Brittany: they sell their house to go on a road trip, their converted bus breaks down after 80 km [Vidéo]

They left this summer for a road trip through France and then Europe but, this Wednesday, January 15, the meter is still stuck at 80 km. On August 8, 2024, Cécile, Mathieu, their two children Nathan and Antoine, as well as their two dogs, three cats and their guinea pig, took the road from Saint-Père-en-Retz, in Loire-Atlantique, for 18 months in an old converted school bus. Problem is, the bus breaks down after only a few kilometers, on the road between Nantes and Rennes, and ends up at the Pont-Réan motorhome area. Since then, the family has still lived in this converted bus and has not moved.

“The mechanics were frightened”

“The clutch is dead and cannot be repaired,” laments Cécile. We had sold our cars and our house, it was a project that we thought about for a year. » Cécile and Mathieu paid 56,000 euros to an individual, without having it appraised, for this 1978 school bus.

“We go from surprise to surprise because we discover that the bus is not approved to go on the road. We have since carried out an assessment and the mechanics were frightened when they saw the condition of the vehicle. How was he able to pass the technical inspection? » These road wrecks therefore decided to sue the seller to “cancel the sale for hidden defects”. In the meantime, they have launched a fundraiser to buy a new converted bus. “Because if we wait for the court to decide, I think it could take a long time. We hope to leave soon but it could be in six months. »

Homeschooling with Dad

In Pont-Réan, life is organized. The bus is designed to accommodate the whole family. Beds, bathroom, kitchen, storage, nothing is missing. “We feel great on the bus because it is very well insulated,” observes Cécile. We have 30 m², it’s not bad, like in a Parisian studio. When you’re connected to electricity or gas, it’s fine, but we were very cold the first night here because we weren’t connected. »

An entrepreneur on the web, the latter relaunches her activity while Mathieu is responsible for home schooling for Antoine, in CM1, and Nathan, in 5th grade. “Today, we take it philosophically but it took time,” says Mathieu. I was the one who went to get the bus. We could have refused to buy it. Breaking down so quickly, in our misfortune, is still a good thing. If this had happened in Germany, we would have paid a lot more for towing. »

“Morale is good”

Cécile says, “Morale is good. I am naturally positive.” Above all, she is delighted by the “enormous solidarity” around her family. “Every day we have people who come and ask us if we need something, to run an errand, to take a shower. The people around us are super nice. The children like it because they meet lots of people. That was the purpose of this trip. Now, we would just like to leave, with a vehicle that runs. »