Depreciation, why so much with RV's

NMDriver wrote:

rgatijnet1 wrote:

Travel by car, train, boat, or airplane, and buying all meals at restaurants, and staying in hotels, are all money that is 100% gone.
Depends on how you travel. By car I can save quite a bit versus pulling my 5er. Just in fuel. Plus being able to go 800 miles a day instead of at most 400 saves on accommodations and food.

I can also fly round trip to DC for $225 and I can not drive there and back for less than $2500 in fuel alone. So I can spend the other 2200 on lodging and food.

If you add up all of the cost to travel, you will find that RV travel is still the most cost effective, not to mention all of the places you experience on the way to any destinations. Again a car can give you the same experience for less money and I guess you are saying the value of the RV is not lost money. Well neither is the cost of the car.

Having the total freedom to travel on your own schedule is priceless in my opinion.

You have freedom to travel regardless of the mode or you are not free to travel for job, family, etc. reasons with or without an RV.

Yep, some people do not mind dealing with an airline schedule, restrictions, limited airport service, and checking in hours ahead of a flight. I get it.
Now add in the extra cost of pets, which many RV'rs have. How much for boarding fees? How many hotels allow pets?
I understand that traveling in an automobile, especially with pets, is a not that much fun. I've been there, which is why an RV is better.
If it is just a couple that travels, with no pets, I agree on most of your examples.
Also try to get that $225 airline fare, any day, any time, at a moments notice. It can't be done. So much for total freedom to travel regardless of mode.

Got to factor in that original discount when purchasing new. If the rig listed for $100K, sold new for $75K and was resold Three years later for $50K the depreciation was 33 percent, not 50 Percent. That is actually in line with what autos depreciate.
You also need to consider that as you get into the higher end, the dollar value has less meaning to the buyer. Someone who can write a check and not blinkfor a $500,000 plus rig isn't going to pinch pennies to take a used rig that may not be exactly what they want. The price benefit equation often goes out of whack when you are dealing with wealthy buyers.
And finally, much of those wickedly expensive options are valueless in a few years. I looked at the sticker of my pusher and the 42 inch LCD TV was a %4500 option. Today, I can buy a better, bigger one at Walmart for a couple of hundred.

jplante4 wrote:
Because there will always be a segment of RV buyers who will pay a premium for a new rig.

I believe this is truly the answer and the same applies to cars, boats, etc. As stated above, it's all about supply and demand.

Lou
05 Travel Supreme Envoy

I'd say RV and Boats are equal in travelling, experiencing and biggest bang for the buck. We wouldn't part with ours for anything. Headed from Va to Gulfport Ms-Hurst Tx-OKC- and home starting April 23. My favorite places on the whole trip is Hattiesburg MS and Pineville La. They are beautiful.

Wait, wait, people buying used RVs sleep in the previous owners bed? I've heard of frugal, but cheaping out on a new mattress?

GordonThree wrote:
Wait, wait, people buying used RVs sleep in the previous owners bed? I've heard of frugal, but cheaping out on a new mattress?

Ummm, yeah...why not?

When I stay in a motel or hotel, I sleep on an already used mattress. When I visit a friend's house and stay in their guest bedroom, I sleep on an already used mattress. When I volunteer as a camp counsellor each summer, I sleep on the mattress the camp provides, though occasionally it feels as though it's a wood box rather than an actual mattress. If the mattress in the RV is in decent shape, why spend money to replace it?

I assume I'm not the only person who uses mattress pads/covers and fitted sheets.

(I also sit on the used couch cushions, and hang on to the used steering wheel cover, and....)

I guess I'm a spend thrift then. Wouldn't buy a used couch either.

Funny to read everyone's personal idiosyncrasies. :)

I recently went to China. It was amazing. And, surprisingly, somewhere I could not get to by way of my RV. And, by staying at the hotel, I made a new and lasting friend who shared with me some amazing sites in town that I wouldn't have found on my own. Yes, I paid to board the dogs, but it was still an extremely good deal money-wise and well worth it for the experience.

I love my RV, but it is not the best or only way to travel.

GordonThree wrote:
Wait, wait, people buying used RVs sleep in the previous owners bed? I've heard of frugal, but cheaping out on a new mattress?

I didn't buy a new mattress. And it's got the original 42 year old cover on it... It was only after about 2-3 years that I put the memory foam topper on top and that was just for added comfort.

And I've owned used couches and chairs also. I do stand firm against used undies.

There is an old saying that a CAR loses 1/3 of it's value when the salesman hands you the keys.

So your 200,000 dollar Mansion on wheels is only worth 133,333 when you first put it in DRIVE . And you still have your foot on the brake.