Anyone got a campervan as a family car?

[ninja]

It's just me and 2 kids (3 and 9) and I was thinking of getting a new car - part of me is yearning after a camper van because of the ease over camping.

Am I mad to consider this? I know it's expensive, but I gather they hold their value ....

We have one as our second car but we camp with friends who have it as their only car.

Downside.
More expensive on petrol and road tax
Height may mean you can't get into all car parks. A low line T5 is able to get into some car parks that a raising roof one can't.
They rattle more
It's harder to secure loads, you cant just fling stuff I. The boot as they are often quite small

Upside
They can be fun to drive T5 are fab
You are up high and see much more
You can just pop off camping when you want
They are great for day trips, you save on buying lunch
You have a loo with you
They do hold their value
Insurance is cheeper on out camper than our family car
They are just great

Thanks! Hadn't thought about the carpark issue ..... any other experiences?

We have a 1969 VW campervan but, dear god, no, it's not our family car! Lovely though it is, it's far too bloody unreliable to, er, have to rely on.

However, it is fab to be able to go away for weekends etc and if it was a newer campervan and more reliable it could probably be used as a daily driver - fuel costs permitting.

I do love ours but it's been a relatively expensive luxury.

Not a camper van as such but considering a Mazda Bongo with side conversion