Personally I wouldnt do it again, I know thats probably not what you want to hear.
Barney was sort of from the adoption section - his old owner couldnt keep him anymore and so she gave him to them, but they couldnt put him in the adoption bit as he was considered a giant rabbit and they didnt have a free pen big enough, so the manager (lovely lady) took him home whilst they waited for a home for him, so he wasnt on display as such. I worked with the manager's boyfriend at the time, and he asked me if I wanted him.
Barney seemed perfectly healthy when I got him. I've had him a year and 4 months now. He has snuffles and mild dental problems, both of which will require ongoing treatment for his whole life and are incurable. He is also deaf, has been incontinent recently and has another couple of symptoms that the vet hasnt found the reason for yet. They dont usually keep their animals long enough in P@H to be able to diagnose many problems, and they do not routinely check their teeth or neuter either. I have actually seen a few animals that are showing symptoms of being unwell on display, and staff seemed suprised when I pointed it out.
When I decided to get him a friend I decided not to make the same mistake again, I went to a good rescue (
www.windwhistlewarren.org.uk) that advised me on the right bunny both for me and Barney. I came home with Annabelle. The rescue knew her medical history, her parents medical history, her personality and so helped me find the right bunny for both me and Barney. She was already spayed and vaccinated and had had a full dental and health check - and they keep rabbits for a certain amount of time before rehoming because rabbits can hide illnesses so well. So no nasty suprises.
Barney cost me £50, plus vaccs £30 plus neutering £55. He's also cost me around £350+ in vets bills. Overall cost : around £485.
Annabella cost me £50. That included her vaccs and neutering. The only time she's needed the vets is for ongoing vaccinations (rabbits need 1 vhd and 2 myxo a year). Overall cost: £50
You also have to remember that not all rabbits will get along. Rabbits are social creatures and really need a friend 24/7, so if these two didnt bond you'd want to get each a friend - what started off as 2 rabbits suddenly becomes 4. I had an agreement with the rescue that if the rabbits didnt get along I could take her back and try another, most rescues will be happy with these arrangement. Many rescues will actually do the bonding for you as well, saving you a lot of hassle and stress. They also have years of experience with pairing rabbits, so they can help you choose a rabbit with a personality that is likely to get along with yours.
I'm not saying its a bad thing to get rabbits from the adoption section, I did it myself and every time I go in the animals there tug at my heart strings. But be aware of the disadvantages, it has the same pitfalls as buying a pet shop bunny - you dont really know what you are getting. Barney isnt really an ill rabbit - he has very mild versions of both snuffles and dental problems, but the anesthetics, culture and sensitivity tests, blood tests, xrays, and examinations as well as ongoing treatment all add up, the diagnostics were the most expensive part. If I had a rabbit with a more severe form of these extremely common conditions, it would cost me over £150 a month in vets bills, and I have a very cheap vet. I would definately reccommend insurance for any rabbit, although be aware it wont usually pay for routine dentals.
As an aside note, just in case you didnt know, you will have to keep your rabbits completely separate until around 8 weeks after they are both neutered and they are vaccinated, and I would also quarentine the new one if you do get it from p@h, as it wont have been yet. Of course if the rabbit is already neutered and vaccinated and has been healthchecked (like my Annabelle) then they can be bonded together straight away.