we like to alternate wild camping with sites and so far have had no trouble with any one. we are going to scotland next week again for the pre 65 and 6 day trail and hope to meet lots of happy campers of all types.see you there!:D
 
People really are funny things... and it takes one to know one I suppose.

We have a well kept old van (20 years old, second hand & paid for) always wildcamp, and have been both, looked down on, and looked upon as snobs.

Last year however, we noticed a big change in peoples perception of us simply because we now tow an old BSA motorcycle, its an M20 which, only a few years ago you could pick up very cheaply. Amazing how it brings people up to talk to us and not sense any sort of unpleasant attitudes.
[The wildcamp spot... Kingsdown in Kent. 51.183481, 1.403742 ]


VanBike.jpg
 
maingate said:
There is something that always makes me laugh on some websites if there is a facility for showing your motorhome details.

The snobs always put the exact model and year of their van if it is a swanky one. They are also the ones who have the BBQ, the top of the range satellite dish (automated of course) and all the other must haves. I am not against people having these (I can afford them myself but who wants every convenience known to man, I am a wildcamper). If someone has worked hard all of their lives (like me, and yes, I will get a few ribald remarks for that) then good luck to them. I bear in mind that most people are on a tight budget and motorhoming is not a cheap lifestyle.

I see some nice vans about and I admire a few from a distance. What I love to see are the old, well cared for vans that real enthusiasts keep in good order and use regularly. I cannot resist going over for a chat and admiring the van.
Click to expand...

you do find with the older type vans ,mine is a bedford cf, ok its not a rare one like some old commers and the like but a lot of people do come and talk about how they remember the old bedfords ,some fondly and some not so fondly . i know ours aint the best one on the road but they are not something you see every day ,and as a result i have had many a nice remark about the van plus we do get invites to classic shows . one thing i will say is i hear more problems with the new vans than the old ones. will these 30k plus vans still be about in 20 or 30 years time with all the fancy electronic gizmo hi tech rubbish they fit to them nowadays they will soon become uneconomical to repair . the first and second owner may be ok but think of us lot that cannot afford the megga buck ones .an auto box that costs 1000 pound plus to replace the gear box e.c.u and some of the new manual clutches can cost up to i grand to replace. 400 quid plus for a timing belt replacement the new stuff forget them :wacko:
 
Dezi said:
People been laughing at my little camper for years. But with the price of fuel rising every day, they aint laughing now!!!

Dezi

Homefromhome.jpg
Click to expand...
i want that one low running costs and you dont need a bike rack on the back .ps is it a demountable :lol-053::beer:
 
When me and my pal used to tour in a 1971 VW camper (still do occasionally) people used to go out of their way to talk to you.

When we did the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland you couldnt park without someone coming to talk or attempt to buy the van.

For some reason people like people in VW campers. They must just think they are nice freindly hippy type people.

Next time Im going to leap out the back with a ski mask on and a double sided Axe and see what happens.
 
kenjones said:
We are C&CC members.
Just returned from from a Temporary Holiday Site (THS). All types of unit present from basic tents and caravans to high end MHs.
Excellent value at £4.50 per unit.
We have stayed on all types of sites, Club Sites which are a bit more expensive but very well equipped, Certified Sites which are usually smaller with basic facilities. THS are always a favourite for value. Never encountered any snobbery. It really is a friendly club.
"maingate" is right in saying not everyone speaks, this happens everywhere, some people are more private than others but that doesn't make them snobs.
People are more important than status.
Click to expand...

Hi Ken,

Am I right in thinking that the C&CC THS you mention is Arnside? If so, we were there from April 12th to 15th. I have to say that I do not recognise your van from the site but you could not miss mine, a Burstner on a Tag Axle.

There were quite a few m/homes and nobody was friendly, in fact 2 of them kept there external windscreen covers on 24/7 for privacy. I can understand your point about privacy but 100% privacy amongst m/homers is too much and is a common occurrence.

The caravanners on site were friendly and that is because they have enjoyed this pastime for many, many years. Most m/homers (like me) are relative newcomers. I hope the unsociable ones will see this as a passing fad and go back to Spain on package holidays.

Someone (maybe on another forum) said that the wrong sort of people are entering m/homing. I did not necessarily agree with him but when I thought about it, I know what he means now. If our vehicles did not have all of the amenities (like vans in the 1960's and 1970's), then how many of these people would have entered into the pastime? None or very few is my feeling.
 
Hi maingate. I arrived at Arnside for a short stay after you left. Parked up just inside the gate. The caravaners nearby were very friendly as were the NELDA officials. Didn't venture further into the site as everything we needed was near our pitch and "Benny Woods" just down the lane for dog walking. You are right that some people like to stay fastened inside the vans. We have a 7 yr old LWB VW Transporter based van and, weather permiting, like to keep the sliding side door open until bedtime.
A beautiful area. Looking forward to our next visit.
 
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mandrake said:
i want that one low running costs and you dont need a bike rack on the back .ps is it a demountable :lol-053::beer:
Click to expand...


Not only low running costs. Madam has never been so fit with all that pedalling.

Dezi
 
barryd said:
When me and my pal used to tour in a 1971 VW camper (still do occasionally) people used to go out of their way to talk to you.

When we did the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland you couldnt park without someone coming to talk or attempt to buy the van.

For some reason people like people in VW campers. They must just think they are nice freindly hippy type people.

Next time Im going to leap out the back with a ski mask on and a double sided Axe and see what happens.
Click to expand...

The VW Type 2 camper is out on its own, what other van that originally cost say £3000 can you restore and then flog for £20000? Maybe thats why you attracted "friendly" banter. Call me a cynic if you must!
 
maingate said:
There is something that always makes me laugh on some websites if there is a facility for showing your motorhome details.

The snobs always put the exact model and year of their van if it is a swanky one. They are also the ones who have the BBQ, the top of the range satellite dish (automated of course) and all the other must haves. I am not against people having these (I can afford them myself but who wants every convenience known to man, I am a wildcamper). If someone has worked hard all of their lives (like me, and yes, I will get a few ribald remarks for that) then good luck to them. I bear in mind that most people are on a tight budget and motorhoming is not a cheap lifestyle.

I see some nice vans about and I admire a few from a distance. What I love to see are the old, well cared for vans that real enthusiasts keep in good order and use regularly. I cannot resist going over for a chat and admiring the van.
Click to expand...




Yes Jim thats right isnt it old boy.
When i met you i told you i was in a lovely old hymer that was perfect for the two of us.If i remember correctly you were waiting for a response when you turned up in your more expensive and longer motorhome.Smug *******:cry:
I know you were thinking mine is better than yours!!
We still miss the motorised zoo though:heart::heart:
 
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