As shelter is the largest single expense for most of us, the ongoing ‘financiapocalpyse‘ could see more more of us trading our homes for a four-door.
As your guide through this challenging time, we’ve identified 10 vehicles from around the world you could happily call home until your house is worth less than the postage used to send you your repossession papers.*
These rides are comfortable, affordable and most importantly, you can probably sleep in it; now might just be the best time to invest your dwindling funds in a home on wheels!
(* it’s not meant to be taken too seriously 
10.) Volkswagen Golf
The Volkswagen Golf is the kind of home-on-wheels designed for a hip bachelor or bachelorette down on their luck. Though not enough room for a family, the Golf has always offered style and storage at a reasonable price.
The four-door models are ideal for you urban campers who want to curl up in the backseat but still have street cred with people who don’t know you’re now living on the street!
9.) Mazda 5
The Mazda5 may seem like an unconventional choice for a live-in vehicle, but it offers you a lot for a little. Based on the sporty Mazda3 platform, the Mazda5 has the benefits of a small economy car: good mileage, low cost-of-ownership and affordability.
It also offers you some of the benefits of a people carrier: sliding doors, three-row seating, fold-out table, under-floor storage.
Unlike most vans, it is the perfect choice for a down-on-their-luck dad who still likes to drive but may have to outrun creditors.
8.) Ford Econoline
With a growing cult following here in the UK, the Econoline is cheap, big, and available in a privacy-enhancing panel version. The panel version is the cheapest model and, though it lacks carpeting, has ample room for an air mattress or stolen love seat.
A top-of-the-line conversion Econoline from the 1980s can be had with a TV/video, reclining bed, wood inserts and fancy curtains.
The latter will prove very useful to hide your embarrassment when your neighbours find out you are living in one.
7.) Honda Element Ecamper
The Honda Element may be one of the most configurable cars available. The 4×4 with the soul of a Civic, the Element’s seats can be stowed, laid-out or removed as necessary. All of the seats can be folded backwards to create two long, thin beds.
This is the ideal living space for a close couple not willing to face the harsh elements outside of an Element.
Additionally, the water resistant interior means that you can hose off the interior after it collects the various spillages of life…
6.) Chevrolet Suburban
Normally seen in films being driven by men in dark suits, dark sunglasses and funny earpieces, the Suburban holds the record for longest continuous nameplate in US car production; which is handy if you’re looking for parts for your new home.
The base model came with a 5.7-litre V8 engine and at over 18-feet long, the Suburban’s interior rivals some small studios. The GMT400 models from the 1990s could have come with the 6.5-litre diesel; perfect for long nights of idling to keep the heat running!
5.) Volvo 740 Estate
A Volvo estate is a great choice for a family looking for a safe place to live and the Volvo 740 is perhaps the best balance of value and space.
Nearly 16-feet long, the early 1990s models run cheap and although not fast, they’re quite roomy. Most importantly, the build quality and reliability of the last model years of the 740 are among the highest Volvo ever built.
Another good thing is that the Volvo is Swedish, so you can furnish it with IKEA accessories to make it look even nicer!
4.) Chrysler Voyager
What better way to celebrate your new life in a failing economy than buying a car from a failing car maker?
Kids love the Voyager because of the cool features, like the fold-out table, DVD player with attachment for the video games, fold-flat seats, tall roofs and many storage spaces.
When the kids ask you why they spend all the time at the beach and never go home just tell them it’s like that holiday you took to Florida…except it never ends.
3.) Ford Flex
The automotive gypsy lifestyle once meant big vans or 4x4s but the era of the “crossover vehicle” is here, thanks to our American friends!
Balancing van-like space and amenities with car-like handling, the crossover could be the sleeping place of choice for the next Great Depression; and the Ford Flex might be the best choice for those of you who may soon be evicted but are currently of some means!
The long, 7 seat Flex offers space, comfort and luxury in a package that looks like a house (or a Lego car). Throw in a fridge in the second row console that can fit a six-pack of beer and you’ve got quite a home!
2.) Volkswagen Vanagon/EuroVan Westfalia
The legendary Westfalia VWs were designed for living in, though not necessarily for extended periods of time. The Westfalias were essentially a Volkswagen Vanagon or EuroVan with a camper top that folds out to create a living space. Many also came equipped with small refrigerators, stovetops, sink and other appliances.
The Vanagon pictured above was created to be an all-season living space; for some of you, it might prove to be exactly that…
1.) Mercedes Sprinter
There’s really nothing like a Mercedes Sprinter commercial van if you have to live your life on wheels.
At nearly 23 ft long, 9ft tall and and 6 ft wide and with a cargo space of 13 ½ ft (4.4m), the Sprinter is like living inside a cave (but hopefully warmer). Throw in a 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6, 12-volt power outlet and a hydraulic jack and you’re travelling the country in comfort.
In extended form there’s enough room in the back for a bed, small couch, table and desk and high-mileage, used cargo versions can be found at quite a reasonable price.
What’s not to like?
Any of the above vehicles appeal to you? Any you think we have missed?
Let us know in the comments.
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October 24th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
You’ve missed out the obvious one! I’ve got a Mitsubishi Delica – it’s a cross between a people carrier and a jeep! Based on the Pajero chassis, it has oodles of interior space (I’ve camped in it a lot) and is more capable offroad than most 4WDs. So you can camp in the middle of nowhere where nobody can see you without getting stuck! Uses loads of diesel but they are stupidly cheap to buy in the first place! You can laugh at the Range Rover drivers who have no more comfort, far less space and have spent 20 or 30 grand more!
October 24th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Sorry to disagree but the vehicle is the Mazda Bongo. Two double beds! one upstairs, one downstairs. Cheap to buy.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
over 100,000 people loseing their homes a week, this is a very cheap jok
for such a good site, sort it out martin we use your site for advice dont take the piss out of unfurtunate people in this time of crisis
October 25th, 2008 at 12:29 am
to W Richardson well said,i thought it was a cheap shot as well my heart bleeds for anyone loseing their home,for the life of me i can`t find anything to joke about homelessness,its in bad taste.
October 25th, 2008 at 10:47 am
I can only repeat the comments of W Richardson.
October 26th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Have a sense of humour people, although my thoughts go out to the families who like myself are living in a campervan but I think if you take life too seriously you just reinforce the fact that you are all bound up in the slavery of life and being controlled by a few of the elite.
Learn to love and learn to laugh… I have never been happier since I lived in this van… It sure puts the important things in perspective, like spending time with family, learning to love simple things and appreciating nature.
NOT material wealth and keeping up with the Jones kind of lifestyle.
I bet all you who objected to the article are wrapped up in your beds with a roof over your heads procrastinating away!
October 27th, 2008 at 8:59 am
W Richardson and the others criticizing this article
Lighten up for pete’s sake!! There is enough doom and gloom in the world right now so its nice to see something a little humourous for a change.
Homelessness isn’t funny, but i think we can all appreciate this piece is not meant to be taken seriously…..
January 8th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
I’ve often had a secret yearning to put an air bed in the back of my Honda CRV and take off for a while! Think I’d better hang on for a while though, while I still have a job!
January 30th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Hey, I just want to sleep in my rental car while on vacation. So thanks for the information.
But how was I to know such useful information would be so funny? I laughed over and over as I read it.
February 15th, 2009 at 12:09 am
I’ve lived on and off in my VW Westfalia (4WD) for the past ten years. In 2001 I sold the house, stored the contents, and traveled/lived full time in the camper on and off the road for six years. The experience opened my eyes more than I expected about how little materialism is really necessary to live a healthy, happy life. Beyond that time period I built a micro apartment in my shop/business about three times the size of the van, and it feels like a prefect home while working toward that next adventure – or now, the next ten years of the economic collapse of capitalism.
While this would probably not work for family units, it is not a bad way, at all for single people suddenly out of the housing market. It’ll all smooth out, eventually, if society stops worrying about wealth and truly begins to care about the welfare of every individual, everywhere.
February 15th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
I’ve been looking to swap my car for one I could nap in! I have narcolepsy and can drive a small way but often need to sleep before driving back. Ideally I’d put a small bed in the back (hardly ever use the back seats). So far I’d only thought of a VW camper but looks like there are more options out there to consider…
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:47 am
I was repossessed in February 2008, and the council mis-advised me about my homelessness claim so I am still homeless. All my furniture and possessions are gone, all I have left is clothes.
I’d been kipping at mate’s houses for a week here and a fortnight there. At the moment I am sleeping in a portacabin, and the noise of the rain is driving me insane.
I don’t regret losing the house (the area was horrible), but I do miss some of the creature comforts. I think the biggest battle is keeping your mental toughness, so I make sure that food is my main priority, and then everything after that is a bonus. I find amusement in as many places as I can, and when I see/hear other people being repossessed I know the hurt they are about to go through. Being able to get online in local libraries keeps me in touch with the world and my friends, and articles like this are hilarious.
I have heard that the Mazda Bongo is THE ultimate vehicle to be living in/driving round, although I think the Mitusbishi Delica is excellent too – reminds me of the mystery machine in scooby doo!
July 4th, 2010 at 7:13 pm
I struggle to sit in a VW – let alone live in one – small or what?
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