Hello and I need advice!

[James Thornton]

Hi and thanks for adding me to this forum! I'm a Brit currently living in Montreal, Canada (for the last 10 years). I have a 2003 T4 camper which is stuck in France at my parents' house - it's French registered. The plan my wife and I had was to spend a couple of years out here, then move to france, run some gites or a b&b, that sort of thing. Well, one thing after another - brexit, covid, and now my daughter is just about to start college... means we just haven't got there yet. Now, my parents have decided it's time they sold their property, so I'm going to lose my garage space and I'm wondering what to do with the van;
1. Keep it and buy/rent some garage space in France
2. Sell it. Would probably have to be done remotely unless I get lucky with timing. My parents are getting on, so I don't want to put the onus on them.
3. Bring it over to Canada. Winters and mosquitoes makes me wonder what use we'd really get out of it though, not to mention the cost and complexity of getting it here.
4. Say 'bugger it all', quit my job, pull my daughter out of college, sell up here and go to France anyway!

So I'm looking for some advice - I've seen at least one post here from someone in Canada who has brought a T5 over to Vancouver. Has anyone on the forum done similar and registered the van in Quebec? The rules are different in each province, and Quebec can be 'special' in so many ways!
Anyone got experience in selling a vehicle in France, or have a holiday home with a large empty barn for some potentially long term storage?
Anyone on the forum looking to buy a low mileage French registered LHD 2.5TDI 2003 pop top?

 

[The Tall Luthier]

Two questions:
Where in France is your car parked? Anywhere near the Haute Savoie region?
What condition/price is the vehicle in?

 

[James Thornton]

It's near Montmorillon, Vienne 86. Stored in a dry garage for the last 4 years since I was able to get there last. It was in near perfect condition back then, passed its control technique. We had to replace the clutch and its slave cylinder, and the exhaust system. I was planning to get new tyres. From memory about 60k miles on the clock. Interior still all original and undamaged - we bought it in 2006 from the original owner.
Absolutely no clue about price. I need to do some research on that. My plan would be to get over there and do whatever work has to be done before selling or exporting it.

 

[The Tall Luthier]

It's near Montmorillon, Vienne 86. Stored in a dry garage for the last 4 years since I was able to get there last. It was in near perfect condition back then, passed its control technique. We had to replace the clutch and its slave cylinder, and the exhaust system. I was planning to get new tyres. From memory about 60k miles on the clock. Interior still all original and undamaged - we bought it in 2006 from the original owner.
Absolutely no clue about price. I need to do some research on that. My plan would be to get over there and do whatever work has to be done before selling or exporting it.

Unfortunately 86 is in the west and we are in the east 74, 6hrs away, sorry. Best of luck James.

 

[James Thornton]

Thanks! We were in the Savoie last time we got to France. Met up with friends in Grenoble, then we toured round the lac area and Mont Blanc while my daughter was at a summer camp in Samoëns. I'd be happy to drive over there this summer if you aren't in a hurry to buy right now

 

[The Tall Luthier]

Our place in in the village before Samoëns, that might be very interesting, we are there in August I think.

 

[The Merle]

Our place in in the village before Samoëns, that might be very interesting, we are there in August I think.

Nice spot been there a few times boarding in winter and hiking in the summer

 

[The Tall Luthier]

Nice spot been there a few times boarding in winter and hiking in the summer

The hiking is glorious in the summer. Last year we hiked up to 3,000 meters from a 1,000m start point. Such amazing geography looking over towards Switzerland.

Saying that, we couldn’t walk up and down stairs for two days afterwards